I just learned as I finished this that there is a boycott going on against St. Martin's Press. However, I've been a fan of Ann Liang for a while, and I won't let that impact my review at this time. Moving forward, I'll be more conscious of the ARC reviews I take on.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC - as previously stated, I've read Liang's work before and heavily enjoyed it. I was overjoyed when I got news I was accepted to review this one!

A Song to Drown Rivers is a folklore retelling of Xishi, one of the four beauties of Ancient China. The story being told is true, but the novel is fictional, and any facts of the four beauties of Ancient China have been changed into legend over time. With this basis, Liang takes the reader on a literary journey of what may have happened to Xishi, and the man who discovered her, Fanli. Fanli is the advisor to the King of Yue, and it is his responsibility to turn Xishi into a court concubine, to be sent over to the warring Kingdom of Wu. She is to seduce their king and bring the Kingdom to it's knees at last.

The story is, first and foremost, that of revenge. The world around these characters is war-torn, and we see the impacts that this has on the citizens of both countries. Every character is impacted by the war, and each of them have a reason to be set on revenge, from the two Kings to the lowest common denominator. In almost every case, we see the deep consequences of the need for revenge.

Ultimately, without getting too deep into spoilers, Liang wrote of what happens when you break the cycle of violence. Despite what has been lost, and despite the futility.

It was a beautiful story. Akin to Romeo and Juliet, for me. It was never about the romance, only ever about the tragedy. It's an extremely powerful piece, and elegantly written as well.

The boycott of St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and other related imprints is a direct response to the publisher’s lack of accountability regarding statements made by an employee in their marketing department and their failure to respond to concerns about possible systemic issues within the department.
We are asking the company to address and denounce the Islamophobic and racist statements and behavior, as well as take active steps to protect employees, influencers, readers, and authors from racist and discriminatory behavior. Terminating the employee is not, and has never been, a demand of the boycott.

I raced through this because I could not put it down. Fantasy is not usually my plane but this was so absorbing.

Ann Liang’s A Song to Drown Rivers is a beautifully crafted historical fantasy that retells the legend of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China. The story follows Xishi, whose breathtaking beauty becomes a powerful tool in the political strife between kingdoms. Liang’s lyrical prose and vivid imagery transport readers to ancient China, making every scene feel rich and immersive.

What makes this book stand out is the emotional depth and complexity of its characters. Xishi’s journey is filled with intrigue, love, and sacrifice, making it impossible not to root for her. The blend of historical detail and mythological elements keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you’re into epic tales of love and war with a touch of magic, A Song to Drown Rivers is definitely a must-read.

If you’re looking for a book that will break your heart then look no further. This is a story about sacrifice and vengeance but it is also a story about love.

This book was not at all what I was expecting it to be. It’s classified as a historical fantasy but it’s more historical fiction with a bit of folklore woven in.

I have no idea how the title relates to the book but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There was one moment towards the end when I was furious but I suppose I understand why the author ended the book the way she did.

I started reading this with the expectation of a fluffy romance like Ann Liang's other works but this... this was devastating. It was written beautifully though, with each sentence painting a vivid picture. I got. hungry many times throughout the book because the food is described so well.

I appreciated the recognition of the complexities of war. Although a cut-and-dry good defeats evil story followed by the main characters living happily ever after would have been far less painful, I did enjoy the more nuanced story. From starting off knowing Fuchai is public enemy #1 to starting to pity him despite the reminders of his terrible deed to crying over his death. The final victory scene that the whole book had been leading up to and anticipating instead made me feel conflicted.

Perhaps more secondary to the main plot, there was also a romance subplot. I am a complete sucker for slow burns because why do I get so excited over absolutely nothing- It's actually so cruel that they didn't even get to celebrate with each other for a second before she was killed. AND THE SCENES AFTER SHE DIED??? THEY DEFINITELY WERE DESIGNED FOR MAXIMAL PAIN.

Altogether, this was a well-crafted story that I can't wait to get a physical copy of once it's actually released.

This was beautiful and I think that the ending actually ended me. The main characters were amazing I loved them so much, I just wished that I saw more of their dynamic in the beginning of the book.

The ending actually made this book, the beginning was slightly dragging and I wish it was more focused on Xishi and Fanli. The second half was good I just wanted a bit more fantasy plot. But the ending was honestly one of the best things I have ever read. One thing that I think could have made this so much better is if there was more communication between Xishi and Fanli while she was in the palace. I did almost cry (it is rare I ever cry for a book) but the pain was so worth the ending!

