Thank you netgalley and publisher for eARC!

Long story short... I loved the writing and the plot, but the romance fell flat for me. I found myself wanting more tension, yearning, and relationship building. I know they’d known each other for months, but it felt like insta-love since we didn’t see much of it on page. Although the romance was lacking, the ending had me crying. What an emotional rollercoaster.

Giving this book 3 stars. I felt like it had really good potential but a lot of things were really glossed over. The romantic relationship wasn’t really formed on the page and there were weeks that would pass between chapters without any development of friendships/relationships. Example: Xishi wants a castle built and with real no convincing on her part, the emperor grants her wish and then all of the sudden, it’s there in the next chapter! I really liked the writing style but wished we dove a little deeper.

had to think about my review on this one because I really did enjoy this story but it could’ve used some more developing. I love that it is a re-telling of Eastern folklore. The premise of Xishi becoming a spy for the Yu in order to win back their kingdom had me hooked. I do wish this book was either a lot longer or broken into 2-3 separate books. I would’ve liked to of seen more of the 10 week training and the developing relationship with Fanli. Even more with her friend Zhengdan to show how in tune they had become and a more sisterly relationship. Zhengdan’s sword training would have been another good aspect to show. A lot of these things happened off page.

Xishi’s years at the Wu kingdom kept me on edge. I felt anxiety the whole time about her being discovered. I could’ve read a whole book about her spy tactics. Her dealings with Fuchai make you question which kingdom is really the better option. He was never cruel to her, he gave her everything she asked for and it was all just because of her beauty. For me, in the end, it didn’t matter who came to hold the throne. I felt for both sides.

I gave it 4 stars because it evoked a lot of emotion while reading. The string of fate and relationship with Xishi and Fanli was devastating. Even though it wasn’t fully developed you could still feel the longing and sacrifices made for king and country. I wish it was a longer series to explore the characters and their journey but overall I liked it.

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose. Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is a story about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

I'm going to compare this to a river. Imagine a mild river flowing peacefully along a beautiful riverbank. Captivated by the scenery, you wander along, forgetting your whereabouts. After a while you finally take a break and ruminate on what you are doing there. You realize you have forgotten the entire reason you set out on your journey.

There had been a promise of enchantment and wonder. Excitement awaited. If you endured you would be rewarded with a heart full of emotion. Alas, you realize you had yet to feel any of this. Yes, the sights were beautiful but that is not all you want. Keeping the promise in mind, though, you continue on. Surely there would be more ahead despite a short time remaining!

Finally the end is in sight and instead of feeling excited or happy, you feel nothing. In fact there is a sense of betrayal as you see the river is not a river at all. Instead it is but a little creek. A creek, while nice, is not a river. It's what you suspected all along.

I hate the ending. I don't know how anyone could like it. There is no emotional payoff, but that makes sense since I was never invested. Really, though, I don't see why things end the way they do. Those who like the ending or like it better are sure to like A Song To Drown Rivers more than I did. It is partly preference, but even if the rest of the story was more to my liking I would still not like the end.

As others have said this is more like historical fiction than fantasy so it might be good for readers who don't read much fantasy. In fact I can see many enjoying the aspects of war in the plot. It does give you some things to think about. That is the strong point of the story.

A song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is the first book I have read by this author, and it did not disappoint. The story flowed well and had twists i didn't see coming. I love the forbidden romance and femme fatale aspects of the story. I was intrigued from the very start, and I couldn't put it down which is what I love when reading historical fiction. I will definitely be Pre Ordering this book and will watch out for more from Ann liang in the future.

A Song to Drown Rivers is my favorite book released in 2024 so far. This tale is lyrically beautiful, moving, and potent. I was unfamiliar with the legend of Xishi and I know I will think about her and Fanli for years to come.

The writing of Ann Liang beautifully sets the foundation for a tale of female heroism, war, truth, love, and sacrifice. I was transported into the world and mind of Xishi, and truly felt her rage at the Wu as a unit of violent oppression. As she is tasked with her quest by the Yue government, I was captivated by the slow burn of feelings that grow for Fanli. Liang was incredibly successful in her writing of this forbidden love and the torment Xishi faced as her quest and personal happiness come at odds. Xishi and Fanli are so similar in their dedication to the mission, that the reader is heartbroken in sacrifice for the “right” side.

The promise of a reunification between the two loves carried us all through her mission in the palace of the Wu, but her dualistic realization in the realities of war was the real tragedy when she made it to the other side. War was the real enemy, not the Wu, not the Yue, but the drive to have power and wealth is the true ruin of love and happiness.

