Beautiful, and haunting, and undeniably heartbreaking. This was such a pleasure to read, and despite the plot twist that I did not see coming and was SO MAD AT, the ending was perfect. I will be telling everyone I know about this beautiful book.

A marvelous story...the writing, the character insights, the plots- you truly get lost in the legend of Xishi. As someone who did not know the legend ahead of this read, I was immediately wrapped up in the small village, in the palace, in the journeys. Liang introduces the characters in such an effortless fashion, they so quickly become like old friends.

One thing that stands out the most I think is the tension. Whether it be romantic or an internal struggle, this story more than most can convey genuine feelings. Words are not used without intention at all in this story. I have to imagine if you do know the legend, it will feel like revisiting one of your favorite places. If you are like me and did not know, the fog rolls away just long enough for you to view the journey and you'll be missing it all the second the story ends.

A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang writes a beautifully crafted tale that captivates me from the very first page! Her lyrical prose are truly captivating. The pace is well-paced, and each chapter is rich in detail. Every character is meticulously portrayed, Ann Liang managed to captured their emotions, actions, and physical appearances with her words. It truly is easy getting immersed in the scenery from the flow and how she uses the words. This story, inspired by the legend of Xishi, skillfully blends elements of Chinese historical fantasy with themes of war, womanhood, and romance. Each chapter flows seamlessly, drawing you deeper into a world rich with intrigue and complexity. This book is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve read this year. I've always loved her works, from "If You Could See The Sun" and "I Hope This Doesn't Find You"! Cant wait for another book from her!

Thank you, Ann Liang and NetGalley, for the advanced copy! I truly appreciated it.

3.5 rounded up.

This book was really cute if you avoided thinking too hard about the implausibility of the premise. Xishi is a beautiful girl who is recruited to work as a spy while acting as concubine for a rival kingdom's ruler. She, of course, falls in love with the man who trains her to be a concubine (she does not even know how to bow properly when initially recruited), and then yearns for him while simultaneously getting the rival prince to fall in love with her. If I was digging into it, there are a lot of issues in the plot. When looking at vibes only, I enjoyed it! This book is advertised as adult, but I would say it's more in the young adult category. Xishi learns the complications of war, and how there often is no "right" side to military issues, but it doesn't go much deeper than that. I only gave it that extra .5 star because it got me feeling a little giddy at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love myths and retellings and this was a fun if slightly tragic retelling. I liked that the beautiful woman Xishi and her BFF were more than just beautiful faces and were truly Badass and complex characters with fun motives. I do wish we got to see more of Xishi and Fanli their relationship was cute and i actually really liked him despite his calm attitude. I also liked the Wu king no two sides are ever really innocent in a war and this retelling definitely plays to that cliche. I did actually wish that Xishi developed a truly deeper connection to the wu king because like she realizing he Is kind of pawn as well and she learns her own king is not that innocent either. I do wish we got a littler deeper into history of why the kingdoms are so combative with each other but overall it was an interesting retelling.

“The men will fight for their thrones and their power and their legacies, but to them we are nothing more than crickets and ants, insignificant, expendable.”

3.5

A Song to Drown Rivers tells the story of Xishi as she turns from a simple village girl in the kingdom of Yue to a spy disguised as a concubine in the kingdom of Wu. With the use of her beauty and training, she is tasked to deceive and distract King Fuchai of the Wu Kingdom as her home kingdom seeks their revenge.

I just want to start this by saying I am a big fan of Ann Liang’s books. If it’s written by her, I would definitely read it. A Song to Drown Rivers was a pretty good book, it was very easy to follow along, and it was very beautifully written, albeit flowery at times. I do wish there was more politics to it, that was something I felt this book lacked.

I really liked Xishi’s character. I think she’s really brave to have taken this task of pretending to be the enemy king’s concubine when all she had was ten weeks of training. It did think it was kind of silly that she only needed ten weeks to train and to study all that was needed to be the perfect concubine and spy.

