thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3.75 | 😘=3 | 🤬=1 | ⚔️=4.5 | 16+

summary: woman has to go undercover as a rival king’s concubine to like get secret info and stuff

thoughts: the ending pisses me off but also I get that it has a very folktale vibe or something?? anyway. beautiful prose. heartbreaking. liked the message at the end (no spoilers). for all the political intrigue supposedly propelling the story forward, it was pretty simple, I guess? which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just something to note.

the first book i have read in 3 months and i literally am not okay.
i have stressed and cried over this book too much so excuse me while i go look for my sisters copy of i hope this doesnt find you and reread that mf confession scene (in julius' confession scene we trust)
literally everyone in this book deserved better and i am so mad.

in depth review to come in october if i can untraumatized myself!!
ann liang youre paying for my therapy.
5/5 stars fml.

Another one bites the dust. I have been very displeased with romantacy lately, the reason being because I need there to be adequate worldbuilding in ADDITION to the romance plot. this book had neither. not only did we get no fantasy elements (not to mention threadbare political intrigue), but the love interest isn't even present for most of the book.

I am so sick of getting my hopes up about an exciting, original-sounding asian fantasy romance only to be let down. I want to diversify my fantasy reading, but the books that are being pushed out by publishing right now are not helping.

Xishi’s journey is one of growth, triumph, longing, and heartbreak. She’s given a mission because of her beauty; enchant the enemy king and manipulate him from the inside so he can be weakened and defeated. I wasn’t prepared for the way things ended, and this story will stick with me for a long time.

I was completely surprised and impressed by this beautiful piece of historical fiction/fantasy. Xishe’s story begins slowly, to build up the world and turmoil around her, but it’s so worth continuing to read. It’s a story of vengeance, power, and the complexity of love and war, and right and wrong. No spoilers, but I was surprised by some of the emotions it pulled out of me. 5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

To begin, please take every trope you may have heard someone describe this book with, or every trope you think you are going to encounter, and just throw it out. Please. Read A Song to Drown Rivers with an open mind and with no expectations - except that this reads as historical fiction, not historical fantasy. (and also know you may get hurt - sorry.)

A Song to Drown Rivers contains a story aching and vengeful. The strength of this book is in the questions it explores rather than answers - whose side of war is "right?" How can womanhood be used as power even when women have no societal/political power? Personal happiness or the greater good? Does revenge satisfy?

Xishi begins the story with a black-and-white mindset but slowly comes to see that black and white may just be two sides of the same coin. None of the questions Xishi encounters are necessarily answered. The story is messy, in that way. Threads cross, combine, and are snipped in a myriad of ways, resulting in a thought-provoking exploration of some of the darker tendencies of humanity.

The tension was stunning. The positive version between Xishi and another, and the negative version between the Wu King and Xishi. Up until maybe 50% of the book, the tensions alone compelled me. I especially appreciated the author's ability to keep us longing for the resolution of the tension far longer than most stories. Side note, but too often I feel spoon-fed when tension cuts too easily or too soon; in A Song to Drown Rivers, the waiting is hard and perhaps not satisfactory, but perfect for the story.

I did feel a dip in pacing after the 50% mark until about 70% - I'm not sure if it was simply my pacing while reading, but things seemed to slow down and flounder for just a moment.

Interestingly, for a book featuring concubines and all that goes with that, the story is exceedingly closed-door. I found this a refreshing change for a book labelled "adult," that not every story above YA necessitates open-door content. It's the themes, the characters, the plot that shine through in A Song to Drown Rivers.

The atmosphere of this story will long stay with me - from the vivid imagery of Ancient China filled with rivers, yellow dust, jade, and vermillion walls, to the heartache and vengeance that compels Xishi. In other words, I loved it!

A solid historical fantasy with a strong FMC. Can’t resist a heroine with some feminine rage, and whose outward beauty is superseded by her inner beauty, strength, and determination.

I really enjoyed this book.

The story is interesting and complex and the pacing is perfect. I think the world building woven throughout helped build the story but not hold back the pacing. Really well done.

I love the FMC, Xishi, and her development. I mean, she really makes this story. I believed her and felt connected to what she was going through. At times, I did wish for a bit more plot development around certain parts like with the "lady's maid" and the ending with Fuchai. Also, Fanli is my absolute favorite. He is so complex and I just want to have more of him. Also, his connection to Xishi is chef's kiss and I just want a whole book of them. (Alas, it's not to be!).

But on the whole this book nails the message of how war is for the kings, not the people. And it really makes you think about how that truly is the case.

Definitely check this book out!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I went into this book without knowing anything about the legend of Xishi and honestly you should do that too. This book broke me and Ann Liang should write more historical fiction because the way she writes it is beautifully written and you feel transported.

5/5 ⭐️

Having been a fan of Ann Liang’s books and writing previously, you could tell that she was born to write a historical fiction novel. Her ability to storytell in both a compelling and complex way makes this a future classic that will be recommended within friends groups and reading circles.

