✨"For the first time, I caught a shadow of the enchantress they all said I was, the legend I would become. I could barely even recognise myself."✨

A Song to Drowns Rivers is a retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of the beauties of ancient China. It tells how the protagonist was chosen for her beauty and trained to infiltrate and destroy the enemy kingdom from within.

It begins by saying that this is not a romance, or rather there is a romantic subplot, but this is a story of revenge, sacrifice and how beauty can often be underestimated.

It is not at all easy to change your being, to strengthen your heart and to be strong and impassive even when you just want to cry and scream. It is precisely the determination to change, to be the perfect weapon and to succeed in achieving her goals that made me fall in love with Xishi who, despite being able to see the light in her darkest soul, manages to resist by remembering the suffering and the loved ones lost, using every little piece of information, smile and gesture in her favour.

Fanli, on the other hand, despite being scarcely present, manages to perceive the burden he carries on his shoulders and the tension and suffering that can only come from wanting something you cannot have. She had not planned to fall in love with Xishi and every dialogue, every time they touch, every glance manages to make you feel the tension between the two and the decision to sacrifice their relationship for the greater good.

✨A Song to Drowns Rivers is a story of a girl who brought an entire kingdom to its knees and became a legend told in a fluid and lyrical manner that, despite knowing it, managed to leave my heart in a thousand pieces.

really wanted to enjoy this because i love all of ann liang's previous (romance) novels and was so excited for her first dip into fantasy, but this just didn't live up to my expectations at all : (

the premise of the story (a young girl being recruited to spy on and deceive a foreign king to save her own kingdom) was promising but didn't feel very properly developed. the author made an interesting plot point by the end of the novel - of powerful men using ordinary people to achieve their own goals.

i still have hope for ann liang's books (her forthcoming novel is one of my most anticipated books!) and I love her YA romance novels, but unfortunately this one wasn't for me...

2,5 stars
the first half of the book was really well written but around the half mark the fmc seemed to be extremly naive and there were not a lot of scenes between the mmc and the fmc which made the romance very shallow. It was also probably quite a challenging concept to write a YA novel about a courtesan. The characters lacked depth and personality which made me lose interest in the story towards the end. Altogether the authors writing style is easy to read and I finished the book rather quickly but the storyline lacked (again especially towards the end) which was really sad, because the idea of the story seemed very exciting but not well excecuted. (Thank you NetGally for the e Arc)

Thank you to Tor for providing me an eARC to review!

I am an Ann Liang stan, but sadly even she can't make me into a historical romance girlie :(

For some reason I was expecting this to me more of a fantasy story, but this is just straight up historical romance so I found it hard to connect. The pace was slower and I wasn't really on board with the pining because it felt tedious at times - like you both know you like each other just say something!!

It took a bit to get going to the main plot, and while I did like the beginning it felt drawn out in places - which for a pretty short book anyway just made it feel like this should have been a novella rather than a full novel. There were also a few time skips which made it hard for me to feel the tension of Xishi's mission because it felt like she was just suddenly good at everything and always had some sort of solution to every issue. It felt like she was easily getting away with it, and any success didn't felt earnt.

I think fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess may enjoy this, but I definitely think I had misunderstood what this was - so not really a book thing I just think this is really not my genre :/

Thank you to pan for the arc. This is such an incredible book.
Xishi is such a complex and well done character.
This book is not about a love story, if you are looking for that this is not the book for you.

This book is about a girl, a beautiful girl and how she manages to change the world fate.
How with just her strength she get to overpower a king.
It’s a book about self discovery and how the people you overestimate the most are the ones that will overpower you.

You do have a tiny bit of romance and it’s the one with so much angst.

Fanli was a cold person before she met her but then he started to feel things but the kingdom always before anything else so he has no choice really that to let her go into the arms of the enemies.
But those few times they see each other again🥹🥹 and that ending. I cried for the last 20 pages like a baby.
How can a book be so sad and so beautiful at the same time?

A Song to Drown Rivers is a retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of the four great beauties of Chinese history. Selected for her unnaturally good looks, Xishi is trained to hone her femininity into a formidable weapon in order to take down the oppressive, rival Wu kingdom from within.

