Wow! The imagery and character development in this book is amazing! This is historical fiction, with a love story wrapped up in it. I usually don't read those type of stories but the cover was so beautiful...it drew me in! What an amazing story of love, revenge, betrayal, and ultimately redemption. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

A Song to Drown Rivers is a retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Xishi is a woman from a small village who is recruited and trained to become a concubine spy to take down a neighboring kingdom. The bulk of the novel follows the trials and tribulations of Xishi as she navigates blending into an enemy's royal court while trying to complete her mission with hints of a slow-burn romance.

Once this book hits its stride (which, for me, is around the end of Xishi's training montage), IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN !! I've never heard of this legend before, but I do love reading historical fiction, so I enjoyed reading about the royal courts and kingdom drama thoroughly! I won't really classify this book as a fantasy, though. There weren't really any fantastical elements that would bring the book into that category. The romance elements were enjoyable to read (they got me giggling and kicking my feet), and they didn't overpower the other central themes. I felt like the recurring thought of "Who are truly the good guys? Who are really the monsters?" could have been pushed a bit further. There were so many aspects to the rival kings' characters as well as the people of the rival courts that felt superficial and didn't go past, "Hmmm... maybe they aren't the bad guys after all..." The complexity of the characters and their potential were there!! Regardless, that ending was BRUTAL!! (in a good way!) I definitely recommend this book for folks who love historical dramas and romances!

I loved this book that I purchased it immediately once it was available.

I rate this book a 4.5.

All I have to say is read this book.
It was beautifully written and I was in awe with the book. This book had me going through all the emotions- loved the themes of this book -political pawns, forbidden romance, historical fantasy, betrothed to the enemy,

The writing style/prose was really well done. It kept me hooked the entire time, and I would definitely read more by the author. The pacing, however, felt rushed. There were large time jumps that, to me, detracted from the sense of importance or urgency of the plot. The narrator's habit of referencing future tragic events also sort of ruined the moments when they did happen. There was less emotional poignancy than there could have been. I would also not call this a fantasy novel - historical fiction, certainly, but there weren't any fantasy elements present.

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is a gorgeous piece of historical fiction befitting the beauty and elegance of its main character. Told in an almost poetic manner, it follows the story of Xishi, one of China's famed Four Beauties, as she moves from tiny village to imperial palace and from shy maiden to favorite concubine. It is a revenge story as much as a love, historical, or coming-of-age story, and its ending will haunt you long after you finish reading.

While A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS does not contain much character development, any such growth in Fanli or Fuchai is unnecessary to the story because, simply put, it isn't their story. A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is Xishi's story. In it, Ms. Liang focuses on how Xishi's actions impact her thoughts and feelings rather than what she does for her people.

When we first meet Xishi, she is a simple girl from a poor family in a poor village still recovering from the previous war between the Kingdoms of Yue and Wu and grieving her little sister's death at the hands of Wu warriors. To her, her beauty is an imposition, a cruelty of fate that causes her more hardship than pleasure, forcing her to hide from the world to avoid extra unwanted attention.

By the time the book closes, Xishi is more than that simple village girl. She has come to accept her beauty and wield it like a weapon Fanli wants her to be. More importantly, she understands and recognizes that the real ills of the world are not found in one person or kingdom. Moreover, she recognizes the mind-f*ckery that is her role in Fanli's plan, and, like everything in life, our impressions and beliefs about ourselves and others are a matter of perception of reality as we see it.

Her character development is a subtle growth, as Xishi spends much of the novel alone with her thoughts and dreams. A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is not an action novel. While there are some scenes during which fighting occurs, there are no epic battle sequences to entertain the reader. Instead, readers must sit with Xishi as she contemplates her fate and her growing awareness that monsters as humans rarely exist.

One of the adaptations Ms. Liang makes with A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is her timeline compression of Xishi's story. While the Internet tells me that Xishi's training with Fanli took three years and her time with Fuchai in the Wu kingdom lasted twenty years, Ms. Liang's version sees Xishi's entire story cut down to no more than three years. This time compression does make a few things more difficult to accept, namely her love for Fanli, and her. accomplishments in the Wu kingdom. Her love for Fanli feels like insta-love, which is always difficult to stomach. Meanwhile, her time at Fuchai's side feels brief, which lessens her sacrifice. Given that we see almost none of her machinations and maneuverings within the imperial palace, it is easy for readers to scoff at her purpose and her achievements as part of the Yue revenge plot.