Xishi’s romance with Fanli was very much love at first sight which I really don’t like. In the span of ten weeks they fall in love with each other. There was so much yearning especially on Fanli’s part because he was the king’s minister and he’s a ‘duty first’ kind of guy. They were a nice pair but I do wish their relationship developed gradually instead of being in love with each other from the get go.

King Fuchai was an interesting character. I actually liked him and thought he deserved better. He was someone who starved affection and I can’t blame him for that, especially with the circumstances of his childhood.

I may not have loved this book as much as I do Ann Liang’s contemporary YA ones, but it was still a nice read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and review.

I LOVED this book!!! It was easy to read and follow. It wasn’t super complicated. It is not really a fantasy. There is light discussion of the “after world” but that’s as close to fantasy as we get. But I’m not complaining. It was a beautiful book. I grew attached to the characters. It was almost a love triangle sort of thing. The plot twists at the end!! This must be very closely related to the Chinese mythology because I was describing the book to my husband and he told me he watched the same thing in anime. He knew how it was going to end before I did! I was SOBBING!!! SOBBING!!! There was so much teasing between the love interests in this story and then everything changes!! I felt for Xishi!! What she was asked to do in the end! I did not think she was going to do it! I wouldn’t have!!! I honestly thought there was someway everything was going to come together in the end! It went a completely different path. Be prepared, if you do not know the mythology behind this, this is not a predictable cute sappy ending. You will be crying. Your heart will be breaking but you will love it all. 5 stars for story and making me feel everything!!!!

Ann Liang's A Song to Drown Rivers is a captivating exploration of identity, culture, and the tumultuous journey of self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of both contemporary and mythological elements, the novel follows the protagonist as she navigates the complexities of her dual heritage. Definitely a heart wrenching love story between the main character Xishi and the military advisor Fanli.

Liang's writing is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into the rich tapestry of emotions and experiences. The narrative deftly balances moments of joy with profound introspection, as the main character, Xishi, grapples with her sense of belonging. The integration of folklore adds depth, creating a vivid connection between past and present that resonates throughout the story.

The character development is particularly strong; Liang crafts a relatable and multifaceted heroine whose struggles feel authentic. The supporting cast is equally well-rounded, each contributing to the protagonist's journey in meaningful ways.

Overall, A Song to Drown Rivers is not just a story about personal growth, but also a poignant commentary on the power of heritage and the universal quest for connection. Ann Liang has delivered a beautifully written novel that lingers long after the final page, making it a must-read for anyone interested in stories of resilience and identity.

I highly recommend this book to all lovers of romantacy.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I did genuinely have a good time reading this book for a majority of the time but had a few issues that brought it down to the three star book for me (or maybe closer to 3.5 stars). I liked most of the characters, specifically Zhengdan, but felt like a few more characters could use a little more personality. The plot pacing was also a little all over the place for me. I enjoyed the medium/slower pacing of the first 70% and then the last bit was fast and wrapped up quickly and the love interest barely explored. I’m not opposed to tragic endings but this ending could have spanned several more pages and been given more time. Overall, a fun read and would generally recommend. Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I’m not sure where to begin with this review other than I wish I had some warning as to the amount of tragedy that occurs. I have zero knowledge of Chinese mythology, so I went into this book with only the knowledge that it is a historical fantasy(ish).

Xishi is an otherworldly beauty who, like everyone else, suffers from the side effects of war. Her sister was killed and her village suffers. She hates the Wu people. Xishi is able to potential enact her revenge when Fanli, the advisor of the Yue Kingdom, recruits her to become a spy disguised as a concubine for the King of the Wu. Xishi and her best friend, Zhengdan, train with Fanli to become a concubine and palace lady respectively. When Xishi finally arrives in the palace she must question her feelings of affection, play the games of the court, and win over King Fuchai in order to bring down his kingdom.

Ok, so… the story itself is great. Beautiful and heart wrenching, Liang explored what the true idea of freedom is among a monarchy. The ending really pulls at your heartstrings in addition to making you question your beliefs. It reads like a K-drama, which I assume is the point. The prose was beautiful if not overdone. I thought the pacing all over the place. The action would be nonstop only to lull with page after page of prose and inner monologue. I skimmed over a lot that did not advance the plot.

