First off, I was sent this book from NetGalley and publishers.

I normally get sent romance fantasy, and while I read the synopsis I was not prepared wholly for what I got into when reading this. I have been utterly heartbroken.

I have not had a book wrench my stomach like this.. in a long time.

This is a romantic tragedy to the fullest extent, NOT a romantasy. It had me questioning who was right? Who was wrong? Is all of this necessary? Is this truly for the greater cause?

I was a jumble of emotions, and cried on three separate occasions, from MY BELLY. SOBBING.

There’s intense pining/longing, vivid imagery, and poetic prose.

It reads on the slower side, so I can see some people getting bored if they’re not into the slower poetic prose.

As the reader, I could have never guessed the ending.

My review will not do this book justice, it was truly beautiful and heart wrenching.

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for sending me this e-arc. As always, all opinions are my own.

"A Song to Drown Rivers" was an interesting and enjoyable story. Xishi makes a great protagonist. She is a woman of uncommon beauty, but she is also humble about her beauty. She does not take advantage of her beauty to make her life easier or to avoid unpleasant tasks. When presented with the opportunity to use her beauty as a weapon to help the Yue Kingdom take revenge on the Wu Kingdom, whose recent invasion had brought devastation on the Yue Kingdom, with the deaths of many innocents, including Xishi's young sister, Xishi is reluctant, not believing herself up to the task -- which involves becomes the concubine and possibly bride of King Fuchai of the Wu Kingdom. However, she also feels an obligation to take on this role. Xishi will undergo extensive training for the role. When she finally takes her place in King Fuchai's palace, she finds her mission both easier and harder than expected. The king's top advisers are wary of her, and it takes a while for Xishi to gain King Fuchai's attention and trust; she cannot seem too eager or succumb to his advances too easily or he will grow bored of her, but she cannot delay so long that she loses his interest that way either. In many ways, King Fuchai is the tyrant that Xishi expected. But Xishi is able to connect with him in a way that shows a hidden gentleness and almost child-like innocence to him. This will complicate the task of betraying him. In the end, Xishi's beauty will prove to be both a great asset and a great curse.

I thought this story was beautifully told, but I can't lie; the ending ruined it for me. I won't spoil anything, but after everything *someone* went through, why did that have to happen? Devastating. I had to deduct a star for that alone. I read too many happy ever afters to endure that. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. I was drawn to the description of this book and wanted very much to love it. The story had so much potential but I don’t feel it fully delivered. I wanted more of Xishi and Fanli - I could appreciate the longing and pining but felt like they didn’t get enough page time together. Many things were easily skipped over - Xishi’s initial training, year long timeline jumps later on in the story, what exactly was she doing while waiting for a palace to be built? I am also still confused about the extent of Xishi and Fuchai’s relationship despite finishing the story. While I appreciate that the author was trying to portray a softer side to Fuchai, we are left with a limited picture of his brutality and why exactly he should be hated. Overall, I would rate it 3/5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. This book had a lot of potential! I loved the writing and the characters. The intrigue of the story was so good and I loved it. Xishi is a great main character and she grows a lot throughout the story. Unfortunately the romance in the end fell very flat for me. I didn’t really feel chemistry? Like there was more chemistry between her and the king than her and the main love interest which I was confused by. The pacing was a bit off and everything at the end happened very fast. The ending was….. well read it for yourself to find out. I always try and keep spoiler free reviews. I’m just sad this didn’t live up to my expectations ☹️ Now I will continue to read all of Ann Liang’s books because I love her and this time it’s real is adorable.

A Song to Drown Rivers was a tragic tale inspired by the Chinese legend of Xishi which had me somber, yet satisfied by the end of the story.

Xishi (pronounced closer to “shisur”) is known for her striking beauty, but doesn’t feel adequate for much besides making silk or being married to a man she doesn’t like, neither she wishes to do. She also carries pain from her illness and losing her younger sister years earlier. When she crosses paths with a military advisor, everything changes as she’s pulled into a dangerous mission to change the tide of the war. I did appreciate that Xishi used her smarts in order to get things done, as she was not the most physically fit. It was a breath of fresh air in a sense. People do underestimate her, but she gets it done, though she doesn’t have her doubts, so she’s not invincible, no, far from it. Yet in the midst of all of this, she dwells on the consequences of her acts. A well developed character in my eyes.

I also loved our secondary characters. Zhengdan, Xishi’s childhood friend and companion, was probably my favorite for her fierce attitude toward everything and not liking society’s restrictions. Nearly all of our characters, even the antagonists, are compelling, fleshed out with their own motivations. While there was a love triangle, it was done in a way that didn’t bother me, and loved how it was resolved.

