For a debut novel in the adult fantasy genre, Ann Liang proposes an impressive introduction. From the very first pages, I found myself drawn in, expecting to discover a typical (perhaps slightly predictable) romantasy.... I have been mistaken: this book was so much more!

The first part of the book intrigued me. I never quite knew which direction the plot will take, and I enjoyed every second of it. This uncertainty, carefully maintained, kept me eager to see where Ann Liang would lead us. I have to admit that halfway through the book, a particular (kiss) scene left me somewhat perplexed... But the second half of the book quickly erased any doubts. It turned out to be a true emotional rollercoaster, gathering everything I love (and love to hate) in a romantasy: betrayal, despair, grief, madness,... I LOVED IT. Ann Liang knows how to navigate deep and strong emotional scenes. Tackling such a complex and sensitive theme was no small feat, but she handled it perfectly. The last pages, both surprising and disorienting, left me shaken, yet they perfectly made sense.

I have been truly impressed by Ann Liang's writing, by her ability to make us feel all these complex emotions with such brilliance. I cannot wait for her future books, confident that they will at least be as good as this one (and her previous YA books that I also truly, deeply enjoyed)!

I'm writing this review a few day's after finishing, and I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. There were elements of it I enjoyed, and others that just didn't work for me at all, so I have a feeling this is going to be a mixed bag kinda review.

A Song to Drown Rivers is told solely from the POV of Xishi, a beautiful girl who has always been told her looks were more of a curse than a gift. She is someone who has never wanted grand things, simply enough food to feed her family, and for the Kingdom of Wu to fall into disrepair. When Fanli, the King's young military advisor comes to her with a plan to bring about the fall of the Wu kingdom, Xishi knows she will help, even if it means using her looks to worm her way into the Wu King's bed and whisper thoughts in his ears as she tries to seduce him. Xishi may be beautiful, but that does not make her weak, lesser, though a lot of the men in the court certainly view her that way. Instead she uses this curse, her beauty, to beguile the King, until he believes she is the only person he can trust. It was certainly intoxicating, seeing her have that power and use it to benefit her own Kingdom, and I enjoyed how Liang let her be this calculating without having her fall into the trap that so many other female characters do in this situation, and fall in love with their enemy.

It's a story that is incredibly fast paced, something that both worked for me and didn't. I liked how the story never dragged in anyway, even with the descriptive and flowery writing style we usually get with a slower paced story, this one kept the pace throughout. Something I feel is incredibly rare, and I did really enjoy how there never seemed to be a good place to put the book down (I read it in one sitting). The way it fell down for me was with the romance, and with this being described as a romantasy, we are all here for the romance. The two love interests spend very little time together, in fact for the majority of the book they are separated, and it's very much an insta lust/love kind of situation. So, I didn't really feel the romance as much as I would have liked.

However, where this story really shone was in watching Xishi seduce the King of Wu. This is where Liang really shines as a writer, not falling into the trap so many others before her did and have her fall in love with him, the enemy. Instead she makes her a woman on a mission, one she will not deviate from, which is understandable when you learn her backstory. Even when she starts to see his humanity, even when he becomes so charming she can't resist a smile, she reminds herself of the atrocities that happened in his name. Their story could only really head one way, and I felt that their ending was incredibly satisfying. She does maybe start a little naive, thinking that all Wu are monsters, all to blame for the murder of her people, but as the story progresses, and she get's more involved with the King, she see's these people as the simple human beings they are. Yes, there are monsters, but they don't only lurk in the Kingdom of Wu.

So it didn't overly feel like a romance to me, more a story of a woman using the one thing given to her, her beauty, to try and bring down the Kingdom that waged war on her people and killed her sister. It's brutal, despite the beautiful writing style, and I enjoyed how the author never shied away from the darker side of being a concubine. The fickleness of men, how Xishi had to fight to gain his attention and then fight even harder to keep it. But it also shows how easily people can accept and believe a pretty face. She worms her way into the Kings bed, his heart so easily, uses her beauty as a weapon, the only one she has available, and it really was spectacular, watching her bring this Kingdom down, piece by piece, until the King was so firmly wrapped around her finger, he could never once believe her of treachery.

