Xishi is a breath of fresh air in a genre where every female character seems to have to have a sword in order to be taken seriously or considered strong. There are many kinds of strength and this tale leans on other kinds. It was beautifully written and utterly compelling.

This book was so very beautifully written and the story interesting while the characters came alive on the page and were well fleshed out. I had a good time reading this but there was too much romance for my personal taste

This was utterly devastating. I’m left speechless upon finishing this book. Just go read it right now… and make sure you have some tissues waiting in the wings.

I don't even know where to start with this review. to be honest, I was expecting a light, straightforward fantasy book because it's pretty short, at only 330 pages. but no, the book had other plans.

this is a marvellous story with a cast of truly special characters. you think you know who the bad guys are, who is in the wrong, but the plot is woven in such a way that you have no choice but to doubt yourself quite a few times. the pace is exactly right, sometimes fast and sometimes more mellow, but it works perfectly and at the same time allows these great characters to shine.

for one, I admired Xishi a lot. she's not the typical powerful/warrior-type female main character. instead, she uses another physical aspect to hold power - her beauty. that, paired with a strategic mind, made for a very interesting protagonist. I was rooting for her from start to finish.

on the other hand, we have two male main characters who are seemingly on opposing sides (Fuchai has my heart, though), but who, in the end, are actually quite similar - specifically, when it comes to their affections for Xishi.

I 1000% recommend this story. also, I cried a couple of times, so for me that's a 5-star read easily.

Living in ancient China, her exceptional beauty gets Xishi selected to infiltrate the neighbouring kingdom at the behest of the famous military advisor, Fanli. Her brief is to establish a place for herself at the other king's court and to use her position to spy on their neighbours.

Unfortunately, there is a deep - and dangerously inconvenient - attraction between Xishi and Fanli, which puts her in a perilous position. Not to mention that if she is discovered, then they will both pay the consequences...

This is a sweeping historical fantasy epic, which incorporates elements of romance, politics and gender roles. It brings Chinese legends alive and does the story of Xishi justice. An interesting and entertaining read, it gets 3.5 stars.

Huge thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨️/5
Dear Ann Liang, thank you so much for writing this masterpiece but also HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME??!! This book left me broken in a way I did not expect it to.

A Song to Drown Rivers is a gorgeous historical novel that retells the story of Xishi, one of the four great beauties of Chinese legend. This book gave me everything I'd hoped for and more. Liang weaves a stunning tapestry enlivened by rich historical details and references to Chinese myth. Her prose made everything about this appeal to the senses.

The characters have my entire heart. Ann Liang took tropes I never particularly liked and presented them in a fabulous way. Every character is morally grey and multifaceted in the true sense. The love story isn't a love triangle in the traditional sense. Fuchai is such a sweetheart!! I preferred him to Fanli (though he certainly had his flaws). Liang makes the romance shine without sacrificing plot for its sake. (This boon is far, far better than any romantasy out there). Masterful use of setting and court politics made this compulsively readable and I could not put this down.The ending shattered my heart into pieces and I'm still removing from this suffering this has caused me.

I'd just like to say that this doesn't feel like fantasy though many people have shelved it as such. It's historical and rooted in reality for the most part.

This is my first Ann Liang book and it definitely exceeded my expectations! I highly recommend this!