Fairyloot Adult #36: January 2025
My first bookbox book for 2025 is this one from my Fairyloot Adult subscription, which was already delivered halfway through the month.
The theme of this box is Rift of Realms with a book for readers who enjoy dangerous alliances, fickle gods, and treacherous attractions.
And the book is Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
“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.
Another so-called romantasy in this Fairyloot Fantasy box. Sometimes I really don’t understand the difference between their Romantasy and their Adult subscription, because in the last year alone 75% of their books from the Adult subscription have also been romantasy. Not that I can’t enjoy that once in a while, but I would have liked to see a slightly more balanced selection and some more daring epic fantasy choices.
Now, the synopsis for this one does appeal to me. Especially the fact that it is a standalone makes it go higher on my TBR. And yes, I still have to read the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology, but all the more reason to pick this one up soon, because this one also appealed to me when I got it in my then Fairyloot YA subscription.
The cover of the Fairyloot edition is a unique design by @jasonchuangart, who also designed the standard cover. You can clearly see that similar elements are used, but in a different configuration and with different colours. And for me, the Fairyloot version is the clear winner, from the colours to the unique composition. Absolutely beautiful!
On the back of the cover is another alternative cover with an illustration by @monafinden. Phew, beautiful! Not exactly an illustration I would want as a cover, but one that makes me feel a bit warm, lol.
On the hardcover a colourful design with foil by @imogen.oh.
Oh, wow, wow! This is sooo beautiful. The pictures really don’t do it justice. I was honestly flabbergasted when I saw this. It gives the impression of being hand-painted. Really super beautifully done.
As is customary, the book block is also sprayed all around in a colour that matches the colour of the cover and the hardcover. At the front is an illustration with elements taken from the cover, which makes the whole thing completely coherent and lifts the entire edition to a higher level.
The endpapers also feature two unique illustrations by the same artist who created the alternative cover, @monafinden. So beautiful and detailed! And they also make me curious about the story.
Finally, the book also comes with a bound letter from the author with digital signature and a bonus chapter.
WAUW, Fairyloot delivers the full package yet again with this edition and I am completely blown away. Really whoever coordinates these editions deserves a raise, lol. Super impressive how different artists, each with their own style, can still deliver something so coherent and beautiful. Wow, I really hope that I will also like the content of this book, because saying goodbye to this edition would hurt a bit.
Cheers,
Charlotte