The ending certainly shocked me. Knowing this was written by a romance author I expected it to head in a very different direction than it did, but I was pleasantly shocked at how, probably, realistic she kept it. It was definitely heartbreaking, but also seemed almost fitting to the story, as well as the time. Maybe this is how the story it's based on ends, I'm not familiar with the text so I can't say for sure, but I definitely think readers will be mixed in their reception of it. Overall, I did enjoy this one. I think calling it a romantasy is a slight leap, it's more a tragedy, and I think had I gone into it expecting that I might have liked it more. But I think lovers of beautifully written stories, featuring women with vengeance in their blood and a smidge of political intrigue will enjoy this one.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was absolutely amazing!!!I devoured this! loved plot ,characters and the world building this was so much more than what I expected . I ran to preorder this! I mean look at the cover it's stunning and those edges !!
Can't wait to have this beauty on my shelf! Amazing read, definitely recommend! 5 stars

The most tragic book of 2024 is here and I am not okey. Ann Liang ripped my heart out, stomped on it and squeezed it thru a meat grinder. The last 10% I was thinking 'It can't be all, surely it won't end this way', but it did and it was so tragic and beautiful, I'm drowning in my tears rn.

"Her beauty hides a deadly purpose."

Xishi has a mission - she must go to enemy kingdom, seduce their king and get revange on her people. It is no way easy task, court games are so tricky and dangerous, one wrong move can be a death sentence. I'm in awe how she navigated this and plots she came up with.

First, she must be trained. While she is travelling from her village with Fanli, Yue king most trusted advisor, he teaches her everything she must know to survive in Wu kingdom. But he can't help the attraction that's sizzling between them.

I need this book injected in my veins, it was everything I wanted and more. Xishi and Fanli are so dear to me, I don't know how I'll ever recover. This book is unlike any other I have read, I have gazillion quotes highlighted and already can't wait for my physical copy to arrive so I could annotate it and go thru that emotional damage again. Ann Liang literally shattered me and I'm like 'thanks, let's do this again'😀

I’m utterly speechless after finishing A Song to Drown Rivers. What a powerful and gripping story! From beginning to end, I was deeply invested in the narrative, unable to put the book down.
Before I go into the plot, can we just take a moment to appreciate how stunning the cover is. I am completely obsessed with this cover.

Ann Liang has delivered something refreshingly different from her previous works. While I’ve always appreciated her other books, this one stands out with its unique and interesting approach. Set in the lush and intricate world of ancient China, the book immerses readers in a vividly portrayed historical setting that feels as though you’re watching a period C-drama unfold.
The characters in this novel are remarkably well-developed and complex. Each one is portrayed with depth and nuance, adding layers to the narrative that make it all the more engaging. Xishi was an inspiring and unforgettable protagonist. Fanli the dashing male lead and King Fuchai - who i was so conflicted on how to feel.

And the ending. I am not ready to talk about the ending. It left me in tears (of anger and sadness) is all I can say now. A Song to Drown Rivers is in conclusion a breathtaking journey that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page so I highly recommend everyone pick it up once it is out.

Thank you #Netgalley, Ann Liang and Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book , this might be bias since I love Ann liang alot and re read all her books at least a hundred times but genuinely this book was splendid.

One thing I loved about the book was how Ann described the setting and surroundings , the way Ann describes the surroundings gives me a clear idea of what is around them , etc the weather , the textures of the walls...Everything was so detailed . It made me feel as if I was in the book witnessing everything happening.

I also loved how the fmc character personality was shown clearly , Ann showed why the fmc wanted revenge as well as her desire for the mmc fanli in the book . Ann never disappoints with the character development of her characters !

Ann always manages to write a charming mmc that steals my heart aka fanli , I loved his witty personality and how inlove he was with xishi melted my heart . Good job Ann !


