𝓐𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓸𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 🎧
4.5⭐️

First thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free ARC and ALC of this book. @annliangwrites honey someone was cutting onion in my house as I finished this book last night. This had to be one of the most beautiful and emotional endings to a story I’ve read in a long time. 🥰 Before I started I had never heard of the xishi tale. Xishi the main character in the book was the ultimate beauty. Like the kind that causes empires to crumble. Her beauty was used as a weapon for her people. One thing that hasn’t changed for centuries is the greed of men. Of course with beauty comes the men that must have it. Xishi heart belongs to fanli. His character was mysterious but their love was palpable through the pages. He trained her to be a beautiful weapon for another man. Fuchai the wu king, he grew on me. I saw so much potential in him and xishi relationship. As they grew closer and seeing the character growth he displayed I felt like he deserved so much more. Talk about blurred lines. As I sat and thought about this book I really thought about Romeo and Juliet, yesss that type of tragic ending. I really encourage you guys to give this one a read. It was a recent @gmabookclub pick as well as it’s available through @bookofthemonth.

ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ǫᴜOᴛᴇs:
“I am afraid of you. I’m afraid of what comes over me when I’m around you. I’m afraid of how tempting it is, to ignore my own rationale, of how many excuses I can invent just to be closer to you. I’m afraid of how much—how much I want.”
“I don't remember closing my eyes. But even as darkness fell over me, I was aware of the warmth of his body, the evening scent of his skin; all that should have been foreign to me, now as intimate as the back of my hand. As the drums of war sounded in the distance, signaling a new age, a new dawn, there I lay, falling sound asleep in the arms of the enemy.”

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I wanted so much more from this book for so many reasons. I mean I really, really, really wanted this to be so much more than it was. It wasn't a total waste to read, but it fell so far short of all the hype that I almost wanted to cry - the tragedy was not in the tale but in how flat the tale fell.

The characters were not that great, one dimensional at best with little development. World building was lacking and could have been so rich and beautiful. Politics could have been explored more, fleshed out a bit more. And when you say romance I expect the other party of the romance to be a part of the book a little more than what occurred here. We barely got to know the love interest - what a deep, deep disappointment.

This was a first for me from this author, however, I want to read more from her. Maybe this tale just fell flat, maybe it was overhyped and in that I was just expecting more than I should have in the first place.

This past year I have been reading more fantasy/romantasy stories so needless to say I as elated to have gotten an ARC of this novel. It sounded right up my alley, but unfortunately it did not meet my expectations. It was severely disappointing. The romance did not hit and I just wasn't into either main character or the story in general. It's a shame because you could tell there was so much potential there but ultimately was not reached or even tapped.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will say after reading this I went and immediately bought the sprayed edge copy at Books A Million. There is a bittersweet romance as part of this historical fantasy. This was a very easy read and even though I don't think it was the best book it was still addictive. I will say this will leave you heart broken and it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Definetly a must read if you like torturing your heart.

Beautifully written book that sucks you in from the very beginning and keeps you wanting more up to the end. I loved the romantic tension. This proves that you don’t need explicit scenes to create some heat. Would definitely recommend.

Fantastic historical fiction perfect for fans of Chinese dramas. The world is immersive and the story engaging.

This is an enjoyable, easy to read, kingdom romance. The writing is pretty and quite atmospheric. It was quite fast-paced and action-packed. For an adult kingdom romance, the writing and plot didn't feel like one. It was predictable, and ofc the enemy king needs to be hot and good natured and loveable (regardless of what his country did). Beauty privilege at its core and im not even talking about Xinshi. I wouldnt so far as to call this is historical (?) fantasy. I've read some east Asian historical inspired fantasy, and know when the author is picking up from the real events or story. This book didnt even have author's note to offer on the table based on what or why. It's more like a very loose telling about one of the Chinese's pretties figure in history. So yeah. The world building is okay, but it can work with more fantasy/ magic elements. This is a romance at first, other things later. Xinshi is loveable bcs she's also smart. The kingdom intricate, forbidden love, and slow burn worked well. If you're into those things, give this book a go. A quite well-written standalone.

