Not the ending I was expecting or wanted, but overall this book was amazing. The writing was beautiful, and the story flowed. It was heartbreaking, somber, and beautiful.
This is loosely inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. It follows her story and what could have happened when she was presented to the King of Wu as a gift and how she charmed the King and brought down his rule as well as what happened to her afterward.
I adore the narrator for the audiobook, she does an excellent job.

I branched out of my usual genres to try this one on the recommendation of a friend, but was underwhelmed. I think there's a generational thing going on in the book world with styles of writing. Even when I like a concept or story, the writing style of this book, along with Fourth Wing and some of the other IT books of the moment, is shallow and grating for me. Pretty sure it's me and not the authors! Another thing - for a story so rooted in ancient Asian myth, I was disappointed with the very Western, flippant tone here.

4 1/2 stars

This book is a bit of historical fiction blended with some magical realism. I don't know if I'd classify it as fantasy, yet I truly enjoyed it and inhaled it immensely. It's beautifully written even if also has some tragedy flowing throughout.

In ancient China, there are two main factions (or kingdoms), The Wu and the Yue. The Wu kingdom has conquered the Yue, and it was brutal and bloody. They believe that they've conquered them, and all is good but what they did was leave behind a group of people who have a thirst for vengeance. This is where our main character, Xishi comes in. She watched Wu soldiers kill her younger sister. She wants nothing more than to avenge her. She's recruited by Fanli to go undercover as a concubine to the Wu king. Fanli is the adviser to the Yue king and is responsible for training Xishi to function in the Wu court.

During their time together, Xishi and Fanli find themselves connected in a way that can never be. As she is destined to go to the Wu court and he has to deliver her there, their feelings can never be acted upon. The author does an outstanding job of writing Xishi's character. Her feelings are so confused at times as she connects with some of the people at the Wu court. She comes to slowly realize that things are often a matter of perspective. The Wu people viewed the Yue as violent monsters when she and her people had always thought of the Wu that way. It just depends on which side of the battle you're on.

A Song to Drown Rivers delivers several messages and also shows that events are unpredictable. It's an excellent book.

I was also fortunate enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook and it was outstanding. The narration truly made the book feel as if it came alive. I enjoyed it even more because of being able to listen to the story at times. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for both of the early copies. I chose to read and listen to them to be able to review them. The thoughts and opinions in my reviews are my own.

I was immediately drawn to this story when learning Xishi was to go undercover and help bring down an enemy kingdom. The main love story also felt very "insta love" and bit off. At the end, I felt there was more chemistry between Xishi and Fuchai than she had with Fanli. There were also many points where the reader was told what was happening or what had happened instead of being shown. The story leaves much to be desired.

Overall, this audiobook was a great companion to have while reading the book. The narrator was great in keeping bring the story to life and keeping me engage.

4/5 stars. a historical, ancient china-inspired tale, where beauty is wielded as a blade that ultimately decides the fate of two kingdoms.

well-written, emotional and poetic prose that was a homage to a fable and culture i love. i enjoyed it. female badassery is always a favorite, and taking a more manipulative approach to war as opposed to violence and action was a very nice take.

initially, this was a 5/5 for me, but after i sat and digested it for a while it dropped a star as i had a few gripes plotwise: insta-love, an impossibly talented MC who somehow outwits all of her enemies after ten short weeks of training, second male lead syndrome (yes, i would've been team fuchai if he'd been written as more than just a bumbling drunkard half the time), very smart characters suddenly making very stupid decisions (zhengdan deserved so much better...), unanswered questions (what happened to the heart condition, and why was it even mentioned to begin with?), unnecessarily unrealistic nuances (<spoiler>despite both being adults, why would a king never be intimate with his concubine?</spoiler), and an ending that seemed to exist more for the purpose of being poetic than anything else (<spoiler>the entire ghost xishi sequence felt strange and out of place</spoiler>).

overall, i was kept engaged and interested throughout the novel, and would recommend it to a young adult audience despite the flaws mentioned above.

The politics, the pacing, the storytelling, are all chefs kiss. I love this sort of a read, where there's the back and forth, the nuances. It does lag a little in the middle, but makes up for it in the last third. Well done!

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. This book had a lot of potential! I loved the writing and the characters. The intrigue of the story was so good and I loved it. Xishi is a great main character and she grows a lot throughout the story. Unfortunately the romance in the end fell very flat for me. I didn’t really feel chemistry? Like there was more chemistry between her and the king than her and the main love interest which I was confused by. The pacing was a bit off and everything at the end happened very fast. The ending was….. well read it for yourself to find out. I always try and keep spoiler free reviews. I’m just sad this didn’t live up to my expectations ☹️ Now I will continue to read all of Ann Liang’s books because I love her and this time it’s real is adorable. The narrator was amazing as well which helped so much with the story.

