4.5 ⭐

A beautiful retelling of the legend of Xishi (one of the four renowned beauties of ancient China). Xishi is recruited and trained to spy on the enemy, King Fuchai. She is to seduce him to do her bidding in order to bring about it's downfall. She, alongside her best friend, Zhengdan, is honed to be the perfect weapon for the Kingdom of Yue. She is trained by the king's trusted advisor, Fanli. Xishi learns that war isn't as black and white, enemies are human as well, shaped by their circumstances and environment.

This was exquisite writing. Some parts felt slow in the book but overall it read quickly. The main characters were relatable and I was invested in the outcome. The ending was unexpected, which I love, but others may not. If you love political intrigue, forbidden love, and historical fiction this book is for you.

This story was beautiful and devastating. It’s not a book that’s usually my style, but it was so well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ann Liang is one of my favorite authors she just weaves such beautiful stories. The tragedy of it all really got to me, but the best books are the ones that make you feel and this definitely succeeded.

Xishi, a rare beauty, is conscripted by Fanli to wed the rival King of Wu. She is taught the art of seduction and how to gain what she wants. Her lessons fuel her hatred of Wu and prepare her to lull the country into complacency. Once ensconced in the palace, she gains the trust of the King and slowly enacts the plan to topple a kingdom.

Overall, I thought this was an ok book. The plot seemed a bit predictable and the characters a bit lacking. Perhaps more points of view would have helped the storyline and development. The ending of the book felt extremely rushed. I wish the author had taken more time to allow the story to unreal naturally. Unfortunately, not a book I would re-read or recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this wonderful ARC!

A Song to Drown Rivers intrigued me with its premise and promise of a strong female main character who is asked to use her beauty to bring down a king, but what will really make me remember this story for a long time is the amount of emotions Ann Liang has evoked from me through her writing.

The way Ann Liang writes character development is absolutely beautiful!!! The emotions Xishi goes through in accordance with the decisions she makes and the reactions to the actions of the other characters around her is so genuine and thoughtful!

One thing I did not expect to do while reading this book was SOB. I think of this story and it makes me want to cry all over again just knowing the characters and their endings.

(Spoilers!:)
The character development of Xishi's emotions toward Fuchai throughout the story was so believable to read! Having her spend so much time with the enemy then getting to know him and understand him and having that conflict with her original feelings towards him (while her still having love for Fanli) felt so real and right!

Having Xishi cry over Fuchai's body after delivering the killing blow was so cruel but beautiful in her character development and I'm glad there was a scene like that to really solidify growth of Xishi's character.

Liang really wounded my heart with the scene where Fanli was burying Xishi and he told the boy to spread the word that she was still alive and travelling the world because it was the ending she deserved for her hero's tale.

And I absolutely understand why the king had Xishi killed in the end (war and kings and such mindset) and Fanli's response to it just devastated me! So cruel, tragic, and beautiful!

I know there is happiness in the end of the story, but just the way Liang wrote the scenes where Fanli is in ruins just really evoked strong emotions from me.

It was like I wanted a happy ending because it was such a tense situation that was successfully pulled off, but at the same time somewhere in the back of my mind I knew an immediate happy ending was too easy for an epic story like this.
(End of Spoilers!)

The story of Xishi is one of bravery, of selflessness, and a cruel but beautiful mix of evoked emotions!

This was such a beautiful book from start to finish. I fell in love with characters and I grew to hate others. The world building was so interesting to see, especially with the two kingdoms. I absolutely loved the tension between Xishi and Fanli. The small moments, the hesitation, the secret touches, everything was just amazing to see! I was pleasantly surprised at the ending and it only confirmed the range and depth of Ann Liang’s writing skills. I loved every second of it! This is a beautiful read for anyone who is looking for a new YA fantasy book.

I love the themes that this book brought forth, the cost of war and the concept of people not being wholly good or wholly evil. I went into this book thinking it would be a romance at its heart and came out with so much more. This book will make you think, sweep you away in its atmosphere, and have your heart pounding throughout. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read "A Song to Dorwn Rivers"
This book was about a girl sent to destroy a kingdom. and that she did.
I will have this book in my heart for a while. GREAT JOB

**Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I cried when I finished this book. It felt like A Song of Achilles all over again. I wanted them to get together only for them to be seperated by duty.

