Immortal

Sue Lynn Tan

EXPECTATIONS

Honestly, the storyline coupled with the beautiful cover art enticed me, fueling my excitement and eagerness to read a novel that promised enchanting romance, a headstrong female lead, charming characters, and non-stop adventure.

STORY

Liyen, young heir to her beloved kingdom Tianxia, must navigate a perilous world of politics, betrayal, and endless predicaments, all whilst being tethered to the love and hope she has for her family and people. The first person point of view narration was light and easy to follow, with whimsical world building that introduced distinctive characters and mythical creatures at a solid pace. The first half of the story started well, the writing fluid with mediocre character development, but I noticed towards the latter half, the storyline and revelations seemed rushed and anticlimactic. I would have appreciated if the author had included more sustenance to support certain plot twists, but instead, parts of the story left me feeling like, “That’s all?” with my shock also manifesting as, “Where did this even come from?” as I feel the author did a poor job at leading up to these vital unearthings in the novel. The romance, at times, was a hit-or-miss, some moments leaving me smiling wide and feeling dazzled, others leaving me whiplashed due to how underdeveloped the relationship seemed. The fantasy aspect, however, was superb,  and I enjoyed reading about the mythical creatures and how the characters wielded their powers, as the story contained excellent visuals and descriptions supported with such breathtaking imagery. Overall, the novel had it’s moments, but the delivery of the plot was inconsistent and quite lacking.

CHARACTERS

The protagonist, Liyen, truly makes you feel the love and loyalty she holds for her people through her strong will and adamance to fight for their rights and honor. Perhaps, however, the reason she is always in such a state of quandary is because she is quite young and inexperienced, especially in relation to love and trusting those outside her inner circle. There were moments of frustration and impatience that I felt towards her, where I wished she would do one thing, but she was always questioning herself, especially in matters of the heart. She would say something so surely in one paragraph, and in the next moment, contradict herself. Her thoughts and emotions were constantly waxing and waning, clarity and confusion weaving together like a tangled web. Despite her constant doubts and indecision, however, her heart always seemed to find its rightful place in being a champion for her people.