Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ACR Copy!

This is my first Ann Liang book so I did not really know what to expect from this story. I was hoping for a tale that was deeply steeped in mythology and tradition and found that that those elements were somewhat lacking. The world was somewhat vague but regardless of that it was still a beautiful story, very lyrical and whimsical. The FMC has to make the hard decision to leave everything behind to save her people from the tyrant king, it read a lot like a YA, which is not a problem at all, I read a lot of YA, I just though that this was an Adult book so that may have been where my disconnect lied. Regardless, I really enjoyed the story.

This was a beautiful book. I enjoyed the story very much. It tugged on the heartstrings and showed the hardships of war. I liked the fantasy aspects of the story, it added to it.
It kept my interest because everything was not as it seemed. It showed that in this was there were good/bad people on both sides. Sometimes the ones who are “supposed” to be the bad guys are not as bad as they seem and vice versa.
This was definitely a great book that would satisfy both the history and fantasy reader. I have read a few fantasy books set in China, and this one did not disappoint.

3.5⭐️

Overall, I did enjoy the story. It feels really unique in the sense that I haven’t read another book where the concubine works behind the scene to overthrow the king. I have seen other kdrama or cdramas where the concubine works in secret… So it was nice to see this in a book format.

I think the thing that fell flat for me was I wanted to see more power struggle when she was trying to become the top concubine. It felt like a very easy win for her… I thought things moved a little too smoothly…. And I think her journey to becoming the favorite concubine should’ve been explored more.

I also wished that Fanli’s story was a little bit more flushed out. It kind of felt flat.

Xishi is known for her extreme beauty. Yet she has remained humble in her small village washing silks and recovering from the loss of her young sister during the last Wu invasion. Enter Fanli, military advisor to her country’s king. He is seeking a tool to use to break the Wu king, and Xishi’s beauty is the answer. As she sets on this journey to learn how to be a spy to weaken the Wu nation, Xishi must protect her heart to understand the game of seduction and of what is real and not. What does Fanli mean to her? How much of herself will she leave behind and will she sacrifice her entire self for country?

This was a very well written, captivating read that flowed effortlessly through Xishi’s eyes. The storytelling is just plain good. Everything is written with a purpose and pulls you completely into this tragic romance. Xishi’s heart is pure and she is a perfect heroine. 5 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

If ever there was a bittersweet ending, this is it.

Now, if you are a fan of Chinese historical dramas, I'd say this book is nothing new to you. It follows a familiar mold. But if you are into those types of stories you would also likely enjoy this.

The writing is lovely and relatively easy to follow. The protagonist was likable enough. However, I was never fully sold on the romance. There was pining on many sides, but I didn't feel it in my core. My heart didn't ache as I was expecting it to. I think the issue lies in the fact that not enough time was spent seeing the main couple fall in love. It was all rather quick, which I suppose is to be expected given that this is a standalone fantasy.

In the end, I just wanted more of everything: more romance, more yearning, more feelings, and heartbreak.

I enjoyed the book overall. But I don't think it is one that will stick with me for long.

4 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it reminded me of c-drama levels of romance, politics, world-building, and character development.

Our main character is smart and brave. Even the side characters are super intriguing! If you like political intrigue, romance, badass female characters, I highly recommend you check this book out! There was just enough romance to satisfy the romance lovers and the plot has lots of scheming and twists that will keep you on your toes. I liked the book more and more as it went on. The plot isn't groundbreaking, but it's executed very well in my opinion.

The only reason I gave 4 stars is because I do feel the beginning dragged on for a bit too long. My favorite part of the book was when she got to the castle and the real action began. I understand though it really depends on whether you're a romance lover or an action lover. I happen to be both, but lean more towards action. If it weren't for the slow start I would have definitely finished it sooner. I'm glad I stuck through with it!

Overall, I am happy to have read it. Thank you to Ann Liang and her team for the ARC. It's for sure a book that is different from her other books but I think she is a skilled author to have pulled off a genre-switch this well! Bravo!

I’ll start of by saying this book will NOT be for everyone.

This is a story that is slow going, tragic, and it’s more about coming to terms with/learning how the world works with people in power. The stakes don’t seem very high when Xishe infiltrates the palace of the neighboring to be a concubine spy because the king seems like a lost puppy and easy to manipulate. But that’s NOT the point.

It’s about the destination not the journey with this one. I’ll admit that for 75% of the book I was just coasting along waiting for the ‘good stuff’ to happen, but then I got hit with the last bit of the book and it made much more sense. It’s dark and raw and unveils the reality of war when you least expect it. If you want a full out fantasy, this is not for you. If you want a romance for the ages, this is not it. If you want an action packed spy book, sorry but no.

This story is about endurance, patience, loss, survival, and power — who has it, who doesn’t, who wants it, and what one will do to get and keep it.

From breathtaking prose to a beautifully tragic storyline to bittersweet romance, A Song to Drown Rivers stole my heart and soul from the beginning to the end.

Known for her beauty, Xishi is approached by infamous military advisor Fanli to be a crucial part of a secret plot to overthrow their rival kingdom by seducing their king. Xishi agrees to help save her people and avenge her sister’s death but soon finds herself in an entanglement of hearts, loyalty, and trust, one that is deadly and dangerous.

Instantly, I was drawn into this world of secrets, betrayal, love, and heartbreak. As the story went on, every piece of it became star-crossed, and I loved every devastating minute of it. It was so beautiful yet tragic. I loved seeing Xishi grow and embrace her power as a strong main character, fall in love, and take calculated risks.

I can’t wait to read more books by Liang. I just absolutely LOVED this read!!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

ann liang is an amazing author... this is devastating and beautiful and i will always be thinking about xishi and fanli

“What a bittersweet fate we shared, balanced so precariously on the fine line between life and death, union and separation, joy and despair.”

