Fanli, a young military advisor, turns Xishi’s beauty into a weapon. Trained to infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, Xishi has the power to topple the kingdom…

First of all, this cover is absolutely gorgeous.

The writing was atmospheric and emotional.

The affection and heat between Xishi and Fanli was well done. I felt their connection grow slowly and enjoyed how he saw beyond her physical beauty to her true self. As the stakes grew higher in the enemy palace, I was deeply invested in their future.

The political intrigue and power games were tense and kept me engaged. The horror of war was delicately handled.

I wished for more world-building early in the book, more history on why the two kingdoms were warring, to see what similarities and differences existed between them beyond the descriptions of the brutal Wu warriors. Despite this desire, I had enough information to fully engage in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This was so intriguing! I enjoyed it a lot, and there was quite a story to follow. I really enjoyed Xishi as a character, as well!

I’m a huge fan of Ann Liang, so I immediately requested “A Song to Drown Rivers” when I saw that it was available. Having no idea what it was about (and not reading the summary beforehand), I was in for a wild, amazing, and devastating ride! Liang’s signature prose shines through, as does her ability to weave a compelling tale. I finished the book in an afternoon, and when I tell you I now feel empty inside, I am not lying.

The story follows Xishi, a poor but extremely beautiful girl from a small village in the kingdom of Yue, and her journey from peasant to courtesan to the king of the rival kingdom, Wu. Xishi is cunning yet has a gentleness and care to her that develops throughout the book, and I enjoyed seeing how her interactions with the Wu people brought out her anger and her kindness at the same time. The other main characters, the advisor to the Yue king, Fanli, and the Wu king, Fuchai were good foils to each other, and motivators for Xishi. While the book had a significantly complex plot, it felt more like a character study on these three people, and their relationship with one another, and their kingdoms.

By the end of the book I was quietly devastated, but satisfied. I almost expected it to be a series when I was half-way through, but near the end I felt glad that it was a stand alone. At this point, I’ll read anything that Ann Liang writes and be happy about it, but I was so glad to read something a little bit different from her past novels.

"If the ministers called me a fox spirit, a witch - then a witch I would be."

Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Liang, and St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC!

Actual Rating: 4.5

This book kept popping up on my Goodreads and a retail sites, and after seeing the rave reviews, I knew I had to read it. Usually I'm quick to collect my thoughts and rate books, but somehow I'm having so much trouble with this one. This is not because it's bad either, but because of the opposite, Ann Liang's storytelling is amazing, and there was so much that I got from this book that I wasn't expecting.

This book is about Xishi, a girl renowned in her village for her beauty. One day Fanli, a minister to the King, arrives and he brings an unexpected proposal to her. She can either stay where she is, surrounded by her family, in a place she's lived her whole life, or leave and help him on his quest to stop their opposing kingdom. With thoughts of her past trauma, Xishi makes the hard decision, and departs for her new life.

I really enjoyed Xishi as a character. Her whole life, people have constantly told her she's beautiful, and instead of being humble about it, she leans into it, knowing it to be true. She's selfless and brave, constantly sticking her neck out for those in need, even when they may put her in danger. Throughout the book, as she gains new experiences, she also grows as a person, seeing things in ways she wouldn't have ever before.

I don't want to say much else about this book, because I do feel like it's good to go into it pretty blind. Tentatively I'm rating this as a 4.5 stars, but it's definitely leaning towards a 5 (the only thing keeping me from that right now is the want for the first "part" of the book to be longer and more developed). I can't wait for this to come out and for others to be able to experience Xishi's journey.

I did not finish this ... stopping around 45%. I guess I was thinking this was going to be much more than a costume romance. The historical setting is awfully vague.

I am rather unwilling to buy that Xishi can sneak up on Fanli when he is putting salve on his scars, nor that he will allow her to do that for him when he insists on keeping a clear separation between them.

It was a deal breaker when Wu's king, presented with this stunningly beautiful concubine, simply forgets about her. Completely. No matter how big his palace, I cannot imagine that he just kind of forgot about her. We have been told that she is this unmatched beauty, yet ... dang ... he cannot recall that she must be in the palace somewhere.

This book destroyed me.