The characters were all incredibly tragic. I feel like Liang did all of the characters justice in terms of development. The development between characters was lacking. There was so much potential to build the connection between (to avoid spoilers) both sets of couples, but instead it’s assumed that they just grew closer. I also found it weird that Xishi’s illness basically goes away even though it was prominent at the start.

Overall, it was a solid 3. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t see myself buying a copy or rereading it. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC

This is truly a historical c-drama in book form.

The story is of Xishi, the most beautiful woman in all lands, who goes from being a young woman in rural village to being their kingdom's tribute to the enemy kingdom's monarch. She is discovered and trained by Fanli, (likely) the most beautiful man in all lands, also the most intelligent and adept at martial arts. Fanli plans for her to be a spy, to seduce the enemy king, Fuchai, and open a way for their own kingdom to take revenge. But things get complicated when Xishi and Fanli develop feelings for each other and when Fuchai is not straightforwardly the monster Xishi imagined him to be.

I can see beautiful scenery, the luxurious costumes with the prettiest faces, and the gut-wrenching pain of love and betrayal, all painted out vividly in my mind. It's surprisingly refreshing how this story unabashedly make their protagonists the most good-looking, most talented people ever. It also doesn't have any big twist - I knew at around 30% where it is going and still didn't want to put it down. It's charming in a simple way that feels like a fairy tale I already know by heart but never get tired of reading again and again, of feeling that heavy emotion pressing on my chest again and again. Ann Liang has always been amazing at writing drama in her contemporary YA romance, but she manages to turn it up a notch with this book. Despite the simple writing style, the maturity and intensity of the story definitely feels like an adult book.

With this genre, one thing I expected a bit more of is the politics, the intricate dynamics of the court, the complex machinations of the concubines. All of these exist in the story but at a pretty simple, straightforward level. It's enough to provide a backdrop for the romance, but I came into it expect it to be more of a historical fiction, and the plot falls a bit short for me in that regards.

Overall, it's a very enjoyable read and a great adult debut. It solidifies Ann Liang as my auto-buy author. I can't wait to read more of her historical and adult fictions.

Title:  A Song to Drown Rivers  
Author:   Ann Liang    
Genre:  Fantasy       
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

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.

This was an engrossing read from the beginning. Xishi was a wonderful character:  so caring and kind and determined. Seeing her grow and change and become sure of herself and confident was lovely to read. Fanli was only present in part of the book, and he felt very reserved and distant, but I liked him. This was not a fuzzy-bunnies-ray-of-sunshine read—not in any way—but it was a gripping read that completely absorbed my attention.

Ann Liang is a bestselling author. A Song to Drown Rivers is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Yeah, just couldn't get into this one. The writing is better than average, but the story itself is beyond boring. Xishi didn't catch my interest, neither did Fanli, and I just couldn't find a reason to care about anything that was happening. Hard pass. DNF.

Xishi, a village girl of uncommon beauty, is recruited by the handsome Fanli to undertake a mission to save her country using her beauty and wits to trick the enemy kind into a romance.

I would describe the majority of this book as a romance-forward story of a young woman. I found this story a bit flat for my tastes, and felt the characters were a bit one dimensional. However, this book redeemed itself at the ending— it was unexpected and touching so I’m glad I stuck with it. I think this would be a great book to recommend to adolescents or young adults, particularly since the romantic elements are quite chaste.

This is the story of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. While I think the standard summary is accurate, I think it's a mistake to categorize this book as fantasy or possibly even romance. It's more historical fiction inspired by the legend of the country girl, trained as a spy and a courtesan, who brings down a rival kingdom--there are romance elements and plenty of yearning, but the central male romantic character spends too much time off stage to satisfy those expecting a romance, and the fantasy elements are very mild (some of them felt more like metaphors than actual magic, if that makes sense). It would work best for as an introduction to those reading about Xishi for the first time. The writing is good, and it reads quickly, but I was expecting more interpretation of the Xishi legend than the book provides.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in return for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

Talk about gut wrenching - I’m not sure why I expected a happy ending 😭

I thoroughly enjoyed this and is likely up there with one of my top 10 reads of the year. The writing style is reminiscent of books like “Daughter of the Moon Goddess” and C-dramas.

