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A review by amshu
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
very much so a right time right book situation
incredibly lyrical, moving prose that was paired with well-constructed political intrigue. reflecting back on the book, so many of the plot points felt unrealistically fleshed out and conveniently written a certain way, it made it difficult to find Xishi's political uprise very realistic. Irrespective, I was quite invested in her journey and relationships, and my favourite aspect is probably the fact that she was still somehow attached to the emperor but her hatred and desire for revenge overpowered that guilt and affection. I've always found it unrealistic that you can only skew in one direction or the other when you're spying, and seeing a portrayal of this morally grey in-between felt truly perfect.
incredibly lyrical, moving prose that was paired with well-constructed political intrigue. reflecting back on the book, so many of the plot points felt unrealistically fleshed out and conveniently written a certain way, it made it difficult to find Xishi's political uprise very realistic. Irrespective, I was quite invested in her journey and relationships, and my favourite aspect is probably the fact that she was still somehow attached to the emperor but her hatred and desire for revenge overpowered that guilt and affection. I've always found it unrealistic that you can only skew in one direction or the other when you're spying, and seeing a portrayal of this morally grey in-between felt truly perfect.