A Song to Drown Rivers is beautifully written novel. It shows the human and political complexities of war, and what we are driven to do when the people we love are suffering. The forbidden love component only adds layers to this saga. Excited that I had the opportunity to read the ARC.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I was so drawn to this book based on the synopsis and general themes, but for a book that had so much potential it felt shallow to me. There were such interesting characters and plot points but it felt like we weren't able to go very in depth with any of them because of how much ground there was to cover. That being said, it was a very quick read because of how much was happening in the plot. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Of the famous Four Beauties of ancient China, Xi Shi is said to have been the most beautiful. From the state of Yue, she is approached by king Goujian's minister Fan Li (who becomes her lover) and given to enemy king Fuchai of Wu, who has a weakness for beautiful women, to act as a spy, sowing discord in his court and lessening the influence of his advisors.

Ann Liang's gift for lyrical, engaging prose, made reading this book a lovely, heartfelt experience. Xi Shi and Fan Li 's love is always in danger of being discovered, and both are well aware of the consequences. This book will stay with you long after you've read the last page.

So good! I devoured this book in two sittings, could not put it down. Beautiful settings, interesting and memorable characters, intrigue and danger, love and war, heart wrenching plot twists - the ending is tragic and perfect. Highly recommend, this wonderfully realized, complex and absorbing tale will not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I read this book in one day because I could not stop. I can't even recall the last time I wanted to stay up half the night to finish a book until I read A Song to Drown Rivers. Besides being well-written, the story compels you to keep going partly because you know the inevitable outcome and partly because you wish for a different one. The tension is definitely a factor as a beautiful peasant woman is recruited and trained to seduce a rival king and act as a spy save her country. However, nothing in life is ever black and white or good and evil. We can't choose the people we love or hate - only their actions.

I don't want to give the story away so I'll say it is a love story, it is a tragedy and contains a lesson that's as relevant today as it was a thousand years ago. I highly recommend it if you like historical fiction.

Thank you Ann LIang and St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

A slow burn that will leave you thinking about the characters long after it’s over. I don’t think I have felt a love so deep between two characters before. This story left me absolutely gutted.
Xishi is on a quest for revenge after the Wu have destroyed her kingdom. Can there be winners in a tale on revenge.

Thank you NetGalley & An Laing for writing such an exceptional book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This was my first by this author and it was a beautiful retelling of equal parts true history and myth surrounding one of the Four beauties of China: Xishi. I did not realize how much of this story and it’s characters were true! Some 2500 years ago, the Wu & Yue Kindgoms both fought for power. Initially, King Goujian and the Yue kingdom were brutally defeated, and Goujian was made to serve as a stable boy for 3 years until the King of Wu (Fuchai) deemed him no longer a threat. Sent back to his wartorn country, he regrouped with his advisor, Fanli, and devised a plan for revenge. They would engage in “sexpionage” by sending beautiful women as tributes to Kind Fuchai, who was known for his weakness for beautiful women. The Fanli found Xishi, a peasant, and trained her in court etiquette before sending her to spy on Fuchai and get him to fall in love with her to distract him from making decisions that could hurt the Yue. But it is not without its challenges, as Fuchai’s advisor, Xixu, is suspicious and attempts to sabotage her at every chance. Liang writes a beautiful story of the history of the countries, the feelings that develop between Xishi and Fanli, the politics and tension she has to walk in the enemy’s palace, and the drama of how it all ends. I completely thought it was a Chinese folktale at first, but the fact that this was really historical fiction made it so much more enjoyable to me. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending, I partly hated it and partly understood that it was appropriate given the various rumors about what ultimately happened with Xishi and Fanli. I wanted the happy ending, but as Xishi said when she accepted the role, “ When it came down to it, the choice was this: a kingdom, or my happiness.”

I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to read A Song to Drown Rivers. Evocative, tragic, and eloquently written. Every word is thoughtfully used. I highly recommend it.

This was hauntingly and devastingly beautiful. From beginning to end a rollercoaster of emotions. Each chapter was a whirlwind. I cant help but to marvel at the writing! I devoured this book within a few days. It has reduced me to tears. This book has resonated with me. Ann has breathed such life, such sorrow, such longing, and turmoil into these characters it is utterly ulastounding. Reading this for the first time was a treasure! Immediate pre-order I have to have a physical copy to keep and cherish.

