Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin is a dreamy gothic Y.A. fantasy full of emotion and atmosphere. I really enjoyed it and hope to read more by Judy I. Lin in the future. Well done!

Xue, a mortal-born qin (musical instrument) apprentice, lives a normal life (as normal as any outcast could live) trying to become an official player in the House of the Flowing Water until Duke Feng requests her to play for him privately. She is warned of the rich or the conmen who deceive the players with false promises, so she’s wary of the Duke’s interest in her. Though she’s not interested in interacting with him, his knowledge of music and poetry slightly changes her opinion of him.

But one day, he makes a tempting offer to play only for him in his residence in exchange for settling all her contracts with Auntie Wu (who runs the song house). But it was not until he saved her from a formidable beast and expressed his doubts regarding her uncle’s death that she accepted his offer.

The Duke’s residence holds many mysteries, including the Duke himself. She unlocks many truths that leave her shocked and determined to learn more about her uncle’s death, for it was the thread that tied her to the Celestials.
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Of the three books I have read by JIL, I liked this book the most. For the most part, the pacing was sluggish. I wanted the events to move faster in the second quarter, but the atmospheric setting and progress of the plot piqued my interest, so I put up with the pacing.

Although the book has six realms, most events happen in the Dream realm. It was interesting to read how everything was connected to this realm. Dreams, songs and memories were three main plot devices intricately implemented to solve the mystery in the book.

The final quarter of the book was more action-packed than the other parts. I wanted some of the events there to happen in the second quarter. It would have made it easier to keep up with all the characters and twists in the climax.

I recommend Song of the Six Realms to Xianxia enthusiasts out there, or those looking for an atmospheric, gothic Chinese fantasy.

Thanks to the publisher and TBR and Beyond Tours for the review copy of the book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!

Song of the Six Realms is a story about Guxue, a talented young qín player. One night, she meets Duke Meng, who is enamoured by her playing and offers to buy her contract in exchange for her to serve as a musician for one year in residence at his manor.

“My world shrank down to only the seven strings and my ten fingers, to the entirety of my soul, laid bare for the listener to hear”

The story starts off slowly and takes the time to introduce you to the main character, Xue, and her earlier years. How she came to be at the House Flowing Water, her training and her love for the qín. I liked this slow introducing into the world.

The magic system is not as prominent as others, where a lot of powers are shown, but it is very much interwoven into the very core of the story itself. The different beings, the different realms, all are slowly explained during Interludes, as Xue learns about them. I really liked the slow and paced way the information was given and how it was not one big info dump. At the beginning there was an explanation to the different realms and its governing, which also helped in understanding it all.

The writing of this book is absolutely beautifully done! It is very descriptive and I loved how the author used poetry within the story itself. It was very easy to imagine all that was writing. At the same time, the pacing of this book is very slow and it can be a bit repetitive or feel as if nothing is really happening.

Xue is such an amazing character and I really enjoyed her look on the world and how she lives for the music she performs. The music helps her understand everything around her and that really show. She is sweet, determined, selfless and grows beautifully as the story progresses.

The romance was really sweet and felt very fitting to the story and its setting. What starts out as a tentative partnership, working together to try and solve the mystery, slowly blooms into something more. It was well balanced in its progression and made me swoon whenever the romance finally bloomed!

The ending was worked towards slowly and when the reveals came, it didn’t come as much of a surprise who was behind it all and how that all played out. Still, I enjoyed reading about it all. The pacing wasn’t suddenly rushed and it was still easy to navigate. The book does have a hopeful ending, which is something I usually don’t mind, but in this case it somehow felt as if the story itself wasn’t done yet. Still, the theme of the book really shined in those last few chapters, the perception of good and evil and the sacrifices we make for those we love.

Overall, Song of the Six Realms is a beautifully written, slow-paced, standalone with a whimsical atmosphere and music woven into the pages.

Admittedly, I didn't get around to reading this one before it came out, but I bought the finished book and I'm so sure I'm going to love it that I'm giving it five stars here!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dreamy? And gothic? Yes please!

Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin is a YA fantasy novel that is nothing short of gothic. Xue, a talented young musician, has no past and probably no future. Orphaned at a young age, her kindly poet uncle took her in and arranged for an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. She doesn’t remember much from before entering the House of Flowing Water, and when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she is devastated to lose her last connection to a life outside of her indenture contract. With no family and no patron, Xue is facing the possibility of a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles that praise her talent with one breath and sneer at her lowly social status with the next. Then one night she is unexpectedly called to the garden to put on a private performance for the enigmatic Duke Meng. For a young man of nobility, he is strangely kind and awkward, and surprises Xue further with an irresistible offer: serve as a musician in residence at his manor for one year, and he’ll set her free of her indenture. But the Duke’s motives become increasingly more suspect when he and Xue barely survive an attack by a nightmarish monster, and when he whisks her away to his estate, she discovers he’s not just some country noble: He’s the Duke of Dreams, one of the divine rulers of the Celestial Realm. There she learns the Six Realms are on the brink of disaster, and incursions by demonic beasts are growing more frequent. The Duke needs Xue’s help to unlock memories from her past that could hold the answers to how to stop the impending war… but first Xue will need to survive being the target of every monster and deity in the Six Realms.

Okay, I will admit that Lin's previous title of A Magic Steeped in Poison was not my favorite. And neither is this one. I can't just get past the writing style. Yet, I still found myself enjoying this one. It's beautiful in all sorts of way. And though it's not my top recommendation, I will wiggle this one into every conversation at least once.

This was a very enjoyable read. It was quite fast paced, and the story was well thought out! However, I couldn't identify myself in the main character at all, which made the book a struggle to get through at times. Despite this I can definitely recommend the book!

An excellent fantasy with incredible world-building. The characters could have been developed more. I would still recommend this to patrons.

Song of the Six Realms is a lyrical and fantastical book with a lots of inspiration from Chinese poetry and history but a lack of character development and a crazy ending.

This book has strong Spirited Away vibes. Xue unexpectedly finds herself in a celestial spirit world without much clue as to what's going on and is forced to learn about herself and find her purpose in order to save the ones she loves. The world-building is elaborate, and the slice-of-life feel of meeting secondary characters make everything feel lived-in but leaves you wanting to hear more of their stories. And the bittersweet romantic ending is hopeful but ultimately unfulfilling.

What worked for this book? The cover, for starters; it's absolutely gorgeous. The main characters, Xue and Jinglang, are both well-developed and interesting. Xue's love for music, her courage, and her tenacity are relatable, and Jinglang's dedication to saving his father and to his friends is admirable. The mythology, the Chinese poetry, and the vivid descriptions of everything from the music, the scenery, and the outfits really bring the world to life.

So what didn't work? The ending. The story flowed slowly, but not in an unpleasant way, and then the final few chapters were chaos. The author threw in a massive lore dump, a magical girl-esque transformation, and the big battle all at once, and it's a bit hard to follow what's going on. And then the story just sort of...ends? There's a hopeful tone at the end, but the ending itself was unexpected and not entirely satisfying.

I think this book either would've benefitted from being a longer standalone or a slightly more expanded duology. The story had a lot of potential, and the vibes were definitely there, but the ending really threw everything off. I felt the same way about the ending of the author's other duology, so maybe it's just her style? But Song of the Six Realms just sadly didn't do it for me in the end.

It’s not hard to be drawn to Song of the Six Realms, the cover is beautiful. And the text inside isn’t far from it, but there are some challenges.

In Song of the Six Realms, author Judy I. Lin has created a complex world where there are different levels of divinity and spirits and demons. It’s so complex that she includes a list of all the different groups at the front of the novel. It’s a helpful list, but one you shouldn’t get too caught up in to begin with. It’s much better to refer back to it as you read.

If you’re hoping for Song of the Six Realms to be a romantic fantasy, you might be disappointed. It is a fantasy, and there is a romance, but that’s not the main plotline. Rather, the romance evolves as the story unfolds, and you watch a true relationship develop.

However, if you’re looking for a strong mystery, you’ll find one. There’s lots of twists and turns and it’s unpredictable.

Lin’s writing is full of imagery. And her magical world feels fully plausible. Her ending is perfectly imperfect, and she made it all fit into one novel. At 400 pages, it’s not a short read, but it moves at a good pace. And the musical elements add an extra layer. It’s a good reading option heading into the last month of school and summer break.

The cover of Lin's new novel is nothing but gorgous, so of course I HAD to read it just because of that. Add to that an intriguing description that includes gods and the word "gothic", and yes, I'm sold. And I enjoyed my time with the book, so clearly my book choosing criteria have proven to be perfect. "Song of the Six Realms" is not that, but it's a good little fantastical novel.

