AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, weaves a dreamy standalone romance about a talented musician swept away to the Celestial Realm by a handsome duke 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.
Also by Judy I. Lin:
A Magic Steeped in Poison
A Venom Dark and Sweet

Judy I. Lin es autora de la bilogía El libro del té. Nació en Taiwán y en su juventud migró a Canadá con su familia. Creció con la nariz entre las páginas de los libros, escapándose a mundos imaginarios. Trabaja como terapeuta ocupacional y aún pasa sus noches soñando con mundos que crea en su imaginación. Vive en las praderas canadienses con su esposo y sus hijas.

Judy I. Lin is the New York Times-bestselling author of the Book of Tea duology (A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet), 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 daughters.

Judy I. Lin's profile page

Praise for Song of the Six Realms:
A New York Times Bestseller
An ABA Indies Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
"Lin (A Venom Dark and Sweet) weaves together poetry, music, and Chinese folklore to compose a gorgeously written, captivating story of love, grief, and family that’s anchored in a vibrant world of danger and intrigue." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Lin’s uncommonly beautiful prose ("I was no longer a girl orphaned . . . I was the song, spiraling upwards. A water spirit, dancing in the light") transports readers to a world rich with descriptive details and an intricately layered plot full of mystery and intrigue. Xue’s narration imparts intimacy to this otherwise epic tale; the xianxia fantasy with Gothic elements is an inspired pairing, and Lin’s choices in style and narration are the perfect complement to this C-drama-worthy tearjerker. Fantasy readers will be delighted with this standalone follow-up to Lin’s bestselling Book of Tea duology." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB), starred review
"A love letter to the power of music and a heady tour through a setting inspired by Chinese mythology and legend. ... Refreshing ... With a smart, steadfast heroine, a charming love interest and compelling side characters, Song of the Six Realms is a dazzling, dreamlike escape into a world of powerful poetry, godly magic and humble heroism." —BookPage, starred review
"A sweeping, breathtaking epic. Song of the Six Realms is the flawless meld of romantic gothic atmosphere with vivid storytelling spun from Chinese mythology." —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"A beautiful, mesmerizing tale by one of my favorite storytellers. Song of the Six Realms is filled with mystery, wonder, and a slow burning romance that left me breathless." —Axie Oh, New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
"Enchanting and beautiful, Song of the Six Realms will sweep readers into a glittering yet perilous world of gods and demons, captivating them with its magic, mystery and slow-burn romance." —Sue Lynn Tan, USA Today-bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
"Judy I. Lin basically put a spell on all of us with A Magic Steeped in Poison and now she's taking it one step further with her brand new standalone novel that combines magic, music, and romance. And yes, it will totally fill that hole in your heart after having to say goodbye to The Book of Tea duology that [we] so sadly had to say goodbye to in 2022. Trust us though, this book was certainly worth the wait." —Cosmopolitan
"Ephemeral, beautiful language lends a fairy-tale feel to a narrative with intrigue, nightmares, and twists around every corner; there is a strong Chinese cultural infusion, and the heady romance is slow-burning." —Booklist
"Full of magic, mystery, music, poetry, and intrigue. The detailed and impressive worldbuilding incorporates Chinese culture, food, lore, and poetry. ... A beautiful, engaging fantasy." —Kirkus Reviews
"Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, Lin builds a fantastical gothic story immersed in Chinese mythology and folktales. ... Xue’s ­musicianship is shown through poetic tales woven into the text, aided by lush scenic descriptions that reveal the tone and mood of each song. ... A beautifully detailed Gothic ­fantasy that explores how ignorance and deceit can crumble a community." —School Library Journal
"The latest novel from the author of A Magic Steeped in Poison once again deftly mixes Chinese folklore with music and romance in a delicately rendered fantasy world." —Paste
"YA fantasy readers will adore this beautifully written standalone based on Chinese mythology." —IGN
"This absorbing fantasy combines elements of Chinese mythology and folklore with a compelling mystery to keep the pages turning. Author Judy I. Lin skillfully builds a sweeping world with colorful, easy-to-root-for characters which creates an epic backdrop for exploring grief, love, destiny, choice, and much more." —Common Sense Media
"Like the poets and musicians she celebrates in this dream-like novel, Judy I. Lin makes beautiful music with her story of a gifted young woman weighed down by grief and longing as she searches for a place, be it in heaven or earth, to belong. ... Lin borrows deftly from many sources for this dazzling fairy tale and does so to wonderful effect, creating a tragic, romantic fable that unfurls gently, like a tapestry. ... This is a novel to get lost in, to drift in like a gentle ocean, equal parts decadence and simplicity, true storytelling in its purest form." —BookBrowse
"Lyrically beautiful and richly descriptive, the Song of the Six Realms by Judy Lin is a stunningly written novel that weaves a dark and intriguing atmosphere lavish with intricate, imaginative, and vivid world-building, complex characters, and a tightly-knit plot shrouded in mystery. ... A perfect read for someone looking to depart from the usual fantasy story into one that is rooted in tradition but rich with its magic and whims." —Deccan Herald
Praise for A Venom Dark and Sweet:
A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
"Thrilling ... An immensely satisfying conclusion to this duology. ... Teens will be clamoring for more." —School Library Journal
Praise for A Magic Steeped in Poison:
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
A 2022 PEOPLE Magazine Best Book of Summer
A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2022
A USA Today Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
An ABA Indies Introduce Selection
An ABA Indies Next Pick
"Beautifully written, from the setting to the magic system, A Magic Steeped in Poison is sure to enchant both fantasy lovers and cdrama aficionados. I’ll be inhaling whatever Judy I. Lin brews up next." —Joan He, New York Times-bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find
"Blend threads of Chinese and Taiwanese mythology with a generous pinch of courage, a hint of romance, and a underlying note of mystery, then steep in a pot of court intrigue and serve in a bowl of evocative storytelling … Who could resist a fantasy about the magic of tea? In her remarkable debut novel, Judy I. Lin creates a world rich in folkloric magic, in which a young woman must stand up against the machinations of the powerful, centuries of protocol, and her own feelings of guilt in order to save a loved one." —Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of the Sevenwaters series
"A breathtaking tale with a stunning magic system rooted deep in Chinese mythology and tea-making traditions. Lin's originality truly blew my mind. Love and magic overflows past the brim in this work of beauty." —Xiran Jay Zhao, New York Times-bestselling author of Iron Widow
"Ning’s unforgettable voice and the lush, atmospheric settings will enchant readers in this high-stakes story of deadly magic. ... Lin blends Chinese folklore with a thrilling mystery. It's the perfect recipe for a page-turner." —Booklist, starred review
"Lush, descriptive prose sells the well-built magic system of this world, and every plot twist surprises and delights, making this a rich fantasy page-turner. As much a political thriller as a fantasy, this is a quieter, excellent companion to Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow and Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. The ending will have readers begging for the sequel." —School Library Journal
"Vivid descriptions of foods and scents of tea delight the senses, while cinematic prose captures the beauty of the landscapes ... The magic system is unique, and the tea competition, with its well-established importance to the protagonist, adds tension. ... This sophisticated fantasy is as refreshing as a freshly brewed pot of tea, and readers will eagerly await the sequel." —The Bulletin