Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillian for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was shocked that I actually got the book ahaha.

"Isn't it funny? I used to dream of changing the world. Of working for the greater good. But what good is the world," he asks, "if she is gone?"

This is the best book Ann Liang has written by far, a stark contrast to her previous novels. A Song to Drown Rivers is a book of tragedy, as the title suggests, and Ann Liang delivers each line perfectly. The plotline is intricately woven with the complex yet unique backgrounds and character development of every single character, from side characters to the main characters. The fact that it's based on a Chinese myth makes it even better for a Chinese girl like myself since I rarely get to read more about my own culture due to my beginner level of Chinese. Ann Liang really knows her audience like the back of her own hand.

On a small side note, the one slight word I disliked was "yapping". I know, very small detail, but the use of GenZ slang just felt a bit inappropriate for such a historical book.

Overall, this book conveys emotions and literary detail that I am not able to express with the limited vocabulary I have - I wish I had Ann's talent with words. I look forwards to more devastating books from her!

"Do not presume to understand what she wants. You cannot know. None of us will ever know."

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC!

Oh boy, okay. I don't truly know where to start with this book. When I requested it on Netgalley, the thing that really caught my eye is that Shelley Parker-Chan and Samantha Shannon had enjoyed it, and I am a big fan of them. I've never read any of Ann Liang's work before, so I didn't really know what to expect when I started, but my expectations were thoroughly blown out of the water.

This book is about a woman with extraordinary beauty, and a young and very pretty military advisor that offers her the opportunity to wield her beauty as a weapon and become a hero to the kingdom. It is that, but it's also so much more.

Prose and Writing Quality
The prose in this book is nothing short of beautiful. It's not over the top flowery, and it doesn't feel like the author is trying too hard, which is something I'm always afraid of when it comes to a more poetic type of writing. It's absolutely beautiful. I had to stop highlighting on my kindle because I would've ended up highlighting every other line.

As far as the writing quality as a whole goes, Ann Liang knocked it out of the park yet again. This book feels like it should be held as a shining example of "show, don't tell."

The way emotions were described was so subtle yet so effective, and it added so much to the reading experience.

Without giving anything away, I really REALLY loved how the story was told. You'll see what I mean, but I won't say more.

Relationships
Now, this will be tricky to describe without any spoilers. I absolutely believed every relationship in this book. I believed the love, the hate. All of it. And I loved all of it too.

Basically it was great and I loved it, I don't really know what else to say on this matter to be honest. It was just fantastic.

Plot
PLOT. Plot. I like a good plot, though I care about characters a whole lot more. This plot was fantastic. It wasn't too complicated, it wasn't convoluted. It was the perfect environment to really know the characters, and it really kept me engaged the whole time. I loved it, 10/10 no notes.

Characters

This is another one I'm struggling to say much about without any spoilers.

The main character, Xishi. I adored her. I really loved her whole arc. She was intelligent, she knew she didn't know everything, and she made an effort to learn. I think she was fantastic, and a good example of an FMC that is not only beautiful, but smart too.

Fanli, I loved him too. I can't say much more without spoiling anything, as is becoming the theme of this review, but safe to say he's fantastic.

I won't give away any other characters here either because, again, the book isn't out yet and I'm being reeeally careful to not give even a hint of a spoiler.

Conclusion
This is one of my favourite books I've ever read. I'm a bit of a sucker for retellings of Chinese history and legends ever since I read She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, and in a way I was a little concerned that this wouldn't match up to the absolute adoration I have for that story. But it did, it's sitting in pride of place in my "fav books of all time" goodreads shelf, and when it's out I will be ordering the prettiest copy available and putting it on my special bookshelf where all of my favourite books live.

It was brutal, unforgiving, but had me absolutely hooked from the first chapter. 5 stars hands down.

i am a HUGE fan of ann liang but this book was such a disappointment.


- insta lust/love. it’s no secret that this is a majorly disliked trope by the majority of romance readers, so liang, why on earth would you include this?? fanli and xishi knew each other for ten weeks. she was with the (attractive) enemy king fuchai for over a year and yet she continued to pine over fanli?! the maths is not mathing

- fantasy where?? romance who?? usually when books are characterised as a “romantasy” they lean heavily into the romance, and have very little fantasy, but this book literally had neither. our mmc disappears for more than half the book and the fantasy element appears right at the very end.

