Immortal Longings took place in a kingdom called Talin with twin cities as its capitol, San-Er, and King Kasa at its head. The story began with the crown prince, August, conspiring with the long-believed-to-be-dead Princess Calla, after her bloodbath and petricide 5 years ago. The motive was none other than toppling down the king by becoming the winner of the survival 'game'. Yes, very much like what's happening in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, but make it less make sense, chaotic, and rule wise questionable.

Everyone with the gene, have the ability to 'jump' from one body to another. It's their Qi that's jumping, a body is a mere vessel. How about the target body? The ones being jumped to? Defeated. Unconscious until the one invading their bodies left. (I also found this very very concerning)

Confused yet? SAME.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND READ THE BOOK DESCRIPTION VERY CAREFULLY, Please.

It's actually sadden me that I didn't love this book the way I expected it to be:"(

It was overwhelming from the start. The world building was not one to be absorbed easily, at least by my brain capacity. One of the thing I regard highly from Gong's writing is how she made the setting alive. How the city breaths and strive. Sadly I didn't find it here in Immortal Longings.

Advertise as enemy to lovers, it may be there on page, but I couldn't really feel it. Their dynamic was good, but not that deep and devastating where it hurts you when they have to kill each other iykwim. They didn't burn and the feelings were surface level.

None of the characters are appealing enough to be rooted for. There are so many of them appeared at the first half, and gone in the second half without much effect to the reader and to the plot. Some of them started as a promising character but ended up quite disappointing.

Idek what to say about the plot. It scatters all around with no closure. I left with lots of guesses and much to clarify in the later book.

The premise was good, but it didn't well executed in the end.

I felt more irritation than suspense toward the cliffhangers.

Things I love: The FMC live up to the expectation as the skillful fighter. I love the bloody fighting scene.

It was quite engaging to follow only to find the answers.

If you're into dystopian retro setting, survival bloody game, political intricts dealing with toppling down kingdom, laced with betrayal and PLOT TWISTS give this book a go.

And if you're wondering whether it has the same vibe with Secret Shanghai series NO IT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT 🤣👌👌