YA authors tend to have a shaky start when debuting an Adult book, but this was not a problem for Ann Liang's Adult debut.

Gorgeous writing, complex characters you love and hate at the same time, political intrigue that will keep you at the edge of your seat - what more can you ask for? The tension between the two romantic leads was so sexy I couldn't put the book down. I need Liang to write more Adult books please and thank you.

I am not familiar with the myth this story is based on, but God, I was not expecting it to devastate me as much as it did. I cannot wait for this book to be released so everyone can suffer the way I did.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang tells the story of Xishi ( one of the 4 beauties of ancient China) and Fanli. I did not now of the story of Xishi and Fanli and I am glad since man this story was so beautiful and heartbreaking and glad to experience in this way.

My emotions were on a roller coaster. The first 60% were good but slower with the whole build up and the last 40% I read non stop. Man that was a journey and excited for others to experience that.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Ann Liang and St.Martins Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Saint Martin Press and Macmillan for my EARC💙

4.5 ✨

This Retelling of The Legend of XhiShi, this was beautifully written I went between my EARC and my Macmillan Audio. Both did not disappoint at all.

My attention never really faltered I enjoyed how we watched her take down a kingdom in years we would skip ahead a few months every few chapters. I really enjoy a fast paced fantasy so this can definitely be a book for you!

Fanli finds the most beautiful girl Xhishi and she must bring down the Wu kingdom by infiltrating its king and making him fall fully in love with her!

From start to finish I was so connected to Xhishi. She had such a welcoming presence of trying to find her self but also growing to take down a kingdom that killed her sister and took everything from her people.

The story had a very bitter sweet ending I was definitely stunned but overall this was beautiful and i think a lot of people will absolutely love this retelling fantasy💙

This book was perfect! I loved the complex relationships between everyone. You both love and hate the emperor, and the final scene with him made me sob. The outcome of Xishi's actions are so beautifully described, and I love the relationship between her and Faglin. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time worried that they would be discovered. The ending though, I am still angry about that.

If you like Daughter of the Moon Goddess, A Crane Among Wolves, or Woven Song I believe that you will like this book. But grab tissues.

Due to the St Martins Press Boycott, I will not be leaving a review for this book. I hope that the boycott is lifted soon because I would love to talk about this novel.

“A Song to Drown Rivers” is a gorgeous book about the cost of war and utility of revenge, and compulsively readable. Xishi is a villager working with her parents making silk, struggling to get by, when she is approached by the king’s advisor with an offer: use her beauty to make the Wu king fall in love with her, spy on his government, and create opportunities to conquer him in exchange for providing for her family. Xishi, still full of grief for her sister, who was killed in a Wu raid, accepts. She trains with the advisor Fanli, but just as their feelings for one another are nearly acknowledged, she is sent to the court of King Fuchai. The book almost reads as a psychological thriller after that point, as Xishi manipulates Fuchai into draining his treasury, mistrusting his advisors, and building invasion routes into his own palace.
Nearly everyone is motivated by some sort of revenge, making this a fascinating exploration of what revenge means for different people. I also really enjoyed what this book had to say about the impact (or lack thereof) of war for the common people, and about the nature of kings. Inspired by ancient Chinese legend, this was a very compelling read that I would definitely recommend!

This book makes me want to write an eloquent, poetic review that is worthy of the writing by Ann Liang. Such beauty of setting contrasted against the bitterness of revenge, betrayal, court intrigue, and the sweetness of love that endures the most torturous of circumstances. There were many twists and turns I did not expect but I knew the only ending appropriate for this story would be bittersweet. The main characters had a great depth of emotion but each masked it. So much was conveyed in just the faint flickers of eye contact, while those words were never spoken aloud.
The main character, Xishi, experienced numerous hardships, physical, mental, emotional, but her courage along with a newfound power, guides her through them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys court intrigue or forbidden love. Possible trigger warnings due to the death of a child.

(4.5 stars)

Oh gosh this was heart achingly beautiful. Once I picked it up I kept sneaking away from real life to read just one more chapter.

