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.

This book was a really interesting fantasy and I enjoyed it. I do wish the book had MORE-longer, more in depth into the characters, etc. There was a lot of depth and the writing was really beautiful.

This was unexpected from this author! I've previously read their YA romance books, so an adult fantasy was something I was really excited to see from them. This was about three hundred pages, and I wish it was longer and more fleshed out. I'm not super familiar with the legend of Xishi, but I felt disappointed by the ending of this story. I feel like this had a lot more potential The writing was beautiful, but I wish we got more time for the romance.

When I saw that this story was a historical fantasy with a spy x her handler romance I was SOLD. A Song To Drown Rivers is a beautifully poignant story about the different ways men and women can hold power and about the complexity of war. I absolutely adored the conversations about how being a beautiful woman means that she is simultaneously powerful and also subject to the whims of those who want to consume that beauty. The prose was beautiful and the characters were compelling. If you're a fan of stories with feminist themes then I definitely recommend this book! It made me think and it made me feel things (get the tissues ready!) There was one thing that didn't work for me - I wish that the relationship between Fanli and Xishi had been developed more during training. There was a passage that summed up how close they had gotten and it just made it really evident that their connection was very new and not really developed. Their underdeveloped relationship lowered the stakes of an otherwise high-stakes book which was a bummer. Other than that I had a good time with this book and I'm sure many people will be raving about it come October!

I love Asian mythology and stories. The overarching narrative of this one stands as a strong point, captivating readers with its engaging storyline. However, the experience is hindered by occasional choppiness in the writing, disrupting the otherwise enjoyable flow. At times it seemed rushed and other times it seemed to drag. The plot is riddled with gaps, leaving unanswered questions that may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied.

Something that was interesting, is the characterization of the enemy King as childish adds a peculiar element that might not resonate well as the character seems to be missing something... maybe it's the writing style or what I am not entirely sure it just felt weird.

The romance seemed to happen so quickly I and it didn't feel believable.

Lastly, the unexpected ending, while surprising, may not align with the reader's expectations. Despite its drawbacks, the book manages to deliver a good story, making it a decent choice for those who can overlook its narrative hiccups.

This is my first Ann Liang book and i was not disappointed. I was sent this book by St. Martins Press and iv never been more excited. Iv been waiting to read more Chinese/Japanese fantasy and boy was this an amazing way to start. This is a breathtaking, immersive, captivating story. The romance was stunning and yet tragic and heartbreaking. Anna Liang knows exactly what she was doing when she wrote this book. I am absolutely in love with every aspect of this book. I was afraid i wasnt going to be into it, but i was quickly proven wrong. I could not put this one down. This is a book that will sit with you long after you close it. This is definitely a book that should be read. You will not want to put it down. I need to go read more of Anna Liangs books now. I dont think I can get enough.
This book is for those who loved:
🌺 Betrothed to enemy
🌺 Forbidden romance
🌺 Historical fantasy
🌺 Revenge
🌺 Chinese Legend

A Song to Drown Rivers follows Xishi, a poor village girl with unparallel beauty. She is chosen to train and ultimately be given to the rival kingdom as a concubine, however she is secretly her kingdom's spy. This story was a page turned with some romance, drama and political intrigue. I will be thinking of this book for some time.

The only negative is that I wanted more! I wish it was longer with deeper character development. The characters were developed well enough, but I found that some of the tragic or climax moments were not as intense because I wasn't 100% invested in the characters since the story moved relatively quickly. This is the same for the romance, I wanted more build up and relationship building to feel the full effect of the ending.

Overall, this book was wonderful and was a delight to read. Caution to future readers, it is quite tragic, ready your tears!

A beautifully written story about a young girl willing to risk everything for the country she loves.

This epic tale of ancient china follows xishi as she goes from poor but beautiful village girl to concubine of the king, trying to infiltrate the enemy and save her small town. That’s it in a nutshell, but this book had so much more… Depth and romance and historical fantasy. Xishi lives in the village of Yue with her parents and sister and best friend. The country is at war and the kingdom of Wu is the enemy, it’s soldiers trampling through towns and slaughtering innocent civilians. When Fanli arrives in Xishis village he gives her a proposal- use her extraordinary beauty to win the trust of the enemy king and help the Yue army win the war. Xishi agrees and so begins the long training she must have to become a genteel palace lady. During her training, Fanli and Xishi fall in love. When Xishi finally arrives at the Wu palace she discovers that the dreaded evil king is just a boy, and a handsome one at that. As there relationship grows she begins to care about him. Will she be able to bring down an entire kingdom as planned? Will she betray the king and the new life she’s found ? This was a gorgeously written novel of one fabled woman and her politics, sacrifices, wisdom and forbidden love. I loved this book so much and the cover is as beautiful as the writing. 5⭐️. Thank you net galley for the advance digital copy.

This book deserves high praise for an incredibly original and intriguing plot. The way I clung to every word and had this book on my mind day and night!! That being said, I would have loved a bit more character and plot development. There were some chapters that felt incredibly vague for how truly complex the plot was. However, I loved the mix of romance and politics this book created and I feel that everyone should read this book!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley, Ann Liang, and St. Martin Press for the Arc.

Here is my honest review:

A Song to Drown Rivers is an absolute masterpiece. Both the world and the characters are captivating, charismatic, and breathtaking. Let me tell you, I was an emotional wreck after reading this book. (In a good way) It took me through a roller coaster of emotion, and I was here for it.

