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emherrick's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The main plot is overall a little cliche, with a love plot that you can see from the very beginning but you are rooting for them. However, there is an interesting twist at the end, making you rethink who the real enemy is.
During the main character's mission, you get a sense that she is able to use not only her beauty but also her cleverness to her advantage. However, in my opinion, she does everything almost too easily. Besides a couple moments that I don't want to spoil, she does not really struggle with any of the challenges presented to her.
During the main character's mission, you get a sense that she is able to use not only her beauty but also her cleverness to her advantage. However, in my opinion, she does everything almost too easily. Besides a couple moments that I don't want to spoil, she does not really struggle with any of the challenges presented to her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
oceanelle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Really enjoyed this; I even shed a tear at the end. Beautiful writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and War
agent_bex's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This author has a way with storytelling - I was drawn in from the first page, which to me is always a sign of a wonderful story. While I didn't love the end, it wasn't because it was poorly written - it was because I wished for a happily ever after and knew I wasn't going to get it lol. In fact it was very well written. And maybe a controversial take, but Luyi was my favorite character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Xenophobia, and War
booksandbujos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this book, especially the ending and the message about who is good versus who is evil and how the side you are on can play a big part in that and not who the person is themselves. We start by not liking the Wu Emperor because of the war against Xishi’s people. But as Xishi spends more time with the Emperor, she learns her first impression may have been wrong and she experiences some really complicated feelings as a result. It was a really interesting discussion and I think it was done really well.
My one issue was that I felt this book had some pacing issues. The beginning, where Xishi is training to be a proper lady, seems very rushed. And then the middle, where Xishi is in the Wu kingdom, seems to drag a little but also rush at times. I honestly could have done with a few more pages to flesh out some of the parts that I wanted to learn more about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
kapahl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
novellisa22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ever admit to purchasing a book because of its cover? I will admit it, I did!
I am slowly adding fantasy to the genres that I read (I need an escape), but I don’t want them to be too far out there.
While reading A Song To Drown Rivers, I felt that this wasn’t as much the fantasy genre. It felt more like Old Chinese folklore,which was intriguing. The story had war, revenge, love and betrayal. It was a slow burn of a book while setting up the story and very detail oriented. It was beautifully written but at times I felt dragged just a bit. I could have been (while reading) a child being told the legend of the concubine, Xishi and how she took down a kingdom with her beauty.
Xishi has been asked to assist the Yue people and kingdom to be the Wu King's concubine as a spy. She will have to learn the ways of court, the palace and etiquette in order to become King Fanchi’s favorite. However, she falls in love with the minister who is training her to seduce the King. (And as we know, it's hard to remember your focus when you are in love!)
I enjoyed reading this and wondering how this was going to play out…I believe I just need a little more of an open mind when it comes to these types of books. It was good. It was sad. It had some words to take to heart. And I liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Murder, and War
crayolabird's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Xishi's life has been scarred by war. Even in her tiny riverside village, her losses have been heartbreaking. The fact that she has a beauty that is unmatched hasn't taken the edge off of the pain she's felt. So when Xishi is given an opportunity to exact revenge on the kindgom that wreaked such destruction, she is willing, even if that means becoming an infiltrator and a spy as a concubine in an enemy palace.
This retelling of a Chinese legend sounded super promising - and I am glad that I at least have the idea of Xishi in my mind. But I wonder if the "real" Xishi was a more complex character than the one here in this book. Her dialogue often came off as rather simpering, even when she is supposedly with her true love, the man who recruited her to be a spy in the first place. The entire weird love triangle situation here didn't particularly work for me - the king that Xishi is seducing is a one dimensional fop with a brutally violent streak, so it was hard for me to ever really either his or Xishi's emotions when it came to "romance."
I think I just had to suspend my disbelief too many times. Too many questions popped into my head while I was reading that didn't get answered, leaving plot holes that frustrated me. At the same time, I did want to finish it - so I think that even beyond this, I did still want to know how it ended. Of course, I didn't particularly love the ending either, so. There you go. 2.5 stars rounded up to three for being interesting enough to keep me reading until the end and for introducing me to a Chinese legend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and War
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and War
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
dearmalea's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ach, du heilige Scheiße. Das Buch hat mich mit einem sehr poetischen Schreibstil empfangen. Erst war ich etwas skeptisch: Warum nur 10 Wochen? Warum? Warum? Warum... Nun, circa 1 Minute kann ich sagen. Alles. Ergibt. Sinn. Alles. Ergibt. Sinn. Auch wenn mir der Anfang der Liebesgeschichte zwischen Xishi und Fanli zu schnell ging, war es "in Ordnung", aber ICH WOLLTE NICHT, DASS ES SO ENDET und es hat mich zerstört. Am Ende haben sich alle Fragen für mich aufgeklärt und es war so schön und gleichzeitig so zerstörend (Ja, ich sitze hier heulend). Dieses Buch ist sooo besonders und definitiv ein Highlight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Torture and Violence
laurenlolson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content