Wow, it's been a long time that I've read a historical story based on true events and A Song to Drown Rivers was a great way to get back to this genre. I finished this story in one day because yes - it was truly gripping from word to word.
A Song to Drown Rivers is based on the story of Xishi, one of the Four Great Beauties of Ancient China. Part historical, part embellishment, the story itself is akin to watching a heartbreak about to happen and you can't do anything to prevent it. Tragic and beautiful, A Song to Drown Rivers tells the fateful tale of Xishi, the most beautiful woman in the land of China (though it wasn't called China at that time). Hidden from a young age to prevent any undesirable attention, Xishi was naive yet brave and was given a role she put her whole heart into.
The tragedy itself stems from a longing of love and a betrayal that was unexpected. The author's ability to reach into the very depths of your soul and tear it into pieces is something not to be ignored. I will definitely be watching out for this author.
While no one truly knows the stories of historical figures - alas only through tales and legends passed down through generations - Xishi was beautifully written and portrayed. I'd like to think she was exactly as described in A Song to Drown Rivers, and her great love interest - FanLi was ultimately her savior and downfall.
If you get a chance to research Xishi and her story on how she brought down a powerful King and nation, then you'll enjoy reading this story.
Spoiler alert - the ending was tragic but written in a way that you had high hopes for the future of Xishi and FanLi. While the author didn't delve too much into their love story - rather more of the romance between King Fuchai and Xishi, you still feel the angst, the pain, and the heartache that Fanli and Xishi felt for each other.
This is a story for anyone looking to read a bit of historical fiction and non-fiction, tied with a hefty amount of espionage and revenge. Ultimately the book is about Xishi's great accomplishment and the fascinating descriptions with lyrical prose that draws you in from the first sentence.
Thank you to author Ann Liang and Netgalley for this ARC.

“The mind destroys; the heart devours.”

Entrancing and eloquent, Ann Liang draws you into her world with just the first few pages, and you find yourself at the end before you’re ready for it to be over. She truly gives this legend new life and a personal touch.

Our heroine, Xishi, a girl from a small village, finds herself at the heart of political machinations grander than she ever expected, and with help of a young military advisor by the name of Fanli, she is taught to use her beauty to ensnare and captivate. As the novel progresses, Xishi’s fragility and naivety slowly erode through to a backbone of steel she must use to protect herself and those she holds close in a hostile court with a capriciously cruel king she hopes to control.

“But what is desire?” “Absence.…We are most tempted by what we cannot have.“

Ann Liang has a way of conveying incredible weight and complexity of feeling in the smallest of actions and touches as we experience Xishi struggle between what she must sacrifice and the intense longing for what she wishes she could have.

This is a beautiful novel, with engaging characters, a compelling romance and a gripping political court intrigue. As the novel delves into the motivation and desperation of women establishing themselves in a world controlled by the greed of men, we too are forced to confront poignant plays on power dynamics and what the real difference is between a personal sacrifice and a political pawn.

As the novel comes to a close, it ends in the only way I believe this story could. I fully recommend this to anyone who would agree that true beauty is as devastatingly haunting, as it is breathtakingly exquisite.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #ASongtoDrownRivers #NetGalley

When we first meet Xishi, she is a young girl courageously and compassionately putting her own life at risk to save another. Xishi is discovered in her small village by King Gourjian of Yue's advisor, Fanli, who trains Xishi to be the King's concubine. She is chosen for the role based on her beauty, although in reality she becomes a spy to undermine the King. In A Song to Drown Rivers, we follow her journey and that of Fanli.

I was drawn to this book by its lyrical title and beautiful cover. What I found within was a historical fantasy featuring a strong, smart heroine. The prose has a lovely, poetic quality that is well-suited to the protagonists and tone of the story. I enjoyed A Song to Drown Rivers and plan to seek out other books by this author. I recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy novels with a strong female lead.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of A Song to Drown Rivers.

It's worth noting that I don't believe that A Song to Drown Rivers is a bad book by any means, and I've loved all of Ann Liang's previous published works. I also just have to admit that something about A Song to Drown Rivers didn't connect as much as I was hoping it would. Whether it was the length of the book, which I could argue should've been longer, or a romance that didn't feel quite developed, I was left wanting more, and not in the sense that I loved the story that I wanted it to keep going. The ideas were there, and interesting, but they could have been expanded upon in better ways. I also wish that there was more time spent with the female friendships, instead of all of the time being focused on the men in Xishi's life.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read this to review. Liang's Fantasy debut was gripping but frustrating at times. I found myself feeling like I had skipped pages, wondering how the characters could suddenly have such strong feelings for the other given the lack of conversation or interactions. While the overall plot kept me entertained, I was a bit let down given how strong the first few chapters were.