Fantasy is a genre completely outside of my wheelhouse but a fellow reader suggested I give this new novel a try. Inspired by an Ancient Chinese legend, Ann Liang provides stunning imagery with her prose and after one chapter I was hooked.

Xishi has a rare and exquisite beauty and a thirst for revenge. A young minister to her king recognizes her exceptional elegance and makes her a pawn in a dangerous game. After rigorous training, Xishi is embedded into the court of a rival kingdom, to seduce their king in hopes of gathering intelligence to regain her kingdom’s independence. The minister Fanli guides her through lengthy training and delivers her to the den, setting into motion an entangled plot where life hangs in the balance for multiple characters.
Xishi’s beauty is a blessing and a curse as she navigates a minefield of duty, affection and guilt, while she is confronted with blurred lines about heroes vs victims.
The Helen of Troy (the face that launched a thousand ships) undercurrent is just one aspect of what made this an appealing read for me, and those who enjoy Madeline Miller mythology retellings, may find this to be their ideal fall book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!

Generous 3 ⭐ - until the end I was really rating it 4-4.25 ⭐

<b>GOOD:</b>
Don’t get me wrong, I binged the audio hard and adored 75%. The audio was extremely immersive and I loved the narration by Natalie Naudus. There were so many parts of this book I loved. The setting and the writing were some of my favorites. Espionage, power games and court politics in a warring kingdom? YES PLEASE. I loved when Xishi started to realize she had her own power even if it was different than that a man has.

<b>BAD:</b>
Where was the fantasy? Other than being a world loosely based off a Chinese myth, there is absolutely no magic or fantasy elements. Our FMC was just a random village girl with immeasurable beauty & her friend felt like a knock off Mulan even though we forgot about her quickly.

<b>UGLY:</b>
The ending made me rage - a few days later I'm still pissed while writing the review. I cared for the relationship and interactions with the king, not her insta-love wannabe romance. We never saw any of the pining and tension between Fanli and Xishi. The relationship that Xishi built over multiple YEARS with the Wu King Fuchai was more impactful to me than the 10 week relationship she decided she had with Fanli.


Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio & St. Martin's press for the eARC & ALC of A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

I had a decent time reading A Song to Drown Rivers. My favorite part of the book was Xishi's character development. I enjoyed her character's journey and watching her grow into her role as a spy. The book focused primarily on her journey. I am surprised that this book is being advertised as a romantasy. This did not feel like a romantasy. The romance in this book was very backseat. I struggled with Xishi and Fanli's relationship. It was a lot of telling instead of showing. I wish the author showed more of their characters together. I had a hard time justifying their love with so few scenes together. I thought Fanli's character was severely underdeveloped. I didn't really feel one way or another about him. I actually had more feelings about the enemy! I thought the author did a fantastic job creating a layered character in Fuchai. I found myself feeling bad for him. There were some things that bugged me. I felt like the whole heart thing was never fully explained. I also thought the ending of the book could have been less rushed. I wish there was more climax at the end. The fight scenes could have been better. I didn't like how Xishi's story ended. The author's writing was strong and compelling. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

A moment of silence for this gorgeous cover, please...

This book is filled with excellent world-building, compelling characters, interesting eastern mythology and is both beautifully written and heartbreaking at the same time.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

Tysm for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

A Song to Drown Rivers gave me so much more than I anticipated. Grab all the tissues. Wow.

🌊 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.

O.M.G. Ann Liang just reached into my chest, ripped out my heart, stomped all over it, tore it to pieces, then threw those pieces into a fire.....all in the very best possible way.
Where do I start? The writing of this book is BEAUTIFUL. Not fluffy, just absolutely beautiful.
Liang made the characters to where you would fall in love with them regardless of their alliance in the story as well as giving life to side characters.
This book goes so far beyond a simple enemies to lovers (or not) troupe and really makes you sit with the realization of the humanity of enemies. It smears all of the black and white lines into an ugly muddled gray.
I cannot sing enough praises for A Song to Drown Rivers. Definitely 5/5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Song to Drown Rivers is beautifully written. The prose flows well without being so flowery that it’s difficult to follow. I really like the main character and found that this did a great job of pulling me to finish the story. The one downside is that I felt this was a bit too rushed. You don’t really get a sense of the time that’s elapsed and takes a bit away from the impact of how things play out.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This books was my first book by Ann Liang and it is far from my last. I loved everything about this book, from the characters to the writing, it was perfect. It was a slow start, but I promise you, it is worth every moment that you spend reading. I loved everything about this book and if I had the ability to read this for the first time again, I would!

A harrowing tale of bravery and sorrow. Xishi is a young women who embarks on a difficult journey. She finds herself in a situation where she is able to help her family and nation. She is working with those she more allies with to spy and give information to bring down the Wu, who have wreaked havoc on her nation. Beautiful story that has you at the edge of your seat waiting what happens next

<i>One could live with almost anything, so long as they had something to live for.</i>

Moving, ethereal, and beautifully told. Plucked from obscurity in her rural village due to her unmatched beauty only to be trained as the ultimate weapon, Xishi knows she must succeed at her job to seduce the neighboring kingdom’s king in order to save her people. But her heart is torn and the path is treacherous - will she become a hero, the kind of legend remembered centuries later, and will she agree with the assessment after all is said and done?

While the modernization of the dialogue and mannerisms was sometimes jarring knowing this story took place in ancient China, it didn’t ultimately detract from this beautiful story about love, revenge, and sacrifice.

Pub Date: 10/1/24
Review Published: 10/1/24
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.