Name: A Song to Drown Rivers
ISBN: 9781250289469

Ann Liang

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring 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.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

This edition features a gold foiled cover, gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, as well as exclusive metallic ink patterned endpapers and unique foiled front and back case stamps. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run, a must-have for any book lover.

Deluxe Edition

A Song to Drown Rivers

Lacey Devlin

One could live with almost anything, so long as they had something to live for.

In a world where everyone will demand something from you, it requires a certain degree of selfishness to be happy.

I want to like this book because I think it did what it was trying to accomplish, but I felt really unsatisfied by the ending. As a person who loves tragedies, that suprises me because it very literally showcases suffering and war are pointless and only cause more and more suffering (a message I can get behind). 

The plot felt very linear and straightforward, and many of the challenges that the protogonist faced are easily overcome. When her gift to the emperor is destroyed she replaces it with a pebble. A pebble. That moment took me out for a bit because I feel that if anyone did that they would have been killed in this sort of setting. Other plot points required more work to overcome, but overall it didn't really feel like a lot of hard struggle. I do think that the author didn't want to focus on that and I think it might have dragged if it did, so I respect that decision.

The symbolism of the ceremonial dagger that laid beside Zhengdan in death and was the cover for why she had to be executed was very clever. The ceremonial dagger was not meant to be used in a fight, was not strong, but looked exquisite on a mantle. It what General Wang believes she should have embodied - a woman, fragile, who is there to look pretty and obey rather than openly challenge court hierarchy and fight. She stole his pride, so he framed her and stole her life.

It was also interesting that everytime love was mentioned, revenge was closely followed after, and the concepts throughout the book were explicitly linked. Xishi says she could only remember her beloved Zhengdan if she thought of avenging her.  Whenever Xishi remembers her sister, her memories are always accompanied by violence. When she starts to feel love for King Fuchai, she tells herself to crush it and remember those who died. Even after Xishi betrayal is revealed, Fuchai pulls in the sword that kills him and it's compared to the action of almost taking a kiss. 

I did laugh at the scene when King Fuchai said he felt he was "dying" when he got a minor burn on a boat trip. That whole scene showed the class differences and pain tolerance levels in society from a historical lens. And it made me realize how back in ancient times, people with more power and influence literally made people have to endure their PDA because they could. 

The book accomplishes its purpose - showcasing that in war there are no winners. Those who benefit don't have the interest of the many at heart. The narrative shows this over and over again, even after a supposed victory Xishi is punished for playing the role she was recruited for because the Emperor is scared she will do the same thing to her home kingdom (which was one of the most predictable plot points). I recommend this book becauseof that, but I don't think that this is my favorite book. However, I still feel that the ending felt unsatisfying, so it's a warm recommendation.

Ashley Denktas

I want to like this book because I think it did what it was trying to accomplish, but I felt really unsatisfied by the ending. As a person who loves tragedies, that suprises me because it very literally showcases suffering and war are pointless and only cause more and more suffering (a message I can get behind). 

The plot felt very linear and straightforward, and many of the challenges that the protogonist faced are easily overcome. When her gift to the emperor is destroyed she replaces it with a pebble. A pebble. That moment took me out for a bit because I feel that if anyone did that they would have been killed in this sort of setting. Other plot points required more work to overcome, but overall it didn't really feel like a lot of hard struggle. I do think that the author didn't want to focus on that and I think it might have dragged if it did, so I respect that decision.

The symbolism of the ceremonial dagger that laid beside Zhengdan in death and was the cover for why she had to be executed was very clever. The ceremonial dagger was not meant to be used in a fight, was not strong, but looked exquisite on a mantle. It what General Wang believes she should have embodied - a woman, fragile, who is there to look pretty and obey rather than openly challenge court hierarchy and fight. She stole his pride, so he framed her and stole her life.