The number one reason I picked up A Song to Drown Rivers was because of Natalie Naudus narrating the book, as she’s become one of my favorites. However, this book was also satisfying with a tragic tale inspired by the Chinese legend of Xishi which had me somber, yet satisfied by the end of the story.

Xishi (pronounced closer to “shisur”) is known for her striking beauty, but doesn’t feel adequate for much besides making silk or being married to a man she doesn’t like, neither she wishes to do. She also carries pain from her illness and losing her younger sister years earlier. When she crosses paths with a military advisor, everything changes as she’s pulled into a dangerous mission to change the tide of the war. I did appreciate that Xishi used her smarts in order to get things done, as she was not the most physically fit. It was a breath of fresh air in a sense. People do underestimate her, but she gets it done, though she doesn’t have her doubts, so she’s not invincible, no, far from it. Yet in the midst of all of this, she dwells on the consequences of her acts. A well developed character in my eyes.

I also loved our secondary characters. Zhengdan, Xishi’s childhood friend and companion, was probably my favorite for her fierce attitude toward everything and not liking society’s restrictions. Nearly all of our characters, even the antagonists, are compelling, fleshed out with their own motivations. While there was a love triangle, it was done in a way that didn’t bother me, and loved how it was resolved.

The description of the lands was amazing and immersive, and I felt like I was right in the middle of each location. Also, while this is a fantasy, there’s not too much magical aspects until much later. This prose was lyrical, emotional, and breath taking throughout, and not overdone, as it transported me to this war-torn land inspired by ancient China. Again, Natalie Naudus was on point throughout the narration.

The themes are probably what makes this the most tragic. it deconstructs war into it’s more horrible consequences, examines world leaders’ nobility, and womanhood as well as gender roles are explored. Sacrifice is also common throughout. Each are elaborated with care as the story continues. I have to say, the final chapters were emotionally gutting to me.

Check this one out if you don’t mind a beautiful tragedy to your Chinese-inspired fantasy tales.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

Book Review:
I recently finished “A Song to Drown Rivers” by Ann Liang, and it was a delightful read! The plot is intriguing and kept me engaged throughout. The characters are well-crafted and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their stories. Ann Liang’s writing style is smooth and captivating, which made the book hard to put down. There were a few slow moments, but overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a fresh and unique story, this book is definitely worth picking up!

Audiobook Review:
I listened to the audiobook version in tandem, and it was a great experience! The narrator did an excellent job bringing the characters to life with distinct voices and emotions. It added an extra layer of immersion to the story. The pacing was just right, making it easy to follow along. There were a couple of instances where the narration felt a bit rushed, but it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is definitely worth a listen!

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #ltbreaderteam #asongtodrownrivers #annliang #smpinfluencers

I will start by saying this story was fantastic, and the narrator Natalie Naudus was outstanding. This is not a traditional HEA. I know that is a deal-breaker for some. This story is inspired by Chinese legend.

This was a great story, and by 30% I was involved and couldn’t put it down. I listened to the audio and the narrator Natalie Naudus was fantastic. I would recommend this story to those who are fans of Greek retellings and tragedies, for fans of “The Witch’s Heart” by Genevieve Gornichec, and for anyone interested in a nontraditional HEA.

Synopsis:
“A Song to Drown Rivers” by Ann Liang is a tragedy set in ancient China. Two kingdoms are at war, one ruled by a known ruthless king whose military has killed innocent civilians without reason, creating many enemies. Xishi, a beautiful villager, lives with the trauma of witnessing her baby sisters’ death at the hands of the King Fuchai’s soldiers. Fanli, a trusted general to Fuchai is living with his own trauma from the hands of Fuchai, approaches several women to train to distract and help bring down the Wu Kingdom.

Fanli falls for Xishi while she is training to go to court, and she falls for him. Yet they must part ways as they both proceed to their duties and their parts in the plot against Fuchai. While Xishi is serving the king, the story highlights morally grey acts and people, and how love, revenge, and empathy can become confused.

I thought this book was very interesting. I liked the idea of sending Xisha to the other kingdom to ultimately infiltrate and help her kingdom take them down. I thought this book was a little slow at times and I wasn't expecting some of the time jumps and the long periods of time. I did not enjoy the ending of this book and I was disappointed with how things turned out. I think the ending makes sense in context but I did not like the way it played out after everything the characters went through.

I devoured this book in under 24 hours. Liang did a fantastic job developing the world and her characters, making both believable. The romance was bittersweet in the best way possible. Liang has beautiful writing, and I will be looking to pick up more of her books down the road.

Rating: 5/5
I received an eARC and audio for my honest opinion.

Okay, I was not ready for this book at all, I was not ready to love this book so much even knowing that I still cried. This book was so beautifully written with a YA fantasy, romance, mythology, love triangles, and it being set in historical time. You will find tropes like forbidden romance, arranged marriage, and hard choices.