A Song to Drown Rivers was an incredible book. The author Ann Liang was notorious in the YA lit field, but this book was proof that she can write so many more genres. A Song to Drown Rivers was such a beautiful book with such an intense relationship between the two main leads. The world building and character building made the book feel very whole.

A peasant girl with the help of her advisor is trained and sent to topple a kingdom as a concubine.
Chinese empires, war, espionage, the art of seduction and influence, love vs duty. A really beautiful historical retelling of one of The Four Beauties of China. Women celebrated for weaponising their soft power to break men and win wars. A story where warfare was felt but on the periphery. The bigger focus on the psychological tension of the h’s job. At its core a chaste and tragic romance that seemed to grow stronger where there was absence.

*It was a pleasure to read the ARC for A Song to Drown Rivers, thank you A. Liang and St. Martin's Press.
—Amia Lort on Goodreads

It is so to my taste in a way I haven’t even considered exactly what my tastes are. It is simply incredible and it’s difficult to fill or even articulate the void it left in my heart after I finished it. It’s the kind of book you’d want to read in the daylight to soak up every word, every emotion and further bask in it.

The plot was captivating, intriguing and filled with excitement. It has beautiful prose and the amazing word building. Plus, the characters were highly developed and well portrayed. This was a very enjoyable read.

A full review will come as soon as the publishers/imprints under St. Martin Press (i.e. Wednesday Books), address the racism, Islamophobia, pinkwashing, and Zionist rhetoric they have enabled and perpetruated. For more information and ways to raise awareness and support, please check out the website --> r4a.caard.co

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What an evocative and interesting story! I loved the writing and the opportunity to learn about a new to me history and culture and story.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is a historical fiction retelling of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China.

I'm a big fan of the Four Beauties so I was very excited to learn about this book and it lived up to my expectations. I loved a lot of the prose and was immediately drawn in by the voice. I love women having revenge arcs and Xishi wants to help bring down the Wu Kingdom for what they did to her people and her sister, Susu.

Xishi’s love interest is Fanli, an advisor who was ordered to find the most beautiful woman in the kingdom to marry the Emperor of the Wu Kingdom. They are quickly attracted to each other but due to Xishi’s position as the future concubine of the Emperor, they cannot act on those feelings. There’s so much yearning throughout the book as Xishi navigates courtly life all while wishing she could see Fanli again.

I would recommend this to fans of Chinese history and readers looking for more historical fiction focusing on women.

This book was amazing! The twist at the end hurt so much I was rooting for Xishi and Fanli’s happy ending after everything!! I’m glad she didn’t fall for the king but after all she went through she didn’t get to see the benefits of her sacrifice. I’m glad they met again in the end but oh my goodness how I wish I would’ve gotten more content with them together.

Stunning and heartbreaking. The author portrays the destructive power of both war and love, while also dealing with significant topics such as womanhood, duty and what’s left in the wake of the destruction caused by the greed of powerful men. The book is beautifully written and its characters are compelling.

A few things seemed a little too convenient at times, but it felt appropriate given that the story’s told as if Xishi is telling the reader her own myth and no tale survives without some degree of embellishment. I thought the conclusion was very well done and fitting of the brutal reality depicted in the story.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided an ARC of this title for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one will stick with you for a long while after you finish.

POWERFUL and tragic don’t quite sum it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my review copy. I would be very interested to explore other work by this author.

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS by Ann Liang is her debut historical adult novel that's inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. Xishi's beauty is well-known throughout her village. Her parents worry that some day it will lead to tragedy. She's recruited by the king's advisor, Fanli, who offers her the opportunity to use her beauty to take down their rival kingdom. He trains her in etiquette, the arts, and in how to hide her emotions. Sending her off to be wed to the king of Wu is difficult for Fanli and Xishi because during the training period, they find they are falling for each other. Will Xishi succeed in her quest or will her duplicitous agenda be discovered and lead to tragedy? You'll have to read to find out.