- just general stupidity. there were just so many stupid things in this book. our fmc plays a harp until her fingers bleed.. and the explanation is because she's stubborn?

- plot devices + plot armour + all tell and no show. xishi was a shitty spy. we’re constantly told about the romantic tension between fanli and xishi but we never truly get to see it. we are constantly told about the amazing spying that xishi is getting up to but we never actually get to see anything. we do get a full paragraph of description about fanli’s face, but we obviously can’t get any information about the entering of xishi and zhengdan into the palace (aka the most interesting part of the book) because why wouldn’t we want to be deprived of anything of actual substance??

- this all leads me onto my next point(s): a lack of character development and storylines + characters that were wasted. so many different plot points were just dropped halfway, and so many characters could have had such meaningful impacts to the story. xishi’s heart defect was never expanded on. the whole subplot (if it can even be called that) with xishi’s sister felt like it was only created to give xishi some much needed depth, but then it was just abandoned. fuchai could have had some real depth and been this amazing morally-grey mmc, but instead became a sub-par villain with daddy issues. fanli could have been given some more page time to warrant being a love interest, let alone giving him any depth/development. fuchai’s advisor (his name is forgotten) could have been such a good antagonist if he had ever been given the chance. her friend zhengdan, wasn’t given enough page time for any of her actions to actually change the course of the story.

- unoriginality. this wasn’t unique in the slightest, rather it was a recounting of events from the original myth with an unnecessary amount of metaphors and the purplest of prose. the only new thing was the romance between xishi and fanli, and even then it was barely there.

- on another point about the writing is the lack of description about anything interesting. there is little expansion about the politics of the kingdoms of yue and wu, but more about the beauty of fanli and an endless amount of similes, adjectives, metaphors and hyperboles about how the water sparkles. so if you are a fan of high fantasy, please do look further for a book containing good political/court intrigue

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'A Song to Drown Rivers' by Ann Liang.

My emotions changed every five seconds with this book. From enjoying it to "mm.. idk I'm a bit bored" I'm gutted I didn't find myself loving it. I don't know how describe it, I enjoyed the start and just felt myself lose concentration even though the concept was so interesting to me at first.

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The story was beautifully written and the descriptions were vivid. Really enjoyed the story raced through it and was surprised by the ending . It was very unexpected. Lots of Chinese folklore interwoven within the story as well .

Highly recommend it

I Hate This Book

Because it RUINED me. It draws you in with its lyricism and the promise of a sweet romance but you're quickly subjected to heartbreak that will be sure to leave you DROWNING and CHOKING on your own tears. No other piece of Historical Fiction will ever come as close to A Song to Drown Rivers. I have been utterly picked apart (read: DESTROYED) by the literary genius that is Ann Liang in the span of 321 pages. No words, NONE, can do this literary masterpiece justice but I shall try.

ASTDR is breathtakingly beautiful. From the first sentence to the last, Ann Liang's rendition of Xishi's tale bewitches you with its impeccable imagery, poetic prose, and heartbreaking romances. While it shatters your heart into a million fragments, it'll leave you wanting for more, to re-read it all over and over again just so you could experience the gentle caress of its pulchritudinous storytelling.

Though ASDTR closely followed the tale of Xishi as noted in 吴越春秋, The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue, I loved how Ann Liang expertly weaved in the theme of the horrors of war and the foolishness of politicians as she retold this story. I found this quote perfect: "So long as we continue to put mortal men on the thrones and hail them as gods, sacrifice our lives to their legacies, history will repeat itself . Just as the ocean tides ebb and flow beneath the moon, empires will rise and collapse, wars will start and cease, and the rest of us will be left to struggle against the currents." Simply beautiful.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the palace politics, especially Xishi's scheming wit as she bewitches the King of Wu as part of her "sexpionage". Yet though we were told to hate the King of Wu, Fuchai, just as Xishi hated him for his role in warfare, human strife, and violence, we grow to understand him as a misunderstood individual who sought to be loved as well. AND THIS IS PRECISELY WHY MY HEART ABSOLUTELY BROKE FOR HIM. IYKYK.

