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!

Although the premise of this book was intriguing, I found myself not fully enjoying the story. I had a hard time with the pacing. I struggled getting through the middle of the book. By the time the pacing picked up towards the (chaotic) end, I was pretty checked out. I wish there was more closure to the ending. I also had a difficult time following the Celestial history. I thought there were some neat magical elements to the story such as Jinglang's dreaming abilities. I felt that Jinglang could have been a little more developed. As for the FMC, I thought Xue was okay. I didn't fully connect with her. I wanted to see more fight from her! She was a little too naive for my liking. I did like Lin's writing style. I thought she did a fantastic job describing the setting and character's outfits. Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC.

I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading and loving the author's other series The Book of Tea. Lin's writing is so immersive, and like The Book of Tea series, I was immediately transported into this unique magical world where the main character has incredible musical abilities and catches the attention of a mysterious Lord. This man offers Xue a way out of her contract if she agrees to spend one year at his home as his musical performer. Xue, determined to regain her status in society, agrees and quickly realizes that everything is not as it seems.

Lush and magical and steeped in Chinese mythology, the story also has some Beauty and the Beast and Gothic vibes with a mysterious MMC, the grumpy/sunshine dynamics, the dark and ominous setting, and the magic. It's a richly developed and fascinating world, and the author's use of imagery is fantastic. I love her writing style and how it brings the story to life.

The characters are intriguing, too, especially Xue and Duke Meng. An orphan who recently lost her only other family, Xue has a tragic story backstory, and her present is spent indebted to another. She has every reason to be bitter and angry, but Xue never gives up hope for a better future. She grows and changes so much, and her journey from quiet and insecure to strong and more self-assured is great. And the duke is so mysterious and moody and broody, which I always love in a MMC. Their slow-building romance is also lovely, and it's a bright spot in the lives of two people who go through some very dark situations. They have a lot of chemistry and an interesting connection that brings them even closer.

With the mystery of her uncle's murder yet to be solved, a war looming, an enigmatic benefactor with more than his fair share of secrets, and demons, beasts, celestials, and secondary characters whose intentions aren't always clear, there's a lot of intrigue, action, and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and though it's a standalone, I could easily see this (and really want it to be!) expanded into a series. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Unbelievably beauty magical Wuxia tale of a girl, Qin, and history of Celestial beings. A novel quick-paced filled with mystery, past memories, and help from spirits to discover the corruption of the heavenly world.

Broken in down into four verse like in music, we see different acts of Guxue’s life. How she came to be at the House of Flowing Water. How she comes to cross path with Celestial beings and how her life thread is so closely fated with their path and finally her purpose in saving the world.

This is Judy’s third novel and I devoured this story in one sitting. I actually adore it more than the Book of Tea duology. The craft of her writing has honed with clarity and purposeful storytelling. The world is beautifully crafted. It really felt like I was watching a Chinese fantasy drama. The ending was beautiful if not wistful. As delicately watercolor cover art reflects the story perfectly.

A novel I would definitely recommend!!

Lin transports readers through realms of dreams and magic and into a lush and whimsical fantasy escape in her new tale, Song of the Six Realms.

Orphaned at a young age, Xue is a bright and talented musician working in one of the esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. With no hope for a distinguishing future, she plays her qin for guests until one night changes everything. An unexpected visitor makes her an offer she can’t refuse and an opportunity to have a future she had never dreamed of before.

Lin excels in crafting a dreamy and truly beautiful story full of hopes, dreams, and music. The pages of this novel came to life through her romantic, whimsical prose and elegant descriptions, working in tune with her themes of song, storytelling, and poetry.

I loved seeing the romance develop into a quite adorable, bittersweet love story. And the unraveling mystery kept me hooked and flipping pages to see what would happen next. The story itself is one of a complete slow burn. Lin allows her prose and characters to shine by building them up gradually within the plot with simmering intrigue and enthralling mythology.

