Song of the Six Realms

by Judy I. Lin

Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, weaves a dreamy gothic romance worthy of the heavens in Song of the Six Realms.

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. The young man is strangely kind and awkward for nobility, 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.

• ISBN10: 1250871611
• ISBN13: 9781250871619
• Publish Date: 23 April 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• URL: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250871619/songofthesixrealms

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Xue has faced uncertainty for most of her life. As a young orphan, she accepted her fate would be vastly different if not for her uncle stepping in to care for her. He took her in and encouraged her musical talent.

This talent is about to change her life forever. First, it earned her an apprenticeship at an esteemed entertainment house. She went in there thinking she could never leave, only for another opportunity to raise its head.

My Review:

Song of the Six Realms is a beautiful and enchanting novel. It’s safe to say that it is absolutely perfect for readers looking for something full of Chinese folktales, music, and poetry. There’s also a dash of intrigue, politics, and romance.

What I loved the most about this novel was the overall atmosphere. Judy I. Lin’s writing somehow felt like a warm hug? That’s the best way I can describe it. The lore of this world is enough to keep most readers invested.

I’ll confess that the pacing for Song of the Six Realms can sometimes be a bit slow. It’s one of those stories that comes around eventually but isn’t in a rush to get there. If you enjoy the world and storytelling format, you’ll enjoy this book. But you might want to pass if you’re looking for something fast-paced.

Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Romantic Fantasy
Magical Realms
Music and Magic

Trigger Warnings:
Classism

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