Don't get me wrong, my heart ached for multiple characters. For Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China, and the sacrifices and pain she had to endure while embodying selflessness, loyalty, and courage in an ancient land. For Fanli and all the gut-wrenching pain he experienced physically and emotionally inflicted upon him as a result of his love for Xishi. For Zhengdan and Xiaomin too.
Yet, my heart broke the most for Fuchai as I genuinely fell in love and sympathised with him; he deserved better though he was the reason I burst into an uncontrollable sob and had to take a 20 minute breather to calm myself down (Ann Liang you need to pay for my therapy idc).

The world-building? Phenomenal. Sucks you right into 473BC and leaves you salivating with the depictions of food, in amazement at the grandeur of Taihu and the Palace of Beautiful Women, and squirming in disgust at the horrors of war.

From plot, to pacing, to suspense, to wit, to characterisation, to character development, to emotion, to writing, EVERYTHING was simply perfection for me. This should 168% be adapted into a Chinese Drama starring Yang Yang and Dilraba because the vibes??????? A Song to Drown Rivers is by far the pinnacle of Ann Liang's mastery over her craft. She has consistently outdone herself from IYCSTS to TTIR to IHTDFY and now ASDR. I am in awe of her sheer talent and hardwork.

This is a MUST-READ of 2024, and frankly, for a long-time to come I fear.

A Book to Drown Emotions.

Xishi’s unnatural beauty sees her recruited by a mysterious, beautiful stranger to become the warring kingdom’s King’s concubine. The King who had brought blood, destruction, tears, and death to her very door. She is to be a spy, glinting and shining like a treasure, but only truly because she was a weapon.

Only thing is, the stranger is Fanli, her kingdom’s political and military advisor and her heart seems to beat easier in his presence. And all the stories tell that heroes only have tragic endings.

I cannot believe how beautiful the writing is.how much gut wrenching, evocative emotion and imagery packed into the standalone that had me holding my breath from page one.

Not to mention, the slow burn, the angst, the rage, the description… all fit into one fairly short fantasy book whilst never feeling rushed?! Liang is truly magical.

The contrast of the two kingdoms are less clear as Xishi had first thought and who was truly an enemy or deserves to be named such becomes twisted and confused.

I had imagined empty, crooked streets squeezing in together like dungeons, and houses with jutting roofs like teeth, swords and skeletons lining the yards.

You may know Liang from her contemporary romances like: You Could See the Sun and I Hope this Finds You Well, but this book made me pine for the romance and the characters with a longing unable to be captured in contemporary books.

When it came down to it, the choice was this: a kingdom, or my happiness. And how many people under Heaven were really fortunate enough to know happiness? Happiness was a side dish, like the sweet, sticky rice cakes Mother made during the festivals, or the glutinous balls stuffed with rich sesame paste. But revenge that was the salt of life.
Necessary. Essential.

This book was just beautiful. In writing, content, and delivering gut-wrenching emotions!

Thank you to Tor for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!

4.5/5

The vivid writing style in “A Song to Drown Rivers” is simply wonderful and enjoyable! The story takes us to ancient China and tells of Xishi, who is rescued from extreme poverty to use her beauty against the enemy king. While she is supposed to make him fall in love with her, she secretly pursues her own plans.

Although this theme has often been tackled, it is incredibly well-executed in this case! You feel with Xishi, understand her motives, and experience her ups and downs. The slowly developing romance is cute and believable.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor for providing me this eARC!

When Xishi draws the attention of young military advisor, Fanli, she is presented with the opportunity to use her beauty is a weapon. One that could topple the rival kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Wow!! I enjoyed this book so so much and I can always count on Ann Liang to not disappoint! I always find that I instantly connect with her writing and feel enveloped by the world she is creating.

Despite this being Ann Liang’s first mythological fantasy and historical fiction it was honestly so enjoyable. The centrality of Chinese mythology was so interesting to read about, and the effects of war were so harrowing but engaging, I truly never felt bored reading this. Liang’s prose is so beautifully written, yet it also flows well so that it doesn’t feel forced or uncomfortable.

Ann Liang’s characterisation of all characters, even side characters, was such a joy to read. Everyone was shown to have good and evil traits which creates conflicting feelings in the reader. This makes for a much more enjoyable read with plenty of grey area rather than simple black and white heroes or villains.

My only sadness is that I would have LOVED for this book to have been longer, if only to really dive deeper into some relationships and plot points, but it was still extremely enjoyable nonetheless!