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think this book holds a place in the modern trend of Chinese mythology young adult books. This book has the great task of explaining and exploring a complicated world filled with all kinds of beings whilst containing compelling characters, political/social unrest and a believable love story. I think it accomplishes nearly all of it in beautifully written prose and poetry. The story quickly grows into something much greater than a girl trying to find comfort in the world she is stuck in. That alone would have been an interesting premise as the mortal world felt real. Throw in a few terrifying monsters and a magical being who is trying to discover behind the truth of two deaths and the story is enriched with an even greater world. The world building details were at first a little overwhelming, especially as I was trying to pick out which information was important to understand and what was just flavor text, but as I got farther in I realized it was the little details along the way that actually made me appreciate the setting and characters. The food also always sounded delicious. If anything, I wish there was more time on the main romantic relationship, but that is partly because I liked the two characters. Whether or not this is a standalone (which I hope it remains), I think this story adds to the genre with its focus on the power of music and poetry. It is a luscious story filled with fantastic ideas and a compelling examination of who can we really believe in a dynamic and corruptible world.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Song of the Six Realms by Judy I Lin is a new book from the author that wrote Magic Steeped In Poison. I initially read the first series and fell in love with the author's writing style - something I'm glad to say continues in this book.

Song of the Six Realms is the story of a girl with a great talent for music. She was taken in by her uncle after her family was executed for supporting the wrong side in a political feud. Because of this she is not allowed a proper social standing. Her one hope is joining an entertaining house and gaining enough renown to earn a pardon for her name.

The story starts properly when she catches the eye of a mysterious lord, who wants to buy out her contract. While the owner of her entertainment house is dubious of the lord's intentions, It turns out that the lord might be more than he seems and Xue is in for a big surprise.

This book took a lot of mythological elements and wove it into a great story. It also incorporates poetry and music into the plot which was a nice addition. Judy Lin tends to choose magic systems that are a bit different than the norm, and this one was no exception.

While I did enjoy this book a lot, the first two thirds of the book felt very different from the last third. Things ramped up and became quite complicated quite quickly. It did catch me a little off guard and left me a little confused at first. And there are a few questions left unanswered.

In general, this book was very atmospheric and comforting to read. Not quite a cozy read, but very close. If you love historical K-drama or C-dramas, this is definitely something to pick up. I am looking forward to what Judy I Lin will release in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for allowing me to receive an ebook arc of this book.

I loved Judy Lin’s previous books and I wanted to read this one as soon as I saw it. This book was excellent. There’s adventure magic, mystery, intrigue, and I devoured it.

Xue is just a mortal, who ends up becoming an extraordinary person with an extraordinary fate. Unbeknownst to her, she will change the destiny of all six realms.

I loved the book. It reminded me of all the historical Chinese dramas that I’ve watched. The images were vivid because the descriptions were amazing. I couldn’t wait to see what happened as each chapter progressed. I loved the little interludes between some of the chapters, which gave context to the rest of the story. I like how Judy gives real life feelings to her characters as well as real life situations in her plot.

I don’t know if there’s going to be a second novel in this world but I’m hoping there will be if not with these characters, then with new ones.

Thank you again, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for letting me review this wonderful book.

Song of the Six Realms was a book that kept me on my toes. Even when some of my predictions of intrigue were correct, there were plenty of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters drew me in, and the world-building was amazing. I hope to keep reading more from Judy I. Lin in the future, and hopefully return to this world again too!

*potential spoilers*
Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for my egalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The "Song of the Six Realms" by Judy I. Lin was one that I knew I needed to request because I loved her Book of Tea duology. I think Lin's writing is very lyrical, poetic, and just pleasant to read and this standalone was in no shortage of those traits. The book follows Xue, a young woman with no prospects. She was orphaned at a young age and taken in by her uncle who leaves her in the care of the House of Flowing Water while he travels the kingdom as a poet. Xue's uncle is killed in a bandit attack that sets Xue up with a prospect she never thought to be considered for.