The reason this book works so well is because it makes you question which side you will be rooting for, alongside the protagonist Xishi, a woman with irresistible beauty and motive to seek revenge for her family and village. Her bias against the palace gets challenged momentarily allowing for the reader to question not just the narrator’s reliability but also their own morals.

What would you do if you were the one to have to sacrifice everything you stood for just for it to not make a difference? To be just a cog in the machine of a cycle that is bound to repeat?

A true tragedy that everyone should give a chance.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

(MY THERAPIST WILL BE HEARING ABOUT THIS BOOK I FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH WHY WOULD U DO THIS TO ME!!!!!)

4 stars! i've loved ann's writing since IYCSTS, so when i heard she was writing an adult historical fiction novel, i was ELATEDDD. a few caveats brought this book to a 4 stars instead of a 5, but i still HIGHLY recommend this book nonetheless!

plot:
the premise of the book revolves around Xishi, one of the four legendary beauties of ancient China, whose ethereal, larger-than-life presence is both a blessing and a curse. she lives in a small village within the kingdom of Yue essentially ruled by a puppet king, which is under occupation (as a tributary state) to the ruthless kingdom of Wu. Xishi is recruited by the Yue military advisor Fanli for her beauty, who plots to overturn the Wu government from within by sending her to seduce their king. a mission that is long and arduous and lonely, but may very well save Yue, Xishi must remain faithful to her motives, her heart, and her duty to her people.

themes -
- womanhood: i literally could not emphasize how impactful and relatable and TRUE ann's/xishi's monologues on how women are objectified and taken advantage of are. what is so special about how this is written is how Xishi finds every occasion to rise above it. as she'll prove using her connections in the palace, the 'we do what we must to survive' message really resonated and drove this theme home.
- power/war: without spoilers, it's a bit diff to talk about this point. but in the subtlest of ways, ann finds a way to take this theme and bring it on the offensive, with Xishi questioning it, where her loyalties lie, and whether they ought to be there. how it ruins and corrupts people, yet shifts the repercussions to those who are without power. i loved the twist with the realization Xishi had toward the end on this.

romance -
on xishifanli: these slow-burns are usually my favorite, but for them I would have preferred a little more burn, a little less slow. i love small doses of romance in plot-heavy books, but i just felt like xishifanli never truly reached a climax, and so a lot of their "memorable" interactions were lost on me.
on xishifuchai: i didn't exactly buy it. sure, insta-love is viable with Xishi being beautiful, but she did very little to have gained his trust in the beginning, and the least she did was make him remember her. lots of telling about their relationship occurs, so all i can really boil this down to is it feels like infatuation for him and guilty attachment for her. more on his character later because we really only get to see him through the lens of her "romance" with him.

characters -
Xishi: the girl is unnaturally, painstakingly beautiful, and she knows it. we never really get to see her character grow, because i believe that courage she displayed beginning to end was lit always there. natured, didn't nurture. but i loved her as a whole and especially towards the end, when her reflection and all of the messy and complicated relationships she has established throughout the book culminate in the climax. she is strong and brave and SUCHH an inspiration.
Fanli: LOVESSSS. i could go on about him but you'll have to read for yourself how much he makes this book worth reading. the end DEVASTATED me as did probably every reader, but watching him shed that facade was truly the closest thing to growth i've seen from a character described one-sidedly from a diff POV. i do think he lacked a lot of presence in the latter half of the book though, something that made their romance harder to buy imo. (i need to know more of the fluff that happened during the training or else i will dieee)
Fuchai: he forever lived in his father's shadow, and as much as he revered him, it constantly incentivized him to find a way out. Xishi was that way out; literally an escape from his birthright-- anything that took him out of the life he was born into he would have clung onto. though i did want to sympathize for him later in his run, it was a little bit hard to look past his homicidal tendencies... on several accounts Xishi fears his ignorance, or that he might become dangerous to others, and has to deter him. like whaaaaat. but i think at the same time he also personified some very real and very haunted rulers in history, which only made the book ring ever-true.

overall, ann doesn't disappoint with any of her novels, and as critical as this review might be, it's definitely worth your read and will teach you some really important and valuable lessons. thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc 🫶

This is a beautifully crafted historical fiction story about a woman who risks everything, and ultimately delivers vengeance in the name of love.

At the heart of the story is Xishi, a young woman of "unmatched beauty." She has been asked by her kingdom and King Goujian, to seduce their enemy, King Fuchai. With insight into the palace, the belief is then the powerful Wu soldiers can be defeated. It's a dangerous plan that could easily backfire, but Xishi bravely takes on the task.

While this plan has lots of factors that need to go just right, feelings for the parties involved isn't supposed to be on the table. First, there is Fanli, advisor to King Goujian, who selects and prepares Xishi for the mission. It was very clear early on that they two had a connection, even before they admitted it to one another. So you can imagine the heartbreak when the two must put their feelings aside and move forward with the plan, seducing another man.