I does many things perfectly well. The writing is beautiful, though very flowery so if you enjoy that kind of prose, this book will work for you. I enjoy it most of the time when done well, and while I don't think this book's writing is flawless (there are some overwrought nonsensical metaphors and the like), it's lovely nonetheless. There's a lot of very solid worldbuilding, too, making the world that Xue, our protagonist, lives in vivid and imaginable. The different realms are fascinating and I would love to learn more about them. At the same time, it often felt a little like the author was getting lost in her own fascination of this world, building and explaining more and more even though some aspects aren't important to the story or the characters. As a fan of extensive world building I didn't mind too much, though. I did mind a little that it wasn't very gothic at all, but alas, I should be used to that word being thrown around as soon as the major setting of a book is a manor and there are minor "vanished wife/Rebecca" vibes going on.
Xue is a good protagonist, albeit a very typical one. She's inquisitive and brave, she doesn't really have any actual, consequential flaws. I still liked her well enough though. I simply didn't feel all too connected to her, which at least to some degree can be blamed on the writing style that, in it's flowery, lyrical beauty, often left me feeling emotionally detached from the characters as a whole. The side characters are admittedly rather bland and underdeveloped, which is a shame because the big story beats later on didn't really hit as hard as they could have had I cared more about any of them. The romance is also definitely not the focus of this book, and yes this is a big plus in my book but other readers might be disappointed. It's there, but there's really not much to it and it sadly went from zero to 100 in way too short a time. I admittedly didn't really feel anything at all for the love interest, though, beyond the initial intrigue.
The plot is exciting and generally well-paced, though I felt like the ending was somehow really rushed. There's a lot of build-up and mysteries, and then suddenly everything happens incredibly fast, with Xue having her mandatory YA heroine special moments. It's not a bad ending, just a very packed one that didn't come with many surprises if any at all.

So all in all, this is a beautifully written little fantasy with an intriguing world that doesn't quite manage to build memorable characters and has some pacing issues. It's a quick read and made me want to put Lin's previous work on my tbr, so that alone speaks for itself. 3 stars.

I finished reading Song Of The Six Realms this weekend and it was an amazing fantasy read with a protagonist who's a gifted musician adept at playing the qín!

Guxue lost her family at a young age and was taken in by her uncle to be raised, but later when he sets off on his travels, she ends up apprenticing at a popular entertainment house. Due to her parents' crimes, their names have been removed from the records and Xue has no way of leading a normal life unless she could earn a pardon. After a few years, she learns that her uncle has been killed in a bandit attack and she's resigned herself to a lifetime of servitude while playing the qín until she meets a mysterious patron who asks for a private performance and puts forth a tempting offer. Duke Meng asks her to serve as a musician in his residence for a year after which she could be freed from her contract and after learning about the connection between her uncle and his mentor she agrees. But, after reaching his residence she ends up with more questions than answers and after some run-ins with some dangerous monsters, she learns that her life and all of the realms may be in peril.

I would love to see a drama adaptation of this book because the xianxia vibes were so good! Xue is an amazing MC with so much hidden strength and courage! I loved the musical descriptions and how the book was broken down into verses and interludes with some special stories that tied into the overall plot! I think my favorite part was definitely the world building which was quite detailed with the different realms and their histories. The writing was also very beautiful and rich with descriptions that were very vivid and lifelike! I was also very invested in uncovering the mystery along with Xue and Meng Jinglang - who was a very sweet love interest.
I'd have loved this even more if the romance had been developed further. But, personally I didn't feel much of the chemistry between Xue and Jinglang, though they shone individually. The mystery and the central plot take precedence over other things, so the romance was overshadowed by the fantasy aspect. The tension ramps up in the last few chapters and I couldn't put it down for the last few pages! The ending was quite satisfactory but I'd have liked an extended epilogue!
Overall, this was an amazing YA fantasy read and I hope there will be a sequel or more books set in this world!

I made it about 27% through this book before I had to DNF. It was such a slow beginning with characters that did not compel me to continue. While I can tell the mystery is finally starting to build and I enjoyed Lin's previous duology, I fear this one is just a miss for me. I may pick this up and try again in the future when I'm in the mood for its slow pace, and I'll update my review in that scenario.

Actual Rating: 3.5⭐

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this book…
I like some parts of the book, but there are some parts that prevent me to fully enjoy this book.

The world building is fascinating and also vast, it can be quite complicated at first but it was explained slowly as the story progressed.
I also love the writing style which describes and fully captured the beauty of the music, the poetry and the scenic in this story.

The romance is not the main focus, it’s barely there. I wish there’s more interaction between Xue and Jinglang as their romance developed over time.