This book delivered an engaging retelling of Xishi’s story filled with female power, political intrigue, deceit and forbidden love. I found the story and setting refreshing whist still scratching the itch of one craving themes and tropes common to the romantasy genre.

In a mere 321 pages Ann Liang has the reader experiencing a plethora of emotions: utter shock, devastation, love and longing. Perhaps more impressive still, Liang brings into question the ever blurring line of morality as perspectives widen.

A particular strength of this novel was the tension. The slow burn, forbidden romance between Xishi and Fanli was absolutely delectable. As the security of Xishi and her loved ones grows evermore precarious and the reader is left with no option but to proceed with bated breath. I do wish we had time to explore the extremities of Fuchai’s character in more depth and let the tensions and uncertainty build further still.

I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking for a historical epic and doesn’t fancy committing to a longer read. It would also be enjoyed by readers who love romantasy or mythological retellings.

Readers who loved this book may also enjoy:
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L Jensen
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
- The Poppy War by R F Kuang
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgallet for providing me with this ARC, it was an absolute pleasure to read and review.

There was no part of A Song to Drown Rivers I didn't absolutely adore. The writing was poetic, the Chinese culture (casually calling someone turtle egg) and legends (Nüwa, Cháng'é, the constant weaving of phoenix imagery for the concubines) woven throughout were flawless, the characters were so much more than what they seemed.

I initially thought that Xishi's whole character was just going to be that she's beautiful but she is clever and she is crafty. She does her mission...well I can't quite say 'flawlessly'. Zhengdan was another character I was worried she was going to be surface level and 2-dimensional but her story and skill with the sword had me absolutely cheering for her. More importantly, I loved that she and Xishi knew she was the best and knew she could defeat any opponent and they were unapologetic about it.

The kingdom's beauty, the enemy king and the military advisor who put their meeting together. Even if you think you've seen this play out from all the C dramas or from Xi Shi's legend, you can't possibly be prepared for Ann Liang's writing as she carries you through this new retelling.

A Song to Drown Rivers is the latest novel by the amazing Ann Liang. This book is her first foray into historical fiction, and I think her writing style suits the genre perfectly. Especially in this tale where myth and history mixes together, she manages to write a beautiful retelling.

First of all, I would like to praise the worldbuilding that Ann Liang has done in this novel. Her previous works, whilst still brilliant, tend to take place in schools and more familiar contemporary settings so I wasn’t sure how she would tackle the challenge of writing in such a different setting. But, within the first few pages she manages to introduce the reader to a vivid new world. She balances the task of clearly explain things that may be unfamiliar to the reader (like describing the clothes and customs popular in Ancient China) whilst also immersing them in the world. This is not easy, and I often get either confused or bored by long passages of exposition in these kinds of historical fantasies, but not in this case!

I also think that she manages to write compelling characters with very human faults, fears and follies. Xishi has been hidden most of her life, told that her beauty was a danger to herself and made into more of a myth than a person in her village. But when she is told that her beauty could make her dangerous to others, she becomes a weapon. I think that her character is very compelling and whilst she is certainly powerful, she isn’t defined merely as a strong female character. She has a rich inner world.

With politics, espionage and romance, this book is a great edition to Ann Liang’s catalogue. I think the only thing that held me back from giving it 5 stars was the fact that the ‘fantasy’ elements of the story were very vaguely described and underused.

I really enjoyed this adult fantasy debut from Liang, whose work I have previously enjoyed. The characterisation was great and the central relationship felt believable, with a good level of tension and chemistry. However, some of the timeframe felt a little underutilized. The ending was tragically beautiful though.

I was really looking forward to this title and my expectations were not disappointed.

The book captivated me from the very first page and I finished it in no time at all. Ann Liang knows how to grab her readers and write a good story.
I really liked the C-drama setting in ancient China. I could really empathise with the protagonist Xishi. Especially in relation to Fuchai. Fuchai was by no means a good king or a good person, but in the end he was only made that way. He wanted attention and to be loved. His death was predictable and yet it made me cry. I couldn't hate him in the end.

What I didn't see coming, though: The deception of the King of Yue. Xishi's death took me completely by surprise and upset me.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book, even if the ending hit me hard. I can only recommend the book to others.