Even the way the romance unfolds is similar to C-dramas, with no explicit scenes but a LOT of tension.

If you’re a fan of Eastern mythology-inspired reads, this one is absolutely for you.

Stunning. Lyrical. Heartbreaking.

This was written so beautifully. Literally had to pause and put the book down several times because I didn't want to finish it too quickly, and even then I finished it in a day. The tension and pining in this book is so palpable and thick you can cut it with a knife. The romance is so achingly tender and self-sacrificing, there were times I just wanted to tear my hair out.

This reminded me a lot of certain faves, like The Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology, The Bird and the Blade, and The Song of Achilles. It is just as beautiful, and just as heartbreaking. This deserves to be read over and over and over.

A thousand thank yous to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Absolutely incredible! I haven't cried over a book in a long time, and I was gutted at the end of this one. If you love the tender ache of longing between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy or Romeo and Juliet as well as imaginative storytelling like The Bear and the Nightingale than you must pick up this book now.

While I knew what I was getting into based off the book description- romance, war, political intrigue- it was delivered in a completely unexpected manner. We as the reader are treated to a very narrowed view of the world within A Song to Drown Rivers, so at first this comes across as shallow world-building. Normally a turn-off, but I found that the writing and the characters more than made up for this "lack". Now that I've finished reading, I have a suspicion that this was the author's choice in order to showcase something greater- the human experience. After all, who do we relate with more? Kings ruling from on high as they rule and wage wars or the people who go about their lives, focused on food, their homes and chores like laundry, their family, all those tiny moments that make up an entire lifetime. When those ordinary moments are impacted by love or war, by duty to your country or to yourself, what does that look like? That is what I found in Xishi and Fanli.

"In reality we were just two mortals, bound by our respective roles in history, and whatever flickered between us felt so terribly fragile compared to the immovable weight of mountains, of kingdoms, or war." UGGHHHHHH.

I was not familiar with the Four Great Beauties or the legend of Xi Shi before reading this book, but it has sparked a deep dive into this fascinating piece of Ancient Chinese history. This story takes the myth and wrenches it into something more. While I adored many of the wonderful characters, I absolutely loved Xishi. Her desire to help her country and make an impact is inspiring, and I admire her bravery and selflessness. But, oh my goodness, she goes through so much! Looking back now, I should have seen the twist coming, but I was completely blindsided.

This looks to be a standalone book, but I have added Ann Liang to my top authors and any of her future books will be an auto-purchase for me!

“In these stories, I am reduced to someone barely even human, a creature of myth.”

Devastating. Tragic. Beautiful. Grab some tissues.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to dive into this book, especially since it's my first experience with Ann Liang's work, which has received only positive reviews from nearly all my mutuals. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short-lived, I found the story to be lacking in several key areas.

One of the primary issues I had was the underdevelopment of the main characters. I felt that they were not explored deeply enough, which made it challenging to become invested in their journeys. The romance, in particular, was disappointingly superficial. I had high hopes for a poignant and tragic love story between Xishi and Fanli, but it ultimately fell flat.

The writing style, however, was a redeeming quality. Liang's prose is indeed soft and beautiful, making it a pleasure to read. Fuchai, as a character, showed great promise, and I found myself drawn to him. In fact, I think it would have been more compelling if Xishi had fallen for him, given the significant amount of time they spent together. Instead, the author opted for a tragic conclusion with Fanli, who was woefully underutilized throughout the book.
Let’s be real.. how can you make the love interest a character who held 15% of the book?

