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

Finally finished! The book is beautifully written - word choice, descriptions of scenery and emotions, structure. I actually like the ending - not every protagonist will “get the guy”. Xishi and Fanli were practically together. I think of Xishi and Fuchai more as friends, a false romance. There was a lot of preachy-ness regarding The Man and resistance against him, which isn’t a bad thing.

Tragedy beautifully written. I knew Xishi couldn’t do all of this without guilt and feeling attached to Fuchai.

When so many lives, stake, and emotional turmoil are on the line, it is hard to grieve. But I don’t understand the transitions between the loss of a loved one and then the narrative is that nothing important happened.

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.

An almost devastating romance, and, of course, King Fuchai is not what Xishi expected. Wu Xizu is on her every move. “I will remember you.”

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.