By Belana Beeck
“I was the song, spiraling upward. A water spirit, dancing in the light.”
Song of the Six Realms, by Judy I. Lin follows an artist, an orphan without direction, named Xue. In this world filled with unexpected magic she will soon find out that her story, fated from a young age and laced with power, is much more than being a simple qin player.
Accepting a possible lifetime of servitude, Xue has become an apprentice of a highly esteemed entertainment house in her kingdom, the house of Flower Water. Although comfortable in her predicament, Xue lives a solitary life despite being surrounded by others. She hopes for the day her uncle will invite her on his travels but when he unexpectedly passes away, she is devastated, having lost her only connection to a life outside of the contract.
One night, a man named Duke Meng asks Xue to play for him. At first she is apprehensive, but this man’s affinity for poetry and music impresses her. So much so, that when he offers her residence at his manor and a way to gain her freedom, she agrees. But not everything is as it seems, and Xue slowly discovers that what she thought were myths and legends is actually true: the Celestial Realm is real and Duke Meng, the Duke of Dreams, has been hiding the real reason he brought her to his home. He needs her help to unlock memories from her past to uncover mysteries that have befallen the kingdom in order to stop an impending war.
Perfectly whimsical, Judy I. Lin has created a beautiful world, captivating with its synthesis of Chinese mythology and poetic language. The setting is gorgeous and the beginning of the novel pulled me in quickly with the way Lin describes the two main locations, the House of Flowing Water and the Meng family estate, surrounded by nature: “The trees pressed in against either side, thick and endless, towering over us. Fog swept in, obscuring everything around us, and cast everything in a gray, silvery light. It felt like we were floating amid the clouds.” So beautifully set, this estate sounds mystical, gates of stone and pillars keeping mysteries inside. However, because the world felt so captivating, I would have loved to explore more of the surrounding kingdoms and other realms.
There is a distinct gothic tone and energy surrounding the characters and setting of the story. Lin writes with such precision that the House of Flowing Water feels very real and dimensional. The girls who grew up with Xue seem both driven and lost in the world of servitude. While I loved getting to spend time there, I was definitely looking forward to seeing Xue leave with Duke Meng. Moreover, the Meng family estate did not disappoint. I found myself finding Beauty and the Beast references, such as the red rose, a grand library, secrets and echoes of lavish parties, although I’m not sure if done purposely. The beauty of the house, with its gardens, giant libraries, desolate hallways, and forbidden wings, creates an intriguing and beautiful setting for our main character.
What initially captivated me was the use of music and poetry to drive the plot of the story. As mentioned above, Xue is a talented qin player. Due to her uncle’s past, she now holds the ability to unlock memory jewels with her qin. These memory jewels hold recollections, dreams or moments that individuals experienced. The way Lin describes these jewels and the power they have brings comfort to not only the character but the readers as well. By stepping inside these memory jewels, Xue is able to heal her grief by observing memories left by her uncle. There is something beautiful about seeing a loved one be happy and discovering their source of joy that brings us peace of mind. Additionally, I liked how music is used as an avenue for Xue to grapple with feelings of abandonment and grief. She contemplates what home is and her inability to return to it, feeling alone while surrounded by others, and questioning fate and choice. These themes recur in the novel as the past unfolds and other characters are introduced.
Advertised as a romance, Song of the Six Realms is both heartwarming and a slow burn. Xue and the Duke understand each other, working together to not only solve the problems of the kingdom, but also their own fears and doubts. The end is both gut wrenching and hopeful, and something happens that I definitely did not expect.
Overall, Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin is worth the read if you are familiar with Chinese folklore and want to delve into a more gothic world surrounded by melodies and poetry. Albeit, if you are not too familiar with Chinese folklore, you might miss a lot of details. So, I suggest you pay close attention, especially at the end when all the anticipated secrets come to fruition. The mystery and tension in the story kept me on my toes and I very much enjoyed the other characters that were introduced. So much so that I wish we could have spent more time with them. Nonetheless, I applaud Lin’s ability to bring the qin to life in her prose. There is something beautiful about words being both read and heard. The songs and poetry explored in this novel both explore culture and provide irreplaceable comfort.
Belana Beeck is a prose and poetry writer, interested in fantasy, historical, and contemporary fiction. She is also eager to showcase her Latinx culture through her work. She earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Chapman University.