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

This is honestly kind of a hard book to review for me. I wanted soooo badly to love this book I went into it with really high expectations and maybe that was part of my downfall I really liked the story of this book. I just feel like the writing style was a bit drawn out from my liking.
I feel like the world building in this book was almost overdeveloped. The author put so much effort into it, which obviously is a good thing, but also kind of felt drawn out and I just got bored. I feel like I took so long to read this because I was trying to absorb literally every detail when a lot of the details honestly weren’t even that important.
I also didn’t honestly feel that connected to any of the characters don’t get me wrong. They were well written and well developed. I just couldn’t get super into their minds and I felt like I didn’t know them past surface level.
I’ve seen a lot of people comparing This writing style to studio Ghibli and while I do kind of see it, I love studio Ghibli, but I am definitely not a big fan of this rating style so I would say take with that what you will…. lol
They’re definitely was a pretty good plot going on and I was interested especially towards the last like 30% but it did take a while to get there and I feel like that was due to the excess world building and access information I guess.
Overall I wouldn’t say this was a favorite of mine. I can definitely see people enjoying it, but it just personally wasn’t for me, maybe if I was in a different headspace I would’ve enjoyed it more. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this one but again I can see certain people enjoying it.

*Thank you NetGalley and author for a e-arc copy of this book! All opinions above are 100% my own!*

Song of the Six Realms has music, magic, and competition. Just in case after The Book of Tea you needed some more competition! It revolves around what happens with an opportunity. A chance that we could change our fate. Song of the Six Realms uncovers monsters with more than meets the eye.

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Feiwel & Friends for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

TL;DR: In Song of the Six Realms, Lin draws us into a richly developed world inspired by Chinese mythology and lore. Following Xue's journey, we explore the concepts of fate and what it means to be human experiencing the highs and lows of life. With writing that flows, characters that are easy to root for, and a mysterious turn of events that will make you question the trustworthiness of everyone you meet, it was easy to immerse myself in the story. While not the fastest-paced nor the most action-packed (at least in the beginning), I found myself thoroughly enjoying this story and exploring the mythology that's woven into its pages. If you enjoyed Lin's debut, I think it's safe to say you'll probably enjoy this one too!

First, I want to take a moment to appreciate the designer and artist of this cover: Rich Deas and Sija Huang. Both also worked on Lin's debut cover and to date, the duology is still on my top-tier covers list with this one now joining the ranks. There's such an ethereal quality to the art that I think perfectly captures the cosmic energy of this story about mortals, Celestials and magic.

The Six Realms is told through the POV of our MC, Xue with poems, traditional songs and mythology interspersed as the story unfolds. I loved how Lin introduces us to Chinese folklore, songs and poems and creates the complex layers of a world where celestials, spirits, demons, and humans exist on various planes. I'm glad that we got to explore beyond the mortal realm and I found the imagery of the Celestial plane beautiful and terrifying. I will say that this isn't the fastest-paced story and it takes a decent amount of pages for it to pick up. I think if you enjoy a story that takes its time to move forward with the plot, then you won't mind this—I will say that if you're a mood reader, you'll probably have to wait and be in the right one for this to work for you. But it's beautiful and worth it, IMHO :)

Xue is an easy character to love and root for. Branded as an "undesirable" as a result of her family's betrayal, she grew up accepting how limited her life would be with the many restrictions placed upon her due to her low status. Still, it doesn't stop her from dreaming of one day redeeming her name and eventually living a free life roaming the lands as a travelling musician, much like her beloved uncle is a travelling poet. I loved how the qin instrument and poetry are an integral part of her character and how Xue wields her talents with such confidence. I appreciated how she connected so deeply with each song by understanding the emotional roots of the poetry and how it helped her bring the songs she plays to life. There were moments when her naivete was a bit painful to witness but considering how sheltered her life has been, it made sense for her arc; that said, it doesn't mean that she doesn't have great strength to do the difficult things and to push past her fears and continuously challenges the notion of having a predetermined fate, especially as a mortal. I think she undergoes good growth by the end!

There were quite a few characters that were introduced to once the story kicked off but it wasn't difficult to keep track of who they were and their roles in the plot. The Duke of Dreams, Lingwei and Chenwen alongside several other Celestials and spirits brought an interesting dynamic to the mystery aspect of the plot and although my first theory proved correct, I often second-guessed myself and questioned who was responsible for all the bad. There was a twist that I never saw coming although I'm admittedly bad at seeing twists and guessing whodunit, lol. 😂 I liked the mystery that Xue and the Duke worked to solve and how it allowed elements of the magic and the lore to be further explored. A downside to how the story progressed was that because the beginning was slow when everything started happening in the third and fourth verses, it meant that side characters and their relationships weren't as well-developed as I think they could have been. The Duke of Dreams was a chivalrous, open-minded Celestial who was easy to like and while we got to see him and Xue get to know each other differently (and I thought it was cool), I also wished we got to see more of their interactions. At some point, there became a lot more "telling" than "showing" and that made me lose the connection to the characters and what they were going through—and the author put them through a lot in the end!

Ultimately, that was the thing that kept me from rating this higher as everything pretty much exploded in the last 20%. It was *a lot* and while I loved how intense and action-packed the story got, it was admittedly too much in too little time. We don't get time to process anything that happens as we jump from one action sequence to another and it came off as a bit too bonkers, IMHO! Honestly, I'm a bit torn because I did enjoy the mythology and how everything wove together in the end; even if it was wild, it made sense to the story but I just wish that we got more time to process it. I guess in a way you can say this ends neatly as the loose strings are tied but I could see this being a duology and I kind of wish that it was one so we got more character work and the plot had more room to breathe, too.

Overall though, I quite enjoyed this and if you love Chinese mythology, unique magic, lush world-building and a dreamy quality to your reads, I would recommend checking this out.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story here. I connected well with the main character, which is always an important part of a book for me. Loved the musical aspects of this. As someone looking in from outside of this culture, I found myself on a bit of a google deep dive to learn more of the mythology and behind the themes of the book. Which was a bonus for me because I like to learn new things. My only criticism is the beginning was a little slow and failed to really hook me. Really had to push through the first bit to get the juicy part of the book.

Song of the Six Realms follows a gifted qín player named Xue, as she is whisked away by a Duke to a mysterious manor under the guise of hiring her as a musician. The Duke and his manor are not what they seem though. As Xue is faced with the reality that the threads of her fate have strayed, opening a world of possibilities, she realizes that she might just be the key to not only solving the mystery of her uncle's death, but a mystery greater than she could've ever imagined...one that threatens the balance of the Six Realms.

This book navigates the idea of choices being confronted by a predestined fate, the sacrifices we make for those we love, how that love can transcend, and how the amalgamation of things that make us human is a miracle worth cherishing and celebrating.

I adored Xue as a main character, the way she interprets and internalizes the songs she is to perform, how she perceives and makes sense of the world through the measure of how it would translate into song and how the qín, in her hands, becomes a powerful tool of storytelling, portraying and evoking emotions without uttering a single word.

The writing in this book is absolutely exquisite, and I appreciated how the author incorporated actual poetry from the Tang Dynasty into the story. The romance is the kind that tugs at your heartstrings and makes your chest ache, slowly crescendoing as the story develops. I enjoyed learning about the magic system and the lore behind the Six Realms and the Celestials, the pacing kept me engaged all throughout and the cast of characters was diverse and well-rounded.

Xue was a great character to center this story around. Magical elements and mythological vibes combine to keep me engaged and reading. My only issue is that the pacing is a little slow to start, then kinda rushed towards the end.

I love this book so much. I've read all of Judy Lin's books, and this book just continues my love for her writing. The historical and fantastical aspects of the story come together to create such an amazing story, and I love the characters that she has created. It was a great read and I hope it does well upon release

Let me start by saying, Judy I. Lin, that ending in Song of the Six Realms? You totally got me. I was holding onto hope for more, even though I knew I was nearing the end, and boy, did you deliver. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions, I just want to say thank you for writing such an incredible book.🩵 I need book two. Just throwing out there into the universe.

Xue’s journey starts off rough. Orphaned and sent to an entertainment house by her uncle, she’s left feeling disconnected from the world after his sudden death. But when the Duke offers her a chance at freedom in exchange for a year of service as a musician, she sees an opportunity she can’t refuse.

Little did she know, she’d end up at the Duke of Dreams’ residence, discovering a whole new world of magic and divine rulers. As she explores the estate, she uncovers ancient musical scores and delves into the history of the Duke’s family, including the truth about her uncle’s death.

Music plays a pivotal role throughout the story, as hinted by the title. Xue’s qín playing becomes a way for her to connect with the past, present, and future, weaving together tales of love and loss. Meanwhile, her growing bond with Jinglang, the young Duke burdened with Celestial responsibilities, adds depth to the narrative.

Their romance is slow-burning and realistic, given Jinglang’s past trauma and Xue’s cautious nature. Their interactions are genuine and heartfelt, with no rush to force anything between them.

Song of the Six Realms reads like a Chinese drama come to life. The serene melodies of the qín, the xianxia elements, and the fantastical celestial world all blend together seamlessly. I can only hope to one day see this story adapted for the screen, capturing the magic and beauty of Judy I. Lin’s world in all its glory!