Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of ancient China's Four Beauties, this mesmerizing novel intertwines romance, palace intrigue, and the dangers of war. With gorgeous prose, author Liang crafts a riveting narrative.

Thanks to her beauty, Xishi is taken from her village of Yue and trained by military advisor Fanli to be a spy. She'll infiltrate the enemy kingdom and seduce its king. While he's preoccupied, her kingdom will attack.

I really liked the characters of this story--no one is all good or bad, just like in real life. Xishi and Fanli forbidden romance is also very well-done. Their connection was palpable.

Natalie Naudus does an amazing job narrating the dramatic and romantic moments of this story. The situations Xishi had to deal are presented in an engaging yet suspenseful way--I had to sit in my car to finish listening to certain parts (when I was supposed to be in work!).

If you enjoy historical novels with a dash of fantasy mixed in, you'll love this one. I really enjoyed it!