I loved this book so much, I smiled, I laughed, and of course I cried. I loved that this author knows how to write a book that will suck you into it and with her words I felt as though I was there with them and not reading it, her words were so lyrical. I thought the world building was done well, and the pace of the book was perfect. I didn’t feel at all that the book was lacking in anything. The plot was well developed and the characters too, I could see the development of the characters throughout the book, and it wasn’t just at the ending.

The characters as I said are well developed, and easy to connect with. I loved Xishi so much, I found her character to be so strong in her choices even the dumb times she would slip up. She felt like a real person to me with flaws and her willingness to learn and overcome things that she didn’t know. I loved that she was smart, elegant and loyal. Not just to her friends and family but to her country as well, you can feel the love that she has for all of them. Fanli I loved this character right away, the swooning moments he would have with Xishi and his love for the country but you will slowly see cracks in his armor and see that his feelings are more than they seem. I wanted so much for them to have that HEA.

I also received the audio for this book, and I found the narrator to be amazing. She knew when to draw the listeners in and I could hear the emotions in her voice. I see what she was saying just by her descriptions on the page and really when the crying started for me it was because of this narrator understanding the importance of that moment and making sure that the readers really understood it as well.

I will be reading more books from this author, and this will be one of the books that I recommend to everyone.

I want to thank NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan audio for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Ann Liang, and Natalie Naudus (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of A Song to Drown Rivers in exchange for an honest review.

In a dramatic retelling of a Chinese myth about a rare beauty, Xishi is tasked to utilize said beauty to infiltrate the palace of an enemy kingdom and win the heart of the king, Fuchai.

Selected by a general of her own kingdom, Xishi and Fanli develop feelings for each other. They both know this puts her mission at risk, because she must woo the king and force him to let his guard down for her, to mess up in his attentions and his direction of money spending that it messes up their military strength.

Xishi does a great job using her beauty to her advantage, though her feelings for Fanli put everything at risk. If she is found out, Fanli's life would be forfeit, but so would the fates of both kingdoms.

This was such a heart-wrenching historical romance. The writing style of the novel and the narration of the audiobook make for a powerfully executed story. The characterization is amazing. Liang really gets you rooting for Fanli, but she also make the reader want to root for Fuchai. How can one choose? The ending was one of those where you have to sit and ponder for awhile about everything that just happened.

The story had a nice blend of thrill but that pleasurable aspect of romance that any reader of historical romance or Chinese mythology would appreciate. I especially appreciated the drama and the choices Xishi was ultimately faced with. This novel certainly does not disappoint. Better for adults, though some older teens may enjoy this one as well.

JFC this book is good.

I use this reference only so the people who follow me will understand, but this feels like a book RF Kuang could have written, so pick it up, but also, be prepared.

A Song to Drown rivers makes for a entrancing audio book experience. Ann Liang has given us a complex narrative with well fleshed out characters and intriguing world building all brought to life with excellent narration. I will certainly be recommending this title for a few of my book friends and coworkers.

This book was beautiful. The story, the characters, the world… I fell in love with it all. The book is beautiful and lush, and I really enjoyed it.

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of ancient China's Four Beauties, this mesmerizing novel intertwines romance, palace intrigue, and the dangers of war. With gorgeous prose, author Liang crafts a riveting narrative.

Thanks to her beauty, Xishi is taken from her village of Yue and trained by military advisor Fanli to be a spy. She'll infiltrate the enemy kingdom and seduce its king. While he's preoccupied, her kingdom will attack.

I really liked the characters of this story--no one is all good or bad, just like in real life. Xishi and Fanli forbidden romance is also very well-done. Their connection was palpable.

Natalie Naudus does an amazing job narrating the dramatic and romantic moments of this story. The situations Xishi had to deal are presented in an engaging yet suspenseful way--I had to sit in my car to finish listening to certain parts (when I was supposed to be in work!).

If you enjoy historical novels with a dash of fantasy mixed in, you'll love this one. I really enjoyed it!

Rating 2

"How many women throughout history were blamed for the weaknesses of men? We made such convenient scapegoats. We were raised to be small, to be silent, to take whatever we were given and no more."

Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. I will start off by saying that Ann Liang's writing is beautiful and the prose of this book was so intriguing, which is the only redeeming quality I can give this. The characters felt flat and one dimensional, I never got to a point where I felt connected to them and by the end, I could care less what happened to them. The romance between Xishi and Fanli came off as instalove and felt out of place. There was great potential for drama, tension and an epic, devastating love triangle but the opportunity was fumbled.
Not only did I dislike the characters but the plot plateaued for me around 30% (I am being generous here) and never picked back up. I almost forgot the kingdoms were fighting or that Xishi was sent to act as a spy.

This book had the potential to be absolutely incredible but sadly, it was a disappointment.

Unique storyline - loved the narrator - held my attention - likable characters - definitely would read others by this author