“They say that when I was born, all the wild geese flew down from the sky, and the fish sank beneath the waves, having forgotten how to swim. Even the lotus flowers in out gardens quivered and turned their heads away, so ashamed they were of their own diminished allure in my presence.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction by Ann Liang inspired by the Chinese legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of ancient China. The story is an epic tale of one young woman’s sacrifice to protect her family and the country she loves. Xishi’s beauty sets her apart from the day of her birth but her quiet childhood working alongside her parents after her younger sister is killed by a war party from the neighboring country of Wu does not prepare her for the role she will play in the history of her country, Yue. A chance encounter by the river that runs through her village with the chief advisor of the king of Yue changes everything she has known about life.

Xishi is asked to train to become a skilled spy, hiding as a concubine, to be gifted to the king of Wu and infiltrate his court. Xishi bargains for a better life for her parents and her small village in exchange for her youth and beauty. While training with the advisor on court etiquette and espionage, she and the advisor fall in love, but know they must stay true to their mission to bring down the court of Wu. Xishi is able to find a place in the Wu court and sets about making the young Wu king fall in love with her, while she plots ways to ensure his downfall.

This book had all the things I love in historical fiction: A new-to-me story that was entertaining and engaging, a strong central female character who fights for the things she loves, and beautifully written prose. Liang brings the court of the Wu to life in wonderful detail, and her characters are well-written and believeable. Xishi grows from an uncertain young girl into a strong, powerful, smart woman who you believe is entirely capable of taking down a government from within. Supporting characters are also well-written, and I loved the feel of a legend brought back to life as the story progressed.

Eminently readable, I stayed up far too late reading the final chapters to learn what Xishi’s final fate is. A recommended read for any historical fiction fan with 4-1/4 stars rating.