AOE’s Reviews > A Song to Drown Rivers > Status Update

The stakes have become higher and Xishi is in deep shit

Where did all this craftiness come from? As the story unfolds, we see how Xishi turns enemies into allies for her sake.

Typical, cute tropes. Understandable depth and denial of feelings regarding being a concubine for the enemy king. The narration is Xishi looking back - Fanli and/or Xhengdan will probably die 😭 good romantic scene

Fanyli is down BAD

In a sense, I can see where this is going, in regards to Xishi’s relationships with Zhengdan and Fanli. I like the book, but I am looking to fill the Harry Potter hole 😭

The author wastes no time getting to the main problem and outline of the plot. Two beautiful people, both probably outcasts, falling in love and living in lies to save the country. Very YA-coded. There are profound, beautiful snippets to describe the main character’s thoughts on life, death, and existentialism.