Thankyou for the arc in exchange for honest review. Will edit and add more links once the SMP boycott lift.
3.5 stars around up~

Interesting take on an old Chinese tale, but I really couldn't get into it. Seriously, the most beautiful woman? Who determines this? And how does anyone know how anotherperson, is going as just as insanely desirable? Too short of time for training as well. Meh. Oh, well, I am sure it will find many readers who will enjoy the story.. Suspend belef. It's well written, tho a bit to rushed, Characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, as well. Be that as it may, Ann Liang has chosen a wonderful tale to retell and introduce to a new audience.

This book has lots of potential. The characters and romance were good, but they could have been better. It felt a little rushed but overall was a good story.

amazing!!! this book deserves so much hype and love, so devastingly beautiful, ann liang never fails to impress me and i love her romance books and for her first fantasy romance i absolutelyyy adorreeeeeeee this!!!!!!!!!

This book did not work for me. I had knowledge of the original story prior to reading this, but I don't think this was the retelling I was hoping for.

Between the insta-love trop and the time jumps, I found it hard to be connected to the characters and their relationships. I wanted more of the magical nature of the original story to come through. There were also plot points that felt dropped for plot reasons.

I wanted to like this, and I think that there is probably an audience for this book, but unfortunately it is not me.

3.25
But of course I did not correct him. When men say they want a lover, what they often mean is they want a mirror; they wish to see themselves reflected back at them in the best light

Before I picked this up , I skimmed reviews and noted that this was quite a divisive book so I was curious as to where I’d fall on the spectrum : I liked it ! Also “historical fantasy” where ????, why are we straight up lying to people . This is a historical fiction novel!

A Song to Drown Rivers was very accessible retelling in the sense that If you weren't familiar with the Chinese legend of Xishi (like myself) you weren’t thrown into the deep end . It was easy to follow . I only know Liang for her Young adult rom-coms so this was a different side to her writing . I loved the prose : the similes , metaphors and descriptions were so well done.

The plot was intriguing, and I actually ended up feeling sympathetic towards Fu Chai. Liang did a great job of highlighting the complexity of Xishi’s undercover mission. She was in enemy territory and carried a deep hatred for the kingdom that had caused her people so much suffering. But as she lived among them, she realised the people of Wu weren’t all bad -they were human too. The buildup was compelling, but after the climax, when the plan was finally executed, I completely lost interest.

Audiobook review
This was my first time listening to Natalie Naudus and I liked her narration . Side note but I looked into her and found out that that she’s an author too ! Her book called Gay the Pray away is YA a queer romance with strong religious themes about deconstruction, it’s sooo up my alley so I’m excited to pick it up .Thanks Ann Liang!

This book had me on edge from start to finish! The story is full of mystery, magic, and dark secrets that just keep unraveling. I loved the vibe of the world Ann Liang created—it felt super eerie and fascinating all at once! The main character is easy to root for, and there are moments that really make you think about family, loyalty, and what you’re willing to sacrifice.

Some parts of the story felt a little slow, though, and I wished we got more action sooner. There’s a lot of buildup, which works well for the spooky atmosphere but sometimes left me wanting more excitement. Still, I liked how the relationships developed and how all the twists made me rethink what I thought was happening!

Overall, it was a fun read, especially if you’re into dark fantasy and stories with mysterious magic!! The writing style was beautiful, and the ending left me both satisfied and a little haunted. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something unique and don’t mind a slower pace.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
#fantasy

I really wish that this book had a prologue. I was bored and lost for the first few chapters. Yes, that is where they introduce the world building. But in this story they needed to pick the spy they were going to send into the rival king's palace. It would have been nice to know up front. I, like many readers, like to go into a story blind. I pick books by reading their synopsis months in advance usually. Authors please give us the hint of foreshadowing in the beginning of the book.

