4.5 stars...first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this audioARC of the book. It was a beautiful story about love,loss,war, scemes, betrayal, and honor. I really enjoyed the whole thing. The characters were easy to fall in love with and the plot was intriguing. The narrator was enjoyable also. Loved the mythical/Asian culture dynamic. I would definitely recommend this book and will be reading more from this author in the future.

I was really invested in this book, but I had some problems with it. I debated between four and three stars, but I decided how much fun I had reading it probably made it four stars for me.


So, let's get into what I liked! I really enjoyed the main character. She had a good motive, and I was interested in her growth. The other characters were also written very well, and they felt unique. The storyline was super fun, and I needed to know what would happen! The audio narration was so good. I would recommend it to people. The pacing was good, the narrator had a very nice voice, and she did such a good job with the book, it may be a big reason I was invested in what was happening.

But, there were some cons. This is not a fantasy novel in my mind. The fantasy aspect was very small, and only at the very end of the book. So, fantasy readers beware. I'll be honest, I got it as an arc and forgot what genre it was, so it didn't bother me till I noticed the tags later. And, then there is the romance. I don't feel like we got a lot of descriptions of it, and so I didn't understand why the characters liked each other <i>so</i> much. Like, the two of them had not known each other for very long. It felt forced. I also didn't feel like we got a lot of descriptions of her spying, but we did get to see her making the king fall for her, so, yeah.

Overall, I would recommend the book if you're looking for an exciting and engaging historical fiction, and don't mind a slightly unbelievable romance. And, I would recommend that if you pick it up, you do so in audiobook format because it was such a fun audiobook.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a gorgeous story that keeps the listener on the edge of their seat. Spies, intrigue, love, and the downfall of kingdoms are off-set by the rich inner life of a woman struggling with her own trauma. The pain of war by those not involved is a central theme and is enough to make anyone a pacifist!

I did not expect this book to be as impactful but I wish I could read it again for the first time!

The narrator was excellent and was a great choice to understand the pronunciation, even going so far as using proper tones.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the audioARC!

I loved this book! Xishi is an awesome heroine, strong, complex and clever. The writing is beautiful and very cinematic. I didn't know any of the legends of the Four Beauties of China - though I looked them up after I was finished with this book. In the legends there are two different fates for Xishi. I think Liang chose well for this retelling. I loved that the story and the characters were layered. There are some scenes where I for sure could have used some tissue for my crying eyes! Maybe Liang will write the other three Beauties' stories. I would read them! The narrator for the audio was also really good. I was completely transported.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance copy for review.

This novel is an absolute masterpiece! I can easily see it becoming a bestseller and even having a movie made based on it. It made me both laugh and cry.

Xishi is the most beautiful girl in her village. She is recruited before the king's minister Fanli to enter the enemy's court as a secret agent, under the guise of being a concubine, to help bring end the enemy King's reign. While there is instant attraction between the two, they grow to love each other over the course of Xishi's 10 week training period. However, they must continue with the mission for the good of their kingdom.

Ann Liang is a masterful writer. Her characters have such realism and depth. Every interaction, even with townspeople and servants is full of meaning and emotion. She portrays the court politics in a way that is understandable, wile still conveying their complexity.

This was an amazing read. While it is inspired by Chinese history and mythology, I believe this book would appeal to a wide audience.

This is one of those books that you can't quite put down once you start, the kind of book that in the moments where you have to stop reading, you find your mind drifting back to it. Liang has done a fantastic job in weaving together a familiar plot (even if you aren't familiar with Xishi's tale specifically, the story beats should still feel familiar) and infusing it with the humanity and context each of the characters needs to really bring the tale to life. It's much more a historical fiction retelling than anything fantasy (there's a very small bit at the end, and even that is less fantasy and more just slightly fantastical/romantic), and it's interesting to get that balance between an ancient setting and timeless human conditions.