When I heard there is novel inspired by one of the four beauties of ancient China, I actually hoped it would be about Xi Shi because her legend has everything you want in a story: it's dramatic, it's romantic, it's heroic with the huge potential to weave into story points for modern times.
And voila! A Song to Drown Rivers is more or less hitting all of the important bits of the legend, and as the story goes...
Xishi is born in a village of Yue kingdom and they say she was so beautiful that at the sight of her face fish in the river would forget to swim and sink down. That is why Fanli, the main advisor to the king Goujian, comes to her with a proposal. As the Yue kingdom recently became the vassal state to neighboring Wu kingdom, Fanli wants to send Xishi to Wu's king Fechuan as a tribute, to be one of his concubines, but in reality her mission would be to seduce the young king and help to bring the kingdom of Wu to its knees. And she does.
The story is sticking very close to the legend, but landing more on the YA side of genre despite the subject which fits author's previous books. It's sidestepping or glossing over uglier things of Xishi's mission like sexual exploitation or lack of agency for women of that period and I don't have issues with that considering the tone and that it's perhaps written with more sensitive audience in mind.
But, in my opinion, this approach did considerably lower the stakes for Xishi and made it seem like she didn't really do something that great because she never really was in danger. I love the story of Xi Shi because it acknowledges different type of power. It's that soft power which in this case means that as much as these women were product of their times and thus subject of men's whims, every decision every powerful man made about Xi Shi was because they were aware of her feminine power; because they knew what she can do with it. Liang didn't really explore this enough as I hoped she would and she went with the usual powerful woman = good with the sword story-line with Zhengdan whose character was tried to be developed more than just Xishi's friend she talks about boys with, through the clumsy Mulan-easque reference. So, bare in mind that this novel is a more trivialized, vanilla version of Xishi's success with a more romanticized relationship with Fanli and especially with Fuchian.
What I wasn't a big fan of is that the king of Wu, her mark, is written to be so easy to manipulate and like he lacks a common sense sometimes: he would easily talk about confidential things in front of Xishi, he would be convinced of doing something huge after one 5min conversation. I understand this is not a book that imagines more realistic relationship, but everything worked out far too easy for Xishi to make it like she's accomplished something extraordinary. I think author could have come up with a bit more complex character and still keep it YA.
My biggest complaint, though, are the parts author imagined around the legend: the ghost visits in a dreams because they felt shoehorned in to tie the ending or minutiae parts of Xishi's life like training and friendship with Zhengdan because the dialogue sounded too modern and it would take me out of the story completely.
What I did like is the choice for the ending because nothing is more characteristic for Chinese drama than bēijù ending. Considering there are two versions of what happened to Xishi afterward, I am glad she went with this one.
All in all, this is a light, easy-digestible story that many people may enjoy. I am more of a soul-crushing, gut-wrenching She Who Became the Sun type of girl, with a more challenging characterization- hence the rating.

I saw that this was one of the BOTM picks of September and was intrigued when I learnt it was based on a Chinese legend. I'm trying to get into new genres and am liking Historical Fiction.

I'm confused about how to rate the book because while I enjoyed it I also thought there could have been a few improvements. Reading something from the POV of a beautiful, self-assured woman is rare and I liked that. I also liked how black and white Xishi starts out thinking everything is and how she develops in that aspect as time goes on. Fanli and Xishi, were intriguing and boring depending on what scene you're reading and since I'm not a fan of romance it didn't bother me that it didn't have much romance in it but I understand the anger from others about it.

What did bother me was Fuchai. *SPOILER ALERT* We had this king who had the potential to be this an amazing character who is vile but smart and also vulnerable but I felt we lost out on that as we only get a man who falls head over heels in love with Xishi pretty quickly and for whom Xishi seems to feel nothing. The potential for a love triangle there is wasted because that would have made the book better.


I would've also liked to read more about Xishi's interaction with the Wu people and perhaps show some more doubts about her mission. I also wasn't a fan of the ending which felt rushed.

Overall, a decent read and I'm definitely reading more historical fiction and keeping an eye on Ann Liang.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the e-book!