Xishi starts off being recruited by Fanli from her village to save the nation. In addition to teaching her espionage techniques, Fanli trains her on-court protocols. She fears that her mission to save the kingdom might be derailed by her feelings for Fanli in the beginning was a mentoring relationship. Soon both sides are falling in love, and it gets more beautiful and a bit sadder as it goes on. The romance between both Fanli and Xishi was absolutely beautiful. I love it when an author can give me pure romance without having to add spicy scenes and Ann Liang achieved this.

When it was time for Xishi to go into the enemy’s court, Liang's skill at writing complex and moving characters shone brightly. There were many moments between Xishi and King Fuchai where I felt sympathy for him even though I shouldn’t. Liang's writing was compelling, especially in these moments with Fuchai.

In "A Song to Drown Rivers", you're captivated by whispers of intrigue amid forbidden desire as the fate of nations hangs in the balance. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends because I believe that everyone should experience this book.

"A Song to Drown Rivers" is a beautiful, haunting read fraught with tension and emotion. Beautiful peasant Xishi is chosen and trained by Fanli, trusted advisor to the Yue Kingdom, to become concubine to the king of their warring neighbor, the Wu Kingdom. Ann Liang's narrative brings this Chinese legend to life in a book that I simultaneously wanted to read quickly and savor slowly. The characters are strong and complex, transitioning from an us-against-them story to a heartbreaking look at the cost of war. The ending is both shocking and beautiful.

This is a fantastic book that I'm glad I read, feeling simultaneously fresh and timeless.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So, I've read Liang's first two books (Her third is sitting on the top of my physical TBR; I promise I'll get to it soon), both of which have been YA. With how much I enjoyed her writing and characters, I thought they would translate well into this book.

I've been wrong about numerous things before, and I will continue to get things wrong.

Despite the depth and lush Liang puts into setting and descriptors, the character building I've come to expect from her has vanished here. We're told who the characters are through Xishi's eyes, but I personally couldn't find much interesting about anyone them beyond what they do/say throughout the story. It doesn't help that Xishi is so mind-numbingly obtuse about Fanli before continuing to pine for this dude after spending two and a half months training with him (They only see each other in person one time while she's in Wu). It's even worse when you consider the training is brushed away in three chapters, leaving all their development and relationship building completely obscured to the reader. I could care less about this romance. Xishi dying and Fanli's mourning of her didn't magically make it better for me.

One thing I will give Liang is the country-girl-turned-spy. Despite me suspending my belief at the timeline, spy Xishi was actually interesting. She had to blackmail fellow concubines, and she actually started to sympathize with Wu's king (Who I didn't find as dynamic as Xishi was, but her sympathizing with her kingdom's number one enemy was in itself pretty intriguing). There were also some hints that Yue weren't any better, that both sides' views of the other were a reflection, but it's not as explored in depth as much as it should.

Overall, this book wasn't for me. It's clear this will touch a lot more people than I, and I wish them all the best for it.

2.5 stars
2.5 ⭐️

I thought this was okay. The premise seemed promising but the execution was lacking imo. While the main characters were likable, I didn't feel like I got much out of them in the end. The romantic plotline could have been better developed, as I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters, which made it difficult to become fully invested in their tragic romance. The war between the two kingdoms was also lackluster and I had to suspend a lot of disbelief, particularly with the central plot of overthrowing the enemy kingdom. Many of the events that took place seemed too convenient when realistically, these reckless decisions wouldn't have been successful. some of the characters lacked depth, particularly the king whom the main character is deceiving. He was portrayed as shallow and unbelievably clueless. He was too easily swayed by Xishi and trusting of her. Again, it wasn’t realistic at all and made it difficult to feel any anticipation for what would happen next. I also wish the book would’ve gone into more of the war themes and the consequences of power-hungry men abusing their leadership. It was all very surface level and for an adult novel, I was expecting more from it.

A Song to Drown Rivers is my newest obsession!

This book had me in my feelings from the get-go! Xishi had me admiring her and her strength. She has been through a lot and deserved so much more than she got. The ending was done beautifully and was just so bittersweet. This is a book I will truly never forget and think about fondly throughout my life. Thank you Ann Liang for writing an amazing story that will stay with me always.

ann liang is going to need to pay for my therapy after this because my heart is broken into a thousand little pieces and no song will help.

If it was to describe this book in one word it would be heartbreaking but beautiful. But I think I need something happy now because 😭. Also her writing had improved SO much.
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What a wild intro to arc reads via NetGalley. This book just destroyed me (positive). I’ve been staring at my wall the last 5 minutes since finishing it. It was reminiscent (to me) of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, in how the historical Chinese architecture and clothing was described. Absolutely stunning imagery, I’m obsessed. The writing was beautiful, and as a Virgo who can’t help but find mistakes: there were none. I really only read fantasy (I need my escapism to be so far removed from reality thanks), but I pre-ordered the (GORGEOUS) hard copy of this book at the 50% mark of my read. I need this on my shelf, displayed forever so I can yell at everyone who walks into my house just how badly they need to read it. I was not ready for it to end, for the characters to break my heart that way. It was beautiful, and awfully romantic. I have so many highlights I can’t wait to share.

Well, that was unexpected. That ending was nowhere on my radar and now I’m going to be thinking about this book for a while. My only complaints really are that the pacing seemed strange (I was never sure how much time was passing) and it felt very YA. It’s the author’s first adult book, so that makes sense. As far as I could tell, there weren’t even “closed door” scenes, only kissing, which truly doesn’t make sense for the plot and characters. That took me out of the story a bit. Maybe I’m being too picky, but I feel like a sex-crazed violent man wouldn’t be content with make-out sessions for two years? Or was it six months? Nobody knows.

But for real, if the premise sounds interesting at all, you should read this book!

I received this book from net galley in exchange for a review.