As a narrator, Natalie Naudus does such a good job with each of the characters, really bringing the listener in and wrapping them up in the world that Liang has painted. The emotions that Xishi goes through are all so clear, and I would find myself taking moments more to stop what I was doing and just listen.

I loved getting Xishi's context and side on her part in spying and bringing down the Wu, but while we get very brief flashes of "everyday people getting ignored by the big political moves", I wish there were more done with it. There's a poignant scene at the end with Zhengdan's mother and then from Xishi's realizations, but it's a brief observation for what feels like it could be much more of a theme of the novel, especially given the ends of so many of the characters, dead for someone else's political aims or pride. I do love how Xishi starts to confront the status her beauty gives her, at odds with the lack of status she has by being a woman, and how she can use that to her advantage, but again I wish it were woven a little more strongly into the novel as a whole, rather than being touched upon briefly before going back.

I think the best thing about this is just how multi-faceted all of the characters are; we get to see so many sides of all of them, and while I know a lot of people are going to be mad at the ending, I think it's honestly perfect. I think the last few chapters are the strongest in the book, a true culmination of everything set up leading up to them; I'll be thinking about the last quarter for a long while.

Thank you Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the ARC.....

Spoiler Alert.....

This was a truly beautiful and heartbreaking read.

Xishi's beauty is both her power and her curse. She is trained to use her beauty as a weapon for vengeance and espionage but it's her beauty that becomes her biggest threat. Her journey is as heartbreaking as is empowering.

I was fine when she relives her little sister's death, when she has to leave her love behind to fulfill her duty but when she looses her friend I lost it. It was at that point that I knew its the end of her innocence.

this was a truly incredible book.

"mind destroys but the heart devours" ......

I am glad I had the audio book, else I would have forever misread the names :)

Loved this unique fantasy/historical read. It took me a bit to get sucked into this story, but the last 30% had me completely hooked. That ending… 😭 The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is i wish there was a bit more actual romance in the pages.

Thank you so much to the author & publisher for this ARC!

I loved everything about this book. Including the fact that it made me cry which is extremely rare.
Nothing happened like I thought it would and my feelings for the characters were so mixed up it made for an emotional rollercoaster. The ending was absolutely perfection.

What can I say, other than A Song to Drown Rivers was absolutely tragic and oh so beautiful.

Without giving away any spoilers, my thoughts:

Fuchai’s story ultimately broke my heart. Then Xishi and Fanli - just ugh - the injustice of war, and ultimately fear, is truly cruel.

I couldn’t stop listening. I have not been this invested in two characters in quite some time. The writing was *chefs kiss*

Wow! Just, read it!

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance copy.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO TELL Y’ALL.

I am sitting here to write this review after finishing it the previous day and I still haven’t figured out how I feel about it and what I want to do about it. I DID enjoy the audiobook. If you want to read ASTDR I would definitely recommend that avenue. Loved the narrator, no issues on that front.

My main issue stems from how short this book felt. It is barely over 300 pages and for a standalone fantasy that can be hit or miss. I thought things were moving TOO FAST and I couldn’t keep up with the speed of the timeline. It also made the main romance line feel off-kilter. I would have loved more connection and time between them.

I didn’t mind the plot. It’s one I’ve read before, but do enjoy often. But, as the story went one it took some final turns that have me in a befuddled state. I think it boils down to this not being the style of fantasy romance I personally like.

I’ve enjoyed Ann Liang’s previous books in the YA Contemporary Romance category, and I would still read her next book.

Overall audience notes:

Historical fantasy romance
Language: low
Romance: make-outs; low innuendo
Violence: moderate-high
Content Warnings: weapons violence, poisoning, attempted murder, actual murder, loss of life, war themes

Had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and it was wonderful. The narrator kept me engaged and gave a strong voice to Xishi.

This book is full of emotion. You gotta go into this one knowing there are some heartbreaking moments that will have you fighting back tears. There is some romance which was enjoyable but felt a little rushed as falling for each other mostly happens off page.