Although one thing I felt needed more improvement on was the plot when xishi entered the wu castle , we read from the beginning that xishi was trained in many different things like politics, poems and a instrument but she never used any of those skills while she was in the castle . I felt like the enemies to lovers part was not very accurate since they technically never became actual lovers . Fuchai was in love with xishi but xishi never felt the same way , there wasn't much seduction between Fuchai and xishi since Fuchai seem to fall for xishi very fast without her actually needing to put in much effort .


I felt like xishi life in the castle was quite easy as I expected the other concubines to bully xishi since I don't think they will sit there idly and watch xishi win the kings affections .

I also think that the romance between fanli and xishi could be better in a way since they are madly inlove but barely have any interactions in the book compared to fuchai and xishi . The most time they spend together was during the 10 weeks used to train xishi. The love between fanli and xishi was like insta love which didn't make me too invested in their relationship.


Overall the book was such a fantastic read that made me cry ESPECIALLY AT THE END . I was shedding tears , poor fuchai 😭 he didn't deserve that kind of ending. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love watching historical c drama since the plot of this book is similar to a cdrama . Thank you netgalley for this arc !!

First and Foremost, thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC!!

Secondly, this is my first book I have ever read of Ann Liang. A Song to Drown Rivers is also her first time venturing in Fantasy genre. I’m not an expert but I do read a LOT of Fantasy books and paranormal ones than the contemporary books. So, when I learned that she will have a Fantasy book, I grabbed the opportunity to request this in Netgalley. I know of the author because my friends speaks highly of her books. That might be the reason why I have high hopes for this new book even though it is her first time writing Fantasy.

I am not familiar with the Legend of Xishi in China. So this was an interesting storyline for me. The story have so much potential into becoming a great novel. However, it falls short with how it was presented to us readers. One, there’s no backstory on how the two kingdoms came at war with one another. Why are they fighting? Is it just the normal war reason of wanting to conquer the other land? I don’t know because there is nothing about the backstory of how the war came to be. Second, what is Xishi’s name? She mentioned that Xishi is NOT her real name in the first few chapters. I mean why mention it in the first place if you are not going to divulge about it later on?

Third, what is her sickness? First chapter mentioned she has a faint heart or something. I just don’t understand on how she have the illness BUT when Fanli comes around, she doesn’t feel it anymore? and she only felt it again in Wu Kingdom. It’s like just once?

Fourth, Ann Liang mentioned in her Instagram post and I quote “I’ve gotten a few questions about the UK release of my adult fantasy debut A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS…” and sadly this is definitely not adult fantasy. Because in my definition, adult fantasy have some smut, even just a little. Has much gore. This book, does have gore and action scenes, but it’s NOT IT.

Fifth, Liang destroyed Fuchai. Fuchai was created and portrayed as a monster by the Yue Kingdom. However, what Liang showed us was that Fuchai was a by product of people expecting great things from you because you are the Crown Prince. Because your parent is the great King. He has some issues, which honestly I would love to learn more. I wanted to know the history of Fuchai. I don’t want the descriptions of the palace or how beautiful Xishi is. We already know that. What we don’t know is what really happened with Fuchai and his father. Again, the history is quite lacking. Backstory almost non existent.

Sixth, oh we all know the instalike (I say like because I don’t know it doesn’t feel like love to me at the time) between Fanli and Xishi. He trained her for 10 weeks. But in that time, it doesn’t feel like something evolved between them. And yet even after being in Wu Kingdom for years, she still wants Fanli who she haven’t seen for a long time.

Seventh, okay this should have been the first one but… she was basically recruited as a spy, right? As they planned they should have discussed on how she will give some message to the home kingdom. But she don’t know how to give the informations back to Yue. Like what? Lol. She only did transfer info like towards the end. Which, I don’t know. It feels weird not to know that first hand. Either they don’t have an intensive plan or she was not informed of it. Which is weird! You put her in that kingdom, you should have known how to leak info.

