This book was beautiful and sad and immersive. It's billed as young adult for some reason, but it didn't feel like YA to me, or else the publisher is giving teenage readers more credit than they often do (which isn't to say that YA books can't be well-written and excellent, just that they tend to be much...simpler than A Song to Drown Rivers). If this really was intended to be YA, it makes a little more sense how little development we see when it comes to palace intrigue, the lack of which was a disappointment to me as I listened. Still, it was a good book that I would probably enjoy rereading. The audiobook narration blended seamlessly, neither distracting or detracting from the story. The physical edition is so pretty.

Netgalley ARC

I'm always excited about mythology-based stories or legend retellings, especially those that center something other than the oversaturated Greek/Roman mythology. But, to me, this one didn't live up to its potential.

The biggest problem I had was that every scene felt overwrought with emotion and drama. There were no ups and downs, and it was kind of exhausting. Xishi is supposed to be the king's concubine who brings down the evil kingdom. Except she didn't do much of anything the whole book. And the emotional moments that may otherwise have been moving were lost in the overwritten scenes. Was this supposed to be a fantasy? It didn't seem to be. I did like Xishi's story with Fanli, though. And the ending was a surprise, which I always appreciate.


A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

3.5 stars rounded down

I liked parts of this but the ending felt very rushed compared to the pages and pages dedicated to the court intrigue - which wasn't even focused on the interesting parts of the court intrigue. the pacing was very unbalanced which ultimately led me to round down

This was a stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking story. I normally appreciate but don't connect with beautiful writing styles, but this was a perfect balance. This story was packed with revenge, sabotage, romance, history, and heartbreak.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars. Note, some spoilers below.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ann Liang writes beautifully. She succeeds as much with historical fantasy as she did with contemporary romance.

The writing at a line level is gorgeous, but more than that, she really does build a sense of place--with all its attendant sights and sounds and smells, a culture and a history and food to savor. And on top of it all, she builds real characters and relationships and dynamics that leave you pining.

Xishi and Fanli have a forbidden romance for the ages. It really does have a sense of legend upon it, without being overwrought--and the circumstances separating them are very real, as are the character qualities, which are almost more important.

Liang also doesn't shy away from challenging questions of right and wrong, of how power corrupts, and of how much warring nations need to believe the lie of the other--and how devastating it can be to realize it's not so simple.

Xishi is never in love with Fuchai, and it never becomes a love triangle. But for all that, it's not simple, either. The moment when she kills him and realizes she'll actually miss how much he truly loved her is heartbreaking.

The ending, however? I hated it. The ending, and the fact that these romances never sublimate, are what really keep this novel from being a campy drama. But you know what, they also keep this from having any measure of real or lasting joy. It's really a tragedy through and through, and I wish I had known that when I started reading this. I must have instinctively, because even though the description sounds right up my alley, I avoided reading it for months. The publisher would have done well to position it as a literary tragedy, less so a historical fantasy with romantic elements.

Xishi and Fanli suffer so much, and then--that's it? Xishi just dies, and she gets to see him as a ghost? That absolutely stinks. This was ridiculous and not at all satisfying. Not to mention that Xishi reunites with her parents, whom she also blew off too much when she was leaving, in my opinion, only to immediately die. And her parents' reactions aren't even remarked upon, because of the giant gap of letting Fanli suffer among the living forever.

I appreciated that the romance was more subtle and, while there were some moments of clearly trying to tease sensual details, it was generally a more sweeping historical epic than a titillating romance. But I wish it had some of the joy of a romance, and less of the somber epic scale of a tragedy.

Well, that's that. I'll keep reading what Liang writes, but I'm quite wary of her historical fantasy now--even though, of course, I'm still impressed that she somehow wrote this at 21.