Please know going in that you cannot expect a happily ever after from this story. However what you can expect is a very thoughtful exploration of the complexities of war and how easy it is to be swept up in nationalism, as seen through the story of a woman sent behind enemy lines as a wife (and spy) to her leader’s opposition in a neighboring country. You’ll also get a slow burn romance full of longing and tension, that you’ll cheer for even when you feel the pit of dread building in your stomach.

Ann Liang’s prose is beautiful here, and does service to the original stories of XiShi. The plot lifts fairly directly from the legend but adds color to her and FanLi’s characters and decision making. You do not need to know the story before reading Ann Liang’s version, but you may find it helpful in gauging your expectations around the plot, given Liang’s previous published works.

Have tissues on hand and know that for 99% of this book there is nothing fsntastical, so again, please go in accordingly.

I loved this, and I really hope Liang will write more in this genre. XiShi was one of China’s four ancient beauties, so maybe another three? My one critique is that periodically I felt like the balance of showing vs telling was tending more toward telling. But the scope of this book was large and I understand why it was more efficient sometimes to be direct.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC copy in exchange for an unbiased review

I loved A Song to Drown Rivers, a retelling of the legend of Xishi and a romantasy about her and Fanli. Xishi is a beautiful young woman from a poor background living in a village torn apart by war between the Wu and her own people, the Yue. She is recruited by Fanli, the minister for her king, Fuchai, to serve as a concubine and a spy in the Wu court of King Goujian. Naturally she and Fanli fall for each other as he trains her in the skills that will keep her alive surrounded by enemies. Xishi enters the royal court and must constantly be plotting and strategizing to keep Goujian close and her enemies from suspecting her plans. Goujian is without a doubt a petulant and spoiled young man, but as time goes on, Xishi begins to see the complications of men at war, and how often innocent people are caught up in the struggles for power and control. Will she be able to stick to her promises when the time comes to betray Goujian? The story is beautifully told and calls to attention how women can be both dismissed as important but smart enough to bring down a kingdom. I'm not going to lie, For as much as I loved the story, I was disappointed by the ending. I don't know how the original legend ends, but I can see the reasoning for why Liang ended it the way she did. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

A Song to Drown Rivers is an ambitious historical fantasy inspired by the legend of Xishi. It weaves themes of womanhood, war, and sacrifice. Ann Liang's prose is lush and evocative, transporting readers to ancient China with vivid descriptions and intricate details.

Xishi’s journey from a village girl to a spy in the enemy's court is compelling. Her training under Fanli, the military advisor, and her dangerous mission to seduce the enemy king add layers of intrigue and tension. The romance between Xishi and Fanli is subtle, often overshadowed by the looming political stakes, which might leave some readers craving more emotional depth.

While the novel excels in character development and historical ambiance, it fails to deliver its fantasy promise. The absence of a distinct magic system and fantastical elements may disappoint those expecting a truly epic fantasy. Additionally, the pacing drags at times, particularly during Xishi's infiltration of the Wu court.

Overall, A Song to Drown Rivers is a beautifully written tale that captures the essence of its historical inspiration, even if it doesn't fully embrace fantasy. A solid read for fans of historical fiction with a touch of romance.

This book was brilliant. Ann Liang is brilliant. She breathes new life into an age old story and creates characters that seem so fully fleshed out and intricate that you are left marveling at the skills Liang possesses in regards to her storytelling abilities. I have enjoyed all of her work that I have read, but this book is in a league entirely of its own. The protagonist and her internal conflict regarding loyalty to her home and the commodification of her beauty are intriguing and thought-provoking. The complex politics at play throughout this book make it that much more engaging and dimensional. Overall, this book is a work of art, meticulously crafted by an incredible writer and artist. The care and reverence Ann Liang has for her art shines through in this novel that I will most certainly be thinking about for a while to come. This is an incredible accomplishment. Do be warned though: heartbreak is basically guaranteed, and I thank Ann Liang for it.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of China's four beauties. The novel breathes new life into the Chinese legend and makes you fall in love with Xishi, Fanli, and Zhengdan. Ann Liang does a wonderful job creating complex characters that make them feel more real and relatable.

A Song to Drown Rivers is tense, heartbreaking, and empowering. I wish it was longer. I wish I had more time with the characters. I think if the book had been a little longer, Liang could have devastated readers even further with the tragedies that occur in the novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It demonstrates the power of a woman. She can bring down kingdoms.

