A song to drown rivers by Ann Liang

Liang has taken a famous legend of one of the four beauties of ancient China and crafted an exquisite love story. It is the story of Xishi, the one who was so beautiful that when fish saw her reflection in the water, they would forget how to swim and sink to the bottom of the lake. Her beauty sees her selected to become a duplicitous peace offering by the King Goujian of Yue to the all-conquering enemy King Fuchai of Wu. She is to be a concubine and a spy, capture Fuchai’s devotion, exploit his weaknesses and pass on logistical secrets to the Yue army led by the indomitable Fanli.

For Xishi the role is an opportunity to avenge her young sister’s death by a Wu soldier, safeguard her parents, and restore the honour and livelihoods of the impoverished survivors of the Wu ferocity. But her heart remains always with the handsome Fanli, whose unyielding determination has seen him survive torture and rise to become an acclaimed military leader. The worst torture of all becomes the delivering of the beautiful Xishi into the hands of the enemy king.

The character of Xishi combines beauty, intelligence and quick thinking. She has to use her wiles to attract and maintain Fuchai’s attention, and outmanoeuvre those plotting against her favour in the court. She has always to hide her true feelings, as must Fanli also, and never acknowledge the emotion between them.

It is not a simple tale of good versus evil. Liang allows Xishi to realise the tender side of Fuchai, a man who can show kindness and gentleness to her, alongside the careless brutality he may show others. And Xishi also learns that in war there are cruelties on both sides. In bringing down the Wu kingdom, she comes to realise that Wu men, women and children will suffer at the hands of her own country’s soldiers.

A song to drown rivers is a heart-wrenching story of denied love, set within the magnificent but dangerous courts of ancient China. Liang’s fantasy debut is a departure from her usual YA contemporary romances (see I hope this doesn’t find you), and shows her versatility and expertise. I would be eager to see her turn her pen to another of the legendary Chinese four beauties.

Themes: Chinese legend, Fantasy, Romance, Self-sacrifice, Revenge.

Helen Eddy