My very first novel by Ann Liang, and oh did I enjoy this one! "A Song to Drown Rivers" tells the story of one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, Xishi. Trained to become the perfect spy, she is sent as a concubine to a rival king with orders to seduce him and manipulate him into the eventual destruction of his own kingdom. I was immediately absorbed in her story, which was aided by Liang's gorgeous prose. Xishi is a complex, wonderful protagonist with flaws and insecurities, and I was worried for her the entire time. I also really enjoyed the romance in this one, as it's beautifully slow-burn and the love interest - strategist Fanli, the one who trains her to become a spy - is just as complex and fascinating as she is. While we don't learn much about any of the side characters, I still felt especially for Xishi's closest friend and was intrigued by the Wu king Fuchai- and wow am I grateful that Liang managed to make him feel both rotten and despicable but also sweet and gentle, and she never shied away from showing us how conflicted Xishi is about this duality while never venturing into the dreaded 'woobifying the villain for love triangle reasons' territory. Yes this happens way too often, yes I am so grateful it doesn't happen here. Honestly, the way Liang writes the relationship between the two of them is masterful.

The novel is well-crafted and evenly paced, full of adventure and tragedy and several shades of grey. The ending hit hard, and after my follow-up wiki binge a part of me does wish that one of the other ending versions of the tale had been chosen, but another part still thought that the ending we got is kind of perfect and tonally fits the novel best. My only minor grievances would be that the way Xishi accomplishes her goals is at times a little too easy and that some of the minor characters could have been more fleshed out, especially on the Wu side.

All in all, loved it, will definitely look into Liang's previous work. As far as I know she's usually more a YA contemporary author which is not really my genre anymore, but her writing style is just amazing and I do hope she'll try her hand at yet another historical fiction piece at some point.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Song to Drown Rivers is as beautiful as Lady Xishi was. Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy that will transport you to the kingdoms of Yue and Wu and fully immerse you into that time and place.

I am still utterly stunned by this novel. Everything about it is just so beautiful. The prose is brilliant and transcendental, emotional and immersive, but my favorite part is how poetically and brutally honest this book is. It tells the tale of Xishi, a girl from a small village still mourning the loss of her sister who was killed by enemy soldiers, a girl who decides to be a hero for her people, and a girl who transcends everyone's expectations and society norms. I love how the author portrayed Xishi: smart and resourceful, but also painstakingly self-aware. I loved that the author delved into Xishi's character so deeply that we could see how overwhelmed she felt by how others viewed her.

"I had always enjoyed the sound of my solitude, the quiet of my oen breathing. Often, when I was around other people and felt their gazes on me, I had the strange, encroaching sense that my face and body did not belong to me. As if I had been designed purely for the pleasure of their viewing."

"All my life, the very same people had told me time and time again how gorgeous I was. How could I not know it? That was like growing up not knowing you were tall."

And I loved how she wanted more. Not just more wealth or noble titles, but she wanted more out of life when she realized that it was possible.

Fanli is the famous young military advisor to the King of Yue. Famous for his intellect, his unyielding loyalty, and for his divine beauty. He's simply put brilliant in everything he does, and he's one of the few characters I've ever met who is good. He only truly has the best of the kingdom at heart. He wants to help his people and make the world a better place. I have a thing for intelligent characters, and Fanli with his brilliance and unflinching morals is everything I've ever wanted.

However, I also loved all the side characters. Zhengdan is Xishi's companion during her mission, and I loved how she wasn't afraid to show her true self, how she abhorred the society's norms and how she trained swordsmanship. Luyi is a guard under Fanli, who is fiercely dedicated to Fanli, and whose endearing and funny personality brightened the atmosphere from all its seriousness. Even the two kings were great characters. They weren't great people, but they were great villains and great antagonists.

I think of A Song to Drown Rivers as a stunning story that speaks about the consequences and sacrifices of war, about the destructive will of kings who only think about their fortune and ambition, and about the value of morals and intelligence. It's one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, and one that has resonated me to my core.

A Song to Drown Rivers isn't just a book for all c-drama lovers; it's a book for storytelling lovers.

It’s hard to write a review when you can’t stop sobbing about the book.

Absolutely amazing storyline, and I loved this take on the Legend of Xishi.

If you love epic historical fiction, strong FMC, love conquers all, and war storylines, this book is perfect for you!

A song to drown rivers by Ann Liang is now one of my favorite books. I loved it and it made me feel so much for the characters emotionally. I was crying at parts. I understood by the end that Fuchai was just a boy born into a horrible position that shaped him into the King that the Yue seemed to hate. In the end, who was supposed to be the good guy ended up being the bad one in my opinion. Fuchai would have never done that to her I honestly felt bad for the fate he was dealt. What happened to Xishi in the end was not fair after everything she did they just backstab her in the end. That's not ok. If you love historical fiction and the legends of China's four beauties, definitely read this you won't regret it. I'm blown away it's a book I'd read again. Ann Liang is also a great writer. Keep up the great work when reading this I felt like I was transported into the book and living it myself. That's what I call a great book and now plan to read any future books by them because I'm sure they'll be great too.

