Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read this to review. Liang's Fantasy debut was gripping but frustrating at times. I found myself feeling like I had skipped pages, wondering how the characters could suddenly have such strong feelings for the other given the lack of conversation or interactions. While the overall plot kept me entertained, I was a bit let down given how strong the first few chapters were.

A Song to Drown Rivers was an incredible book. The author Ann Liang was notorious in the YA lit field, but this book was proof that she can write so many more genres. A Song to Drown Rivers was such a beautiful book with such an intense relationship between the two main leads. The world building and character building made the book feel very whole.

A peasant girl with the help of her advisor is trained and sent to topple a kingdom as a concubine.
Chinese empires, war, espionage, the art of seduction and influence, love vs duty. A really beautiful historical retelling of one of The Four Beauties of China. Women celebrated for weaponising their soft power to break men and win wars. A story where warfare was felt but on the periphery. The bigger focus on the psychological tension of the h’s job. At its core a chaste and tragic romance that seemed to grow stronger where there was absence.

*It was a pleasure to read the ARC for A Song to Drown Rivers, thank you A. Liang and St. Martin's Press.
—Amia Lort on Goodreads

It is so to my taste in a way I haven’t even considered exactly what my tastes are. It is simply incredible and it’s difficult to fill or even articulate the void it left in my heart after I finished it. It’s the kind of book you’d want to read in the daylight to soak up every word, every emotion and further bask in it.

The plot was captivating, intriguing and filled with excitement. It has beautiful prose and the amazing word building. Plus, the characters were highly developed and well portrayed. This was a very enjoyable read.

A full review will come as soon as the publishers/imprints under St. Martin Press (i.e. Wednesday Books), address the racism, Islamophobia, pinkwashing, and Zionist rhetoric they have enabled and perpetruated. For more information and ways to raise awareness and support, please check out the website --> r4a.caard.co

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What an evocative and interesting story! I loved the writing and the opportunity to learn about a new to me history and culture and story.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is a historical fiction retelling of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China.

I'm a big fan of the Four Beauties so I was very excited to learn about this book and it lived up to my expectations. I loved a lot of the prose and was immediately drawn in by the voice. I love women having revenge arcs and Xishi wants to help bring down the Wu Kingdom for what they did to her people and her sister, Susu.

Xishi’s love interest is Fanli, an advisor who was ordered to find the most beautiful woman in the kingdom to marry the Emperor of the Wu Kingdom. They are quickly attracted to each other but due to Xishi’s position as the future concubine of the Emperor, they cannot act on those feelings. There’s so much yearning throughout the book as Xishi navigates courtly life all while wishing she could see Fanli again.

I would recommend this to fans of Chinese history and readers looking for more historical fiction focusing on women.

This book was amazing! The twist at the end hurt so much I was rooting for Xishi and Fanli’s happy ending after everything!! I’m glad she didn’t fall for the king but after all she went through she didn’t get to see the benefits of her sacrifice. I’m glad they met again in the end but oh my goodness how I wish I would’ve gotten more content with them together.

Stunning and heartbreaking. The author portrays the destructive power of both war and love, while also dealing with significant topics such as womanhood, duty and what’s left in the wake of the destruction caused by the greed of powerful men. The book is beautifully written and its characters are compelling.

A few things seemed a little too convenient at times, but it felt appropriate given that the story’s told as if Xishi is telling the reader her own myth and no tale survives without some degree of embellishment. I thought the conclusion was very well done and fitting of the brutal reality depicted in the story.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided an ARC of this title for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one will stick with you for a long while after you finish.

POWERFUL and tragic don’t quite sum it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my review copy. I would be very interested to explore other work by this author.

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS by Ann Liang is her debut historical adult novel that's inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. Xishi's beauty is well-known throughout her village. Her parents worry that some day it will lead to tragedy. She's recruited by the king's advisor, Fanli, who offers her the opportunity to use her beauty to take down their rival kingdom. He trains her in etiquette, the arts, and in how to hide her emotions. Sending her off to be wed to the king of Wu is difficult for Fanli and Xishi because during the training period, they find they are falling for each other. Will Xishi succeed in her quest or will her duplicitous agenda be discovered and lead to tragedy? You'll have to read to find out.

The writing in this book grabbed me from page one. The settings were described in such a way that I felt I was there with Xishi. What shines the most, however, are the well-crafted characters. It saddened and frustrated me that Xishi and Fanli had so many challenges in the way of them being together. The characters were so masterfully crafted, Xishi and Fanli, of course, were so compelling. But the side characters, and even the villains deserve honorable mentions. Honestly, I feel like the King of Wu, Fuchai, was a surprisingly sympathetic character, adding to the angst of Xishi's mission.

What I loved most about this book:
- I'm a fan of historical settings, and this setting in Ancient China came to life in this novel
- Inspired by a legend, this book delivers more than just a retelling. It's inspired me to look into the other legends, too, which I hope it does for other readers and writers
- The sexual tension between Xishi and Fanli is so well written. The shared looks of longing. The hand touches. The "I can't but I want to" moments. Just.... wow.
- One theme that really resonated with me was the theme of duty to one's country versus duty to oneself versus duty to your family. Is loyalty to a king justified? When does it make sense to put yourself and what you want above a calling that involves the changing of political powers impacting hundred of thousands of people?
-Like I mentioned earlier, the supporting characters deserve an honorable mention: King Fuchai, Xishi's best friend, Zhengdan, Luyi, the guard.
- The promise of the premise where Xishi learned, My Fair Lady-style, how to act properly, speak properly, even eat properly was delightful and also served to ignite the chemistry between Xishi and Fanli.

