I am one of an apparent minority on this book since it’s been chosen as a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, an Indie Next pick and a LibraryReads pick for October 2024. But it just did nothing for me.

The story is based on a Chinese legend about Xishi, a famous beauty from centuries ago. This should be promoted as historical fiction, but seems to be marketed as fantasy. The only fantastical element came at the very end and it was pretty small, not impacting the rest of the tale at all. It also felt very YA to me.

There were a lot of descriptions of flowers and scenery but I never got the feel of really being in ancient China. The characters were pretty stereotypical and flat. I didn’t find it believable that a country bumpkin, no matter how pretty, could be trained to be a super spy concubine in a matter of ten weeks. (We only read about her learning to play an instrument and learning to school her facial expressions.) The love interest was barely there. There was very little court intrigue explained on the page and that could’ve made the story more interesting. Xishi has some sort of heart problem that is never explained and never becomes important to the plot, so why include it? I could go on.

Although I bounced between the ebook and the audiobook, I mostly listened to the audiobook and that was an excellent choice. Natalie Naudus did a beautiful job with the voices and (I assume) the Chinese pronunciations. Because I was so bored, I did speed it up a lot, though.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

🌊 Book Review 🌊

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
🌊
This is a captivating, poetically written, stunningly tragic book filled with yearning, heartbreak, female rage, and vengeance. It’s an epic tale about war, duty, sacrifice, and love. I adored the characters, especially Xishi, Fanli, and even Fuchai. This book was intriguing, fast-paced, and almost hauntingly beautiful. Natalie Naudus does an excellent job with the audio. She truly embodies Xishi, and brings her character to life perfectly. I was completely unprepared for the ending; it absolutely destroyed me, and I may never recover. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
🌊
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
🌊
Read if you like:
▫️Chinese legends
▫️historical fantasy
▫️warring kingdoms and court politics
▫️arranged marriage
▫️forbidden love
🌊
Thank you to St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Ann Liang for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is an ambitious retelling of Chinese myth, and, for the most part, it is an incredibly intriguing story. I found myself leaning in to the characters right off the bat. (Plus, the audiobook narration is superb!)

This is my first book by Liang, and her writing is truly a gift. I will be reading more by this author in the near future.

However, I did find myself waning interest as the story progressed as my investment in the characters waned. That being said, it is still worth a read (or a listen).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.



I will be posting my review to social media on October 9th.

This was easy, in the way that, I couldn’t stop reading! it was intriguing, almost mesmerizing.
Not your typical, ordinary ending and one that I’m actually, in a way, happy with.
Felt the full range of emotions, with lovable characters and a story that I’ll remember for years to come.

Wow, what a captivating story. This was a fascinating look into how men overlook beautiful women. There's so much more here, too. This story, narrated by Natalie Naudus, one of the best, hooked me right from the beginning. Xishi's beauty was legendary, and it was so interesting to read a book about how she used and didn't use this for what she needed out of life. The training she took to become the king's concubine was also captivating. I didn't realize how much training there was, and it made her life even more complex. There is no steam here - even with her palace job. I didn't want to stop listening and the way the author wrapped this story up just left me speechless.
Macmillan Audio ALC

Set in ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers explores the legend of Xishi, blending history with a compelling story of love, duty, and loss. The historical setting and cultural backdrop were beautifully crafted, and I loved the immersive world Ann Liang created. While the book is tagged as fantasy, it read more like historical fiction to me. There was maybe one part at the end that could have maybe been a little bit of a fantasy element, but it also could have just been the afterlife?

The story itself is very tragic - I wasn’t expecting that level of heartbreak and am still unwell over the ending. The sacrifice, betrayal and moral ambiguity of this story kept me turning the pages. And the exploration of power dynamics and morality in war was really well done. I listened to the audiobook, so I can't refer back to the exact words, but there is a line towards the end about what difference is it who is in power if people are still suffering and their lives are exactly the same, and that really made me think as it's still applicable now.

I did think the romance felt a bit underdeveloped. Xishi’s relationships with both Fanli and the king span over years, but we don’t get to see much of their development, which made it hard to fully believe in the connections. It felt like a lot of important moments were glossed over, particularly during Xishi’s training with Fanli where they supposedly fell in love, but this was told to us rather than shown to us.

Despite these things, I really enjoyed A Song to Drown Rivers and I will be thinking about the ending for a long time to come. The audiobook narrator was fantastic as well. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is interested in a book steeped in Chinese culture/mythology, as long as you are ready for some heartbreak.