In the wake of the Wu's defeat of the Yue the King of Yue is desperate for vengeance and with the help of his brilliant Minister Fanli sets a deadly plan in motion that sends two young girls into the very heart of enemy territory. Their job is simple: make the King of Wu fall so deeply in love that he'd be willing to lay the world at their feet and as one of them, Xishi realizes she may just accomplish that she also realizes that she is just a pawn in a game between kings, a game where no one truly ever wins.

This isn't exactly what I was expecting it to be based on the synopsis I read, but, I'm not disappointed. It was well timed with cookie cutter but likable characters. And even though it is extremely predictable, especially if you watch and/or read as much Chinese tv/books as I do. However, I found that to be nice because after finishing The Light of All that Falls last night my brain needed a bit of a break. Sometimes you just need a book that's entertaining and doesn't make you think too much ya know?

Overall, I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a quick uncomplicated politcal court drama.

Hauntingly beautiful, this 5-star read captivated me from the first page. This story was beautifully written, leaving a lasting impression. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I will give my thoughts once SMP addresses their readers with an explanation. Until then, all my reviews will be withheld.

A Song to Drown Rivers.

All can say is whoa, what a wild ride this was. I think this was the fastest I have read a book.

✨Highlights ✨

I read this so fast I could not put it down.

I had a favourite character from the very first few pages.

The writing is flowery and beautiful.

Ripped my heart out, threw it out the window, then brought it back to me with a singular bandaid to fix it.

✨Thoughts ✨

I cannot say much without spoiling it but you have our main character, Xishi, she basically gains and loses everything. She is betrayed and becomes the betrayer, she loves and loses, she does everything for her kingdom but in the end what does it matter?

The more i think about this book the sadder I feel. This one hits you right in the heart. This poor girl was set up to fail from the start. Paired with Ann Liang absolutely gorgeous writing you have a heroine that suffers, and it is devastating.

I am trying to separate my feelings and how to rate this book because the ending is very hit or miss and I cannot decide if I like it or not. It left me emotionally devastated but I’m left pondering, is that a good thing? Sometimes I try to imagine myself writing an ending like that and asking myself why? what was the point of it, what was message? I honestly feel that I’ll be thinking about it for a long time, I definitely recommend it if you like beautiful writing, but I mostly want to recommend it because the journey was pretty incredible.

My head is telling me yes you enjoyed this book, but my heart wants to have special words with Ann Liang.

Once I’m my coherent I will revisit this review with a definitive answer, I definitely loved the journey but not completely sold on the conclusion

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This book is bueatifully written story. This sotry is about the beuatul Xishi as she trains and becomes a spy to overthow the tryant that has taken control of her country. I love the main character who learns to find strength through her trials. If you enjoy historical fatanasy novels, then this book is a must read.

I loved the plot of the book. Xishi becoming a spy by seducing the enemy king to fall in love with her and simultaneously getting revenge for the death of not only her little sister but Zhengdan’s father. Xishi spends 10 weeks training with Fanli to prepare her to infiltrate the Wu Kingdom. While training together closely she discovers that she’s fallen for Fanli. What we didn’t get to read about was how they fell for each other. There was no detailed interactions between Fanli and Xishi were I could see how they could’ve fallen for each other. Once Xishi is handed over to the Wu Kingdom she’s faced with the task of seducing Fuchai the “tyrant” King. I ended up really liking Fuchai out of all the characters he had the most growth. While Xishi is in the Wu Kingdom there’s absolutely no time line. I had NO idea that Xishi is in the WU kingdom for Years let alone months. It’s briefly mentioned I would have loved dates or times etc.. The genre of the book also doesn’t fall into the “Fantasy” category. There was no fantasy in the book until the very end and I don’t know if it would even count as a fantasy scene it would be more supernatural? Overall I gave it a 4.5. Because of the twists and turns at the end were so unexpected I was at a loss for words. It broke my heart and did not put the pieces back together.

4.25 stars
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review:
Inspired by the Chinese Legend of Xi Shi, this novel tells the story of a young girl turned spy, set to topple the Wu kingdom from within. I’m not familiar with the original tale, but the premise intrigued me and I’ve been trying to learn more about stories from different cultures.

Overall: GORGEOUS writing, a strong and vibrant main character, and fast pacing made this a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s been marketed as a fantasy, but I would classify it much more as a period piece, there really isn’t any fantasy elements at all (not a bad thing just a note). The ending was utterly perfect.

The only reason this wasn’t 5 stars for me is that most of the relationships between characters were built and developed off-page. Whilst this helped the pacing remain fast, it left the relationships (especially the romance) feeling incomplete and as though they lacked substance.

