Xishi is the most beautiful woman in Yue. Fanli,the aide to the king has been looking for someone to present to the enemy king of Wu as a gift of friendship to end the war. In truth, Fanli wants a beautiful woman to spy on the enemy kingdom and offer a swift defeat.

This book was marketed as a romantasy and therefore my expectations were different when I started it. However, Xishi and Fanli’s chaste forbidden romance drew me in. This is a sad story about what one will do for their country, the sacrfices they are willing to make and coming into your own as a woman. If strong female characters and sad forbidden love stores are something you enjoy, this may be for you.

This book is absolutely amazing! I don’t think any review I can write will do it justice. I read this slowly because I wanted to savor every second of it.

This isn’t my typical genre, but it sounded intriguing so I decided to give it a go. I am so glad I did! I would have missed out on what easily became one of my favorite books of the year. I am jealous of anyone who gets to read this for the first time.

The story pulled me in from the beginning. The main plot is interesting and suspenseful. There are a few love stories going on and it’s heart wrenching. The MC is definitely placed in a tough position. This book has it all: suspense, thrill, fantasy, myth, and romance. It is a very moving and thought-provoking story.

This book better be one of the most popular and talked about books of 2024 as it deserves to be! Due to release in October.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

Xishi is seen as the most beautiful girl in her hometown of Yue, a place ravaged by war with its inhabitants struggling to get by. One day, she attracts the attention of war advisor Fanli, who explains that he is looking for a beauty to tempt the King who conquered their kingdom and caused so much destruction to her people, including the death of her beloved sister. A Trojan horse disguised as a pretty woman.

Bent on revenge, Xishi agrees to the plan and trains to be the most successful concubine in the kingdom. But she is also attracted to stoic Fanli, but knows that her duty is to avenge her people.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang was an intriguing tale which is based on the legend of Xishi. I hadn't heard about it at all, even with my Chinese heritage, so it was nice to read about it. It is pretty long so be prepared for this.

Beware this is not a fast read and you need to push through the beginning. If you are a fan of ACOTAR, you know this all too well. The good news, is this is just one book and not a series! But it was really good, the storyline was incredible and I really really enjoyed it!

I was so excited to see Ann Liang dive into the historical fiction genre, so this was a must-read for me.

The story was straightforward and easy to follow. I was intrigued from beginning to end but I felt like this would've been perfect as a series instead. I would've loved if we had more time to develop Xishi and Fanli's relationship because even though he was the MMC, I wasn't attached to him at all. Their story was definitely beautiful and tragic but I found myself rooting for Fuchai since he was the main focus for about 70% of the book. (He deserved better too!) This also applies to the side characters (Zhengdan and Zixu) as they were severely underdeveloped. It was still an enjoyable read and it left me wanting to learn more about the Legend of Xishi.

If you love Ann Liang's writing, I would recommend it and give it a try!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

WELL… I’ve had almost 24 hours to digest this novel, so I’ll do my best to put my thoughts into spoiler-free words.

I’ll start by saying I LOVED this book: an incomparable beauty infiltrates a rival kingdom, posing as a concubine to the enemy king but acting as a spy for her home kingdom.

I typically gravitate towards the books that are faster paced, with big stop-your-heart plot twists and lively, sassy characters. If those books are like a river full of white water rapids - heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat, a bit chaotic - this book was like the picturesque ocean with quiet, soothing waves but a vicious undertow you don’t even realize is there until it’s too late.

I was quietly addicted to this story from the start. It is very, very different from the books I normally read: it’s technically fantasy but reads like historical fiction, it has a very strong romantic plot line with no spice, and it leaves me with a strong desire to reflect on the story and the messages rather than just consume for entertainment.

Overall - highly recommend!

This book was long and a bit slow to start, but the writing and the setting were both beautiful, so it encouraged me to push through. It is definitely not a fast read, but it is one that I enjoyed and will add to my shelf for years to come.

In ancient China, there existed two kingdoms. The Wu and Yue. The Wu kingdom, known for their savagery and ruthlessness wanted nothing more than to conquer everything and everyone. But unbeknownst to them, a silent storm was brewing from their rival, the Yues.

Under the rule of King Goujian of the Yues, minister Fanli is tasked with infiltrating the Wu kingdom and conquering King Fuchai, thus recovering their rightful place and rule.

The Yue’s secret weapon — Xishi, the most beautiful woman in the land with “a face that could launch a thousand ships.” Under the tutelage of Fanli, Xishi is trained to go undercover as King Fuchai’s concubine. During the training process, Xishi becomes a courtesan worthy of many kings. At the same time, Xishi comes to admire her trainer, Fanli. And likewise, Fanli comes to admire Xishi. A magical, but forbidden bond that is sure to test each of their loyalties.

I was skeptical at first blush. But after reading a few chapters, I was hooked. I loved the world building, the magical realism, and the character development. All of those characteristics kept me turning the pages. But what made the novel so memorable was the plot. There were several plot twists that kept me on edge and sometimes in tears. The novel is more than a historical fantasy. It is also a heartfelt romance reminiscent of House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

A Song to Drown Rivers is my first Ann Liang novel. It certainly won’t be my last. Five outstanding stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

“The mind destroys; the heart devours.”