Eight, Zhengdan is one of the characters I liked. But her death feels rushed. I was so ecstatic that finally some fight scene! And it was a bit decent. Fight scene can be improved more though. More on describing the actual fight rather than how she moves beautifully? Or something. Lol. Her death though. It is definitely rushed. It could have been like she gloats her win to General Ma and idk, something more to it. I do know it was like a catalyst for Xishi but Zhengdan’s death shouldn’t been rushed like that.

Nineth, there is always two sides of the coin. This is why I wanted to know the history of both kingdoms. Why they were at war. Because on each side, there are always people who didn’t do anything wrong, who viewed the other kingdom as monsters. Who is really at fault here? I mean obviously it’s the Kings. Lol. So, I know at some point Xishi was going to have regrets on her choices. Because she learned to like them even a little. SHE LIKED FUCHAI. Even if she doesn’t confirm with words. I knew at one point she started to like him even though she hated him. Because Fuchai only shows genuine care for her. All he did was so gentlemanly that one wouldn’t know he was supposed to be a monster. Yes, he is a bit morally grey. But aren’t some people too? Fanli is one. He also killed, it just depends on the circumstances. Even when he learned Xishi is a spy, he just gave his life. Just. Like. That. Fuchai deserved so much more.

Tenth, what kind of ending was that? Is that how the original story went? She was drowned because she is a future threat to Goujian? What? And then it became like a paranormal story because she became non corporeal. And visited Fanli in his dream and Goujian to torment him? Like what the actual fxk? After all the sacrifices she made, after she killed Fuchai with her own hands, that’s how it ends? Though if I think about it like it’s how the originally goes then maybe? But this is fantasy!! One can bend anything and make the story her own though.

I have so many questions about it that this is such a long review. I was left with nothing but questions on what why and another why? I feel the story can evolve more. But since this is just a 300 something pages, it is rushed. It should have 600 pages if this is a standalone, which according to the author is. And please, if you are doing fantasy, give us a background on the history of kingdom even just a tiny bit. I was left trying to understand what happened. I feel like the potential of the story was wasted. And please, if you’re also gonna say things like how Xishi has illness and that her name is not her name. Make it make sense in the middle or last part of the book, I don’t care. Just make it make sense.

If this will be rewritten, I might read it again. I do hope that if Liang tries to write about the other three, she gives it justice. And not try to rush how it will end. Readers like substance. There is substance here but lacking. We don’t care about the pages as long as the story telling is good. No matter how many pages there are if it’s not engaging us, it will just feel like dragging. This is me for the first 60 percent of the book. I just powered it through so I can have a decent review.

I do hope this does not affect on how I am approved of future books. I am merely expressing my opinions about the book I have read. I would still be reading another ARC of her which is I Am Not Jessica Chen. Hoping that that book is much better because it is her usual genre. Again, thank you for the ARC. And hope it is not my last one from Pan Macmillan. ❤️

5 wonderful stars!

A Song to Drown Rivers will make waves and maintain its longevity as a modern classic.

I’m speechless. This is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve ever read. The ending was shocking, and the plot was as sharp as the blade Fanli honed Xishi to be.

Set in ancient China, and loosely inspired by the Legend of Xishi; one of the four beauties of China, Ann Liang weaves a story of deceit, forbidden love and a world where everything is carefully calculated, together with a villain king who really is a boy with too much power, coupled with a soft spot for Xishi.

Fanli and Xishi’s relationship is unique and filled with so much longing. I just wish they had more scenes together. The ending was shocking and I totally didn’t expect it.

Can’t wait to get myself a physical copy once it’s out.

As one of my most anticipated novels from 2024, A song to drown rivers was a massive disappointment for me. This book could have been so much more than what it actually was… Well, let’s get started.

Things I liked:
- This book is short. As weird as it is to list this as a pro, I don't think this kind of story would have worked with a longer book.
- The prose is very good, although generally not really my cup of tea.
- The overall idea for the plot was okay, I just think the execution could have been better. Although I didn't know that Ann Linag was a romance writer, now that I'm aware it's painfully obvious that this is her first attempt at fantasy.
- There were bits of the romance that made me feel *things*, and that's pretty exceptional for me.