If you loved the poppy war but want something that is less dense this is definitely the read for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the arc :)

➵ 4.5 stars ✩

Finishing this book at 1 a.m. was a big mistake. I couldn’t sleep after that tear-jerker of an ending but I also *could not* put the book down.

╰⪼ 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
A Song to Drown Rivers is based on the legend of Xishi, one of the four beauties of ancient china, who was said to have lived in a small Yue village during the spring and autumn period. Xishi is discovered by the famed military advisor Fanli who fashions her beauty into a blade. She is sent on a mission to seduce the king of the enemy Wu kingdom and topple them from within.

╰⪼ 𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
This is such a lyrical and heartrending read that will linger and haunt you long after you finish it. That being said, it’s not a perfect book by any means.

There is a great deal of plot armor and unrealistic, contrived plot points. The forbidden romance that was heavily marketed was actually very underdeveloped (dare I say it was the blasphemous insta-love).

Despite the book’s flaws, I could not help but be absolutely captivated by the story and hypnotized by its lush prose. Everything from the setting, to the food, and the scents described were so vivid and immersive. It really did feel like I was transported into a historical drama! I truly sensed the high stakes and found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the whole story. The book also makes powerful and necessary commentary on the devastating consequences of war for both sides.

Would highly recommend this book! so lovely but be prepared to cry. I really hope that Ann Liang continues to write more books in this genre. The book releases oct 1.

now if you’ll excuse me, im going to go read something happy to recover from the trauma.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

WOAH ! I'm at a slight loss for words after that ending, even though I did suspect it I DIDN"T THINK IT WAS ACTAULLY GOING TO HAPPEN OH MY SOUL !!!!

Now that I'm done with that. I'd love to once again say Ann Liang never misses, however this time . . . This book had the angst, the pining, the guilt and something I love seeing in books, DEATH. I absolutely adore the way Ann has written her other books, especially the way the romance bits were written out, yet here they were just ??? flat.

Bonus points for the ending, otherwise it would've been a full 3 star read.

[minor spoilers below]

Fanli - uhm, I'm not a fan of instant love, that already had me just not loving it, there was some ?? tension but not enough for me to be rooting for Xishi and him to end up together so I didn't feel even slightly effected when the thing at the end happened.

Fuchai on the other hand, THIS MAN DESERVED BETTER !!!! how Xishi didn't fall in love with him is beyond my comprehension. The final scene with him . . . oh it BROKE me.

Ann Liang has done it again. A Song to drown a River was beautiful, painful, and manipulative. It is a historical book about a forbidden romance between a beautiful civilian who become a spy for her country to take revenge and a minister advisor. This is my first time reading a custom/ historical book so I was worried about not being able to understand the context. But Ann Liang did an amazing job with bringing the character and setting of the book to life. I was able to imagine the Yue and Wu kingdom vividly based on Ann’s writing and it was amazing to read about new things that I haven’t read before. I also learn that this book is retelling about a real story, which makes more interesting to read the book. Moving on the characters, Ann did an amazing job at creating a strong characters that are very much attractive in different ways even if they are villains. While reading the book, I could vividly imagine how beautiful Xishi is and her ability to stay strong to finish her mission and restrain herself from her own desire. Fanli was also a beautiful determined, intelligent, and strong minister advisor who does not have any weaknesses and is great at his job until it come to one person. As for the villain, like I mentioned, Ann really know how to make all of her characters very attractive because why was I feeling a little attracted to Fuchai because of how much he’s actually loved and cared for Xishi even though he is an evil man. Throughout the book, there were a lot of tension of wanting and longing for each other. I was gripping my sheets while reading the book because I wanted the characters to be with each other as much as they wanted to be together. Overall, this book was well written and emotional. I do not want to write too much to prevent myself from spoiling but just so you know the book is much deeper than what I said and it is really good. So please mark your calendar, A Song To Drown a River is out on October 1st!!

This was a fairly quick read for me, but I did not think it was very compelling.

This was written like a spoken tale or a fable so stylistically I understand why it was simplistic. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

There were plot details that were introduced that did not end up having any payoff, like her learning how to play an instrument until her fingers were bloody - to never end up picking an instrument up again for the rest of the story. The relationship she has with the king is frustrating, as it appears his affection is genuine and she feels guilty, but she doesn't try to influence him to be a better ruler. She only blindly follows the plot against him. The romantic subplot was also lacking for me.

The ending especially felt needlessly tragic but I'm not familiar with the story that this is based on so it's likely there is some context that I am missing.

Omg tears!! I saw so many said this book made them cry and it didn’t disappoint.

This book really is beautiful. It digs into the complexities of war, star crossed forbidden love, power games, sacrifice and so much more.