This is an incredibly written story. I could not put it down.

Xishi is a warrior and she, Fanli, and Fuchai will take you on an emotional journey of heartbreak, war, self-sacrifice, and betrayal.
Filled with great twists and turns. As the story kept developing, I kept anticipating how it was going to end. It was not at all the ending I was expecting, but wow!

“When the hares have all been caught, the hunting dogs are cooked.”

This was a light fun ¬read, some action, adventure and love?
Without spoiling the story, there were so many moments/characters that were rich and had such great potential, but I always wanted more. Here are some examples of what I mean:

The romance between the Xishi (mc) and Fanli (Yue king’s advisor). I needed so much more of this couple just because the timing of them being together was not well executed. I did not believe in their romance as much as I wanted to. I do not understand why Fanli even cared about Xishi as much as he did. Someone help me understand!

The Wu King. A character written as a ruthless person but with miniscule gray variation. I could understand why he liked Xishi, she did her best to stand out, she was actually different than the other girls in a non-cliché way. But the choices he made at the end did not match his character.

The “minor” characters. There were some wonderful characters that deserved more than what they got. Even towards the end it appeared as if they were forgotten and never existed, which was sad to see!


Overall, despite these challenges I loved this story. The beginning had me hooked which I believe was due to Liang’s writing and the way she brings the reader into a new world. The interaction between the characters and supporting cast made me love it even more and I wish I had seen more of that throughout the entirety of the novel.

4.5 ⭐️

This is a powerful story of determination, sacrifice, love, and betrayal. An emotionally driven tale of imperial intrigue, the power of one to change an empire without ever using a sword. This was a beautiful read. The narration was captivating. for fantasy readers, this is light on the fantasy aspect (read: I didn’t find it to be fantasy much at all). It’s based on folklore and is presented in an historic, realistic world. I absolutely recommend this read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Liang, Macmillan audio, and St. Martian’s press for ARC copies of this book.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Song to Drown Rivers releases October 1, 2024

3.5

<i>“The mind destroys; the heart devours.”</I>

Xishi is sought out by the Yue kingdom’s political advisor as a potential bride of unmatched beauty — a tribute given to their rival kingdom, Wu.
To the public eye, Xishi would be one of Fuchai’s concubines, but her true purpose would be acting as a spy for Yue and becoming the mastermind behind their revenge plan.
She has no qualms with this since her younger sister was killed by the hands of a Wu soldier.

Ann Liang is a skillful writer, but at times while reading this, it almost came across as too perfect; too safe. Ultimately, I was left wanting <u>so much more</u>.
I wanted more complexity, more angsty scenes between Xishi and Fanli, and for her chronic illness/chest pains to be explained.
Including even just a handful of chapters from Fanli’s pov over the course of the two years would have aided in developing the dynamic between him and Xishi and lead to a better understanding as to why they yearned so deeply for each other since most of their connection during the ten weeks of training was left off-page.

The stakes were rather low amidst a war between two kingdoms and Fuchai surrendered too easily at the hands of Xishi during the conflict.
I get that the whole purpose of this retelling hinged upon Xishi’s ability to use her beauty to her advantage, but I have a hard time believing she was <I> so</I> beautiful that the extent of pleasuring a king as his concubine only ever amounted to kissing… for <u>years</u>…

While this might be marketed as Liang’s adult debut, I have to be honest in saying it reads very YA.

You’ll likely love this if you’re a beginner fantasy reader as it’s not overly complex in its world building, plot, or cast of characters.
If you tend to shy away from the “I’m not like other girls” trope, you might have some reservations as it’s made evident by the first paragraph and continues to be the main driving force of the plot.

Xishi has always been told how beautiful she is, how she will be a great bride one day but she has never seen the merit in her beauty. She just longs to take care of her parents and ease their grief after the loss of their other daughter SuSu at the hands of a Wu warrior.

Fanli is a reknowned war general for the Yu King Goujian, he has been sent on a mission to find a concubine and palace lady for the Wu King to ease relations. Fanli stumbles upon Xishi and takes note that she has been what they have been looking for, the perfect weapon to infiltrate the Wu kingdom.

Xishi must quickly grow to be everything that is expected of a concubine, to entrance and snare without giving too much in the hopes that she can snare the king and send information to the Yu.

Fuchai the Wu King is everything and nothing that Xishu expects. Her rage flares at the thought of her people that have died at his kingdoms hands but she also sees that there are two sides to every coin. Quickly she realizes her mission is not going to be a fast or easy one and that sometimes the heart can trip you up.

There is a very fine line between hate and love, one that Xishu is treading but which way will she fall?

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #ASongToDrownRivers by #AnnLiang in return for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the early read
Solid 5 star read! Loved the way the author wove a tale of love and loss from old folklore.
Hope to read more by this author. This story will make you cry, get angry and smile.