Overall, I completely recommend ‘A Song to Drown Rivers’ to anyone who is wanting to read a fantasy book inspired by Chinese mythology. It’s a beautiful read that packs a strong emotional punch and will definitely linger in your mind for long after finishing!!

out 3rd october.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

This was a beautifully written story! I was truly mesmerized by Anne Liang's style (this her first book I have read). However, I thought the plot to be quite weak, as well as the relationship between the characters. The promise of a blazing romance went... unfulfilled. In fact the romance was rushed in the first chapters and didn't have a great impact. But I could overlook this because of the ending and because of her writing style.
It was a pleasure to read this.

Thank you for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review. I will publish a full review on my social accounts closer to the publication date.

I’m speechless. I can’t think properly because of what this book has done to me. My heart has been ripped from my soul, sliced into a million pieces and thrown into the fire to be burnt to shreds. Yet despite the pain, this story was so devastatingly beautiful that I would read it all over again just to experience the tender touch of each and every word one more time.

I have not read such an impactful masterpiece in a very long time. The last time I felt so heartachingly suffocated was when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns when I was 14 years old, and as you all know, that is my all-time favourite book. A Song to Drown Rivers absolutely took my breath away and moved me to tears. A rating system does not do this masterpiece justice.

Ann Liang’s writing is so lyrical and stunning, that I was completely transported back to the beautiful land of ancient China. Every word painted vivid colours of scenery, bloomed the scent of flowers under my senses, and played the sounds of water rushing along rivers in my ears. I could feel every twinge in my heart, every heat to the touch, every raw agonizing emotion of pain, heartache, guilt, loss and grief to the depths of my soul. I am so stunned at not only the impact of this story but also the way it was written. If this is not talent, then I don’t know what is. There are so many quotes that hit so deep, I almost wanted them to be etched into my heart.

This story is the reason why books are a blessing in life and I NEED this masterpiece on my shelf as soon as it releases. Thank you NetGalley and author Ann Liang for the e-ARC, it is a privilege to read this stunning work of art before its release. This is probably the deepest and most serious review I’ve written but I am so affected, I can’t recover, and in all seriousness please can someone help to piece my heart back together again.

I always Ann Liang's writings and adore her books and works. So, I had to dive in this one too.
This one is inspired the legend of Xishi from the ancient China. This is a historical fantasy which focuses on womanhood, war, love and sacrifice.
The writing is as usual amazing and the pace is well maintained throughout the whole book. I had a great time reading this.

This book broke my heart over and over again.
The Chinese mythology, the context of war, the palaces and the descriptions of the locations and the robes...the plots. I thought it was going to be another book of spies, war and love, but I couldn't believe the way it was progressing and how the story ended.
I think what I enjoyed the most about Xishi was what in the beginning I hated most, which was her beauty. She used it in her own will, and show how what makes us delicate and lovely to see could also be a way to make her powerful. Turning the femininity in something for us to use.
I loved the way the reflections of the war were imbedded in the story, and how you were realizing with Xishi the subplots of it, the injustices, the way war is war no matter the side.
And the male characters...it's so hard to create more than one male characters as interesting as the first, but Ann Laing did it. It's just amazing.

I will for sure keep an eye on her publications and the rest of her books. Such a lovely experience reading her.

Actual Rating: 4.5

'They say that when I was born, all the wild geese flew down from the sky, and the fish sank beneath the waves, having forgotten how to swim.'

From the moment I picked up 'A Song To Drown Rivers' I was utterly enchanted thanks mostly to the wonder of its beautiful and beguiling prose. If you're looking for a gorgeously written, immersive tale inspired by Asian mythology then this is absolutely the book for you. And let's be honest; what reader can ever resist the beauty of words?

In the past I've read, and generally adored, numerous tales based upon Asian mythology but the Four Beauties of Ancient China aren't something that I've come across before, a fact that left me naturally intrigued. Now I'm desperately hoping that the author will decide to cover the rest of those Beauties' stories so I think it's safe to consider this one a success. Unlike most of the novels that I've read within the genre the approach to this one is more historical but it fit perfectly for the story that was told.

For me the major strength of 'A Song To Drown Rivers' was its glorious writing. It's undeniably one of those books where its words swiftly cast a spell over you, leaving you utterly entranced by its beauty. There were so many gorgeously crafted lines and beautifully captured sentiments throughout. Yet it simultaneously felt like a narrative and story that flowed swiftly. A combination that is sure to be a hit with readers.