The pacing of this story is uneven, at the beginning it was quite slow which is understandable with a huge world building and the author wants to explained it easily and slowly. Unfortunately, it makes the ending feels too rushed with the big reveal that has to be explained in the remaining 20% of the story.

Overall, it’s a pretty good standalone with captivating world building and beautiful writing style, some of the twists also caught me by surprise.
I’ll keep an eye out for the next book by this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: sexual assault, confinement

Overall Impressions: Enjoyable and interesting story focused around a a mortal musician drawn into an immortal conflict. I liked the musical aspect and the interludes, but did find it a little hard to keep up with a few aspects. overall I had a good time reading this.

Worldbuilding: A fairly complicated world with several realms, all with different magical beings and purposes. I did feel like some of the exposition regarding the realms was a bit of an info dump and I still don’t know that I understand enough about the ghost and spirit realms, but it was definitely a rich and interesting world.

Characters: I really enjoyed the main character, Xue, and Jinglang, as well as Chenwen, eventually. I also liked how much of an impact Xue’s uncle had on the story even without his presence. however, I felt like Jinglang’s mother was a little one-note and over exaggerated, and I don’t feel like some of the other characters were fleshed out.

Plot: Interesting with lots of twists and turns, and ultimately a satisfying if bittersweet ending.

Pacing/prose: The first 75% or so is paced much more slowly than the last 25%, where I felt like we were rushing to an ending. I wish the final conflict had been given a little more page space and the first bit shortened a bit but I generally enjoyed the prose.

Recommend/Read More? I would read more in this world for sure.

Lin has once again woven a world of enchantment full of twists and turns! Xue's journey with the mysterious duke was entertaining and ful of magic! I loved learning about her uncle's life and seeing a happy family relationship between him and Xue. The love they had for each other was humbling, and I adored the writing style of having verses and such for the parts of the story. Another smash hit!

A heartbreaking magical story about a musician who finds her fate thrown in with gods, monsters, and secrets. Xue is a talented young musician who was orphaned at a young age and taken in by her kind poet uncle who arranged for her to get an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. Xue doesn't have a lot of memories of her youth before her apprenticeship at the House of Flowing Water, but when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she feels like she's resigned to a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles. Xue is unexpectedly called in for a private performance for the mysterious handsome Duke Meng. Meng is oddly kind and shy, yet he makes her an offer: if she agrees to serve as his private musician at his residence for one he'll buy her contract from the house. Xue knows it's too good to be true and that the Duke is hiding something... like the fact that he knew her uncle and that he is actually a celestial being, the Duke of Dreams. Xue now finds herself encountering more celestial beings and gods as well as nightmarish monsters. Duke Meng tells her that he actually wants her to help him unlock Xue's memories of her past so that they can stop the impending war and free his wrongly accused father. But the gods can be cruel and the games and backstabbing is at every corner. Xue finds herself falling for Duke Meng but how can a mortal musician be with a celestial being? The closer they get to unlocking all her memories, the more danger they find themselves in... and there must be sacrifices made. This was such a bittersweet read but it was really good. I enjoyed the story and the romance was sweet. The mystery was what really did it for me and I liked how it played out. The ending was so bittersweet and I wish there was a bonus epilogue or something to just give me one more chapter of Xue and Meng together or reuniting... please I beg of you. Overall, it's a great standalone fantasy read that really builds the story well and is a easy fast read.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I've read Judy's Book of Tea Duology which I enjoyed, and I think really liked this as well if not more!

Her writing is so beautiful and she does very well in encapsulating emotion in her words. The book is more about the story itself than the romance, but the romance is done so well and occurs naturally. The worldbuilding can be a bit overwhelming at some points and the story a bit slow around the halfway point. The last quarter has a lot happening with a great ending that may or may not be a little bittersweet.

Top 5 Reasons to Read Song of the Six Realms

#1: Epic Worldbuilding
The introduction to the realms helped a lot at the start of the book. Still, the author's descriptive words and descriptors gave stimulating visuals for readers, from the atmosphere of melodic music notes filling the air from a qin to exploring Meng Compound, wherein readers are taken straight to the beauty of oriental architecture and garden delights, etc. It was a feast of the tastes and sounds of the Orient. While I appreciate the author's diving into the court politics and landscape before GuXue (Xue) was born and wanting to educate and inform Xue (and the readers), I had a problem with the "too-many" descriptions provided. It can sometimes slow the story's pace and character development.