After the spy was chosen, the story picked up for me. But it was a very slow start. This is why I took off the full ⭐. I almost didn't want to keep reading. BUT I did end up enjoying the story even though I wasn't thrilled with the ending. But this ending did make sure that the book would remain a stand alone and not become a series. All ribbons tied neatly into bows.

#stmartinspress
#asongtodrownrivers #annliang

Beautiful historical fantasy! A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is inspired by the legend of Xishi, a beautiful girl who brings down an empire. Written as if told orally to us by the narrator, the story follows Xishi, a young Yue village girl known for her beauty who is bitter at the loss of her sister and wants revenge on the Wu kingdom. Fanli, the advisor to the Yue kingdom, offers Xishi a way to get her revenge, but it won’t be easy, and it’ll test Xishi in ways she never thought possible.

I loved every word of this story. Xishi is trained by Fanli to use her beauty and become a concubine of the Wu king, a gift form the Yue kingdom and its new spy. Xishi bravely takes on this task, learning how to use her beauty to her advantage. Her courage and determination drive her as well as the promise that her family will be well cared for. She is doing this for them and her country.

Xishi’s story unfolds in two halfs. The first is her home kingdom Yue where she learns to be a spy and temptress. The second half follows her into enemy territory where she is tasked with making the Wu king fall in love with her. During the first half, we see her relationship with Fanli unfold. I loved how they danced around each other, this tension building between them. The second half is driven by fear as Xishi enters the Wu kingdom where her every action is examined. I love how the two halves couldn’t be more different but also the same danger runs through them both.

Overall, A Song to Drown Rivers is a beautifully worded retelling of one of China’s great beauties. It is haunting, filled with danger, intrigue, and romance. Oh the romance! It is both heartbreaking and warming all at the same time. If you are a fan of historical fantasy, I highly recommend this one. It will not disappoint!

I started this book with maybe not the best of mentalities. It was about to publish so I started to "knock it out". I just have to say, even though my attitude was a little stinky, I really enjoyed the story that Ann wrote. I think the cover artwork is perfect for what's inside: a historical fantasy featuring a dynamic heroine playing a deadly game and using all of her beauty and smarts to avenge her sister and make her world a better place.
Xishi is a likeable character and I was invested in her journey and endgame.
Thank you to SMP and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a story inspired by one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, Xishi. She is recruited by the military advisor, Fanli, of Yue to be a spy and seduce the immoral king of Wu, Fuchai. There is a lot of political intrigue and romance in this story. The story is shorter than I expected for inspiration. There is a lot to go into about Xishi and I think the story did not quite go far enough. The story spends a lot of time going through establishing the characters and other elements that were all enjoyable and just needed a little more time to explore further.

Fuchai remained a mystery for most of the story as I wanted to explore his backgrounds and motivations a little more. There seemed to be a lot more to his character and I think it would be great to explore it. As for Xishi and Fanli, I wish that they spent more time together for the reader to further connect to their relationship. There was a lot of potential there, but I think there was not quite enough connection for me. The rest of the story was good, and the story went by quickly. The pacing was a little slow, but it did pick up towards the end. Overall, this was a good story and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I'm having trouble deciding how I feel about this book, the writing was fun and enjoyable, but I can't help but feel like the story could have been fleshed out better. It was at times slow and then breakneck fast-paced, I do believe this book has been mis-marketed, it's supposed to be a romantasy but really it's historical fiction based on
the Chinese legend of the Four Beauties, there are no fantasy elements, except a teeny bit at the end, and the romance is very backstage. I wanted to root for Xishi and Fanli but I wish they had gotten more time together and more time for us to see why they are in love, because honestly she was with Fuchai more and he had some absolute killer lines that made me want her to switch things around so he was endgame. Honestly, it just felt like wasted potential. That being said, I did enjoy the writing style so I will totally try more Ann Liang books!

This absolutely had moments of utter heartbreak and devastation, with beautiful writing and a really great story. While I felt some underdevelopment with the main characters, I still enjoyed my time with this one.

This book was amazing— so much depth about the power of humanity and kindness and the futility of war. It had mythology and history and romance and action - and the prose was gorgeous.