Things that didn't (quite) work:
- I believe we should address the elephant in the room: this is not a fantasy. If I had to classify it, it would be historical romance.
- The characters have no depth whatsoever, because they do not have enough "page time" to develop. Besides Xishi, we simply do not see them enough.
- A lot of telling instead of showing. Xishi constantly tells, tells, and then tells again.
- The insta love. I seriously thought we had moved on from this kind of trope by now.
- Random things and details are added and then never brought up again. It makes me wonder what was even the point of mentioning some things.

I think a lot of people will actually enjoy this book and I had such high expectations myself, but it was sadly not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired by one of the legendary Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is a tale of deceit and decadence.

Xishi’s beauty is a blessing, to everyone else. She spends her days veiled, keeping her head down, and trying to keep her parents alive. When she attracts the attention of a young miliatry advisor, Fanli, she is presented with an opportunity to be something other than the wife of a farmer.

She is a weapon. One that the failing army of her people needs desperately. To topple the vicious neighbouring kingdom. She is to wed the enemy king, seduce him, and destroy the oppressors from within. But Xishi isn’t a palace girl, she cannot school her expressions, or guard her thoughts, and she knows nothing of etiquette expected of the wives of royalty. She’s going to have to learn, and quickly.

Fanli will help, but there is something about him that Xishi can’t help but be drawn to. And she doesn’t need any other complications. She’s already engaged to the most dangerous man in all the land. She needs to get up close and personal, turn the king’s head, and somehow get out alive again.

This is a wonderfully picturesque historical fiction, of a super dramatic story I had never even heard of before which was a delight. I’m not sure if this is meant to be a YA, but the softness of the language in regards to the king’s wives and their general ~activities~ made me think it was. (If so, definitely not a bad thing, the story works regardless. Though it’s being compared to She Who Became the Sun which is just more a brutal and explicit book in every sense!) What I really liked though, was the ending. Which because it is the ending I will say nothing about, except, good choice, ballsy. Well done, Ann Liang.

I wouldn’t say this is necessarily for the She Who Became the Sun admirers, but certainly all the historical and mythological girlies and folkies. Fewer gods, but just as many boss ladies.

This book could have been so much better than it was. The broad strokes of the plot are as follows: Xishi is a simple peasant girl who is the most beautifullest of beautifuls who ever beautifulled. Her land, the kingdom of Yue, has just emerged from a devastating war with the neighbouring kingdom, the Wu. Brought by stories of her beauteous beautiness, the Yue king’s advisor finds her and recruits her to go on a special mission: As a diplomatic gesture, she will be sent to the king of Wu as a gift concubine, where she will act as a spy to destabilize his court and lay the groundwork for a retaliatory strike from Yue.

Now, I am as pro-spy as the next reader, but this book is attempting to do a moral complexity at the end that comes too late, and too unsupported by the previous events, to properly land. I think the best demonstration of this failure hinges on a moment when Xishi manages to get herself invited to the Wu king’s council of war. The Wu king’s advisor is urging a pre-emptive strike against the Yue, who have been making some unsettling military troop movements, but Xishi manages to get the Wu king not to launch any kind of strike. This moment comes after months at the court, during which Xishi has been learning that the Wu Are People Actually, not the enemy monsters she had learned to see during the war. They have family and desires and hopes for the future, just like the Yue.

