A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. It delves into themes of womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds.

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue, who believe the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi captures the attention of the renowned young military advisor, Fanli, he offers her a unique opportunity: to wield her beauty as a weapon. Her mission is to infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within, thereby avenging her sister’s murder and improving the lives of her people.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotions, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. The attraction between them is undeniable, burning away any falsehoods.

Within the enemy palace, Xishi is under the watchful eyes of the king’s advisors, while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a lurking brutality means she can never let her guard down. As Xishi rises in the Wu court, the risk of being unmasked as a traitor grows, threatening to bring both kingdoms down.