I love Ann Liang's writing style. Her books always have a C-drama worthy plot. A Song to Drown Rivers is no different. If you love historical romance dramas, you'll love this book.

This was such a well-executed retelling on the story of Xishi. This book felt enchanting, addicting, heartbreaking, and all of the above. I loved all the characters and absolutely adored the story, but I think with this being my first dive into this genre, it was a bit hard for me to connect with the story the same way so many other people did. Overall, Ann really takes you on a roller coaster of emotions with this story and I wish I could experience the ride for the first time again. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy in October and re-experience this story!

A Song to Drown Rivers is a lovely retelling of the legend of Xi Shi. A bit slow to start, once the story picked up I was fully engaged. The politics and intrigue were the highlight. My main critique that keeps it from being a 5 star read is the target audience. This is marketed as an adult fantasy, however it read very young adult. I don't mind it and do read young adult books, but wasn't expecting it for this book and believe it took away from the story a bit. Writing about a courtesan without delving into the very adult themes around their role felt off and I would have loved to explore the implications more fully. But overall this is a well done story that touches on great themes! I was just hoping for a more compete vision

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

I have nothing but good things to say about A Song to Drown Rivers. It is a beautifully written story that manages to cover patriarchy, womanhood, power, war, grief, love, loyalty, and family at the same time. None of these topics feel forced or strained, which is a credit to Liang's prose and ability to create a world that you can fold yourself into. While the journey of Xishi draws on some well-known tropes, Liang brings new and refreshing light to these tropes, and again, makes them feel as natural as the world that she has created. Xishi is a character that is written with such care and nuance, providing readers with the ability to feel what she feels along her journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautiful historical fantasy that will allow them to fully hear the song that drowns rivers.

This novel about a commoner-turned-spy and the spymaster with whom she falls in love is full of lovely imagery, but too often coy and vague on details. Xishi and another young woman are trained to infiltrate the court of their country's enemy oppressor, where Xishi is to seduce him and convince him to weaken his country's defenses without him knowing. It's a dangerous undertaking: Xishi's companion loses her cool and dies horribly as a consequence; Xishi herself deliberately wounds herself and is hunted by a court official. She begins to feel sympathy towards her mark, but in the end, reveals all to him when her country attacks his. In the end, she dies before being reunited with her putative lover, but they meet again in the afterlife. Xishi isn't a very strong character, and she rarely feels much inner turmoil or has much character development--as though the training she undertakes to hide her true expressions was adopted by the author as well.

This was my initial venture into historical fiction with minimal fantasy elements, A Song to Drown Rivers draws inspiration from the legend of Xishi, exploring themes of womanhood, sacrifice, revenge, and love.

Despite my unfamiliarity with the legend, the story captivated me, weaving a compelling yet heartrending narrative. I particularly resonated with the exploration of revenge.
Ann Liang's prose is undeniably beautiful, though at times, it tended to be overly wordy for my taste.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to enthusiasts of Chinese-inspired historical fiction seeking a tragic love story intertwined with a cautionary tale of revenge.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Publishing for giving me e-arc and the opportunity to review this early.

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

<b>4.5 ☆</b>

I ended the book with a weeping heart- grief, especially when it’s well written, hits hard. I’ll be honest, in the beginning, I wasn’t as into the story as I wanted to be. Certain parts made me feel disinterested with the addition of a ‘love at first sight’ trope as well as the plot felt like something I had read before. But knowing that it was inspired by a legend really helped me fall in love. It’s a story of morals meant to teach readers- and I was sucked in after a few chapters. A show of how gray humanity it- those seen as heroes and villains aren’t really one sided- and a story of how not everything has the happy ending one wants.

This imaginative retelling of the legend of Xishi was both stunning and devastating in the most beautiful sense of the word. It's impossible to put down.

The explorations of the themes of revenge, beauty, war, and power were moving and thoughtful, well worth taking the time to digest after you've been swept away with the narrative. The author captures the elements of Chinese culture and the legends well, immersing the reader in the ancient land and its customs. It's an excellent and entertaining introduction to heroic Xishi.

This is a great tandem read or book for group discussion. It would also make an excellent read for anyone looking for an accessible window to Chinese classics.

4.5 heartbreaking stars

This story is breathtakingly beautiful. From the beginning you’re captivated by Ann Liang storytelling. You cannot put it down, you find yourself yearning for the main characters.

Before reading I wasn’t aware of ‘The Legend of Xi Shi’ one of the renowned ‘Four Beauties’ of ancient China. I did do my research after finishing this story and i have to say Ann Liang did an amazing job in bringing this story to life. Ann Liang’s writing is so beautiful and lyrical that you’re immediately transported into this story.

My heart is completely and utterly heartbroken after reading this. I’m not a fan of love triangles but this story did an amazing job that you didn’t know who to root for at the end. Everyone in this story deserved better 💔 I wish I could read this again for the first time. I cannot wait for the physical copy to come out so I can be heartbroken all over again.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.