A Song to Drown Rivers

⤷ Synopsis:

A Song to Drown Rivers is a beautifully written and captivating tale about love, war, and sacrifice; about a woman tasked with using her wit and beauty to topple an enemy kingdom, all while navigating danger, potential war, and every difficult decision – but between her heart and the good of an entire kingdom, in the end, what choice does she really have?

⤷ Review:

This book was so much more than the gorgeous cover and interesting premise. I loved A Song to Drown Rivers, and I loved the well-written characters, emotional writing, twists and turns filled plot, and most of all, the forbidden romance.

Xishi and Fanli’s story was as devastating as it was beautiful.

It was so bittersweet and heartbreaking to know that no matter what happened, Xishi would have to leave Fanli behind and travel to Wu. Behind – both physically and mentally, because a single slip up could end them both, not to mention an entire kingdom. But that made every sweet or even remotely romantic scene all the more precious….like when Fanli excepts a matching bracelet from her, or when he gets all possessive and worried about her when she’s injured, and he’s trying to take care of her while fending off attacks. *swoons*

So obviously, when they part ways as she goes to Wu, it’s a little sad. But her time in Wu was just as engaging, and the plot was constantly filled with twists and turns. I was afraid to put the book down as Xishi navigated the court and it’s advisors. It became apparent that she was a strong and brave FMC, and so much more then just her beauty.

This is also where Fuchai, the King of Wu, is introduced. He’s written as a tormented boy, given a throne he doesn’t want, and unsure of who to trust in his own court. I wish he was written as more “evil”, because I kind of felt bad for him, but I also couldn’t deny Xishi’s need for vengeance and the cruelty of his actions.

This book was pretty fast paced and engaging, and I think because of that, I had no sense of how much time had gone by. Maybe it was just me, but ten weeks seemed to pass by as quickly as two years, and I wish there had been more of a difference.

The ending though, was very defined, so final, so matter of fact, and shocking in every way. I can’t believe I didn’t cry at all (so unlike me!), but I was just too rendered speechless to do anything but keep reading. It’s devastating, yet oddly fitting. There’s no doubt that this is how the tale was meant to end, but it doesn’t erase all the emotions that come with the ending (all the emotions that set in after I flipped the last page and put the book down and took a moment – or a lot of moments, to process everything I’d just read).

⤷ Final Thoughts: 

✨✨✨✨✨ / 5

Final thoughts: A Song to Drown Rivers exceeded and defied my expectations in every way and I’m so glad I got a chance to read and review this book. It isn’t one I could forget and I don’t think I could recommend this book enough