Despite the odd flow of time, I finished A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS blown away by its beauty and tragic ending. I like that Fuchai is not a complex character, no matter how odd Xishi finds it. I love that Fanli hides his feelings away from himself and the world. It makes any emotional outburst of his much more powerful. I appreciate Xishi coming to realize that not only is revenge seldom the answer, but also that sometimes the monster isn't the enemy you think it is. The last scene with Fuchai is as poetic as it is bleak, and Xishi's fate left me unable to sleep as I contemplated its place within the story. A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is not a complex story, and its simplicity is what makes it so powerful

REVIEW SHOULD RUN WITHIN NEXT TWO WEEKS
Xishi is washing silk at the river when a young girl, begging for mercy, collapses in front of her. A Wu soldier is chasing the child with a drawn sword, clearly planning to kill her. Xishi intervenes and expects to die in her place as a result, but the most beautiful man she has ever seen arrives just in time, saving her life. His name is Fanli. Dressed in silks and clearly of the noble class, he nevertheless claims that he is there to see humbly born Xishi. Whispers of her exquisite loveliness have reached as far as the palace, and he, the emperor’s chief advisor, needs just such a woman. There is a plan for vengeance afoot that requires courage as well as charm. Xishi, who lost a sister to Wu violence, is more than happy to be a part of it.

Just like that, her adventure begins. She undergoes thirteen weeks of intense training to become a spy for the Yue. She will be sent as a concubine to the Wu capital, where she is to seduce their young emperor, Fuchai'. Once she has him in her thrall, it will be her task to drive him to do two things: empty the treasury and build a canal that will connect the two kingdoms so the Yue can more easily attack the Wu.

After her short training period, Xishi enters the Wu court with her handmaiden Zhengdan, a close friend and confidant from the same village who is well-trained in swordsmanship. But it is not easy to gain Fuchai’s attention. He has many concubines, and the battle for his affection is fierce. It is especially difficult for Xishi to simper and seduce this emperor whom she despises when she already holds her rescuer in her heart.

This novel is based on the legend of Xi Shi, who is one of the Four beauties of Ancient China. Like most legends, their are multiple iterations of the tale, with this book mostly sticking to the basic story line.

Several things work well in the story. The author does a nice job of introducing the conflict between the Wu and the Yue and also showing us how, in reality, the people we think are monsters are often just people who think the same of us. I liked how the author showed the devastation of war; almost everyone we encounter has lost someone to the fighting It was refreshing to read a story based on a non-western legend. I love fairy tales and it is fun to compare the stories I am familiar with with those of other lands.

How well you tolerate the flaws in the narrative will depend upon whether or not you are someone who enjoys romantasy. Like most (all?) of that genre, the court politics here make no sense. Problems tend to be resolved far too easily. There is a scene towards the sixty percent mark in the story where Xishi does something that was so stupid I wanted to reach through the pages and smack her. The behavior was not atypical for a romantasy. Naturally, the characters have a lot of modern sensibilities. The characters read and behave like young/new adults although the positions they hold would require someone with wisdom and experience. The author fails to create any tension in the story since Xishi is never truly conflicted. It’s not a story to provoke thought but is more a teen/twenties romp through history.

For some audiences, none of that will be a problem. For others, it will be completely unacceptable. Again, how you accept it will all depend on whether or not you like books in that genre.

There were a few things, though, that the author could have done better even within the confines of her literary form. One is to create a real romance between Fanli and Xishi. The two spend almost no time together, and their love is all cryptic comments and longing glances. In the legend, Xishi trains for years. Shortening it to months for the sake of the story made it seem almost ridiculous. The court politics should have been handled in more detail.But most importantly what made Xishi so alluring for Fuchai and why he succumbed so easily to her machinations needed to be addressed more thoroughly. In this tale, Xishi was one pretty girl among many. She was meant to be a beauty that birds would descend to get a closer look at and the moon would hide in shame from. Using that would have been good. I would have preferred the author choosing the happier of the two possible endings to the tale as well. I didn’t grade down for the latter but I do want to warn readers that there isn’t an HEA here.

I went with a B for my overall grade of A Song to Drown Rivers because it is a good, if not great, example of romantasy and because I enjoyed this look at a legend from a different culture. If you like that genre, I would recommend it.

Q: Has a book ever left you reeling when it’s over?