The political points were the best part. I felt like you really got to see both sides and the tension between them. This book highlights the idea that people can be both good and bad. That war can complicate people and their ideas, emotions and actions. I felt my heart pulling for characters on both sides. Absolutely a beautiful read!

I was intrigued that this story was inspired by the legend of a renowned beauty from ancient China.
But I think the YA lens of this story held it back a bit - it’s difficult to believe that an extremely accomplished and trusted military/political advisor, who is also a master of instruments and etiquette, is only 22 years old. I think it would’ve given Fanli’s character more credence if he was in his late 20s at least. I enjoyed the slow build of tension between Xishi and Fanli, but it was disappointing that they were physically together for so little of the book.
I also felt like several plot points had potential, but fell flat: Xishi’s mysterious heart problem (not sure what purpose this served), the instrument she was apparently a prodigy at (but never seemed to play again), and poor Zhengdan who hadso much promise for an epic revenge side plot.
Fuchai also seemed so easily manipulated by Xishi… it felt like she was able to accomplish her mission ‘to-do list’ way too easily once he liked her, some political machinations would’ve really added intrigue to court life. But the emotional turmoil that Xishi experienced with Fuchai’s demise felt raw and real.
The ending was quite beautiful and my favourite part, full of sorrow and longing, and some paranormal revenge.

For a book told in first person, Xishi felt very distant. Her feelings for both Fanli and the king felt told rather than shown - especially the king as she supposedly grows more and more attached to him. I wanted to see more of her internal conflict, rather than just a handful of moments where she goes “well I guess he as a person isn’t so bad.”

What I loved most were the descriptive passages: the gruesome and violent tournaments, the opulent and elaborate palaces, the flashy and colorful banquets and dances. There were also some really good character death scenes, though specifying which ones would be major spoilers.

The passage of time was fairly unclear, though I suppose when looking back it’s obvious that certain things would take weeks or months to do, but as things were happening, the time needed to make them happen was unclear. I also had a hard time connecting the opening scene with the rest of the book; what was the point of it beyond introducing Fanli and Xishi without the barrier of Xishi’s unnatural beauty?

Overall, though, would definitely pick up more books by this author.

And of course Natalie Naudus never disappoints!

3.5 Stars

This novel draws inspiration from the legend of Xishi, a story I'm quite familiar with. The narrative was easy to follow, and I found it enjoyable overall. However, I felt that it didn't introduce anything particularly unique. I was hoping for a bit more innovation to make the story stand out.

If you haven't heard of this legend, I'd recommend giving the novel a read. If you already know the legend, then this isn't a must.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Liang, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

I had never heard of the story of Xishi before. This book is so beautifully written I feel like I need to learn more Chinese legends.

What stood out in this story was the futility of war and the people involved. I was blown away by the author’s ability to create the characters of this time. There were no stand out villains and the heroes were complex with conflicting feeling and true growth.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced copy.

I loved this. Let me start by talking about the romance. A love triangle. Normally I'm not into this. It feels overdone and not unique anymore but this one really worked for me. The writing in this book is so good. The characters feel real. The ending was just ugh. I cried a lot. The narration was excellent.

A beautiful, heartbreaking, heroic story.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a sweeping historical fantasy that explores womanhood, duty, and sacrifice. It will immediately draw you in with vibrant characters and there isn't a moment I wasn't fully invested in the plot.

I would say that this leans much more into historical fiction, with the fantasy element leaning a bit more towards magical realism. Nonetheless, it's a beautiful story and I didn't find myself mad about it!

I fell in love with this book. It had an amazing fmc and mmc. I love their chemistry so much. The storyline had me hooked from the very beginning. This book was an emotional roll coaster and i definitely recommend it.

This book was so so beautiful! The writing, mythology, and lore was absolutely perfect. This book was heartbreaking but in the best one. The characters and plot were great to read about and told an amazing story. This is easily one of my favorite books this year!