A historical fantasy that tells the legend of Xishi, a famous beauty of Ancient China, who infiltrates the rivaling Wu kingdom, to spy for her people and save her country. There’s war, there’s deception, there’s love, and there’s even a bit of wit and humor. Overall, a well rounded story that kept my attention throughout.

I was not familiar with the story of Xishi or any of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, so it was fun to learn a bit of mythology from another country. The characters were strong and I appreciated their unique and sometimes complicated personalities. While labeled a historical fantasy, it leaned more towards a historical fiction romance, so if you’re interested in a story with talking dragons that’s dripping in magic, this isn’t it. If you like complex characters, messy love triangles, and unexpected endings, go buy this book now.

A couple critiques, though minor… I might mark this more a YA than Adult novel. It was well written, but sometimes a bit simple and in particular glossed over romance scenes that could have used more - not that the book needed smut, but for context and better understanding of our characters and their relationships. Second, there was a small plot hole I’m still curious about. Did Xishi’s heart magically heal? Was that the fantasy element? What happened there? We never find out.

I’ve seen a few reviews that say the story got a bit slow at times, but I was fortunate to have received an advanced digital and audio copy. Having both mediums might have helped elevate this issue for me, but not once did I feel like stopping from boredom. In fact, it was rewarding to be able to both see and hear certain word and name pronunciations and the narrator was exceptional with their pacing, articulation, and voicing of a wide variety of characters.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy.

Rating Ann Liang's A Song to Drown Rivers is very difficult.

On one hand, there's instant love with little rooting value between the main character and her love interest, the beginning is hard to get into since its very choppy, there are several plot conveniences that are difficult to ignore, the dialogue is too modern, and the motivation for the main character's actions aren't established well enough.

On the other hand, the descriptions are beautifully written, the dynamic between the main character and the antagonist is very well done, the court politics were excellent, and climax of the novel was very emotionally gripping.

The aspects I love most about the novel (politics, female relationships, etc) make the flaws so much more glaring. There's potential for a masterpiece here, but it was never more than partially realized.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t for me. I feel like the world building wasn’t fleshed out enough, I needed more.

The romance piece also wasn’t developed enough for me. All in all, I needed more from this book.

Review: Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I definitely think it reflects more of a romantasy vibe in that the romance is much more built up and focused on than the actual fantasy aspects of the book. But it kept me interested the entire time. I absolutely loved the writing and the story telling and the interactions between the three main characters. This is an example of a well done romantasy standalone.

Synopsis: Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

3.5 ⭐️
This is definitely well written, but as a fantasy book it sort of lacks,, fantasy. i cannot even think of a fantasy element in this story. I understand this is a debut fantasy but it NEVER felt like a fantasy book to me. i also didn’t care about most of the characters that much? i liked Xishi’s friend the most and we didn’t even get much from her. As someone who loves slow burn, the romance was kind of painful at first. They liked each other immediately and i just did not get it. The story was definitely entertaining but it’s nothing that memorable to me.

The ending was shocking and tragic but it just didn’t hit like it could have because the romance wasn’t incredible.

This was an absolutely stunning beautifully written book. A very rich tale that will rip your heart out in the same tragic vein of Song of Achilles. Did I enjoy it…yes. But now there is a hole in my chest that was previously not there before I started this book. The narrator did an amazing job.

Wow, what an incredible read! I finished this book so quickly because I couldn't put it down. It's a beautifully crafted historical fiction story about war, power, and beauty. I loved the romance and the various perspectives on the king. I found myself screaming and crying; the book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I definitely didn't expect the ending! This book is just perfect—long enough to immerse me without feeling rushed.

(I will make a Tik Tok review and will come back to share the link)

This read like an old tale passed down through cultures. I loved and hated it, the way one does with tragedies!! Xishi had such complexity, though her beauty was her weapon there was so much more to her! My heart broke over and over, and I felt joy over and over. The way great stories should make you feel!

*3.5 Stars*

I'm very sad to say that this did not work for me. It was a little too insta-lovey several times over. And I just didn't feel the MC's feelings. I didn't even understand it. The whole setting and world were very interesting though. And I liked the MC but a lot of this story was about her feelings for men who simply did not deserve her. She was a badass fifty times over and she deserved better from beginning to end. The plot still kept me on my toes though and I was very surprised by the twists.
So yeah, this, overall, did not work for me but I'm still really looking forward to reading more books by Ann Liang.

3/5
This book is nothing special. It doesn’t add anything new to the genre and lacks in world building. The writing is beautiful in some places, but overall felt very rushed. The romances felt very superficial and needed more development.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
Narrator: Natalie Naudus
Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 10/1

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy, and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook! #macaudio2024
Xishi is a rare beauty born into extreme poverty in a kingdom broken by war. When she catches the eye of the king’s advisor, Fanli, she’s given the chance to change her fate and the fate of her entire people.