This book made me so unwell. Like I loved every minute of it but that ending caught me right in the gut. The writing was beautiful and atmospheric. Xishi was such a strong character and it’s unusual to see a book written from the POV of someone who is using their beauty as a weapon. And very strategically too.

I also adored Fanli. Both of them were all in saving their people and it created such a bond between them. The tension in this book was OFF THE CHARTS. Like if you love Pride and Prejudice for the tension and the carriage hand scene? This book is for you.

This turned out to be nothing like I expected...and honestly, it was even better! The characters felt so authentic, and the conflicts and politics were impressively nuanced. While I’ve read many stories about a beautiful girl seducing a king to bring down his kingdom, this one set itself apart. It’s less a romance and more a profound exploration of the will of kings, making Xishi’s journey all the more powerful and resonant! I need more!!

This book went back and forth for me - for the most part it was interesting and enjoyable, but there were many other parts that seemed forced, or from another story. The writing is beautiful, the characters interesting, but I felt like the plot was somewhat scattered. And there was a twist that will make you either love or hate the story.

Regardless, I am glad I read it as the imagery was well done.

Thank you Net Galley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. It was a really interesting premise and overall it was quite a fun read. However, I wish that the romance was developed a little more.

OMG IF YOU LOVE BETRAYAL AND TWISTS, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Oh I love when a woman gets her revenge! Oh, I ate this book UP. I received it as an ARC in March, but I didn’t pick it up until a few days before it was published. This book is crazy - I love a powerful woman’s story finally being told. UGH. If you love stories about women being spies and enacting their revenge, if you are a die-hard Mulan girlie (similarly set in China, a strong woman saves her kingdom but is shamed for being a woman.) this is THE book to read. omg loved it!!!

This book GAGGED me. If you haven’t picked it up from the library or your nearest bookstore, you have to immediately! It had so many twists and turns, suspense, and a gut-wrenching romance! If you love stories about women having their stories finally told, please read this book!

**Features:**
- Retelling of the legend of Xishi
- Court intrigue, deception, and a complicated love triangle
- Set in a fantasy version of ancient China
- Explores themes around revenge, sacrifice, and beauty

**Summary**

Beauty is a blessing. Beauty is a curse. Beauty is a weapon. Xishi is said to be so beautiful that nature itself is humbled by her presence. However, in a time of war where the Wu are a constant threat, Xishi remains hidden in her tiny village, away from any great fortune she once would have been fated to bring to her family. However, when she is discovered by Fanli, one of the Yue king’s advisors, it seems that fate might have its hand after all. But instead of the happily ever after everyone had envisioned, Xishi’s beauty will become the weapon that will take down the Wu from within.

**Thoughts**

Wow! This retelling of the legend of Xishi had me hooked from the start! I was somewhat familiar with the original Chinese legend before picking up this book and it seems to follow it pretty closely. Despite that, I found this rendition captivating and tragic with some twists I wasn’t quite expecting and it is worth picking up whether this story is new to you or not. Though Xishi is really only made interesting by the situation she is trying to navigate, the characters that surround her all stand out in their unique ways. Though Liang’s previous books have been romcoms and the synopsis makes it sound like this story will take a similar approach, don’t be fooled! This story quickly becomes a complicated and sad tale of deception and revenge that is only enhanced by the love triangle at its center. If you are unfamiliar with the legend of Xishi, know before going in that this is a tragic tale. This is the first book I have read by Liang and unless I had looked it up, I would not have known from this book that romcoms have been her bread and butter up until now. That alone deserves a round of applause!

What really made this book a stand out read for me was the writing itself. The story is written with poetic prose that feels appropriate for a ‘legend’ story and rarely feels overdone. You really feel transported to the time and place that this story is unfolding and are truly allowed to experience the world through the characters rather than sitting through bouts of long exhibition. Even with the rich world and storytelling that this book contains, it remains extremely accessible and never gets bogged down with details. There are definitely some slower parts of the story, but it never overstays its welcome and just feels like a natural part of the storytelling. This phenomenal read came just at the right time for me even though the ending left me in tears and I would highly recommend it!