The world building is fantastic, beautiful character development… you literally fall in love with them and feel for, and with, them.

It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and you just HAVE to read this! I’ll be looking at the other books by Ann Liang for sure!

1 Sentence Summary: Xishi has lived her whole life in a small Yue village, until one day her beauty draws the attention of the military advisor Fanli, who provides her with the opportunity to use her beauty as a weapon by infiltrating the enemy palace, seducing the Wu king, and toppling the kingdom from within.

My Thoughts: THIS WAS TRAGIC, EPIC, AND BEAUTIFUL ALL AT ONCE! I still don’t know if I’ve fully recovered from the emotional devastation that Ann Liang put me through with this.

It’s based off of the Chinese legend of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China! The setting and historical aspect was so well done. I felt as if I were actually there. (Also, all the descriptions of the Chinese food made my mouth water.)

The writing was soooo beautiful. I can’t wait to get a physical copy because I wanted to annotate every single page while I was reading this (I already preordered the second I finished the book; it was too good not to).

Also, it was so romantic yet tragically hopeless all at the same time!!! Xishi and Fanli had soooo much chemistry and every interaction between them made my heart flutter. The tension was so well written.

Everything about this was just perfection: the characters, the writing, the war, the themes, the story, the romance, the spying, the emotion, the intrigue, the setting… This book was unputdownable, and is definitely one of my favorites of the year.

Recommend to: Fans of historical fantasy, Chinese mythology, and epic love stories.

(Warnings: violence; death)

This book was beautifully written. It had to have been incredibly difficult to pull out the nuances of the themes and to make the reader not really feel like they are on one side or the other by the end, but on the side of love and humanity.

This was a really beautiful retelling of a Chinese myth. I was not familiar with the original myth, but this retelling is stunning. Xishi is brave and clever, and I rooted for her from page one. The story is heartbreaking and poignantly illustrates the problems with putting men in positions of ultimate power. The writing is almost musical, and the entire reading experience felt almost trancelike for me. There were a few bits that moved a little slowly for me, but overall, absolutely stunning.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25: This comprehensive blend of every element that brings a historical fiction to life—these familiar historical figures and events from the late Spring/Autumn period of China are reimagined in this gripping tale.

The plot carried. Ann Liang wove this enrapturing story focusing on womanhood, but what cannot be overlooked is the portrayal of war. Humanity amongst wartime fundamentalism is given a new lens, and the story of Xishi puts the reader right in the heart of the turmoil.

I do think there may be something lost due to the fast-paced/short nature of this narrative; there are certain moments and relationships that I would have liked to see develop a little more. Additionally, the writing style leans a little more YA and I think could benefit from incorporating additional literary devices that portray the beauty of this era of China.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a retelling of the Ancient Chinese legend of Xishi, a beautiful young woman from a small village, tasked with putting her own life at risk to become the concubine for an enemy King. It's sold as Historical Fantasy, but the elements of fantasy were missing for approximately 97% of the book.
For me, reading the reviews of this book, I'm honestly left perplexed if we read the same book. The writing is weak, and overly purply prose (and I'm generally not opposed to a few lyrical flourishes, but this was just excessive and sometimes nonsensical), there are so many plot holes and dropped storylines, and the overall book is a lot of telling with little showing, even with the excessive descriptive language. With an expansion of the length of the book, it could have been so much more. It really felt amateurish and lackluster. Other negative reviews do a better job than I on elaborating on the weak points and the overall suspension of disbelief necessary to read and enjoy this book, I just wasn't able to do so.
Of course, based on this review it sounds like I hated this book, but I didn't. It was just below average and certainly not memorable. For now, I am rounding up to 3 stars from 2.5.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

An enchanting novel of China’s Waring States period worthy of a costume drama on tv. More please! I definite love Wuxia!

WOW. I was not expecting to tear through this like I did. I practically read it in one sitting. Honestly, I was so torn. I generally hate the love triangle thing, but I really did like both Fenli and Fuchai. The last few chapters had me a bit emotional, and SO stressed. I didn't cry, but it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. I did however keep taking short breaks between chapters because I was so anxious about how it was going to end. My heart definitely broke for Xishi several times. I will be buying a copy of this for my collection when it comes out!

Thank you Net Galley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.
This book is the living embroidered of pretty enough to kill you. The thing that I loved the most was how the FMC was so independent and just a badass. It reminds of C-dramas I used to watch and I ate it up all the same. This book had me in tears and made me want a romance like theirs. The plot is so quick paced but not overwhelming as a reader and uses all the pages perfectly. This is my favorite less 300 page fantasy book I have ever read.