The description of the lands was amazing and immersive, and I felt like I was right in the middle of each location. Also, while this is a fantasy, there’s not too much magical aspects until much later. This prose was lyrical, emotional, and breath taking throughout, and not overdone, as it transported me to this war-torn land inspired by ancient China.

The themes are probably what makes this the most tragic. it deconstructs war into it’s more horrible consequences, examines world leaders’ nobility, and womanhood as well as gender roles are explored. Sacrifice is also common throughout. Each are elaborated with care as the story continues. I have to say, the final chapters were emotionally gutting to me.

Check this one out if you don’t mind a beautiful tragedy to your Chinese-inspired fantasy tales.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

Book Review:
I recently finished “A Song to Drown Rivers” by Ann Liang, and it was a delightful read! The plot is intriguing and kept me engaged throughout. The characters are well-crafted and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their stories. Ann Liang’s writing style is smooth and captivating, which made the book hard to put down. There were a few slow moments, but overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a fresh and unique story, this book is definitely worth picking up!

Audiobook Review:
I listened to the audiobook version in tandem, and it was a great experience! The narrator did an excellent job bringing the characters to life with distinct voices and emotions. It added an extra layer of immersion to the story. The pacing was just right, making it easy to follow along. There were a couple of instances where the narration felt a bit rushed, but it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is definitely worth a listen!

4 stars

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**Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC. This in no way changed my rating**

I really liked the narrator on the audiobook and I think Liang's writing is very atmospheric. This is the first of her books I've read and I'd be willing to try another one. Overall, I think the ending was unsatisfying and I think people should go in expecting this to be a book full of political machinations more so than Xishi doing a bunch of things inside the palace. I liked the characters, especially Zhengdan. The smaller characters shine as much as the main characters. I also think Liang did a nice job of highlighting that "hero" and "monster" can be interchangeable depending on who is doing the describing. Overall, it's a book I could see recommending to a specific person, but it's not a new favorite for me.

3.5 rounded up to a 4 for GR.

(2.5 stars)
I am one of an apparent minority on this book since it’s been chosen as a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, an Indie Next pick and a LibraryReads pick for October 2024. But it just did nothing for me.

The story is based on a Chinese legend about Xishi, a famous beauty from centuries ago. This should be promoted as historical fiction, but seems to be marketed as fantasy. The only fantastical element came at the very end and it was pretty small, not impacting the rest of the tale at all. It also felt very YA to me.

There were a lot of descriptions of flowers and scenery but I never got the feel of really being in ancient China. The characters were pretty stereotypical and flat. I didn’t find it believable that a country bumpkin, no matter how pretty, could be trained to be a super spy concubine in a matter of ten weeks. (We only read about her learning to play an instrument and learning to school her facial expressions.) The love interest was barely there. There was very little court intrigue explained on the page and that could’ve made the story more interesting. Xishi has some sort of heart problem that is never explained and never becomes important to the plot, so why include it? I could go on.

Although I bounced between the ebook and the audiobook, I mostly listened to the audiobook and that was an excellent choice. Natalie Naudus did a beautiful job with the voices and (I assume) the Chinese pronunciations. Because I was so bored, I did speed it up a lot, though.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Despite its promising premise of espionage and romance inspired by the legend of Xishi, it felt like it fell a little short of delivering the emotional impact its epic historical fantasy setting suggests. While there was a lot of potential, the plot moves at a languid pace that undermines the stakes of its spy narrative. Perhaps this author is not my style.

Completely captivating! Xishi's story tugged on my emotions in so many ways. Ann Liang's writing is gorgeous, and I was completely enthralled by the story.

I wasn't familiar with the story of Xishi before this, but this was an absolutely beautiful retelling.

I can see myself rereading this over and over just to enjoy the beautiful story.

I am not sure there is anything wrong with the story itself. Maybe it was my expectations but this book felt extremely YA and I have yet to find a retelling I enjoy. If you enjoy a YA vibe and retelling this may be a perfect book for you.

This didn’t live up to its hype as I hoped it would. I was looking forward to story brimming with romance and fantasy centering around Chinese mythology but there was none to be found. There was zero fantasy elements and for the protagonist being a lover/concubine, there were barely any scenes that displayed love.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a story of sacrifice, war, a woman’s power and love.

At the center of the story is Xishi, a beauty so unparalleled that her looks alone can change the fate of country. But Xishi is more than just a pretty face. She’s smart and cunning and driven. Xishi knows the power of love and loss and harnesses that to achieve her goal. There’s a lot of morally grey stuff here, but Xishi remains a sympathetic character.

