Ann LiangRomance · Young Adult·b. 2000
A Song to Drown Rivers
Synopsis
Xishi's beauty has always been seen as a blessing meant for marrying well, until the military advisor Fanli offers her a different use for it: infiltrate the palace of the rival kingdom of Wu, seduce its king, and weaken it from within to avenge her sister's murder and save her people.
Fanli trains her in everything from music to hiding her true feelings, but he can see through every mask she wears, and the attraction between them only grows more dangerous the longer she's away.
Inside the Wu court, Xishi becomes the object of the king's affection and his advisors' suspicion alike, climbing higher in his favor even as the risk of exposure grows.
Ann Liang's retelling of the legendary beauty of Yue turns a story of court seduction into one about the cost of being used as a weapon, and what's left of a person once the mask comes off.
How it reads
Prose complexity 7/10
Content warnings (5)
ViolenceGraphic ViolenceGoreSelf HarmDeath Of A Parent
- Ann Liang's writing beautifully reflects the immense journey of a deep undercover mission, with its outcome being a life or death for the people of its nation. This is not a simple love story, but one that revolves around lies, manipulation and betrayal. Xishi is a commoner but with immense beauty. With this beauty, she becomes a pawn in a dangerous game of deceit. Her character is pretty straightforward - for the sake of her family and the greater good of her nation, she will use her wiles and beauty to distract and manipulate, alongside her dearest and feisty friend, Zhengdan. She has flaws and isn't perfect, yet she cannot let this reflect on the surface. The intense yearning between Xishi and Fanli was almost torturous, a forbidden love between the two with no expectations it will ever come to fruition. The relationship with Fuchai was also complicated, and I wish his character was developed more, despite his place in actual history. A short but concise retelling of the Legend of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China. Beauty can be underestimated, and in this instance it was used to its fullest.
- Fantastically written. Really enjoyed reading it. Was well paced throughout. Did think the main character was a bit naive towards the end but other than that I thought it was a really good book.