She should’ve Developed their interactions, Increased the number of meaningful interactions between Xishi and Fanli, allowing us to witness their bond grow and deepen. This would have made their eventual separation more poignant.
She should’ve more Added emotional intimacy, Explored the emotional vulnerabilities and inner struggles of both characters, for mutual understanding and connection. This would have made their romance feel more authentic and relatable.
More Introduced conflicts and tension <b>was needed</b> Introduced obstacles or conflicts that would have tested their relationship, making their love feel more earned and precious. This could have included internal struggles, external pressures, or misunderstandings that would have added depth to their narrative.
their chemistry was non-existence, I needed more moments that highlighted the chemistry and attraction between Xishi and Fanli, making their romance <i>at least</i> believable.
I also wanted some Foreshadowing for their tragic fate, at least a Subtle hint at the tragic consequences of their (non-existence) love, foreboding and tension that would have made their ultimate separation more impactful! Because I unfortunately felt absolutely nothing by that ending!

She described fanli to be this cold-hearted, unfeeling minister that have never in love but just so suddenly did? Give me a stronger emotional connection between Xishi and Fanli, making their separation feel more devastating and heart-wrenching. Give me a sense of inevitability making the end feel like a consequence of their actions or circumstances, rather than a contrived plot twist. Give me some sacrifice or selflessness to their story, making their love feel more noble and tragic. Give me a deeper devolve into their separation, showing how it affected not only the characters but also the world around them. Give me closure or resolution to their story, a sense of emotional satisfaction.

If these things were added the author could have created a more compelling and impactful romance between Xishi and Fanli, making their tragic story more memorable and emotionally resonant because ladies and gentlemen I felt absolutely ✨nothing✨


<b>But not only was xishi and fanli ruined… but xishi and Fuchai too! </b>


I was disappointed by the handling of Xishi's emotions, particularly in her interactions with Fuchai. Her calm demeanor made the story feel flat and unengaging. I craved more emotional depth and complexity from the characters, which would have elevated the narrative.

Fuchai, as a character, showed great promise, but his potential was unfortunately wasted. As a king, he had the opportunity to be a complex and nuanced character, but instead, he was portrayed as stupid and drunk for most of the story. This was a missed opportunity to explore the intricacies of his character and create a more engaging flow.

His character was not developed deeply enough, and his presence was not leveraged to create meaningful conflicts or tensions. His interactions with Xishi, in particular, were lacking, and their relationship was not explored in a way that would have made their story more compelling.
Because why <i>again</i> fuchai nearly from the very beginning as telling her that he will do everything to her? I laughed so much Becuase the author did this love triangle were were both MMCs fell head over heels for xishi when she didn’t have an impactful relationship with BOTH!


I wanted to go deeper into Fuchai's personality, motivations, and backstory could have made him a more well-rounded and relatable character. She portrayed that he hate his father! He killed his most trusted man just because he compared him to his father! But never showed us deeply why? Why fuchai hate his father that much? Why never show us his full trauma except that when he was a kid, kids never played with him! That’s borderline illegal, this author ruined the book to heights unknown!!!

As a king, Fuchai should have been portrayed as intelligent and strategic, rather than a drunk loving fool the entire book. This would have added depth to his character and created more interesting conflicts. Because let’s be real how was he a king to being with? She dimmed his character and made him so plain and simple it was so bad and shaky constructed! He deserved so much better!

He should’ve have been ruthless! making difficult decisions, and navigating the complexities of ruling a kingdom! He should’ve been so ruthless that the mission was hard to xishi to accomplish! He should’ve inspected her more, making her on her top-toe around him! When her betrayal was revealed was the scene was so anti-climatic, everyone was sort of expecting it Of how stupid and weak the king was portrayed.

Fuchai's presence could have been used to create conflicts and tensions that would have driven the plot forward. For example, his relationship with Xishi could have been more complex, with him struggling with his feelings for her or grappling with the consequences of their interactions or suspecting her more times than often.

The author killed Fuchai’s character arc and it made the book ten times worsts for me.


This book is also classified as Romantasy and adult and guess what? It was neither *vine boom sound-effect*
I'm also laughing by the book's classification as adult fiction. It seems to me that it would be more accurately categorized as young adult given its themes and tone. And where was the fantasy in Romantasy? Absolutely nonexistent.