Ann Liang's <i>A Song to Drown Rivers</i> has so much potential. The story is good; it is clear Liang's vision of the characters is clears; the setting is, theoretically, quite promising. However, the world building just isn't quite there and it throws the pacing off from the jump. It ends up feeling like the work of a much less mature/experience author.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a tragic love story that has some unexpected twists that will leave you reeling. The story was beautifully written with a unique story; however, the relationship among the characters does fall flat at time. I wish there would have been more development between the main love interests’ relationship. The relationship has a great start, but kind of fizzles out during his absence for most of the book. Also, there could have been more depth to the characters as well. Oftentimes, they were written with this one dimensional almost robotic feel. Although this is a beautifully written story that provides moments you do not always see coming, there are elements of it that could be improved to truly make it a great story. Overall, I would recommend this to readers who want a quick, romantic read with a more young adult feel to it.

I loved this so much. To be honest I didn't know what to expect going into it. But I loved the characters and the plot was perfect!

Based on a legend, this fantasy story is multifaceted and entertaining. Xishi is a woman known for her beauty but also demonstrates intelligence, quick thinking, passion and loyalty. She persists in her role as a spy against the enemy of her people in spite of the odds against her. I really enjoyed the personality of Xishi and felt like the author did a great job with development of her character. She faced impossible situations but found ways to fulfill her role. Of course, the relationship between her and the king was unrealistic but the book is a fantasy and I found Xishi’s vacillation between tenderness and hatred towards the king really added depth to the story. This book really delivered with strong female characters who used both wit and strength to help defeat the enemy. The tragic love story between Xishi and Fanli added another dimension but did not make it an overwhelming romance novel.

This book was a lot different than I was expecting it to be, so I needed to take some time to digest it before reading. I loved that it was relatively easy to follow, making it very approachable, which isn’t always the case for me with fantasy or historical reads. The beginning hooked me, the middle had me feeling hmmm I dunno about this, but then the end CRUSHED ME (in the best way).

The story was beautiful overall, but at times I wish I had a little more detail or insight into the characters. There were moments where I felt like I really understood them and then there were others where they felt a little flat. However, the story and overall message was stunning and left me thinking it about it for several days after I finished. With this in mind, I settled on 4 stars.

If you’re going into this, know it’s very light on the fantasy in my opinion. I get that it’s not historical fiction exactly, but the fantasy label didn’t feel quite right to me either. It reads like a story that would be passed down from generation to generation though. And I guess in a way it was! I didn’t realize until after I finished the book that it’s based on a classic - the legends of The Four Beauties of Ancient China! I would be interested in hearing the original story.

Overall, I’d recommend this, but I would keep an open mind as a reader! I did a mix of audiobook and ebook.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my eARC! Opinions are all my own.

It is criminal how good this book was. This story took me completely by surprise in the best way. The way my jaw was dropped and hand covering my mouth towards the last half of the book. So many books follow this formula and I swore I had the plot figured out and let me tell you I definitely didn't. I would not consider this to be a fantasy, in only that it is based on chinese mythology about one of the four beauties of ancient china.

This book gave me the plot driven story I have been craving. The journey that Xishi goes on to get revenge for her kingdom is heartbreakingly beautiful. Being a spy and taking down Fuchai's kingdom is not as black and white as it seems. There were characters that I knew I was supposed to hate but I found myself wanting things to still work out for them. I haven't been this blindsided by a book in a while. I don't know if I just read it at the right time or what but I absolutely loved this story.

Overall, this was a good time. I thought the sentence-level writing was solid, but I wish there was more character development. This book covers a long time period in a relatively average amount of pages, but I think we needed more. A little more time in the book would have helped us see the development of Xishi's skills as a spy or her relationship with Fanli. Instead, we're told that they have an incredible connection, but it didn't feel it.

** I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Xishi is one of four beauties in Chinese legend said to have changed history. She was sent by the Yue kingdom as a concubine to the Wu kingdom as a gesture of goodwill, but she was actually a spy tasked with distracting the king from his kingdom.

On the surface this is a great story. We have political intrigue, a forbidden love story, lies, deception, all driven by tragedy—as all good revenge plots are. When you take a second to think about it though, there is so much missing. I wanted more from every aspect of this story.

While, yes, this was a retelling/reimagining of the legend of Xishi, there was a lot of opportunity to imagine what she would have thought or felt. A Song to Drown Rivers stays very surface level, simply retelling the legend. Her convictions are never really felt. She wants to sacrifice herself for her kingdom, but we never really FEEL that. We are simply told that. We are told she and Fanli fall in love, and we see glimpses of this but for me, it was never really that deep. Also, her struggle to reconcile the "monsters of Wu" she always thought them to be, with what she actually experiences was hardly touched on.

Overall I just wanted more. There didn't seem to be a single driving force for any character's actions that anchored the story.