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

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I like how Liang shows both sides of war and manages to build sympathy for both sides equally by showing the pain of each kingdoms citizens. I also admire how she made both Fuchai and Goujian terrible people in the end. Fuchai reminded me of a petulant child for most of the story, so I pictures him younger than he probably was, which made me a bit uncomfortable with his deep-running love for Xishi. I don’t really understand his relationship with his father, but it heavily influenced the way he acted, so I wish that would have been fleshed out a bit more. But overall, his portrayal was really great and showed both his awful and caring side and I definitely understand why Xishi was so torn
when it came to killing him.
I did not care much for Fanlis and Xishis romance. It happened very suddenly and out of the blue and her tries at seducing him were rather embarrassing in my opinion. It truly made me cringe and want to skip these scenes. Plus, his constant coldness just wasn’t my thing. At no point before she left for Wu did he even indicate that he was interested in her. It really had me question his passion for her. I just didn’t feel like they had much chemistry. However, I am one for the dramatics and loved the end where
Xishis ghost/soul waited for centuries for them to be joined again
, even though they only ever spent a few weeks together. Very dramatic, and though it was different from the rest of the book to the point I felt like it didn’t really fit in (Maybe it was because Fanli was suddenly grieving her so fiercely, when he seemed mostly detached before), the writing was truly at its most beautiful in this last bit. 
I liked the ending a lot, and I was very excited in the beginning, because the entire time Xishi was studying I was picturing a scene à la „Barbie- princess and the pauper“ and I was up for her learning both etiquette and political strategies. However, the middle lacked a bit of excitement for me. As soon as she was in Fuchais palace, there was not really any sense of danger or stakes. He read her every wish and I feel like it was just too easy for her to plan this entire attack and gain his trust. I must admit that I was a little bored in the middle there. I just wish there had been a bit more danger.
Overall, it was an okay read. Interesting, definitely, and I’m not mad I read it and had my fair share of fun. Will it be one of my all-time favorites, though? Probably not. 
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