So this moment at the council, when she realizes she has the power to preserve peace, despite her mission, could be incredibly meaningful. It could be the moment when she begins to doubt her task, must wonder whether loyalty to her country is worth the slaughter that she knows will ensue if she proceeds with her orders. But we don’t get any of that kind of insight here. In fact, her discovery that the Wu Are People Actually is really weirdly centered around the Wu king, who does things like behead servants when he gets bored (while somehow respecting her desire—as an explicitly gifted concubine—not to have any sex with him for TWO YEARS. Those two are regularly sleeping in the same bed, but this king, who has never been denied anything in his life, and has a whole stable of concubines who fight for his favour, somehow respects bodily autonomy of thee first woman to tell him no? While inviting him to literally sleep with her, in her bed? I simply don’t believe it. I can imagine there are ways for her to preserve her virginity for her true love back home even in this position, because clearly the author wants it that way, but not if she’s inviting the king to her bedroom to sleep next to her in bed all night. That’s too much of a porcupine for me to swallow.) Actually, even this growing intimacy with the Wu king might work if it were presented as something weird and unhealthy, but instead I felt that I was being encouraged to see a man who regularly beheads servants for fun as someone with layers and complexity, and, I’m sorry, no.

By the end Xishi does come to the realization that War Is Bad Actually—and, in fact, there’s a lot of narrative courage about the ending of this book that I respect—but by then it’s too late. The moment to make this realization anything other than a trite little platitude disappeared when Xishi had the opportunity to think about how her spy power could preserve peace as well as make war, and didn’t even hesitate.

Other narrative sloppinesses are evident. Xishi’s love interest is only 22, but also somehow old enough to have a loyal servant, who is a full adult, who was adopted by Love Interest from the streets when he was fifteen and trained into a fighting man. Xishi makes a deal with another concubine to redirect the king’s attention back to the other concubine in return for one favour to be called in as needed—but then waits a year to actually redirect the king’s attention. If I were the other concubine, I would have considered that deal null and void after a month or two of nonaction. Xishi’s spy-mate, who is sent with her as a palace lady, does absolutely nothing to affect the plot, except to get killed in a scene that had exactly 0 emotional resonance because her role was so pointless; and Xishi’s love interest is very, very boring.

So: I can see some good things about this book. The ending was good. And the spycraft conceit was excellent. Really, the bones of a banging kick-ass excellent book were present here--and even better, they're based on an actual historical legend. But somewhere between the historical inspiration and this book, the story became trite and boring; the characters became limp; and I really wish I'd spent my day reading something better.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My Book Of The Year
It was like nothing I've read before, so simple but so intricate, so cruel but so beautiful, I love the writing of Ann Liang, all her books may seem mainstream at first but have a whole different depth once you dive in — but this one? I was speechless, at the beginning, during Xishi's mission and by the end. My favourite kind of beginning, my favourite kind of middle part, my favourite kind of the end — full of longing, intrigue and real life injustice.
And I'm forever grateful that it's a standalone, it only shows how good of a writer are you to make a story like this fit within limited page number, with no need for a sequel and no feel of a rush. Hats off, I knew Ann Liang's deep dive on the historical fiction will be the jackpot considering my love to her contemporary novels, but this one truly exceeded all expectations and left me ruined, thank you 💙🧡

I loved this book. I initially knew Ann Liang through her romance novels, so I was curious to explore her work in this new genre, and what a delightful surprise it was. Her writing is sublime, with a rich, immersive world and complex characters that draw you in completely. The story is addictive, and the romance is perfect. I was particularly captivated by how she conveyed Xishi's inner turmoil, torn between two kingdoms and their people. And that ending... simply unforgettable. This book is a true gem that deserves to be read by many. I sincerely hope Ann Liang continues writing in this genre!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book before its release date in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a retelling of Legend of Xishi, one of the renowned four beauties of ancient China. Her beauty was used as a weapon against the enemy kingdom that had terrorized her country. With the help of an alluring advisor, Xishi trained to be the perfect spy.

Note: Spoilers ahead.