I was left speechless after finishing this book in the best way. The pain felt by our characters teach the ultimate lesson that self sacrifice for a ruler or government is a facade of honor and glory. Love, happiness, and caring for one’s local community will lead to a life and purpose well lived.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely beautiful. I loved Xishi and everything she stood for in this book. As always when I read Chinese inspired literature I am transported back in time to that time period and it is always a beautiful adventure. This book was also very sad. There were a lot of things that happened that I did not see coming that upset me very much but contributed to the beautiful story. I wish it was longer and I wish there there was a sequel but overall I was very satisfied.

Also thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC and to St. Martins Press.

This is a very interesting and different book. It's being labelled as young adult romantasy but I would just consider it historical fiction with a little magic/mythology. I liked that it didn't have a traditional happily ever after. I was actually surprised by the course the author chose to take which doesn't happen often. I will be trying more titles by this author.

Thank you #NetGalley for the chance to read and review this beautiful tale.
Historical Fantasy, China, Betrayal, Love, Revenge, Tragedy, Sacrifice.
First time reading this author's work and this title did not disappoint.

A Song to Drown Rivers is poignant, thought provoking, and an act of violence against all my sensibilities. To change a thing about the story would be to miss the whole point, but I will never not wish for a better world for this story to have a better end. And just maybe that is the whole point.

Ann Liang takes the audience back to ancient China where she tells the story of Xishi, and how her famed beauty was weaponized in defense of her homeland. As she is given as a concubine to an enemy king, she begins to see the humans behind enemy lines and is more and more uncomfortable referring to them as the monsters she once believed them to be. This story is a masterful tale of intrigue and romance, betrayal and loyalties, and loving even as it hurts.

I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Y’all, this was so good. It had all the vibes of epic historical fantasy: the world-building was fantastic (I mean, it’s historical fiction as a base, so real life, but the setting/time period was brought to life spectacularly), the character development was fully dimensional and nuanced (for Xishi and Fanli, of course, but also for some of our accessory characters, like Xishi’s friend/fellow agent Zhengdan and the king of Wu, Fuchai), and the storytelling flowed and was paced so smoothly. It’s a slower development, but never drags. The focus on the interpersonal relationship developments, the small nuances of political machinations and playing the long game, but with all the just-under-the-surface simmering tensions that come with “spy” style infiltration stories, is done with precision and skill. And the descriptions and dialogue have a beauty and rhythm to them that is really artistic. Together, it made this a really compelling read, despite the more steady forward movement. And then, as the whole novel builds to the moment of betrayal, when it finally comes, it is – realistically – over in almost the blink of an eye. The mark of a well-planned plot (both literally and literar-ily). And those final lines though; I actually deep sighed at reading them. Just…overall, the writing and narrative are stunning.

Very importantly, the slowwwwww burn – like, the slowest of burns – between Xishi and Fanli was everything. And then their separation…excruciating! The just-barely-but-not-fully-possible of their feelings/love is written so well. Oh, my heart. And it had all the hallmarks of great historical romance (light touches, stolen glances, etc.) that are so hot, for the depth of connection/feeling they’re communicating, for all that the interactions themselves are so slight. Phew. And then, this mythology did not get a “happier” ending in its retelling! I mean, let me just say, I totally respect the author for adhering to the harder version of the original, while also including an explanation for how an alternate version might also have spread (as I said, I researched while reading this and learned about the two primary ways people say this legend ended). But also, the tragedy. My heart broke to know that the foreshadowing of doom was not just a device. And after all that pining and waiting, too! I weep, I mourn the lost love. And a pox on the hardness of men with ambition they value over all else.

Thematically, Liang really dives into the cycle of war and revenge; how, at the end of the day, it’s all about the honor/glory of a few men. And other than that, all the cycle does is wound and devastate on both sides, with the “regular” people paying the price(s). As Xishi spends more time in the Wu kingdom, she really starts to see how the people themselves have more in common with each other than with the leaders who use them to carry out battles and plots for their own gain. These everyday people on both sides who are just trying to live their lives, but are blinded by the propaganda of blame that then fabricates further tragedy. And yet, they cannot see that forest through the trees until, as we see with Xishi, they are given a chance to spend time with each other. Oooof what a demonstration of a universally horrific concept.