There is a lot to love about this one! Liang takes a familiar setup—using beauty to infiltrate and take down an enemy kingdom—and turns it into something fresh. This story is less about romance and more about survival, power, and the tough choices Xishi has to make as she plays a dangerous game between two kingdoms.

Xishi is such a relatable, raw character. You feel every bit of her pain, anger, and guilt as she struggles with the weight of her mission. Her relationship with Fuchai, the king she's sent to seduce, is one of the best parts of the book. It’s sweet at times, but there’s always an undercurrent of tension and danger that keeps you on edge.

The pacing is spot-on too. Aside from a few slow spots, the story moves at a steady pace, with lots of action and emotion. The politics and stakes are intense, and you can feel how much Xishi has to lose if things go wrong.

I had a few minor issues with the story, one being that it’s not really a fantasy. It’s more historical fiction since it happens during a real time in Chinese history, and the only fantastical elements come at the very end. And the ending? Not happy. At least, not at first. It’s a sad ending that ends up being happy later on. Which actually made sense for the story, but as a standalone book marked as ‘romantasy’ I expected a happy ending.

I still enjoyed this one and had a hard time putting it down! I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a story with strong heroines, complex relationships, sacrifice, and a bit of heartbreak.

DNF at 22%

I felt like I walked into a movie, an hour late.
There's virtually no depth to any of the characters, setting or politics.
I've read all of this before. Nothing new or original, out of all the genre's, fantasy has incredible freedom and yet I get the same gorgeous people, the girl comes from nothing, is used as a spy, learns years' worth of technique, education and etiquette within weeks and her motivation is.... revenge. No one is surprised. The writing feels inexperienced, and I don't have the time or fortitude for it. I'll leave that to other patient readers.

“Heroes always have tragic endings.”

This was my second reading, and I’m still captivated by the beauty of this book. It’s both a heartbreaking tragedy and a touching love story. Each time I read it, I find myself in tears. The writing is exquisite and flows effortlessly, making it impossible to put down.

The narrator truly enhanced the experience. Her voice and character pronunciations were spot-on, and she perfectly captured the tone and pace for each character.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Ann Liang for the ALC of this incredible book. It’s truly one of my favorite reads of the year.

There is something about Asian lore that just hits different. It is brutal and intense, suspenseful and very romantic. As a cultureless white girl I revel in the beauty of Ancient Chinese traditions and societal ways. So I knew I was going to love A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang. And I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

Not only is this story riveting and romantic, but it is also incredibly well narrated. The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus and she did a beautiful job with dictation and pronunciation. There is nothing worse than trying to get into a new story through an audiobook and the narrator becomes a distraction. I will actively be seeking out other audiobooks narrated by Natalie in the future.

This story is a romantic, historical fantasy that is based on an ancient Chinese legend. I can’t imagine many readers of the general genre of historical romance to be disappointed by this book, but be warned; as many of the world’s old fairytales and legends play out, this story does not have a Disney movie ending. Is the ending terribly romantic and moving and tissue-reaching worthy? Most definitely yes. But is it cozy and easily satisfying, leaving you feeling comforted and cheerful? Absolutely not. And it is all the better for it! I promise. The fate of our main characters make the story epic and one that you will never forget. I will be rereading this on my own (not the audiobook version) one day, but in several months once my wounds have healed.

My only hang up with this story was the intense yearning of Xishi for Fanli that recurred over and over again. Listen…I am all for devotion and undying love and being completely smitten with a beautiful man. I get it. And I love to read it. However, the way her feelings for him are described throughout the story feels conflicting. She’s a strong, capable, brave, intelligent woman that has suffered and withstood so much, so to hear her lamenting over a solemn, quiet man’s beautiful face and stoic mannerisms makes her seem like a love sick, swooning, emotionally dependent teenager. It feels like another case of a story whose main romance wasn’t fully developed enough before we are fed the extreme devotion of one person to another. I love Xishi as a character. And I love Fanli as a character. But I needed more romantic relationship development before reading/listening to her pining.

I hate giving much away in reviews and this story should be dived into with as little information as possible. So trust me when I tell you that this is a book to own and return to year after year. It is a story to have us all questioning love, devotion, ties to country, and implications of war throughout the ages. Enjoy!

As always, a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for allowing me the privilege of listening to the audiobook ARC of this fantastic book.

A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang, will be published on October 1, 2024.