The tears won’t stop!! Gosh Ann Liang you better pay for my therapy🥲🥲

Full review will be posted near the publishing date (October 8, 2024)

I'm so thankful for the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this arc. This book absolutely wowed me. Floored me. Left me speechless. The writing was so immersive, the characters felt so real and authentic, and the plot was captivating. I felt drawn into this story and eager to know what would happen next. The ending and plot twist was so unexpected and shook me to my soul. I definitely was not anticipating that. I ultimately gave the book 4.5 stars. I wished there was a bit more action in the first half or maybe some bit of chemistry between the first love interest and then I would have given this a solid 5 stars. Despite that, I am highly recommending this book to friends and family.

I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a beautifully woven tragedy. From beginning to end, I enjoyed reading Xishi’s story as she went to the Wu kingdom to seduce their king and cause their kingdom to fall. I enjoyed reading about the Wu and Yue kingdoms and getting insight into what her world is like.

As someone who normally doesn’t enjoy historical fiction, I enjoyed this book a lot. I enjoyed Xishi’s character in this story as I felt like as she was learning all she needed to know to survive in the Wu kingdom, she was realizing how powerful her beauty could be. I also felt like as her story went on, she was developing into a wonderful character and someone I wanted to see get the happy ending she deserved.

What I also enjoyed reading this book was seeing Xishi’s relationships with her best friend Zhengdan and the Wu kingdom’s king Fuchai she was to seduce. I loved her friendship with her best friend as Zhengdan was the type of friend if I were in this situation that I’d want by my side. She’s smart, both with her tongue and blade, and their interactions throughout the story were great to read. I definitely found myself sad at how their friendship comes to an end here, but after what happens leading up to it, I also wasn’t all that surprised either as I felt like Xishi was going to experience loss at some point during the story. What I enjoyed about Xishi’s relationship with Fuchai is that there ends up being more to him than expected. In the beginning of A Song to Drown Rivers, Xishi mentions some of the things about the Wu king that she’d heard, and I feel like its discovered that most of what she heard about him isn’t quite true. If anything, I feel like most of the actions he took regarding his kingdom were due to the influence of his advisor Wu Zixu and I felt like he didn’t particularly care about running the Wu kingdom. And I feel like I enjoyed his relationship with Xishi a lot more than her relationship with Fanli as I felt like I could see what all he would do for her to make her happy. I also felt like I could feel his love for her as I was reading this book and I also felt like a part of her cared for him just as much too with how she felt at the end when she realized what would happen as the result of her betrayal. Even though I knew the odds were extremely slim, a part of me actually hoped she’d stay with Fuchai as I felt like they could’ve had a wonderful life together, politics of war aside.

What I didn’t particularly care for in A Song to Drown Rivers was her relationship with Fanli. Her relationship with Fanli didn’t feel all that real to me because I felt like she liked him due to him saving her life at the beginning of the book when they first met. I also just didn’t really see the connection between the two of them as I felt like Fanli was just too calm and serious due to the nature of his job of being the advisor to the Yue king that you rarely see his walls come down or see him express emotion. There are moments here and there where he does, but you don’t really see them often enough. What probably doesn’t help with this is that you don’t see them together enough which I feel like didn’t help me see their connection to each other. I feel like if they had been given more time in the book together, I would’ve had a much easier time seeing their relationship for what it was described to be. Don’t get me wrong, I liked his character. I just didn’t imagine the relationship between them and saw him more like a father figure.

What I also didn’t like was how tragic A Song to Drown Rivers gets. I enjoyed the book overall but wasn’t expecting so much sadness to occur. Though maybe a part of me did expect it when I realized Fuchai wasn’t at all what I expected his character to be like as that had me wondering if there was more going on that as a reader I wasn’t privy to. It made me question Xishi’s mission and whether she should trust the king of her kingdom or if she should stay in the Wu kingdom and stay with Fuchai. I also just felt like none of the characters deserved the fate they were given as I felt like Fuchai and Xishi both deserved a happier ending even if Xishi was with Fanli instead of him.

But in the end, I enjoyed reading A Song to Drown Rivers despite how tragic the story gets and highly recommend it. I consider it one of the best reads I’ve had in 2024 so far and can’t wait for its release in October this year as I definitely want to get my own copy of this book once it’s published.