Author Ann Liang perfectly paints her picture, giving readers an emotional hook even before introducing her well-realized world. You care about Xishi almost from the first page, and eagerly anticipate her path.

A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic romantasy contained in a stand alone novel. Liang’s pacing is strong and her story even better. And unlike many novels written in this genre, it’s less about sexual encounters and more about the characters. It could easily be classified as a slow-burn read.

Wow. Absolutely stunning and heart shattering.

The character development and the world building.. *chefs kiss*

I was not familiar with the legend of Xishi or the Four Beauties of Ancient China before reading this. Now I have completely gone down the rabbit hole of reading more about these legends.

I definitely liked this, but it took me a while to get into it. I have to use too much concentration on Asian names in fantasy novels. For whatever reasons, my brain can't keep these names straight. The story was beautiful.

"A Song to Drown Rivers" by Ann Liang is well deserving of all the recognition it has received since it was published in early October, 2024. It is an epic story of love, sacrifice, and war. The worldbuilding and character development are top notch; the richly detailed writing paints a vivid picture of Xishi's life and experiences. I loved the strong women characters and how, in a time where women were seen as objects to be admired and not as actual people with their own thoughts, they used whatever talents they had, including their looks, to change the world right under the noses of unsuspecting men. Xishi is an admirable heroine and I absolutely loved reading about her.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fabulous book, destined to be considered one of the best of 2024.

This book is based on a Chinese legend of one of the four beauties of Ancient China, Xishi has grown up hating the Wu Kingdom for their part in her toddler sister's murder. When she is approached by a handsome Yue military advisor who wants to use her renowned beauty to take down the Empire from the inside it is an opportunity hard to resist. When Xishi arrives as the perfect concubine in Wu she is surprised to discover that the people are not that different from her own. Can she still follow through with her plan and navigate the dangers of life in court? And can she keep her own heart's desires hidden?

I thought this was beautifully written. This particular story was a bit dark, and I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but I do understand it is a retelling. There's only so much leeway in what can happen. The author did well at exploring the nuances of each character and making the reader see how the definition of an enemy isn't black and white. Good and bad exists in everyone and it's possible to feel a little sympathy for people who commit horrible acts.

I did find it a little hard to believe that a concubine could go years with only giving the king some passionate kisses, especially when he is used to getting everything he wants. Xishi also goes from being unable to mask any emotions on her face to being a complete pro at it in only a few weeks. The romance aspect was a very slow burn, and Xishi and her true love are only in the same setting for a short time. But the depth of their feelings for each other was described well. I really enjoyed the character of Luyi, and the friendship between Xishi and Zhengdan.

I am a big fan of retellings of myths and legends, and this book was no exception. If you are familiar with the story already, or go in knowing nothing like I did, you should give it a try. This is a fairly quick read and leaves you thinking about some of the deeper points after you've finished. I would definitely read more from Ann Liang. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my opinions.

Ann Liang’s "A Song to Drown Rivers" is a mesmerizing historical fantasy that dives deep into love, sacrifice, and the role beauty can play as a weapon. The novel shines in its atmospheric storytelling, with Liang’s writing bringing a rich cultural world to life. However, the book's pacing can be a little slow at times. "A Song to Drown Rivers" is a richly layered, character-driven story that explores the depths of feminine power and the resilience required to survive in hostile territory. Liang’s prose captures both the beauty and tragedy of Xishi’s world, resulting in a spellbinding tale perfect for fans of historical fantasy.

It's been a while since a book has left me so emotionally distraught as this one has, so buckle up, because you're in for an emotional review.

A Song to Drown Rivers retells Chinese folklore so beautifully. Liang's command of language is nothing short of masterful. Her prose is beautiful, but never purple. I've read some reviews that said that this book had a slow start, but I was immediately drawn in by the writing and the depth here.

Xishi was such a wonderfully complex character. We as the reader live inside her head as she deals with this emotional and physical trauma and it was so refreshing to see her provide such a nuanced take on what it means to be a hero.

And Fanli, oh Fanli. The restraint and sense of yearning that lingers between Xishi and Fanli had me on the edge of my seat, gripping the pages just to read about the brushing of hands. I think it's rare to read about a romance quite like this one and I think you need to experience it yourself to truly know why.

There is also a lot of sorry that is folded into the pages of this book. There are characters who suffer greatly throughout this book and that adds to the beauty and tragedy of it all. We see in this book what war does to people and what the price of power really is. I think this book will sit with me for a long while and I think that's the way that it should be.

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