What sorta didn't work:
- Something happened towards the end of the novel that completely shocked me. I won't say what it was, but at the end of the day, it devastated me. It truly serves the legend and makes it come full circle. It did not detract from my overall impression of this novel as a memorable read. The fact that I reacted so strongly is a tribute to how much I love these characters.

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is a pacey, romantic, adventurous, and all-encompassing read with an exquisite romance, and a strong cast of characters. I encourage you to pre-order this memorable novel. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

if anybody is capable of writing an epic fantasy tragedy, it’s ann liang. a song to drown rivers is a lyrical work of art, weaving together a tragic love story, the toppling of an empire, and a little bit of a spy thriller. i the word i keep thinking of is tragedy. this story is a real tragedy, and ann liang was the perfect author to write it. she really brought to life these heartfelt, complex characters and their raw, complicated emotions.

i’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 just because there were some details that hinted at something deeper, but didn’t elaborate on them. i thought there would be some symbolic/poetic/spiritual reason for her chronic pain, since it had meaningful times that it would come up, but there wasn’t any. this is one book where i can say that it could be longer, and that IS a compliment.

Every word in this book builds up to a powerful end. Few do it so well.

A Song to Drown Rivers novelizes the story of Xishi, a figure of Chinese legend. Xishi is a young woman only familiar with life in her wartorn village. But her simple daily struggles can be set aside when royal advisor Fanli seeks her out because of her unparalleled beauty. He asks her to go as a tribute, and spy, to the bloodthirsty Wu king. She must learn the manners and talents of a court lady and, above all, learn to hide her true feelings, a task that may prove impossible.

This is no game of spies, but something that Xishi gives up her heart and freedom for. The futures of kings depend on her.

I was unfamiliar with this legend, and so, unprepared for this level of tragedy. But even now that I know, I want to read it again. There’s a mesmerizing quality to these words.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance read. Five stars for these beautifully written characters struggling to balance humanity and righteous anger.

WOW WOW WOW.

I very rarely give out 5 stars, but can I give this book a million stars?

The longing. Please gods, bestow us with a beautiful special edition or I will cry. Speaking of, I hardly ever cry when reading books, but this one had me in tears.

This is a beautifully written adult historical novel set in a fictional world resembling China - there aren't any magic or fantastical elements. It will force you to stay up until the wee hours of the morning just to see what happens next, and it will pull at your heartstrings until your heart breaks.

“A Song to Drown Rivers” is luminous. The beautiful prose and story-telling captured my love from the beginning. Liang’s world-building transports the reader into the most lovely setting. The romance is tender and the friendship is real.

For those who love:
🪷 Spy in enemy kingdom
🪷 Betrothed to the enemy
🪷 Court Intrigue
🪷 Forbidden Romance
🪷 Music
🪷 Inspired by Chinese Legends
🪷 Historical Fantasy

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

So, I picked up "A Song to Drown Rivers" for a long-haul flight, and I couldn't put it down! This book is like a rollercoaster of backstabbing and questionable life choices. Honestly, half the time, I didn't know whose team I was on. But hey, it's a wild ride, and I'm here for it.

The main gal, Xishi, has this whole beauty-as-a-weapon thing going on, trying to infiltrate enemy turf and bring down kingdoms – casual Tuesday stuff. Her trainer, Fanli, adds a touch of "will they, won't they" to the mix, but you know, with a lot more deception and fewer candlelit dinners.

The characters? Morally grey all the way. You'll find yourself wondering who's the good guy and who's just playing the game better, which I think was wildly intentional on Liang's part. The setting is vivid and colorful, making you feel like you're in a historical fever dream.

And let's talk about the themes – war, conquest, political pawns. It hits close to home and feels incredibly relevant. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, for teens and adults alike. If you're into a story where beauty is a weapon, and loyalty is as shaky as my Wi-Fi connection, this one's for you. Grab it, read it, and prepare for a ride that's more thrilling than your last breakup.

I must admit I have an absolute weakness for books that are inspired/derived from famous and historical events and people. Especially when you add fantasy to the mix.

This tale was woven together so beautifully. I was hooked from the first page until those last heart wrenching pages. The absolute emotions that Xishi agonized over throughout the book made her captivating to me. I love the growth of her character. She learns war and vengeance aren't just simple things.

The slow burn romance was a nice touch. If any of those associated with this tale were remotely like this back in their time, my heart aches for them all. Even Fuchai. Or maybe especially him. I love how we the reader also go through the Rollercoaster of war and the emotions. Whose is the right side? Is there one?

This is a tragically beautiful and breathtaking tale of love, war, betrayl...and growth.

I loved this book! So many twists and turns that were unexpected!! The forbidden romance too!! Ughhhhh so damn good!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book! I loved everything about this book except for the heartwrenching ending only because it was a bit disappointing. The twists and turns at every corner are unmatched. This book hooked me in and I could not put it down. Great book to start 2024 with.