What I like about the book:
• Inspired by a legend (The Legend of Xishi)
• C-drama vibes
• Good pacing
• Probably biased of Ann Liang's writing style lol but I liked how simply beautiful it is
• There are a lot of familiar references that I adore (e.g. the scars on Fanli's back reminds me of Lan Wangji, the "laugh or cry" phrase always reminds me of Xie Lian, the guqin, also mentions of other legends: The Legend of Chang'e, The Moon Goddess)
• The "touch her and you die" trope 🔪 (even though it was just for a second, let me have my delulu moment)

What I didn't like about the book:
• Insta-love between Xishi and Fanli. I mean, it was obvious both of them were attracted to each other the first time they met. I would have appreciated it more if they spent a long time together before parting ways.
• Xishi stayed with Fuchai for 2 whole years and continued to pine for Fanli??????? Even when he disappears for more than half of the book.
• FUCHAI DESERVED BETTER
• Fuchai's character clearly has the morally grey potential. He's got daddy issues for fuck's sake. The beef with his father wasn't even explained properly.
• The politics was meh. I was so curious about the history of Yue and Wu. Who started the war to begin with. Everyone just died without explaining their side of the coin.
• Zhengdan's unnecessary death. I would still like to see her kill General Ma with her own two hands.
• Xishi's heart condition. What was the point of this? It wasn't explained why she got such an illness and in the later part of the book it's like she doesn't have such illness?
• Xishi was a terrible spy. All she did was spread rumors and flirt with the king, keeping him at arm's length. Making him build a castle and canal just for her.
• Xishi practiced playing the guqin but we didn't get to see her play it for the king. What was the point of getting her hands bloodied if she didn't even play a single note in the palace of Wu? Let alone at the banquet.
• Also, it was mentioned that the fmc's name isn't exactly Xishi since that was the name the villagers called her. What was her real name then??
• The novel didn't feel like an adult book. The supposedly adult themes were mid??? But there were little to none, imo.
• I feel like there were a lot of character development and storylines that were wasted. So many plot points were dropped half way and so many characters could have had such meaningful impacts to the story.
• The angst, the pining. I didn't feel it as much as I hoped for. The romance was a letdown.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book, just wasted potential which is a pity. It felt rushed, not fully fleshed out. 378 pages weren't enough to give this book justice. Also, I'm confused if this is a standalone or not? I hate that I don't love it (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

Favorite lines:

"The mind destroys; the heart devours."

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

"When men say they want a lover, what they often mean is they want a mirror; they wish to see themselves reflected back at them in the best light."

"One cannot save the world and live in peace."

"When the hares have all been caught, the hunting dogs are cooked."

*minor spoilers*

Plot ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

In the aftermath of a violent war between two kingdoms, the Wu have triumphed over the Yue. Bitter with their loss and seeking to reclaim their future, the Yue king and his cunning advisor devise a plan to offer tribute in the form of a concubine spy, a stunning young lady discovered amongst the survivors of a small village. Xishi must adapt quickly to her new role if she is going to successfully entrap the enemy Wu king and expose the Wu vulnerabilities. Yet, despite her commitment to the mission, her inexplicable connection with Fanli, the Yue advisor, complicates the situation. Can Xishi navigate the complexities and dangers of court life to survive and claim a victory for the Yue?

Characters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I find it entertaining how the majority of characters in this book are described as being really, really… really ridiculously good looking. Although it’s their primary attribute, each individual is further defined by other unique qualities that sets their beauty apart, giving them a somewhat otherworldly or divine feel.

Xishi, the compassionate, insightful, quick learning protagonist. Fanli, the intelligent, cool, aloof but deeply emotional forbidden love interest. Fuchai, the wolf-like, misunderstood enemy who just wants authentic connection. Zhengdan, the brave, skilled and loyal palace lady.

Consequently, they each have a gravitas to their personalities which would see them fit comfortably into tales of the legendary heroes of old.

Setting ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Ancient China is a fantastic setting for an epic star crossed lovers story due to its rich history and complex politics. The descriptive imagery was vivid and the environments came across as realistic for the time period. I would have like more exposure to the wider court and social structure in the world building but this is just personal preference and didn’t detract from the story.

Writing ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

An enjoyably spicy writing style. The carriage scene was an outstanding favourite of mine and I particularly appreciated the author’s choice to avoid explicit scenes between Xishi and Fuchai. I felt this really helped emphasise Fuchai’s desire for authentic connection in his intimacy, rather than control. As a result, Fuchai appeared much more human and became a very relatable character despite his other flaws. I also feel this abstinence protected the purity of Xishi’s unexplored relationship with Fanli. The constant push and pull within the love-triangle was brilliant yet maddening at times and often left me satisfied but wanting more.