The writing in this book grabbed me from page one. The settings were described in such a way that I felt I was there with Xishi. What shines the most, however, are the well-crafted characters. It saddened and frustrated me that Xishi and Fanli had so many challenges in the way of them being together. The characters were so masterfully crafted, Xishi and Fanli, of course, were so compelling. But the side characters, and even the villains deserve honorable mentions. Honestly, I feel like the King of Wu, Fuchai, was a surprisingly sympathetic character, adding to the angst of Xishi's mission.

What I loved most about this book:
- I'm a fan of historical settings, and this setting in Ancient China came to life in this novel
- Inspired by a legend, this book delivers more than just a retelling. It's inspired me to look into the other legends, too, which I hope it does for other readers and writers
- The sexual tension between Xishi and Fanli is so well written. The shared looks of longing. The hand touches. The "I can't but I want to" moments. Just.... wow.
- One theme that really resonated with me was the theme of duty to one's country versus duty to oneself versus duty to your family. Is loyalty to a king justified? When does it make sense to put yourself and what you want above a calling that involves the changing of political powers impacting hundred of thousands of people?
-Like I mentioned earlier, the supporting characters deserve an honorable mention: King Fuchai, Xishi's best friend, Zhengdan, Luyi, the guard.
- The promise of the premise where Xishi learned, My Fair Lady-style, how to act properly, speak properly, even eat properly was delightful and also served to ignite the chemistry between Xishi and Fanli.

What sorta didn't work:
- Something happened towards the end of the novel that completely shocked me. I won't say what it was, but at the end of the day, it devastated me. It truly serves the legend and makes it come full circle. It did not detract from my overall impression of this novel as a memorable read. The fact that I reacted so strongly is a tribute to how much I love these characters.

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is a pacey, romantic, adventurous, and all-encompassing read with an exquisite romance, and a strong cast of characters. I encourage you to pre-order this memorable novel. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

if anybody is capable of writing an epic fantasy tragedy, it’s ann liang. a song to drown rivers is a lyrical work of art, weaving together a tragic love story, the toppling of an empire, and a little bit of a spy thriller. i the word i keep thinking of is tragedy. this story is a real tragedy, and ann liang was the perfect author to write it. she really brought to life these heartfelt, complex characters and their raw, complicated emotions.

i’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 just because there were some details that hinted at something deeper, but didn’t elaborate on them. i thought there would be some symbolic/poetic/spiritual reason for her chronic pain, since it had meaningful times that it would come up, but there wasn’t any. this is one book where i can say that it could be longer, and that IS a compliment.

Every word in this book builds up to a powerful end. Few do it so well.

A Song to Drown Rivers novelizes the story of Xishi, a figure of Chinese legend. Xishi is a young woman only familiar with life in her wartorn village. But her simple daily struggles can be set aside when royal advisor Fanli seeks her out because of her unparalleled beauty. He asks her to go as a tribute, and spy, to the bloodthirsty Wu king. She must learn the manners and talents of a court lady and, above all, learn to hide her true feelings, a task that may prove impossible.

This is no game of spies, but something that Xishi gives up her heart and freedom for. The futures of kings depend on her.

I was unfamiliar with this legend, and so, unprepared for this level of tragedy. But even now that I know, I want to read it again. There’s a mesmerizing quality to these words.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance read. Five stars for these beautifully written characters struggling to balance humanity and righteous anger.

WOW WOW WOW.

I very rarely give out 5 stars, but can I give this book a million stars?

The longing. Please gods, bestow us with a beautiful special edition or I will cry. Speaking of, I hardly ever cry when reading books, but this one had me in tears.

This is a beautifully written adult historical novel set in a fictional world resembling China - there aren't any magic or fantastical elements. It will force you to stay up until the wee hours of the morning just to see what happens next, and it will pull at your heartstrings until your heart breaks.

“A Song to Drown Rivers” is luminous. The beautiful prose and story-telling captured my love from the beginning. Liang’s world-building transports the reader into the most lovely setting. The romance is tender and the friendship is real.

For those who love:
🪷 Spy in enemy kingdom
🪷 Betrothed to the enemy
🪷 Court Intrigue
🪷 Forbidden Romance
🪷 Music
🪷 Inspired by Chinese Legends
🪷 Historical Fantasy

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.