This story has me so torn. I feel like there were parts of A Song to Drown Rivers that I simply could not read fast enough, and others that I struggled so hard to make it through. Ann Liang has beautiful prose, but I struggled to connect with the FMC from the beginning. Her voice felt as though it was told through a storyteller in a well-rehearsed play; beautiful on the surface but failing to elicit any true emotional connection. It felt almost impossible at times to relate to Xishis character because of the way that she reacted to those around her. I couldn't decide whether I wanted her to escape the Wu with Fanli or appeal to the better nature of Fuchai and work to heal the wounds carved from war. I feel like there were so many loose ends at the conclusion and unfortunately I felt deeply unsatisfied at the way things ended. I also felt that the ending was very rushed and it did not give me the proper time to process the message that Xishis story was meant to convey. I think all the potential was there for A Song to Drown Rivers to be a masterpiece, but it could certainly needs a bit more shaping.

This book had a slow start which almost made me DNF. However, I pushed through and I am so glad I did. The yearning throughout this entire book is top tier. The utter devastation of the conclusion. Fuchai's reaction at the very end was even more devastating than I imagined possible.

My only real criticism is that I wish we had gotten more time with Xishi and Fanli. I only really know they loved each other because the author *told* us. I would have liked some more development of their relationship so we had some insight into what kept them holding on over the time Xishi was with Fuchai.

Ann Liang has been an auto read author of mine for so long now. I cannot remember when I read a read a book of hers and did not utterly fall in love with it since "If You Could See The Sun."
As an avid reader of her contemporary works, I was excited to dive into this new genre of writing of hers. And honestly, it does have the signature Ann Liang beautiful and soft writing style, while building in-depth characters that speak so much to the readers. However, at times I did wish the book was longer, or at least this was duology instead of one book. The world building, though beautiful, felt a bit incomplete sometimes.
However, in my case, the romance was my most favourite thing about the book. Equal parts tender yet deadly, the romance made me blush and scream in frustration at the same time.

I went into this book expecting it to be a fantasy story. I swear I saw it listed as a fantasy book, but as far as I can tell, it is not. This book is a story of war and love and heartbreak. I found the story to be beautifully written and very easy to immerse myself into. I found myself caring for all of the major characters and rooting for them to succeed in this mission. I even found myself liking the enemy at times...like I said, great writing. I, however, I am mad about the ending. How dare the author kill off the main character instead of giving her the happy reunion she deserves. I cried when her love buried her body. I did like that their souls met again, but I really wish there had been a happier ending. Even with this complaint, I still loved the story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys war stories and romance.

*Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this eARC; the review is my own.*

And unfortunately, you probably won't thank me for reading and reviewing this book you gave me.

I'm somewhat torn on how to rate this book because it was pretty well written and I could tell a lot of effort was put into making it lyrical and beautiful. But I should have known that a book titled A Song to Drown Rivers would not leave me happy. After checking to see what I generously awarded Veronica Roth's Allegiant twelve years ago (has it been that long?), I decided that this book deserved the same rating. Take that as you will.

I have a short list of authors I refuse to read anymore because they've broken my trust. Ann Liang, you've landed yourself there after only one book. Congratulations. (In case you're wondering, Veronica Roth and Laurie Forest are also on that list.)

And yes, I recognize that this book is based on Chinese folklore. But guess what: A lot of Disney movies are based on depressing fairy tales and messed up myths, but they've been rewritten to make them actually enjoyable. This story had so much potential. Even when I suspected the direction it was headed, I still hoped I'd be proven wrong. I wasn't.

Xishi (20 at the start) was as brave as she was beautiful, and I liked how she began to see the complexities of the war between the Yue and the Wu kingdoms, that she was able to care (to some degree) for someone she also hated. Usually I'd go into more detail about characters, writing style, and such. Honestly, though, I just want to be done with this review and move on to something else.

If you liked Allegiant, you'll probably like this book. If you threw it across the room, you might want to avoid reading this book.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely LOVED this book. Right when I finished it, I wanted to read it again.

One thing that I loved were the characters that were supposed to be villains. There were a few of them but as Xishi got to know them better, you learn more about why they are the way that they are and it's hard not to love them (even though you're supposed to hate them).

Every twist and turn had me on the edge of my seat. I saw some things coming, but others were completely out of the blue and had me smacking my book on my bed. I'm really trying not to overshare because I don't want to spoil, but omg, iykyk.

