Overall: 3.5 rounded down because I think categorizing this as adult fantasy is misleading.

Story: 3.5/5
This was an enjoyable and perfectly-paced story that blends political intrigue, romance, and Chinese mythology. It reads much more like a YA historical romance with only a whisper of fantasy towards the end. The romance side of the story was not as developed as I had hoped and felt a bit rushed/unconvincing. It was a fun, but somewhat bland read for me. However, the ending was beautiful, emotional, and was my favorite part of the entire story.

Audiobook/Narration: 4.5/5
Natalie Naudus does a wonderful job on this solo narration, and really keeps you engaged in the story. She provides distinct voices to the characters all while giving the story the gravitas it deserves.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC.

[alc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
A Song to Drown Rivers releases October 1, 2024

3.5

<i>“The mind destroys; the heart devours.”</I>

Xishi is sought out by the Yue kingdom’s political advisor as a potential bride of unmatched beauty — a tribute given to their rival kingdom, Wu.
To the public eye, Xishi would be one of Fuchai’s concubines, but her true purpose would be acting as a spy for Yue and becoming the mastermind behind their revenge plan.
She has no qualms with this since her younger sister was killed by the hands of a Wu soldier.

Ann Liang is a skillful writer, but at times while reading this, it almost came across as too perfect; too safe. Ultimately, I was left wanting <u>so much more</u>.
I wanted more complexity, more angsty scenes between Xishi and Fanli, and for her chronic illness/chest pains to be explained.
Including even just a handful of chapters from Fanli’s pov over the course of the two years would have aided in developing the dynamic between him and Xishi and lead to a better understanding as to why they yearned so deeply for each other since most of their connection during the ten weeks of training was left off-page.

The stakes were rather low amidst a war between two kingdoms and Fuchai surrendered too easily at the hands of Xishi during the conflict.
I get that the whole purpose of this retelling hinged upon Xishi’s ability to use her beauty to her advantage, but I have a hard time believing she was <I> so</I> beautiful that the extent of pleasuring a king as his concubine only ever amounted to kissing… for <u>years</u>…

While this might be marketed as Liang’s adult debut, I have to be honest in saying it reads very YA.

You’ll likely love this if you’re a beginner fantasy reader as it’s not overly complex in its world building, plot, or cast of characters.
If you tend to shy away from the “I’m not like other girls” trope, you might have some reservations as it’s made evident by the first paragraph and continues to be the main driving force of the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

I admittedly tend to struggle with single narrator audiobooks. This one, however, didn’t give me any trouble! The emotion the narrator is able to convey for the entire cast of characters is extremely impressive and engaging. The pace is great as well.

Plot wise, oh my GOSH! I haven’t had my heart stomped on like this in a while in the best way possible. I cried through the last like 45 minutes of the audiobook. It’s a really great, quick, self contained story full of triumph and heartbreak. I did see that it is categorized as Romantasy, but I am failing to see the fantasy aspect of this at all. I enjoyed it nonetheless!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the early listen! Also received an e-arc
Solid 5 star read! Loved the way the author wove a tale of love and loss from old folklore.
Hope to read more by this author. This story will make you cry, get angry and smile.
Narrator was amazing.

I received an audio ARC from the publisher and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to listen to A Song to Drown Rivers and the narrator.

I found the narration to be very well done and easy to listen to. I would recommend the audiobook and narrator to anyone that might be curious.

The story itself...I found to be a bit dull. At times I enjoyed it but for the majority I was more bored than engaged. Xishi is annoying and naïve. She only pretends to be sharp as she is constantly making stupid decisions. CONSTANTLY!

I did not find the romance between her and Fan Li to be convincing whatsoever so when she was pining for him...I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. If there had been more detail on said romance I might have been invested. As is, I don't understand her infatuation at all. He didn't make an impression and the whole thing felt forced.

I know we are supposed to hate Fuchai because he is the villain, but I didn't. If anything, the author made me like him...a lot! He was my favorite character. He is the reason I've rated this book 3 starts instead of 2. We are told he did all of these bad things but we never actually see proof of it. Constantly Xishi makes comments such as "I thought he would" or "I was surprised when he" etc because we see his poor actions on page, in my opinion it was all hearsay and he wasn't as bad as Yue made him out to be. I wish we had seen some things so I could have been convinced (and don't tell me about Fan Li's scars. I know about those but I wanted our FMC to witness something for herself.)

I was constantly irritated Xishi described Fuchai's actions as "childlike" whenever he tried to lay with, cuddle, or lay his head against Xishi. It has always irked me when women describe these very human, very normal reactions as childish or sensitive in men. Men can have feelings too. Men can be held and want to be held or consoled. Men are allowed to be. "He was no longer a king but a boy" she says as he bleeds against her robes. It was ridiculous.

It was clear he loved Xishi, truly loved her, and that she had affection for him. I know this story is a retelling but my gosh it would have been so much more interesting if the author had made it her own and allowed Xishi accept her love for Fuchai, realized that what she felt for Fan Li was just a crush and nothing more.

The "fantasy" element of this book is left until the very end. I wouldn't market this book as fantasy (as I have seen) since it is not a main element. This is general fiction.

I wasn't expecting her death, but honestly it was the only scene where I actually liked Fan Li. When he felt remorse that she died because he was the one that put her in the position she had been in the last couple of years.

I would happily listen to this narrator again but as this was my first read by this author, I don't think Liang's work is for me. Maybe that will change down the road.

The book "Xishi" by Ann Liang completely shattered my emotions and left me in pieces. Ann Liang demonstrated her mastery as a storyteller, and I'm eagerly looking forward to delving into more of her literary works. The narrative of Xishi delves into profound themes such as love, war, sacrifice, and betrayal, woven around the life of a remarkable young woman. The characters in the book are so compelling that they draw me into their world, making it hard to put the book down. As I concluded, I found myself in tears, which was inevitable given the story's emotional depth. The journey I underwent while reading this book was incredibly moving. Few books have managed to evoke such intense emotions within me. Finishing the book left me with a sense of loss as if a piece of my heart had been taken away. Xishi, the protagonist, is portrayed as a resilient woman who navigates the complexities of another dynasty, captivating readers with her strength and determination.

This captivating book showcases a remarkable female protagonist, making it a compelling read for young adults. It skillfully weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and war and delves into the complexities of sacrifice. It encourages every young woman to immerse herself in the narrative and find inspiration in the protagonist's journey, ultimately questioning the sacrifices' worth.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing and reading Ann Liang's A Song to Drown Rivers.

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang is the first book I have read by this author, I forgot I read this back in June until I listened halfway into the first chapter and I am happy to say the narrator added something new to the story through the way they brought the characters to life which made me love my second experience with this story even more. The story still flowed well and even though I remembered most of the twists and turns I still found them enjoyable. 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 ordered my pre-order copy for my shelf and will watch out for more from Ann Liang in the future.

I think listening to the audiobook was essential for me to understand a majority of the history and culture within this book and the narrator did an amazing job!

I didn’t know what to expect going into A Song to Drown Rivers, the adult debut from Ann Liang. It’s a retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, though I was not familiar with that legend. This book has also been labeled as fantasy, though I would hesitate to call it such; it’s more historical fiction with a magical touch at the end. Nonetheless, I went into this book with an open mind, and I absolutely loved it!

Xishi is an ordinary girl in her village, her unparalleled beauty notwithstanding. Her home has been torn apart by war, and her younger sister was killed by the Wu kingdom, so Xishi harbors a real hatred for their king. When a military advisor named Fanli recruits her to be pose as a concubine for the Wu king, working as a spy to topple the Wu kingdom, Xishi agrees to the difficult task. But she and Fanli fall in love during her 10 weeks training with him. Can they have a future together after all this is over? And what of her relationship with the horrible Wu king—is he as awful as she believes? How will these political games play out?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Palace spy to overthrow the evil kingdom
- Love triangle?
- First-person, past-tense POV

