Review | Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

Review of ‘Song of the Six Realms‘ by Judy I. Lin.

“I blinked and the moment was gone. I dreamed of a thousand lifetimes, and it would not be enough.”

– Song of the Six Realms
Judy I. Lin

‘Song of the Six Realms’ by Judy I. Lin is a beautifully crafted fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology

Synopsis

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.

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Review

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

First things first, I have to mention that “Song of the Six Realms” has an absolutely stunning cover. It’s the kind of artwork that immediately catches your eye and makes you want to pick up the book and dive into its pages.

Now, onto the characters. I started off really liking Xue; she had a strong, intriguing presence that drew me in. However, as the story progressed, she started to fall flat. It became harder to connect with her, and I found myself losing the initial enthusiasm I had for her character.

The romance in this book is not very prominent, which might be a letdown for some readers. While there are hints of romantic elements, they never quite take center stage, which left me craving a bit more development in that area.

The world-building in “Song of the Six Realms” was solid, and I loved the concept of the different realms. However, we only get to experience two out of the six realms, which I found really disappointing, especially since this is a standalone novel. The potential for exploration was immense, and I can’t help but wish it were a duology to give the world the depth it deserves.

The pacing of the book was very slow. There was a lot of information that felt unnecessary, and the story really only picked up in the last 15% of the book. This sudden shift made the ending feel rushed, as if everything happened all at once after a long, drawn-out buildup.

I received an uncorrected proof, so I can’t say for sure if this will be in the final release, but there was a lot of repetition in the text. For example, phrases like “While we ate” were repeated within a few sentences, which disrupted the flow and felt redundant.

Despite these issues, the plot itself was interesting. I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of music and how the author described Xue’s use of her qin. These moments were fascinating and beautifully written, adding a unique flavor to the story.

The overall vibe of this book, enriched with Chinese elements, was something I absolutely loved. The use of Chinese words for instruments and poem names written in Chinese characters added an authentic touch that made the setting come alive.

Would I recommend it?

It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re in the mood for a slow-paced fantasy inspired by Chinese culture, this book might be right up your alley. Just be prepared for a gradual buildup and a world that leaves you wanting more.

Rating

6/10

Details

• Trigger warnings / Animal death, blood, body horror, body shaming, confinement, death, death of a loved one, grief, injury/injury detail, murder, sexual assault (minor), torture, violence
• Representation / Asian main characters
• Genre / Fantasy (Young Adult)
• Pages / 376
• Publication date / April 23rd, 2024
• Publisher / Feiwel & Friends
• About the author / Judy Lin was born in Taiwan and moved to Canada when she was eight years old. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now divides her time between working as an occupational therapist and creating imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughter.

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With love,