It was also interesting that everytime love was mentioned, revenge was closely followed after, and the concepts throughout the book were explicitly linked. Xishi says she could only remember her beloved Zhengdan if she thought of avenging her.  Whenever Xishi remembers her sister, her memories are always accompanied by violence. When she starts to feel love for King Fuchai, she tells herself to crush it and remember those who died. Even after Xishi betrayal is revealed, Fuchai pulls in the sword that kills him and it's compared to the action of almost taking a kiss. 

I did laugh at the scene when King Fuchai said he felt he was "dying" when he got a minor burn on a boat trip. That whole scene showed the class differences and pain tolerance levels in society from a historical lens. And it made me realize how back in ancient times, people with more power and influence literally made people have to endure their PDA because they could. 

The book accomplishes its purpose - showcasing that in war there are no winners. Those who benefit don't have the interest of the many at heart. The narrative shows this over and over again, even after a supposed victory Xishi is punished for playing the role she was recruited for because the Emperor is scared she will do the same thing to her home kingdom (which was one of the most predictable plot points). I recommend this book becauseof that, but I don't think that this is my favorite book. However, I still feel that the ending felt unsatisfying, so it's a warm recommendation.

It took awhile to catch my attention but the 2nd half is going to haunt me

sharp and devastating, gorgeously written. 

4.75 / 5 

sharp and devastating, gorgeously written. 

This book was good but unsatisfying. I wanted MORE. Truthfully, it felt more like a YA fantasy than adult, because of its simplicity. Besides that, I did enjoy reading it. 

Sophia 

Romy

i’m gonna be thinking about this one for a WHILE!!!

ash (smokedshelves)

Beautifully written with a strong, smart female lead and a heartfelt slow burn love story within a high stakes spy plot!

abi a

enchanting & a tragedy in the truest sense - the ending was devastating but so cathartic. 

absolutely adored xishi as a character - not only was she complex, intelligent, kind - but she was also so competent!! i loved that this novel featured a spy main character who was genuinely good at spying lol, she stole my heart!! <3 and i loved the discussion of femininity and beauty as a weapon. honestly all the characters were so well-developed and complex - there was no black & white in this novel, just shades of grey. 

claire

enchanting & a tragedy in the truest sense - the ending was devastating but so cathartic. 

absolutely adored xishi as a character - not only was she complex, intelligent, kind - but she was also so competent!! i loved that this novel featured a spy main character who was genuinely good at spying lol, she stole my heart!! <3 and i loved the discussion of femininity and beauty as a weapon. honestly all the characters were so well-developed and complex - there was no black & white in this novel, just shades of grey. 

highly recommend! 

When beauty is wielded as a weapon. A weapon to save a kingdom. A kingdom that betrays. 

Xishi's beauty is renowned for her beauty in her village. One day, Fanli, young advisor to King Goujian, approaches Xishi's family with a plan. They will train Xishi to be a perfect concubine and send her as a gift to King Fuchai. She will work as an undercover spy. 

The story that unfolds is one filled with longing, fear, and intrigue. It's captivating and just the right amount of gut-wrenching. Helen of Troy's beauty launched a war. Xishi's beauty saved a kingdom. 

One of my favorite things about this book is the balance. We first meet Xishi by the river, when Fanli suddenly appears. And we see Xishi for the last time, by the river when Fanli arrives. There's a poetry in it. One I lack the words to describe. But it's beautifully heartbreaking. 

If there's one thing Ann Liang does really well, is weave an enticing tale of love and angst. It's her bread and butter and I am all here for it. This novel broke my heart. And it is very well worth it.

Suzie

When beauty is wielded as a weapon. A weapon to save a kingdom. A kingdom that betrays. 

Xishi's beauty is renowned for her beauty in her village. One day, Fanli, young advisor to King Goujian, approaches Xishi's family with a plan. They will train Xishi to be a perfect concubine and send her as a gift to King Fuchai. She will work as an undercover spy. 

The story that unfolds is one filled with longing, fear, and intrigue. It's captivating and just the right amount of gut-wrenching. Helen of Troy's beauty launched a war. Xishi's beauty saved a kingdom. 