Liang even does a fantastic job humanizing the leaders themselves, showing how even within the ranks of power, there are a few calling the shots and the rest holding on for dear life/reputation. The way Xishi’s relationship with Fuchai develops is gorgeous with that insight and complexity. His own search for connection and meaning doesn’t excuse his actions/choices, but it does add layers to his humanity that creates some really fantastic depth and nuance around a character that could easily have been one-dimensional. And it culminates impressively, at the end, with Fuchai’s final request of Xishi. The conflict of her lifelong hate/grudge and the reality of his person (as opposed to the specter of him) is too good. It’s heart wrenching. It’s quite literally all the feels.

I was blown away by this novel. I haven’t read anything by Liang before, but knowing this is her first adult novel, and first historical novel, I am just…wow. I loved it. I hope we get more (fingers crossed: I mean, there are Four Beauties of Ancient China, after all) because it was that good.

Sadly, I am unwilling to finish this tale of an ancient Chinese beauty who is sent to destroy her country's enemy. I thought the story was for me, but I have discovered, about 30% in, that I am not the target audience. And there is nothing wrong with that, it just is.

On the plus side, I did get to do some background reading into the legend of Xi Shi, one of the Four Great Beauties of China. Apparently Xi Shi was thought to have lived in the 5th century BCE, and her beauty was such that the ruler of her country, named Yue, sent her as tribute to the ruler of the neighboring, enemy country, that of Wu. Apparently this was a sexpionage / courtesan type mission, and she was accompanied by the handsome diplomat Fan Li, with whom she fell in love on the journey. According to legend, Xi Shi's beauties distracted the king so much that he neglected his empire, which fell in a few years and was taken over by Yue. Go, Xi Shi! There are multiple endings - the sad one, in which Xi Shi is drowned in the local river, either as revenge by the local Wu folk, or in fear of her beauty by the Yue king. There's also the happier version, in which Xi Shi and Fan Li leave court life and politics and retire to a quite life on the banks of a lake. That's the I prefer, obviously.

So kudos, Netgalley, author and publisher. Even though I didn't quite finish the book, I enjoyed the background tale tremendously, and reading up on ancient Chinese Girl Power!

A Song to Drown Rivers tells the story of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, and her mission to infiltrate the Wu Kingdom. Xishi is trained by Fanli, Minister to King Goujian of Yue and accompanied by Zhengdan, a friend from her village.

This is a beautifully written novel. The lead and supporting characters all have depth, interest and purpose. Liang dissects the hero/villain dichotomy and explores the emotional toll of war, particularly on civilians. While this may not be a new concept for YA and Liang’s exploration is limited in depth, the author still does a good job with it. I also liked the book's pacing – Liang doesn’t get bogged down by mundane details as the novel spans several years.

This is a solid 4-star, recommendable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s press for the ARC, and good luck to Ann Liang on the book release.

This was a beautifully written story. Thank you so much for this ARC opportunity, I likely wouldn’t have picked this up otherwise but I’m so glad I did because it was a great read and even made me cry.

This was a beautifully written story that had everything to make me want to just keep reading. I was previously unfamiliar with the original story and characters but reading this book has made me want to find more stories about Xishi and Fanli and the Four Beauties of Ancient China.

Xishi has a beauty that is famed. She draws the attention of the military General Fanli who gives her an opportunity to weaponize her beauty against an enemy king. Xishi agrees to help her kingdom and trains with Fanli. She travels to the Kingdom of Wu to get close to the King as his concubine and spy for her kingdom. She captures the attention of not only the enemy King but his advisors. She questions if she and the man she is falling for will make it out of this alive.

Firstly, I had never heard of the Legend of Xishi, a famed beauty of Ancient China so this was a new story for me. I love that it was new to me because I could feel and experience it for the first time.

Things I loved:
-it’s based of legend
-strong female characters
-slow burn
-she fell first, he fell harder
-love triangle
-pacing

Things I didn’t love:
-the way I cried for an hour afterwards. But also thank you for making me love these characters that much!

Okay now for the nitty gritty, like I said I had no idea about the story of Xishi, so this was a new story to me. Knowing absolutely nothing about it, I think made it that much better for me, I could see how those who know the Legends may have criticism, but the only female of Ancient China I was previously aware of was Mulan. Adding another strong female to that history in my mind was amazing. It makes me want to learn more about the famed beauties of Ancient China.

I truly loved that she took on her role not only to benefit her family, but her Kingdom. She wanted to avenge her sister’s death, but help be a part of what saved her Kingdom. Her best friend Zhengdan also had a similar reason for agreeing to being a Lady. Except her vengeance was for her father. They made quite the pair and at the same time they were strong on their own. I wish Zhengdan had more because I really enjoyed her spark.