Took me a while to read but, OMG!!!! Ann Liang!! It was such a beautiful book! The world the writing everything was so dreamy! Like I want to live in that world. Like the way she described the world was so beautiful and magical that I wished a world like this existed! There we some points that I was confused but my reading experience was amazing. And just saying the ending will destroy you. Probably me in uni will be day dreaming about it, and questioning my life. A must read. And definetly will reread

Ann Liang’s accomplished, atmospheric novel is a vivid reimagining of the life of Xishi (西施) a legendary beauty akin to Cleopatra or Helen of Troy - although Xishi’s destined role was closer to Trojan horse. Narrated by Xishi, the story’s set around 470 BCE, a tumultuous time when, what was to become China, was divided into warring kingdoms. Xishi hails from Zhuji, a small village in the Yue kingdom. Her impoverished community’s still reeling from a massacre led by soldiers from neighbouring Wu, during which Xishi witnessed the brutal murder of her much younger sister. Now the Wu faction’s in charge, leaving Yue King Goujian ruler in name only. Desperate to avenge her sister, a chance encounter leads to Xishi becoming embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Wu’s leader. She must infiltrate King Fuchai’s court to gather intelligence for a Yue counter-attack. Trained to mimic a refined court lady, Xishi’s sent to Wu as a gift from Goujian, a concubine for Fuchai. The success of her mission hinges on Xishi’s ability to captivate a king famous for womanizing and violent outbursts.

Liang was inspired by her fascination with C-dramas as well as childhood memories of Chinese legends told by her mother. Liang’s carefully-constructed narrative builds on what little’s known of Xishi from ancient historical texts and references in Chinese legends and literature. Liang’s Xishi is a remarkably convincing, sympathetic creation, caught between her loyalties to her Yue heritage and charismatic mentor Fanli and her growing bond with King Fuchai. As a woman she’s considered little more than property, routinely objectified and exploited, she must find a way to overcome these limitations and achieve her goal.

I found Xishi’s story utterly gripping, tense and intense. Liang is adept at conveying Xishi’s emotional state, mired in court intrigue, unable to trust the people around her, she’s poised on a knife-edge – and Liang made me feel I was right there with her. Liang’s narrative’s a fluid blend of visceral and lyrical, packed with striking images suggestive of classic Chinese poetry and art – complete with half-buried allusions to the writings of key figures like Lao Tzu. I’d have liked a little more on the wider context, particularly Wu society clearly regarded as barbaric by the country as a whole. I’d also have appreciated more detail on the everyday workings of Fuchai’s court, a city within a city, it clearly had its own unique culture. But Liang’s primarily invested in character here: on Xishi’s vulnerability; her struggles against the constraints of conventional femininity; conflict between duty and desire. Liang deftly charts Xishi’s personal journey towards a harsh, unanticipated awakening.

The plot’s largely driven by Xishi’s attempts to navigate her perilous situation but she’s also a star-crossed lover, yearning for Fanli. However, despite featuring a love story, this isn’t a romance – although some passages tip over into romance territory – rather it’s an arresting mix of psychological and historical fiction. And, despite its billing, the fantasy aspect of the novel’s minimal and far closer to magical realism in flavour. I was completely caught up in this one, my only complaint’s connected to the epilogue-style scenes rounding this off, they really didn’t work for me. Otherwise, highly recommended.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a Historical Fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi with interesting plot and characters and heartbreaking love story that I really enjoyed!

Xishi is known as the most beautiful woman in their village so when the king decides to find a woman to send as the concubine and spy to the enemy kingdom, his advisor Fanli chooses Xishi. Trained by Fanli to have the perfect manners and be the perfect spy, she can’t help but be drawn to the handsome advisor, but when the time comes to leave, she must be the perfect weapon to destroy King Fuchai, who quickly becomes infatuated with her.

A Song to Drown Rivers reads like a real fairytale and I loved the writing style, I was captivated from the beginning. Xishi is really great as the FMC, she grew a lot in this book and I loved reading about her inner conflicts about which people are the real monsters in the war. I wouldn’t necessarily call this book a romance because there wasn’t much of it, but the forbidden love and mutual pining between the characters was so well written that I couldn’t help but wish for them to find a way to be together, I loved their moments. I also really liked Zhengdan and, despite myself, Fuchai, one of the strong points of this book are definitely the characters, every one of the was really well written and three dimensional with their own agendas and I liked and rooted for them all. And about that ending… it fit the book well but it was really bittersweet and I just wish there was a different way this story could end because my heart was breaking at the end.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a really great read that I recommend to everyone who likes this kind of stories, I enjoyed it and will read more books from this author.

