BLOGTOUR | Favourite quotes from Song of the Six Realms by Judy I Lin

Happy Saturday!

What are you currently reading?

My last read was Song of the Six Realms for the blogtour. I have been following Judy’s works since her debut and was anticipating her new release. Before I dive into the review and quotes, let me say, it was one adventurous read. Ngl, the cover is gorgeous 🤩

Book DETAILS

► Title: song of the six realms

► BY: Judy i lin

► Publishing: Feiwel & Friends

► on: April 23, 2024

► Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

► Standalone

► Pages: 400 ► Age: 13+

► Rating: 3.75/5★

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. 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.

Add to Goodreads

Tour Schedule

Thanks for the DRC of this book Feiwel & Friends and TBR and Beyond Tours!

BUY BOOK: AMAZON | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

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.

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.

Favourite Quotes

I was no longer a girl orphaned, a woman lost. I was the song, spiralling upward. A water spirit, dancing in the light.

What you offer and what someone is willing to give you. Know your worth.

I was living in a place beyond time.

Better to be miserable with my stomach full than miserable and hungry.

Dreams are just another type of thread that holds up the Mortal Tapestry

I’m grateful for the threads of fate that led our paths to cross

Torture is an art after all.

About the Author

Judy I. Lin was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now works as an occupational therapist, and still spends her nights dreaming up imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughter. A Magic Steeped in Poison is her debut novel.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS