A review by ceruleanshelves
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

4.0

the mind destroys, the heart devours

the fact that this is the same author that wrote i hope this never finds you is crazyyy (/pos). i enjoyed IHTNFY, it's just a total 180 going from a YA contemporary romcom to this fantasy tragedy in a fictional ancient china. it's a testament to her writing bc if i hadn't known it was the same author, i would never have guessed.

a beautiful but tragic tale of the most beautiful woman from a distant village conscripted to seduce and betray the king of a neighboring kingdom who ruthlessly took over hers. the YEARNING between xishi and fanli was crazyyyy. i was impressed with the writing, as there were very poetic lines and felt very true to the time period/genre, but there was also a simplicity and pacing to it where i never felt bogged down. i was actually able to read this very quickly, and i needed to know if xishi and fanli would succeed in their mission and reunite.

overall, i enjoyed it and but there were a few small things i think could be improved. emotionally though, i'm devastated please give me 5-10 business days to recover 😭 there are romance elements, but fair warning, this is not a romance with a perfect happy ending.

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