A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

A Song to Drown Rivers Review

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3.5 out of 5)

A Song to Drown Rivers is a modern retelling of the tale of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, and Fan Li, the advisor to King Goujian of Yue. Xishi is trained by Fan Li to infiltrate the enemy Wu kingdom as a king's concubine, and ultimately leads to the Yue's victory. I was initially drawn to this novel for its integration of Chinese history, and I was interested in learning more about the story while also exploring how an adaptation could benefit us now and connect to relevant teachings. I was pleasantly met with Ann Liang's immersive writing style, which described the environment with great detail and beautiful diction. I could imagine the water rippling in the serene nature and the overwhelming crowds in the marketplace while reading. The atrocities and crimes committed by the Wu soldiers were realistically depicted, and her world-building helped support and deepen my understanding of the characters' motivations throughout the novel.

I admired Xishi's resilience and bravery throughout the novel as she faced tragedy and danger to save her people. Both she and Fan Li represent the greater struggle that many people face: choosing between selfishness and the greater good. The novel raises important discussion about following one's heart or prioritizing the overall consequences. While Xishi makes the selfless decision to give up her livelihood for her kingdom, it is also completely within human nature to reject such a role in fear for one's life. The weight of said choice emphasizes Xishi's courage and noble character. I really appreciated how Xishi does not end up with Fuchai, despite the novel's romanticization of his character. His kindness and love towards Xishi add nuance to her decision to ultimately remain loyal to the kingdom of Yue because it humanizes his character. Though he authorizes violent massacres of villages, he takes care of his loved ones. This stark contrast illustrates the morality of compliance, because by accepting Fuchai, Xishi would also be accepting his horrific actions, even if they were no longer directly impacting her.

I disliked the ending of the novel, however, because it felt rushed and messy. From the beginning of the novel, it was quite predictable that Fan Li would be the main love interest of Xishi. Because Xishi spends most of her time in the palace, and her time training with Fan Li is briefly described, their interactions felt minor and did not further their connection. Additionally, the book ends with an element of spirits and hauntings, which, while interesting, was never explored earlier in the story; therefore, it feels random and last-minute. Overall, the book was an interesting read when taken at face value: a YA retelling of a Chinese legend. I would recommend it to those interested in romance, action, and Chinese history.

In a war-torn ancient China, Xishi is destined to marry well and support her family. However, when rumors of her unmatched beauty reach Fanli, the famous young military advisor of the kingdom of Yue, she is offered an opportunity to change her life: use her beauty to infiltrate the rival kingdom of Wu. By doing so, she can weaken the kingdom from within and ultimately avenge her sister's murder. However, Xishi, unfamiliar with the cutthroat environment of the palace, puts both her life and Yue at risk. 

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