62 pages • 2 hours read
Immortal
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Background
Series Context: The Celestial Kingdom
Spin-off novels set in the same world as previous books from a specific author enhance the experience of an already beloved world. Primarily, what these types of novels offer is immersion, nostalgia, and continuity for readers. Returning to familiar settings and expanding upon worlds that are already well-loved allows for the author, too, to explore new stories without having to build out entirely new rules, cultures, or magic systems. This is a strategic rather than lackadaisical approach because it enhances the reading experience. Strong attachments to characters, places, and histories already exist before reading, which allows for a deeper immersion and emotional connection to the story.
Sue Lynn Tan returned to the world she built in the Celestial Kingdom Duology, choosing to explore new characters and stories within the same world while incorporating the rules and histories she previously established. While the Celestial Kingdom Duology follows the Immortal Realm, Immortal focuses on the Mortal Realm. Immortal is a stand-alone novel that does not require prior knowledge of the Celestial Kingdom Duology, but Tan has noted that reading the texts together can provide different perspectives on how immortals and mortals view themselves and each other (Jones, Iyana, “Sue Lynn Tan Returns to World of Celestial Kingdom in ‘Immortal’: Inside Her Forbidden Love Romance,” Swooon, 13 Jan. 2025).
Cultural Context: Xianxia Genre
Sue Lynn Tan’s works are often discussed as having similarities to Chinese xianxia dramas, which Tan has said inspired her work. Tan’s Celestial Kingdom Duology (Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior) and its stand-alone companion, Immortal, incorporate xianxia elements, including majestic palaces in the clouds and characters’ flowing garments. While Tan’s books do not fully adhere to traditional xianxia conventions, they borrow heavily from the genre in many ways.
The xianxia genre usually involves a main character living in a society where people seek immortality, usually by refining their spiritual or physical abilities to transcend human limitations. This process also involves significant self-discovery and internal growth. For example, in Immortal, Liyen begins as an immortal but gives up her immortality to use the Divine Pearl Lotus flower, eventually earning back her immortality. Tan’s world also closely resembles the hierarchical structure in many xianxia stories, where mortals, immortals, and demons exist in separate realms and often engage in celestial conflicts.
While there are key similarities between Tan’s works and the xianxia genre, it is merely one of many inspirations. Her works also lean heavily on elements of romantic fantasy (romantasy) and mythology-inspired storytelling. Her focus on romance is a particular departure from xianxia. While romance exists in some xianxia novels, Tan’s books place it at the forefront, blending the two genres. Tan also adapts xianxia genre’s ability training tropes in her stories. In xianxia, characters advance through Qi levels and cultivate their power through spiritual means, but Tan’s characters take a more physical approach to training their abilities.
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