Tag: sue lynn tan

ARC Book Review: For Ever More (Never Ever After #2) by Sue Lynn Tan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy + Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: October 27th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The breathtaking sequel to the New York Times bestselling Never Ever After, this epic fantasy finds Yining on the run and fighting to save her family and her kingdom.

After the explosive events of Never Ever After, Yining flees the Iron Mountains with her unlikely allies, seeking the truth about her newfound powers amid the secrets surrounding her ancestral home. But with a traitorous queen ruling the Three Kingdoms from a stolen throne, nowhere is truly safe, and Yining must decide whom to trust to keep her family—and her heart—from harm.

Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours, The Novl and Sue Lynn Tan for a gifted copy.

BEAUTIFUL DUOLOGY.

I just love reading Sue Lynn Tan books. They are lyrical and whimsical and feel like a fairy tale. I loved being back in this world and seeing the continuation of Yining’s story. I felt like she stayed true to who she was and tuned out the noise to help those she loved and the kingdoms around her in need.

The romance grew on me. I can be a little picky about love triangles yet as the book went on, I got it. I thought the way it went was as it should be and I loved the conversations that came about from it all. I’d be very curious (and hopeful) to see a spin-off sequel with a certain someone!! I’d totally speak more to the romance but I don’t want to give hints away about who Yining ends up with. Don’t worry, it’s got some swoon and many lines I just had to highlight!!

I loved seeing more of the kingdoms and seeing the other players in the game. SLT really takes Cinderella and expands upon it 10 fold. Everything is deeper and the action and politicking keep you on your toes. There’s new creatures, a land being poisoned and some dragons too.

Double bonus points to this book being a young adult book and is genuinely written for a young adult audience!!

Everything came together like I hoped for and I thought wrapped well too. It’s a beautiful story and now I’m sad I have to wait for SLT’s next release!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of life

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ALC Book Review: Never Ever After (Never Ever After #1) by Sue Lynn Tan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: October 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Not all fairy tales end happily ever after in this Cinderella-inspired fantasy by the bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess—for fans of Renée Ahdieh, Tahereh Mafi, and Stephanie Garber.

Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.

Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless and ambitious prince, who tempts her with a world she’s never imagined. But nothing is as it seems, for she’s soon trapped in a tangle of power, treachery, and greed—her only ally the cunning advisor from a rival court who keeps dangerous secrets of his own. To break free, she must unravel the mystery of her past and fight for a future that both frightens and calls to her.

This sweeping fantasy romance inspired by Cinderella and a Chinese fairy tale is the first in a breathtaking new series by the acclaimed author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ALC.

GIMME BOOK TWO.

I enjoyed this one so much! Honestly, Sue Lynn Tan never disappoints and I have been anxious to get my hands (and headphones) on this book. It felt very classic to her style of story telling and I thought the young adult world was executed well.

I loved Yining as the FMC. She’s ambitious in her own right and learns to stand firmly on her boundaries. I loved the push and pull in the romantic love triangle (it’s giving Daughter of the Moon Goddess…maybe…or maybe I have that all wrong BUT MAYBE). SLT is one of the few author’s who I don’t mind reading love triangles from.

I’m not sure I caught many Cinderella nods but that could be that I haven’t watched that movie in 20+ years? So if you’re worried about that aspect I can’t really comment on it.

There were some beautifully crafted reveals and I thought the audiobook narrator did an amazing job. I love the enchanting vibes of Tan’s stories and am begging to get my hands on book two ASAP.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Tales of the Celestial Kingdom (The Celestial Kingdom #2.5) by Sue Lynn Tan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 176 pages
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: February 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sue Lynn Tan’s highly acclaimed, bestselling Celestial Kingdom duology is expanded with this new compilation of stories from before, during, and after the events in Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, all from the perspectives of beloved characters and illustrated by Kelly Chong.

Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures—and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.

Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories—two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology—set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.

With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.

LOVED BEING BACK.

A nice quick review of a world I love so dang much. I loved all of these novellas and how they were broken up. I would have even purchased this purely for the beautiful artwork throughout. I about squealed every time I turned the page and saw a new picture of all of my favorites.

The epilogue alone is also worth picking this up. It is EVERYTHING you could want from this series and the conclusion I know many of us wanted to read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC Book Review: Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 464 pages
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: January 7th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

“What the gods did not give us, I would take.”

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal… even if it means losing her heart.

Thank you Harper Voyager for my gifted ARC.

WORKED FOR ME.

Fantasy standalones and I don’t always see eye to eye. I did go with the audiobook route and that was the click for me. I loved the audiobook and keeping it at the pace that I do helped me move through the story.

Yes, there’s a few plot quirks and I would have loved more of the relationship background BUT for a standalone this delivered. I love love love wild twists and plot moments I didn’t see coming. This had good reveals and I thought the unveiling of the story was executed well.

The romance was heated and swoony. I loved the connection between Liyen and the God of War. Perfectly timed tension and the build had my full attention. The lore was beautiful and I just can’t get enough of SLT’s writing style. It’s magnetic and the audiobook narrator brought everything to life.

Another gorgeous story that I loved reading.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate

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