What I Liked:
- Power from beauty. Xishi’s first power is her beauty; it’s what will get her in the good graces of the Wu king, Fuchai, allowing her access to him and a chance to manipulate him. Here, power and beauty are not mutually exclusive but tied together, at least for Xishi. But it’s more than just her beauty that she’ll need to rely on. She needs to be cunning and subtle while she plays Fuchai for a fool. Her people, the ruling kingdom, and the devastating war depend on her.
- Who’s the hero and who’s the villain? Xishi, Funli, and the whole group wanting to overthrow the Wu kingdom agree that Fuchai is a horrible ruler. He’s the villain, and Xishi is among the heroes. But as Xishi is forced to spend more time (years!) with Fuchai, more layers of his personality are exposed. Is he truly evil? Does he have the capacity to love others? Is Xishi doing the right thing by manipulating him? How will this all end for Fuchai… and for Xishi?
- Discussions of rulers, power, and war. Towards the end, a character states that the “will of kings” is the problem, not an entire group of people. Are the Wu all horrible? Is it just the king? What of the king who will replace Fuchai—will he be a better ruler and finally bring peace to the people?
- WOW that ending?! I won’t go into any detail, but I was shocked by how some things unfolded and the whole final chapter. Some readers may not like it, but I did.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Xishi and Fanli needed more time for their love to feel real. It developed so quickly (within only 10 weeks together) and I would have liked more time to see their romance unfold rather than just being told that they had feelings for each other. This book isn’t super long as it is, so it could have used another chapter or two to develop that further.

Audiobook
Natalie Naudus does an excellent job of narrating A Song to Drown Rivers. This is the second audiobook I’ve heard her narrate; she also did She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. She does a great job of giving characters distinctive voices and infusing their dialogue with personality. I also enjoyed this audiobook for her pronunciation of the characters’ names; I wouldn’t have known the correct pronunciations otherwise! This audiobook is immersive and makes the book even stronger.

Final Thoughts
A Song to Drown Rivers is a captivating and thoughtful read with good pacing and memorable characters. Although I wasn’t familiar with the legend on which it’s based, I found this to be a richly drawn novel about power and people affected by problematic rulers. I was happy to get an ARC of this book and loved it so much that I got a physical copy from Book of the Month, too! I look forward to reading more from Ann Liang.

This was a beautiful story, but also ultimately a story about sacrifice. Prepare yourselves for some heartbreak.
The pacing was perfect - we jump time to avoid monotonous repetition, as the story takes place over years. Xishi’s mission is to infiltrate the enemy ranks by becoming the king’s favorite concubine. The world building was adequate to get a good enough sense of the plot and political machinations. This is, after all, a mostly character driven book. There is plenty of heartbreak to go around. They were a few moments where I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. The level of betrayal at several points in the book contributed strongly to the heartbreak.
Probably contrary to popular opinion, I really felt for the villain king. He was pretty horrible, but there was also something soft about him. I really enjoyed the building relationship between him and Xishi.
The love between Xishi and Fanli felt a bit insta-love for me, but there was still something genuine in it. Theirs is a forbidden love. They put the needs of their country ahead of their own - dirty comes first.
I cannot say much more about the story and characters without spoiling anything. I did not find the story predictable, therefore, if I could easily spoil something if I say too much (which is a good thing and should encourage more readers to pick this one up).
Nathalie Naudus does an excellent job bringing Xishi and her story to life.
I recommend this book to people that enjoy slow burn with good character building and the politics that come with countries at war.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early listening copy. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book! Ann Liang has such a way with words, and she has a gift for writing engaging plots and characters. I really enjoyed this book, and I would love to read more adult fiction from her! Natalie Naudus was also a fantastic narrator. I really enjoyed listening to her narration during The Night Ends With Fire, so I was really excited to hear her performance for this novel. She really brought the setting and characters to life!
The characters were realistic, though I did feel like they were a bit flat. I think the main issue with this book stems from the fact that it's too short, and it's a standalone. I definitely see the potential for a fantastic, tragic romance packed with intrigue, but the book was too short for any of these elements to really shine through. Xishi had hardly any character development and seemed very immature - she barely knew Fan Li and their romance was not convincing at all - I couldn't understand her obsession with him. As readers, we also hardly see any of Fan Li throughout the book, which is a huge detriment to what could have been a gorgeous romance.
I also wish the worldbuilding had been a little more fleshed out. Even though this is labeled as a fantasy, only the last 10% of the book really had anything that would fit within the genre - I think this could be categorized as historical fiction, even.
The ending was what made me give the book four stars - it was tragic, and we got to see more of Fan Li's affection in that last part than we did throughout the whole book. It was very emotionally packed and tender, and it really sealed the story overall.
I really wish Ann Liang had made this just a bit longer or made it into a series, because there was so much potential to make this into a c-drama like The Rise of Phoenixes, but it was too short to really make a lot of impact on the reader.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC!

