Sue Lynn Tan Books in Order

Sue Lynn Tan was born and grew up in Malaysia, where stories, food, and family traditions left a lasting mark on her imagination. She later studied in London and France before settling in Hong Kong with her family, a city she still calls home.

As a child, Tan loved large collections of fairy tales and myths. Her father gave her a book of stories from around the world, and she followed those tales into the library, then into fantasy novels and the magical worlds she wanted to visit for herself.

Writing was always part of the plan, even when becoming a full-time author did not seem likely.

Tan studied finance and worked while writing in the margins of everyday life. In brief stretches between work, she opened her laptop to jot down scenes, fragments of ideas, and character notes. Then the idea for Daughter of the Moon Goddess arrived, and she wrote whenever she could, before dawn, late at night, and even during holidays.

That novel became her debut and introduced Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess Chang'e and the archer Houyi. Drawing on several versions of the Chang'e legend, Tan built a story around a simple but weighty question: what if the moon goddess had a daughter who would fight to free her? She also researched archery, ancient bows, and Chinese dragons while shaping the book's Immortal Realm.

The result was the Celestial Kingdom story, beginning with Daughter of the Moon Goddess and continuing in Heart of the Sun Warrior. These books mix quests, immortal courts, dangerous magic, family bonds, and romances that grow alongside the larger conflict. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom later returned to that world through shorter stories told from several characters' perspectives.

Love is often at the center of Tan's work.

Her characters face the pull between duty and desire, the cost of protecting family, and the problem of trusting people who may have their own reasons for helping. In Immortal, a standalone set in the same wider world, a young ruler must deal with gods, war, and an uneasy connection to the God of War. With Never Ever After, Tan turns to a darker Cinderella-inspired fantasy about a thief, an enchanted ring, and a court where power is rarely what it seems.

Tan has said she enjoys writing fantasy and romance because they let her imagine new worlds and impossible situations. Her settings often pair grand palaces, old legends, and magic with very human worries about loss, hope, loyalty, and belonging. That balance is a good fit for readers who want both adventure and emotional stakes.

When she is away from the page, Tan enjoys reading, hiking, exploring the hills, lakes, and temples near her home, and watching dramas. She also has a soft spot for bubble tea, spicy food, and dark chocolate. Cooking, by her own account, is not her strongest skill.