One of my favorite things about this book is the balance. We first meet Xishi by the river, when Fanli suddenly appears. And we see Xishi for the last time, by the river when Fanli arrives. There's a poetry in it. One I lack the words to describe. But it's beautifully heartbreaking. 

If there's one thing Ann Liang does really well, is weave an enticing tale of love and angst. It's her bread and butter and I am all here for it. This novel broke my heart. And it is very well worth it.

Rating: 4.25/5

 ARC courtesy of NetGalley 

Hey there again. I wanted to rewrite my review on A Song to Drown Rivers :D Hope that's okay

I was so very fortunate to be able to snag an e-book ARC for A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang! 

I did have a bit of a slow start with this one. I had jumped right into reading this after finishing Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, which I found bore some similarities with Liang’s book, in its epic fantasy worldbuilding based in the Chinese mythos and what appear to be love triangles formed between our heroic main characters and powerful military leader men. Ultimately, I did find Tan’s book a bit disappointing so I came into Liang’s jaded as I revisited a familiar world. I started this book at the wrong time. 

It took a bit of time to get over this bump of familiarity, but once I did, I became enchanted by protagonist Xishi as she maneuvers her way into power in the Wu Kingdom and earns the affections of King Fuchai. I fell hard for her intelligence, craftiness, and femininity. This last trait is especially important, as it is so often in girl-power storytelling that femininity is dropped in favor of heroism - as if the two cannot exist together. This tends to result in female characters that are strong or skilled, but flat. I found Xishi so compelling as a character because she didn’t have to exchange femininity for her ruthless determination and flexibility. She’s simply enchanting. 

The characters in this book are all so beautifully compelling and complex, constantly having me questioning whether to root for or against characters that lay in the grays when you - and Xishi herself - would wish things were simply black and white so that you don’t end up agonizing in the end. Which, oh, you will. 

This is a lyrical and foreboding tale of the costs of love and war. Who does this war benefit? Can anyone truly win? What happens to you when you do? 

Ann Liang is an insanely talented writer. I have so much admiration for her work. Because I've only read her YA romance before this, I wasn't sure what to expect out of A Song to Drown Rivers - but I am once again in awe of what Ann Liang can do. This is a whole nother realm to what she is capable of and I would love to see more!

joana ashley

Hey there again. I wanted to rewrite my review on A Song to Drown Rivers :D Hope that's okay

♡

I was so very fortunate to be able to snag an e-book ARC for A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang! 

I did have a bit of a slow start with this one. I had jumped right into reading this after finishing Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, which I found bore some similarities with Liang’s book, in its epic fantasy worldbuilding based in the Chinese mythos and what appear to be love triangles formed between our heroic main characters and powerful military leader men. Ultimately, I did find Tan’s book a bit disappointing so I came into Liang’s jaded as I revisited a familiar world. I started this book at the wrong time. 

It took a bit of time to get over this bump of familiarity, but once I did, I became enchanted by protagonist Xishi as she maneuvers her way into power in the Wu Kingdom and earns the affections of King Fuchai. I fell hard for her intelligence, craftiness, and femininity. This last trait is especially important, as it is so often in girl-power storytelling that femininity is dropped in favor of heroism - as if the two cannot exist together. This tends to result in female characters that are strong or skilled, but flat. I found Xishi so compelling as a character because she didn’t have to exchange femininity for her ruthless determination and flexibility. She’s simply enchanting. 

The characters in this book are all so beautifully compelling and complex, constantly having me questioning whether to root for or against characters that lay in the grays when you - and Xishi herself - would wish things were simply black and white so that you don’t end up agonizing in the end. Which, oh, you will. 

This is a lyrical and foreboding tale of the costs of love and war. Who does this war benefit? Can anyone truly win? What happens to you when you do? 

Ann Liang is an insanely talented writer. I have so much admiration for her work. Because I've only read her YA romance before this, I wasn't sure what to expect out of A Song to Drown Rivers - but I am once again in awe of what Ann Liang can do. This is a whole nother realm to what she is capable of and I would love to see more!

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring 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.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

A Song to Drown Rivers Deluxe Edition