Before I dive into my review, I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Ms. Ann Liang for this ARC. I heard this book a lot from different communities that made me request for an ARC. My friends were also raving about how good the story was, and curiosity killed the cat or rather me. I was really looking forward to this when I saw that my request got approved, I read it right away. So here goes my review!

"A Song to Drown Rivers" by Ann Liang is like diving headfirst into a swirling, magical whirlpool—one that’s equal parts enchanting and mildly terrifying, but in the best possible way. Picture this: a young heroine, a bunch of mysterious rivers, and a prophecy that’s as murky as the waters she’s trying not to drown in. Sounds intense? It is. But it’s also oddly comforting, like being serenaded by an ancient, possibly sentient, body of water.

World Building
Liang doesn’t just write a story; she orchestrates a symphony of myth, magic, and personal drama that will leave you wondering if you should start taking prophecies (and swimming lessons) more seriously. The world-building is so lush and vivid, you might want to bring a snorkel. Rivers aren’t just rivers here—they’re powerful, enigmatic forces that might help you or swallow you whole, depending on their mood. They are also central to the plot, and are almost characters in their own right, imbued with a sense of mystery and danger. While the lush descriptions of the rivers and landscapes are evocative, they often slow the narrative to a crawl, making it difficult for readers to stay engaged. This can be particularly frustrating in the middle sections of the book, where the focus shifts more to internal struggles and lengthy exposition, dragging down the momentum.

Characters
The protagonist is on a classic hero’s journey, but with a twist: instead of just fighting monsters or solving riddles, she’s also wrestling with some serious existential angst. The emotional resonance of the protagonist's journey is what makes the novel truly compelling, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of growth, loss, and self-discovery. But for me her character development feels uneven. While Liang does an admirable job of portraying her internal conflicts, these struggles sometimes overshadow her external actions, making her seem passive or reactive rather than proactive. And the supporting characters? They’re like the quirky band of adventurers you didn’t know you needed, each bringing their own charm, mystery, and occasional comic relief. I was just really sad about when some characters meet their end and I was like they don't even deserve that. The protagonist already has a hold in Fuchai's decision making, she should've just used her beauty to coaxed him to her bidding, no wars needed.

Theme
At its core, "A Song to Drown Rivers" is a story about the power of belief—belief in oneself, in others, and in the possibility of change. Liang explores themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the ways in which the past shapes the present. The novel also touches on environmental themes, with the rivers symbolizing the delicate balance between nature and human intervention. The songs referenced in the title and throughout the book serve as a metaphor for the stories we tell ourselves and the power they hold over our lives. The symbolism, while rich, can sometimes feel overdone, with the recurring motifs of rivers and songs becoming repetitive rather than resonant.

Writing Style
Liang’s prose is like poetry that’s had too much coffee—sharp, vibrant, and just a tad bit frenetic in all the right places. It’s the kind of writing that makes you want to underline passages, or at least jot down a few choice phrases to use in your next dramatic monologue. The pacing is generally well-balanced, though some may find the middle section slower as it delves deeper into the protagonist's inner world - though the focus shifts more to the protagonist's internal struggles than the external quest. Additionally, the complexity of the world-building and the mythological references might be challenging for readers who prefer more straightforward narratives.

Conclusion
"A Song to Drown Rivers" is a novel with grand ambitions and moments of genuine beauty, but it is also hampered by uneven pacing, somewhat underdeveloped characters, and a tendency toward overwrought symbolism. Ann Liang's talent is evident, but the execution of this particular story might not satisfy all readers, especially those looking for a tightly plotted, character-driven fantasy. It’s a book that might appeal more to those who appreciate a slower, more introspective reading experience, but it may leave others feeling as though they’re treading water rather than being swept away by the current of the story.