I really enjoyed this book. It was kind of a slow start for me but that's likely because I was in the process of revising my MA capstone and starting research on course papers. This book reminded me a lot of a fantasy CDrama. You know the kind: flowing robes, wings, cool magic effects, and gorgeous people. I LOVED the way that Lin explained the world of the Six Realms. The Interludes helped a lot not just to contextualize what Xue was learning but to further entice the reader to keep reading and want more information. I also loved how Lin set up the romance in this. The ML, Jinglang, is so sweet and kind. He was a nice reprieve from YA's epidemic of the mysterious and brooding love interest who is also emotionally and sometimes physically abusive. Xue and Jinglang are sweet and the way that they really open up communications between the two was, again, a nice reprieve. In general there were a lot of healthy couples in this book and I love that for readers.

I will say that the ending was a gut punch. Like. Why. Just why. I mean, I would a hundred percent read a novella of things being resolved...Just saying.

Go pick this up when it comes out on April 23rd.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I've read all of Judy Lin's stories so far and this is the best one yet. The world building seemed like it would be intense for one story but because of all the Interludes within the book, it all came together very seamlessly. I throughly enjoyed this story and its characters. The romance was a bit slow but this is understandable because there's so much going on in the story to begin with. I loved how sweet Xue and Jinglang. He was very earnest and kind which I liked because a lot of boys in YA Fantasy novels seem to be very intense/mysterious. Where all my soft boys like my Duke Jinglang here!!! Anyways, I had more fun reading this novel than I expected. It was fairly lighthearted and easy to read without bogging the reader down with mythos and background stories. I'm happy it was a standalone too so I won't be waiting for a second (or even a third novel) to come out to finish this story. That being said, THAT ENDING THOUGH. How could Judy do this to me?? How do I move on??? What do I do now??? UGH!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed Judy I. Lin’s debut duology, so I was excited to read more from her. Song of the Six Realms is a promising follow-up effort, showing her talent, but I also found it slightly lacking in places. Other reviewers have said this is the epitome of a book that leans more toward “vibes” than anything else, and I have to agree.
The world building is the best part, and given it’s also something I liked in The Book of Tea duology, that’s a plus. I enjoyed the history and lore conveyed throughout the book, even if at times it overwhelmed the rest of the story, sometimes to its own detriment. And the author’s note providing more insight into the explicit Tang Dynasty influences was great, given it’s the first period of Chinese history that I fell in love with through fiction.
The characters were ok, but not super spectacular. Xue was fine as YA protagonist, but I didn’t feel she had the “it” factor that a lot of truly great fantasy protagonists have that endear me to them. And considering the blurb calls this a romance (at least in a loose sense) and Judy I. Lin was one of the authors who was vocal about her concern about the confusing marketing of “romantasy” on Threads not too long ago, it’s not shocking that while the love interest isn’t offensive or anything, he’s also kind of just there, and the romance isn’t super impactful.
The plot is also fairly simple and predictable, and I found myself finishing the book feeling rather conflicted as to whether I wanted more of this story or not, given how underbaked and underwhelming it was.
While I didn’t care for this book, I also acknowledge I’m not exactly the audience for it. But I would recommend it to readers interested in Chinese-inspired YA fantasy with a heavy emphasis on aesthetics and “vibes.”

3.5 Stars out of 5.


I was really captivated by the mixture of mythology and music that played into this story- it was unique and enticing the further I read. The main character definitely could have been given more depth as I felt no connection whatsoever with her.
It felt very drawn out in the beginning- to where towards the last 25% so many revelations were just dumped on us within two chapters it was a lot to take in. I feel it could have been executed a bit better. Also one of the big mysteries we as readers unravel was so obvious from the beginning so for shock value there barely was any for me at least.
Not to mention the ending left me unsatisfied and rushed- or as if it could be made into a duology yet it’s only a standalone. I think this is just one of the times I fell victim to a very beautiful cover, but nonetheless I am pleased to have given this author a chance.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read an eARC of this book for an honest review.