A decade after graduating, Maya Banks has returned to Princeton for her college reunion and her little sister Naomi’s commencement. But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead.

A decade after graduating, Maya Banks has returned to Princeton for her college reunion and her little sister Naomi’s commencement. But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead.

How far would you go to belong?

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion. It’s been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her time there. This visit is special because Maya also will be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.

But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on.

As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister’s death, she begins to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya’s warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus --- the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it.

The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi’s decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya’s time at Princeton wasn’t as wonderful as she’d always made it seem. After all, her sister wasn’t the first young woman to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past...and to the secret she’s kept all these years.

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an epic novel steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue --- convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks, and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall --- and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.