A Song to Drown Rivers wasn't a bad book by far, but in the end, I felt disappointed.
The writing is beautiful. That was the best part of the novel.
But my main problem was that the novel felt like a YA novel and not an Adult novel despite it being marketed that way. When I read adult novels, I expect that there will be no avoiding brutal or uncomfortable topics. And more logic.
It felt unrealistic that the girls could learn everything about being a court lady within ten weeks. It felt also unrealistic that Fanli, who had little experience, could teach Xishi about the art of seduction. Xishi wasn't even speaking to an actual courtesan. I get she did not even need it because she and the Wu King were just kissing, and they have done nothing more. Which also felt like an unrealistic thing considering her role and the elapsed time.
The conflict between the two kingdoms was very confusing. I didn't even understand why de Wu didn't kill the Yu king and take the kingdom themself. The generals could ride through Yu villages. A random Wu soldier was chasing a random child. Was the Yu a vassal state to the Wu or what? We never found out.
The strongest element could have been the romance, but it happened too quickly and felt like insta love. I was very annoyed that Xishi described Fanli's beauty in every scene he was in. I expected a deeper commentary about beauty.
The ending was great. I'm sad that the whole book wasn't as exciting as the last 40 pages.

A Song To Drown Rivers is a fantastic tale of political machinations as the kingdom of Yue enlist the aid of two village women to infiltrate the palace of King Fuchai of the Wu kingdom.

They're tasked with gathering information, wasting the enemies resources and opening up a route for an attack. Our protagonist, Xishi, goes through rigorous training with Fanli on how to navigate the royal court and mask her emotions. The two become close but Xishi must fulfill her role in the Wu Kingdom.

Just wowwww, Xishi's trials in the palace are great, seeing her navigate the politics and influence the king is so impressive. The foreshadowing throughout sticks with you and I'll say no more.

Overall, a brilliant standalone, don't expect too much fantasy but this isn't a negative. The story flows incredibly well and you'll be routing for Xishi.

Thanks to Netgalley & Pan Macmillan for this arc

I truly didn't know how to rate this, cause I see the flaws - and there are many - but I also enjoyed reading it quite a bit.

Flaws:
- Romance? A lot of tell instead of show, lot's of pining, nothing happening (and I'm not talking about smut).
- Fantasy? Where?
- Character depth was lacking, the side characters had no real purpose in the story.
- couldn't reach me on an emotional level
- it was a bit unrealistic, we never see any of Xishis spying skills and all of it happened kind of quickly?
- Ending resolved to quickly

Positives:
- Writing style
- read very fast, could've finished it in a day
- was intrigued all throughout the story
- Plot was interesting in itself

Don't expect this complicated high fantasy, but if you want a quick read, definitely do it!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

"Beauty is not so different from destruction."

oh my god. that ending. i will never be same after that ending.

this is ann liangs first book into the fantasy genre; and while i did enjoy this, it was nowhere near my favorite of her books. the writing was beautiful, the characters and world extremely intriguing, and as much as i would wish that the ending was different (not because it was bad - in fact it was truly amazing I'm just extremely miserable) i feel it was true to the tale of the four beauties. the ending was probably one of my favorite parts of the book.

i felt there were too many descriptions and at other times, too few. for example, i feel the fight scenes were extremely lacking, they weren't fleshed out well. it simply felt like she told us what happened at that's it. i saw someone mention in their review that this felt more show than tell and i very much agree.

as a whole, this story was fast-paced, which i liked, though there were some scenes where i feel she could have stretched it out and let it hold a larger portion than it did. in my opinion, that would have had a larger impact.

back to the point of world-building, i feel we were told the bare minimum. we didn't dive into the politics, which i felt would have been so good, and when xishi realized it wasn't all good and bad, we could have had such good revelation moments but, again, we lingered for too short a time. i think that's my biggest problem with this book: it didn't know where to slow down. it was all too fast. the timeline didn't make much sense, but the first 10 weeks of training - one of my favorite arcs - were done in less than 100 pages?

xishi and fanli's interactions were my absolute favorite!! i adore fanli so much, i truly wish ann could have written a longer book so we could spend more time on them. and also the book as a whole. fanli is probably my favorite character and i was so sad when we started to see less of him.

fuchai and xishi's relationship was so intriguing to me honestly. i don't want to give too many spoilers, but what was said about fuchai and what happened... well, i definitely feel he's the most interesting character to read about. i feel a big part of this story is to say that not everything is black and white in the world, and this surely applies to him as well.

overall, i am slightly disappointed, however i did enjoy it and i do recommend it.