The characters were well fleshed out and interesting to discover. Xishi's was a wonderful viewpoint to follow in and I loved getting to know Zhengdan too.

Although the romance did have a certain instalove feel to it this didn't really bother me, especially being somewhat aware of some of the mythology behind such bonds. Personally I'd still have appreciated a little more time spent on Xishi's time training with Fanli however as I believe it would have helped me feel for them more strongly. Similarly I'd have loved a few more chapters of Xishi's time with Fuchai and gathering intel for the Yue. Although this aspect made up the bulk of the story I did long for it to dive a bit deeper at times. Which really is the only thing I struggled slightly with on occasion - a need for more. Overall this is a beautifully crafted narrative with never a dull moment but I'd have loved a slightly longer tale, spending more time on certain settings and scenes.

Another element that this book managed to capture beautifully though was the way that innocents get caught up in war, and the differing viewpoints held on both sides. During her time among the Xu Xishi sees and hears things that you can't help but reflect upon as a reader.

Then there's the ending which I doubt anyone - unless they're familiar with the original tales maybe - will guess at. To call it powerful is a vast understatement and I can imagine many a reader being moved.

Ultimately I absolutely recommend 'A Song To Drown Rivers' to anyone looking for a beautiful and lyrical Asian mythology inspired, historical read with a romance at its core. I'll certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for any similar offerings from the author.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Wow! It has been a while since I read a book so quickly, but this one was quite honestly captivating. The elements of Chinese mythology were very well incorporated throughout the book and the characters, particularly our main character, Xishi, were complex and likeable. From the very start of the book I was hooked on Xishi's story and the world that Ann Liang described, which was rich and imaginative. The writing itself was well-paced and the descriptions lovely. I definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in Chinese mythology, or just looking for a great new fantasy read!

Shehr closed the pdf, sent a brief text to her friend describing her current state, turned off her phone, curled in bed, and wept. For who could mend a broken heart? One shattered in a thousand pieces? The End.

Ann Liang you will never fail the masses!!!! I really hope she writes more books in this genre. This was so amazing so ethereal so lovable. Fuchai apologist from this day onwards and a xishifanli defender for life. The plot is masterfully crafted, weaving together intricate layers of conflict, mystery, and intrigue that keep the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. Every twist and turn is expertly executed, leading to a satisfying and unpredictable conclusion that leaves a lasting impact. Furthermore, the world-building is nothing short of extraordinary, immersing the reader in a vividly imagined universe filled with rich history, diverse cultures, and fantastical elements that feel both familiar and refreshingly original. The only thing that didn't make it a 5 star for me was the romance otherwise this was everything I wanted. The ending felt as if someone tore out my heart, ripped it all apart and then attempted to piece it back together and shove it into my ribcage.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

full rtc.... closer to publication date

This book was beautiful! I loved the writing style and got a bit too attached to most of the characters which had me devasteted in the end of the book. The plot was great and you definately have to enjoy reading war stories to grab this one but you learn great lessons along the way.

Fairly short and sweet but very well written. This book will make you feel all sorts. It’s a lovely fantasy that I’d definitely recommend reading.

My heart is broken.

I didn't expect this book to be so, so beautiful. All of it, the writing, the cover, the plot and the characters were beautiful.
The ending was especially devastating, because I didn't think that there were going to be so many deaths, alas I couldn't stop crying during the last chapters. It surprised me that I fell for both love interests since I normally prefer one mc over the other.
This book really showed that there is not always one good and one evil side in war and that it's more complicated. There are people suffering and dying on both ends and many sacrifices and betrayels when tragedy strikes.
I would have wished that there were more scenes between Xichi and Fanli when he was training her, then it would be truly perfect. They deserved better :'(

4.5 ☆ stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Xishi has been known for her extraordinary beauty since birth. Xishi catches the eye of the military advisor known as Fanli. He wants her to use her beauty as a weapon and infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy to seduce the immortal king. There is an unfortunate attraction between Xishi and Fanli. Xishi climbs in the court but the more she succeeds with the king the further down she and Fanli’s relationship is.

This was okay but it felt very young adult to me even though it’s been marketed as an adult fantasy. It felt very basic and I feel like I’ve read this story before in different formats. I just didn’t love this like I was hoping too although the ending was emotional and poignant.