I was drawn to this book by the premise of a woman using her beauty as a weapon and spying within an enemy kingdom. From the first chapter, Ann Liang set the stage beautifully by introducing us to the characters with a dash of action that had me wanting to know more. Lyrical writing is not something I enjoy often because when done poorly, it can ruin a story, but Ann pulled it off spectacularly. Her writing style had me hooked and transported me to the world of her characters.

“People always prefer the beauty who is oblivious, unaware of her own power, who blushes easily and is taken aback by strangers’ approval, who is soft and demure and lacking in just enough confidence so as to seek it out in the opinions of men. But these are such lies.”

I loved following a smart woman on a mission to deceive the men around her and getting details of Xishi’s strategy. While she is determined to seek out revenge, the path is not simple and clear. Most of her thoughts and actions are presented to us through a gray area lens. We see her questioning her abilities and choices, and her conflicting feelings leave us just as conflicted when tragedy inevitably strikes. When war is involved, can there really be a winning side?

While this is being marketed as a fantasy, I think it leans more towards Historical Fiction with a sprinkle of fantasy by incorporating mythology and folklore. Props to Ann for telling this story in a 300 page standalone (I would not have been mad at getting more of their story though!). I appreciated the moments of foreshadowing she included and managed to catch some more key moments when going through my 20 pages of annotations (oops!) after finishing the book.

The two elements that made this stand out for me among other books in its genre were 1. how the romance in it had a purpose 2. its strong, unexpected ending. I can’t share more without going into spoilers, but this was a unique, beautiful, and haunting story about the effects of wielding power. I can’t wait to pick up more of Ann Liang’s works.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ann Liang’s A Song to Drown Rivers is an extraordinary book that brings the legend of Xishi, one of Ancient China’s famed Four Beauties, to life in a fresh and powerful way. This historical fantasy retells Xishi’s story with such emotional depth and intensity that it will leave you deeply moved and completely captivated.

From the start, Liang’s storytelling shines through. Her beautiful writing and vivid descriptions pull you into the world of ancient China, making every scene come alive. The story follows Xishi, whose incredible beauty is used as a weapon in a dangerous political game. Found by the famous military advisor Fanli, Xishi is sent on a risky mission to charm and undermine the king of the enemy Wu kingdom. Her journey is both grand and tragic, full of yearning, intrigue, and painful sacrifices.

What makes this book stand out is not just its detailed plot, but also its richly developed characters. Liang makes each character feel real and their struggles relatable. The emotional impact of the story is immense; you’ll find yourself overwhelmed by the powerful and touching moments that mark Xishi’s journey. The romance, the political maneuvering, and the personal sacrifices are portrayed with such depth that they leave a lasting impression.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. It mixes the epic feel of historical drama with a deep dive into the characters' lives. If you love fantasy and enjoy complex political plots, this book is a must-read. Ann Liang has created a story that is tragic, beautiful, and unforgettable, making it one of the standout books of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of A Song to Drown Rivers!

Fanli plucks the beautiful Xishi out of obscurity to become a spy for the Yue. Xishi is to infiltrate the Wu court and seduce King Fuchai as his concubine. As Fanli teaches Xishi what she needs to know they fall in love with one another but Xishi is forced into the arms of Fuchai. Can Xishi pull of her ruse when she cannot forget Fanli?

This book had so much potential but I struggled to connect with it especially in the beginning. Xishi wants to be more than a pretty face but has very little personality to back that up. Her romance with Fanli is nonexistent, just the two of them pining for each other (presumably based on looks alone since neither have personalities). I couldn't understand Fuchai's fascination with Xishi even though that was the whole purpose of the story. He could have been developed into such a nuanced character but he was mostly portrayed as either an alcoholic or love drunk fool. The side characters are more interesting but not explored at all.

Also, there is almost no fantasy in this book and very little romance so I don't understand how it is marketed as a romantasy.

Lovely! One of my favorite books of the year! Just the right amount of romance and intrigue and spirited women and death. I personally, would have loved this to be more drawn out. Why rush her childhood and training? She had to completely remake herself into someone new. I was impressed how well she was written with a complex combination of feminine wiles, self-doubt, heartless indulgence and self-confidence.
The scents of each scene were described especially well and the whole world was beautifully written. I’m not sure I liked the very ending. For me, these stories should focus more on the tragedy of war games. “He was not killed by the Wu….He was killed by the war. By the will of kings.” How did she ultimately feel about “winning” and “losing?” Would she want the same for the next generation?

Gorgeous writing, amazing story, what more could you ask for in a book? Enjoyed this one for sure and I would recommend highly!

Utterly transcendent and breathtaking in every way imaginable. Ann’s stunning historical debut is no short of incredible, and it absolutely transfixes you from start to finish. Not only is it both heartfelt and gut-wrenching, but it perfectly captures the brutal, cataclysmic essence of war and the devastating tragedy of forbidden love.

I’m so incredibly honoured to be able to read this early, and I can say with the utmost confidence that this is some of Ann’s best work. A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS releases October 1st