Utterly transcendent and breathtaking in every way imaginable. Ann’s stunning historical debut is no short of incredible, and it absolutely transfixes you from start to finish. Not only is it both heartfelt and gut-wrenching, but it perfectly captures the brutal, cataclysmic essence of war and the devastating tragedy of forbidden love.

I’m so incredibly honoured to be able to read this early, and I can say with the utmost confidence that this is some of Ann’s best work. A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS releases October 1st

This was so good it gave me a book hangover. Narrators did a great job. 0 complaints……. other than I will never be able to experience this for the first time again.

I got the ebook of this and loved it, so this review will focus on the audio. Natalie was the perfect narrator for this book, you could tell the emotions that were being conveyed easily.

I enjoyed the narrator. And i mostly enjoyed the story, but the ending lost me. I lost interest when she died. I did. not know that this was based on a historical story

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, *A Song to Drown Rivers* is a beautifully written historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love. Xishi, whose beauty is seen as a gift in her village, is given a choice far beyond what anyone expects—using her looks to infiltrate the kingdom of Wu, seduce its king, and help bring down an empire. But as her bond with military advisor Fanli deepens, her mission gets way more complicated. One wrong move could destroy both kingdoms.

This book really got to me. The tension, the longing, and the sacrifices the characters make just broke my heart. And that ending? Completely devastating in the best possible way.

Ann Liang’s writing is so beautiful, especially how she weaves poetry into the story. It made me stop and reflect on the bigger themes—especially how war impacts people and relationships. The imagery made this book & is equally incredible. You get totally lost in the kingdoms of Yue and Wu, and the characters are so layered and complex. I got attached to them so quickly, and watching them struggle was so emotional.

It took me a little to get into this book, but once I was drawn in - it was impossible for me to put this book down.
everytime - just when I thought I knew what was going on, a plot twist would turn everything upside down.

I also want to give a huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. Natalie Naudus’ narration was stunning and really brought the whole story to life.

I was very excited for a stand alone fantasy and this was an interesting story. I will say though that I feel as though some plot and character development felt glossed over to get us to an outcome. The ending was absolutely not what I expected and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I would recommend this though for anyone who is interested in the premise of the story.

To set expectations: A Song to Drown Rivers is historical fiction - it's neither fantasy nor romance, and definitely not romantasy. It starts off feeling rather YA, with a teenage FMC, Xishi, who somehow manages to both learn everything a court lady would know in 10 weeks, and also fall deeply in love with the male love interest during that time. SONG captured my attention once Xishi is set up as the king's concubine, and I thought the portrayal of the king as a nuanced, morally gray character was well done. I had a lot of fun reading about Xishi and her manipulation of the king, but I do wish the romance that was there was either removed completely or given more depth; as it was, it just felt like a shallow distraction.

Audio: the venn diagram of the type of audiobooks I read and the type of audiobooks that Natalie Naudus narrates has a big overlap, which I'm very grateful for - Natalie is a great narrator, I love the level of emotion she brings in without the narration sounding overwrought or overacted, and she does great voice work differentiating the characters.

I went in blind & requested this book from NG based on the special edition cover. 😍

I know nothing about Ancient Chinese Mythology or the story of Xishi, however, this book was so beautifully written with a heartbreaking ending. 💔

love
betrayal
revenge

I do wish there had been a little more relationship building between Xishi and Fanli. I didn’t “feel” them falling in love as much as being told they had fallen in love. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator did a great job. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

With the outpouring of positive reviews, I unfortunately found that this book was not really for me. There were a few things I liked and disliked, for one I did not like the romances with either mc’s as their relationship to the fmc felt very shallow due to the emphasis on how beautiful she was, which was mentioned quite a lot throughout the book. In my opinion, I saw it as it taking away from them forming any actual feelings for her beyond superficial. We are also told almost nothing about the fmc besides how beautiful she is and her motivations for becoming a spy, which lead to almost no character development. Due to the lack of character development I found her to be kinda boring, but I did like that she was able to come to the realization that in becoming a seductress she can gain power in controlling men. I liked her progression of the relationship to the king but regardless of the ending, I still don’t believe that he truly loved her besides loving the fact that he owned her. I enjoyed the courtly intrigue, and the world building, due to me listening to the book, I felt like I was actually in the book with the beautiful descriptions. In other words, it is a pretty solid read if you can overlook some of the repetitive plot lines.