I cried so hard at a few parts in the book. That's how I know it's a good book. Ann Liang writes in a way that makes you fall in love with everyone and everything and she knows what she needs to do to make a good book into a great book. And she isn't against sacrificing characters to do it.

If you read anything this year, please let it be A Song to Drown Rivers. I'm excited to read more books by Liang because of this!

A Song to Drown Rivers is a beautifully crafted story that stayed with me long after I finished reading. Ann Liang’s storytelling is both lyrical and powerful, weaving together a narrative that is as emotionally resonant as it is compelling. I absolutely loved the overall story—from its evocative setting to the deeply personal journey at its core.

What truly stands out in this book is Liang’s ability to create authentic, fully realized characters. Each one feels genuine and complex, with motivations and emotions that draw you in and keep you deeply engaged. Their struggles and growth unfold naturally, making the story feel intimate and relatable. I did struggle a few times with their motivations and actions, especially in times of crisis.

The ending, in particular, left a profound impact on me. I couldn’t get over it for days.

A remarkable read filled with nuanced characters and a story that lingers in your mind and heart. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a novel that combines emotional depth with beautiful prose.

I've never read anything by Ann Liang before, but after reading "A Song to Drown Rivers," I will be following Liang's writing career in the future. It was beautiful, lush, developed, captivating, all the good things! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the eARC for this book-- I enjoyed it!

My heart is broken! 😭

In A Song to Drown Rivers, the themes of love, war, and sacrifice are explored through a re-telling of Xishi, one of ancient China's Four Beauties.

I'm not sure how well this compares to the original story, but I loved Ann Liang's version!

I enjoyed the slow burn. I loved the military/political strategy. I loved the friendships developed throughout the story. This historical fantasy makes me want to learn more about the time period!

The writing was beautiful, but I just did not connect with the story.
I usually eat up Ann Liang’s contemporary books, but unfortunately, this one didn't hit the same. :(
DNF 19%
e-arc provided by NetGalley

This was such a beautifully written book. The lush prose swept me up and I had an incredible time in this story. I wasn't previously familiar with the legend the story is based on, but I'm sure that just adds another layer to it

This book kind of snuck up on me. I was intrigued to begin with, a beautiful girl being trained as a spy to take down the rival king is a great premise. The first third or so is Xishi learning different things and starting to fall for Fanli. Their romance was kind of flat because there wasn't a lot of time and he didn't show much emotion. I would have liked to see him yearning more.

When Xishi first arrives at the palace, things are exciting as she navigates how to integrate herself to court life and get the king to fall for her. After that, a lot of time passes and the plot really slowed down. I got a little bored, but luckily it's not a long book so we quickly hit the climax of the story. The last bit is where things got wild and I ended up feeling surprisingly emotional. What a way to end the story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the copy.

That was heartbreaking. I'm not often taken so off guard by the direction a story will take, but this time? I'm still reeling... I had previously not been exposed to the legend of Xishi or any retellings. I'm so glad I finally have. Xishi's struggle between her duty and forbidden love was expertly portrayed. Ann Liang's writing was beautiful. Not one word was wasted. I can't wait to pick up more of her work!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Man. I loved this author’s other modern rom coms SO much more. This book felt really blah and unoriginal. I know some people hated the ending, but I liked how unique and dramatic it was - definitely felt like a C-drama. I think teenage me would’ve liked this book tho. I just felt super bored.

2 stars

The only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars is because the writing is beautiful. But the depth to the characters was severely lacking. I had never heard of the legend of Xi Shi so cue my freaking surprise at that ending. This is not the time for me reading sad af stories, so I really wish I never picked this up. This was partially my fault since I could've read the legend and figured retelling meant retelling that freaking ending. It's also in the title sooooooooooo yay to my blatant ignorance of all the signs.

Also, what part of this was a fantasy? Yes, it was historical but there were no fantasy elements. Unless she was a siren with the way this book described her beauty. Fanli and Xishi's interactions didn't impact me enough to make is swoon worthy and I was wondering if he was even the love interest. At one point I almost just wanted her to be with Fuchai because they had more page time than any other characters. This book just fell a bit flat even though the writing was great, the depth to the story just wasn't there.