This book is categorized as fantasy, but although it is a legend retelling, there are not many fantasy elements throughout the story.

Xishi’s beauty leads her into her enemy’s hands. Trained and honed to be a spy by Fanli, she will use her beauty to avenge her sister and topple the Yue’s rival kingdom. Will she be able to infiltrate the Wu kingdom and win the king’s heart, or will her feelings for Fanli betray her?

This book completely and utterly DESTROYED me.

The writing was stunningly poetic. The descriptions were so vivid, from landscapes to emotions, that I couldn’t help feeling as though I was a part of the story. By the end, though, I was just craving MORE: more from the cottage, more from the palace, more from the ending scene. 🥹

I expected this to be more of a romance based on the description, but it was so, so much more than that. It was a story of loss, survival, hope, fear, war, tragedy, womanhood, betrayal and sacrifice. I was sobbing by the last page.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who love historical or women’s fiction.

And finally - thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"So long as we continue to put mortal men on thrones and hail them as gods, sacrifice our lives to their legacies, history will repeat itself."

This book healed me then broke me then healed me again.

Fanli, a minister who is immovable, and puts his king's desires before his.
Fuchai, a spoiled king, a beast.
Xishi, a beauty that can topple kingdoms, move mountains, and tame beasts.

Such a beautiful story, so empowering, so heartbreaking as well. The lessons imparted beautiful as well. It is not the civilians that are monsters, but the leaders and their egos which cause war. The characters are so fleshed out, with so many dimensions to them. I felt Xishi's struggle, Fanli's pain and Fuchai's disbelief to my core. The writing was so beautiful, every passage like a poem, I had to stop myself from annotating everything I read. Nature and culture were portrayed so beautifully as well, I loved the myths and stories of legends and gods embedded into this work of art. 5 stars, totally recommend it.

Rating: 4.75 stars

Ann Liang could stab me in the heart, and I would thank her for it.

(This is me thanking Ann Liang for stabbing me in the heart.)

I was that child that loved The Giving Tree. I grew up on a steady diet of Asian media and angst/romance fanfiction. I felt like a whole new world opened up for me the day I discovered the term “unrequited love” and its associated trope.

All this to say, I love bittersweet stories—stories full of melancholy, longing, and angst. I like sad love songs and tragical romances with yearning and heartache (ideally with happily ever afters.)

So when I say Ann Liang ripped my heart out and stomped on it for good measure with her Legend of Xishi retelling, I mean it.

I’ve been waiting for A Song to Drown Rivers the minute it was announced. As your resident Ann Liang stan and friendly neighborhood Asian American book blogger known for reviewing Asian-inspired fantasies, I was desperate to see my favorite author tackle my favorite micro-niche.

The more I read (and reread and reread again) Ann Liang’s books, the more I’m amazed by the ways she deftly exercises her craft: her characters have such a distinct voice, she draws you into her stories so naturally, seamlessly building her world piece by piece, her best pieces of prose sound more like a Taylor Swift lyric than a lines from a young adult romance.

And she brings this all into her adult debut.

I don't even know where to start. I have no words because I have been completely and absolutely ruined emotionally by this book.

When I first met Ann, I told her she writes books I didn’t know I wanted but desperately needed, and A Song to Drown Rivers is no exception. It’s a story for the little girl who grew up reading while historic c-dramas played in the background. It’s for the teenager who spent untold hours scouring the internet for that one fanfic that perfectly balanced angst and romance. It’s for the young adult who took an East Asian history class and realized there was so much of her culture still left to explore.

In many ways, I spent years trolling the romance/angst sections of ff.net and AO3 because I was chasing that elusive feeling of sorrow—that gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, agonizing ache—that I never found in books (at least not the ones I was reading.) That’s changed in recent years thanks to authors like Joan He and Sue Lynn Tan, but Ann Liang took a no holds barred approach in her historical fantasy and went all-in on the angst in a way that perfectly captured that feeling I’ve been subconsciously looking for in fiction my whole life. Reading A Song to Drown Rivers feels like listening to a sad Chinese love song, and if that isn’t enough to convince you to read the book, I don’t know what is.

Full review to come.