The second instance of feelings involves King Fuchai. While he represents the enemy, he is not the brute I or Xishi expected. As she wears him down, the two also form a connection, which I didn't believe was all fake on her part.

There are two turning points in this book that broke my heart. I can't provide any details but it was a one-two gut punch. However, the author manages to create some beauty in it by the end. One that mended my heart, at least somewhat.

Overall, this was an engaging story, with well developed characters. An emotional rollercoaster, of sacrifice and love that captivated me. One worth checking out!

What can I say, other than A Song to Drown Rivers was absolutely tragic and oh so beautiful.

Without giving away any spoilers, my thoughts:

Fuchai’s story ultimately broke my heart. Then Xishi and Fanli - just ugh - the injustice of war, and ultimately fear, is truly cruel.

I couldn’t stop listening. I have not been this invested in two characters in quite some time. The writing was *chefs kiss*

Wow! Just, read it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved every previous book I've read from Ann Liang. The way she writes, even "rom-coms" is amazing. But this fed my fantasy book obsession! From the first chapter, I knew I'd be OBSESSED with this book! This book was sacrifice, love, tragedy, and heartbreak in one beautiful story. I loved every moment of it. This book is perfection!!

Thank you NetGalley, Ann Liang, St. Martins's Press, AND Macmillan Audio for granting me access to this book and the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Natalie Naudus' narration was sheer perfection, enchanting my love for the story even more. Her performance breathed life into the characters, making the experience so vivid and real.

What an emotionally mesmerizing, tragically heartbreaking, and utterly addictive historical fantasy, exquisitely written with stunning prose. This epic narrative intricately weaves mythology and romance, unfolding a captivating tale of womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love that defies all odds. Devastatingly beautiful and unforgettable! I wholeheartedly recommend this novel and cannot wait to add this gorgeous book to my physical collection. Additionally, I can confidently declare that this book has secured its place among my top favorites for the year 2024!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher St. Martin's Press, and author Ann Liang for providing an eARC for review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Do you remember that "Lie down, try not to cry, cry a lot" meme from like, 10 years ago? That's this book. It is painfully beautiful and painfully tragic.

While marketed as adult fiction, this reads a little YA in a good way. The prose is easy to follow (I read half the book in one day) and the writing style is plain but pretty. The author didn't take any circuitous routes to say what she wanted to say, there are no complex metaphors or five-dollar words, the author didn't ingest a thesaurus and regurgitate it for the sake of sounding profound.

I came into the story completely unaware of the legend of Xishi, so I didn't really know what to expect other than a few key things: she's a great beauty, she's a she, and she's in ancient China. From these three facts, I knew this story would not end with a happily ever after; young women in ancient Chinese legends seldom get such a prize. Xishi is aware of this herself:

"But girls like me sometimes went missing. Though missing was too soft a word for it. The truth was uglier: stolen, slaughtered, sold. Traded between men like rare porcelains."

Xishi works, over the course of the story, to transform herself from a silk-washing peasant girl to a desirable courtesan, and uses her appearance as a weapon. The author demonstrates Xishi is not just a great beauty, but a sharp, intelligent woman with goals and dreams. She's strategic and clever, and makes split-second decisions to manipulate those around her into doing what she wants while letting them think it's their own idea (very Inception-like). At times this feels like it comes almost too easy to her: how can she be pretty and smart and clever and a great conversationalist and manipulator and good at dancing and singing and embroidery and and and and... but that is when it is important to remember this is a legend, and aren't the subjects of all legends exaggerated to superhuman levels? Some of the plot points seem to resolve a little too tidily, but, again, this is a retelling of a legend, and fate often works to nudge cosmic pieces into place just so, to create the right environment for the heroine to be victorious.

Ultimately, A Song to Drown Rivers was heartbreaking, inspiring, forlorn, resolute, and hopeful. This is one that is sure to leave the reader with a book-hangover.

An amazing debut into fantasy.
To sum up this in three words: heartwarming to heartbreaking. This book kept my attention when I was and wasn't reading. The pacing never dragged. In true Ann Liang fashion, this was incredibly romantic while feeding me literal crumbs!!
I finished this book a few days ago and I'm still thinking of that ending.

WOW. WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW. I haven't been brutally injured by a book in a long time. I was in tears for the last few chapters. I didn't realize how attached to these characters I had gotten, and then BAM, I was crying. I got so invested about 1/3 of the way in that I finished the rest in a day because I HAD to know what happened to these characters and in this world.

So worth the read and probably my favorite book of the year so far! Absolutely pick this one up if you have the chance!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. She draws the attention of a military advisor named Fanli and is presented with an opportunity to use her beauty as a weapon to topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister's murder.

Boy do I love a story with some good strong heroines, female rage, and revenge. Xishi's character is phenomenal and while her outside beauty is unmatched, it's her inward strength and determination that really shine through in this story. I loved the romance, betrayal, sacrifice, blurred lines, and politics. The ending really drove the whole story home to make this an incredibly powerful story.

An absolutely stunningly beautiful story that had me crying rivers at the end. What a masterpiece of a book.