#2: Intricate and Intriguing Storyline
Kudos for stumping me, the reader, with how the story unfolded. I was so engrossed in everything in the book that I missed a few connections linking one MC to another. I appreciate the book stating the hierarchy of Realms at the beginning of the chapter, which gives a better grasp of the Realms. Also, non-spoiler trigger warnings provided a good summary of what might come.
A side note: Although I enjoyed the story, the pacing may seem discouraging. The author did not kid on her statement that the book is a slow-burn angst read. It definitely is! The complex scenes, relationship-building, and numerous backstories made me stop a few times to reflect and understand their correlation to the story.

#3: Imperfectly Perfect Characters
All the characters were interesting since readers get only one POV—Xue, the main character. Little did Xue know that many things were happening behind the scenes and even in front of her that affected the story. I realized how all the characters were slowly interconnected throughout the book, creating a complex yet cohesive ending.
Be warned, though—many characters appear in the book. It can get overwhelming, so if you need to make an organizational chart or notes on the side to track the character roles, their importance in the story, etc., do it early so you won't flip back and forth to find the names after reading ten chapters, like me.

#4: Unique Connections and Relationships
I appreciated the author's relationship-building—Xue's familial connections and the slow-burn connection with JingLang. Many past flashbacks greatly impacted her devotion to her Uncle, and she took heed of every piece of advice he imparted. He prepared her for everything, and his "contingency plans" were perfectly orchestrated when the time arose!
I like the demisexual connections made since this is a rare topic in romance. I have a love-and-hate relationship with the angst, slow-burn books. Sometimes, it works, while other times, it falls flat. This book initially gave me doubts, but the latter chapters made me believe in Jinglang and Xue's connection. I love the author's beautiful message of love and family.

#5: Last but not least...Inclusion of Chinese Myths
I thoroughly enjoyed the myths/legends' backstory imparted before each chapter, which foreshadows the upcoming scenes and even within the chapters. I was familiar with a lot, but a good chunk was a surprise.

The Song of the Six Realms was a long yet enjoyable read. It has its share of slow moments and complicated connections/twists, which were later tied nicely to create a cohesive and satisfying ending. I enjoyed reading a fantasy that is not heavily dependent on romance to move the storyline. Instead, the urgency of the events and the "saving the world" themes made me push to finish this as fast as I could.

For lovers of “Six Crimson Cranes” by Elizabeth Lim and “Seraphina” by Rachel Hartman.

Song of the Six Realms is a sweeping romantic fantasy reminiscent of classic gothic tales. Xue is a talented musician of the qín, enchanting nobles and patrons with her music at an esteemed entertainment house. When a Duke requests a private performance, he will offer her a deal she cannot refuse.

The artistry of music and instruments is beautifully woven into the tapestry of this story. Xue is a lead character you can root for and want to see succeed. This would make a GORGEOUS Ghibli film and I can’t wait to see the fan art people create. The clothing descriptions alone were so vivid and whimsical.

Things I loved:
- The descriptions are so lovely and ethereal. If you’re wanting a book that really captures the atmosphere of the story, this book does just that!
- The musical elements. Music is often a factor missing from fantasy and I think the incorporation of the instruments and their magic was beautiful and fascinating.
- The style. Even though this is YA, it doesn’t read as young as many other YAs do. The dialogue feels appropriate for the characters’ ages.

Things I wanted more of:
- The ending. I think this story could’ve been longer! There were so many big reveals towards the end that I wished were fleshed out more. I think it would’ve heightened the emotional impact more.
- The world-building. While there is already so much world-building (and a lot of it is really well done), I still sometimes struggled to remember everything and fully grasp the world.

Inspired by Chinese mythology, folk religion, and Tang Dynasty Poets, I give Song of the Six Realms an 8/10. It’s a lovely stand-alone tale that is sure to sweep you off your feet!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I couldn't resist requesting this. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for "Song of the Six Realms" by Judy I. Lin. An interesting twist for a gothic romance.

An orphaned Xue has been left by her uncle at the House of Flowing Water, and he's gifted her one of the finest qin's in existence. The day she encounters Duke Meng her life changes forever. Little does she know what secrets this instrument hides, and the role she will eventually play when her world collides with the Celestial Realm.

Lin has done it again. What an absolutely gorgeous book. Anytime Xue played the qin I was enchanted by how beautifully the author was able to convey the expression of the music. Honestly everything was so breathtaking: the descriptions of the environment/gardens/architecture, the clothing, and even the food.

I can definitely see how this is considered to have pulled inspiration from "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier.

Also, how can a book make me so happy, but absolutely break my heart at the same time?!

5/5