That slow burn romance was beautiful. It felt to me like a love at first sight but also a slow growing love. Fanli is dreamy and stoic. I love that his feelings went without needing to be explained at their conception. Everything about the execution of his feelings made me love him so much as a character.

The part I wasn’t expecting to love was the love triangle. Does Xishi love Fanli or Fuchai. Honestly, I loved them both. I can see why she loved both. I was expecting to like Fuchai since he is the King responsible for so much bloodshed but by the end I truly cared for his character. That was so hard for me to get over. His story is one I would love to see on a bigger scale.

The pacing was well done for building the relationships, the world building and following the storyline. I didn’t find myself getting distracted by it. I never felt bored. I just wanted to know how it all ended.

About the ending- my reaction was firm in having absolutely no knowledge of the legends. But to say I was heartbroken is an understatement. I went in expecting a happily ever after, we got it but in a truly tragic way. I can tell you I cried for an hour straight and immediately felt like I wanted to reread it, to be back in the story. I really enjoyed this adaptation of the Legend of Xishi and will be looking into her life! Thank you for a beautifully done historical fantasy.

This was a solid 5/5 for me. Thank you Ann Liang, St. Martin Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Alright alright alright. I finished this as an ARC a week ago and I’m coming back with a review.

UGH MY HEART.

What a gut punching, soul crushing, heart aching, beautifully tragic story. I enjoyed it through and through but felt so devastated by the ending. This is not a HEA.

BUT it is worth the read 1000%. I had never read a book set in ancient China (clearly I was missing out and needed to change this ASAP) and I fricken loved the setting. It was just so different than my typical read and I found that refreshing and engaging. The premise of a female spy posing as a lover of an enemy king - YES PLEASE.

The reason this isn’t 5 stars is because I was constantly wanting more - more depth, more romance, more interaction between the main characters. I wanted Xishi to be more badass and just do MORE. Some parts just felt to surface level. This led to weird pacing and time leaps. That all said, it didn’t take anything away from the overarching story for me, I still truly enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is something really special, and I found myself both drawn in and ripped apart. Beautifully written with vivid and complex characters, I adored every page and can't stop thinking about that ending!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

I really wanted to like this book. Young love, separated by war, intrigue, life in a palace; I mean, what's not to like?
A lot, it seems.
Our heroine, Xishi, is poor, from a poor family and a poor village. But she is beautiful beyond words. (We will be reminded of this many, many, many times.) She is recruited by the handsome kings' Minister, Fanli, to enter the enemy kingdom and seduce it's handsome king, Fuchai. (Yes, we are also reminded repeatedly of how handsome they both are) She does, and for the next two years, not much happens. She is constantly told how beautiful she is, as she adjusts nicely to palace life. Fuchai falls head over heels for her. Why? Evidently because of her beauty, cause she isn't very exciting otherwise. It takes all of the book (and two long years) for her to actually provide intel that allows Fanli and his king to attack Fuchai's kingdom in the last two chapters.
I never felt Xishi as a fully fleshed out character. She read more like a caricature, with very little personality. There are several instances where a normal person would be heartbroken and inconsolable for days. She shed a few tears, and an hour later is back to concubine duties. As for Fuchai, the king she was sent to seduce and spy on, he is portrayed alternately as thoughtlessly evil and without empathy, and as a boyish charmer, full of kindness and decency. It gave me whiplash.
There was one character that I found fascinating and wished there would have been more of; Xishi's friend, Zhengdan. I found her interesting, likeable, feisty, and the fact that she was a master with a sword just added to her fun quotient.
In the end, I was rooting for Xishi and Fuchai, because we barely heard anything of Fanli throughout the book, except for her occasional daydreams of how handsome he is.
I really wanted to like this book. But it was just ok for me.

Beautiful storytelling that moved along like water down river! Once I read that first page I was submerged and swept along turning page after page as its depths were revealed. This is the flowing legend of the beautiful Xishi, one of the four famous beauties of Ancient China and her path of vengeance for a war that ransacked her village and slaughtered her sister. As someone from the Yue kingdom, she had suffered much under the rule of the neighboring Wu Kingdom.
What would you be willing to risk for love? Driven by her personal vendetta and a twist of fate meeting she is set on a collision course with King Fuchai, of the Wu Kingdom. Her desire for revenge will drive her to charm and deceive her way into his inner circle. ‘A Song to Drown Rivers’ ripples with elements of spy intrigue, palace court life, unlikely friendships, and the weight of forbidden love. This book will leave you breathless right up until the very last page!
*I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.