Readability ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I couldn’t put this book down and sped through it from start to finish. The author has a really nice flow and the pacing remained high throughout the book to keep me turning the pages!

Enjoyment = ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I recommend this as a really great book and fun read. However, I did feel sorry for some of the characters in the final chapters and would have preferred a less bittersweet ending.

Favourite quotes:

- In reality we were just two mortals, bound by our respective roles in history, and whatever flickered between us felt so terribly fragile compared to the immovable weight of mountains, of kingdoms, of war.

- “So this is how it feels,” he murmured, almost under his breath, “to be cut by your own blade.”

- There was Fanli, racing toward me, fast as a shadow, like a figure from the fables. My sight had started to fade already, black spots swimming before me, and so perhaps I only thought I saw the wild, raw emotion ablaze on his face, a wretched look I’d never witnessed before, like the world was crumbling around him.

Many thanks to Anne Liang, the publisher and NetGalley for the electronic review copy they kindly provided. In response, the above review is my critical reflection and honest opinion.

A retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of the four beauties of Ancient China. This story is set sometime in the 6th century BC. I enjoyed the story, it kept my interest all the way through and had a good steady pace. The characters were well-developed and distinct.
This is the first book by Ann Liang I have read. Her previous books are classified as young adult. This book, however, is billed as her first historical adult book. I did find the writing, at times, felt as though it was more of a YA book. The writing style is unsophisticated and could do with a lot of polishing in order to make this feel more adult. From a historical point of view, yes it felt like historical China but there was no sense of a specific time period. The publishers blurb for this book labeled it as epic fantasy. It is not epic and it is not fantasy. I was anticipating more action but this was basically a romance. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and would certainly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the arc this was my first book by Ann Liang, and it made me UGLY CRY. I read some reviews of Ann Liang's prior works and they commented, "Oh, no wonder this is Ann Liang's book; it will make you cry." I had no expectations for this book, yet I ended up crying for all of the characters. Even after I finished reading, I was struck with sadness, to the point of being outraged that Ann Liang had the audacity to subject them to such a terrible fate lol.

I was terrified to keep reading, even halfway through the book, I was sobbing hysterically for Fanli, who had vowed his loyalty to the Yu kingdom and had to let go of Xishi. My tears continued for Fuchai. I don't really like him, but he's quite lovely and doesn't deserve such a dreadful fate. I believe the plot is neat. The pace is neither slow nor fast, resulting in significant character development, notably for Xishi. The writing is beautiful dan poetic. I think the ending is really suitable after going through so much hardship. I can smile, and my heart feels warm, even though it leaves a slight gap.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling in A Song To Drown Rivers and the relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

Ann Liang, what have you done to me? This was absolutely heartbreaking but in the best way. The tension, the yearning, the romance, all chef's kiss. I do wish that she made Fuschai more unlikeable. Looking forward to more from her

Thank you soo much netgalley for giving me this book arc in exchange for an honest review

A Song to Drown Rivers: A Novelistic Masterpiece?
Ann Liang's "A Song to Drown Rivers" is a captivating historical fantasy that reimagines the legend of Xishi. This review delves into the novel's strengths and weaknesses, offering a comprehensive analysis.
Strengths
* Rich World-Building: Liang skillfully constructs a vivid and immersive world, blending historical elements with fantastical touches. The portrayal of ancient China is both authentic and imaginative.
* Complex Characters: Xishi is a multifaceted protagonist, torn between duty and desire. Her character arc is compelling and her growth is palpable. Supporting characters, like Fanli and Zhengdan, are equally well-developed.
* Thematic Depth: The novel explores profound themes of womanhood, power, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between love and manipulation.
* Lyrical Prose: Liang's writing is poetic and evocative, creating a mesmerizing reading experience. The imagery is vivid and the language is rich.
Weaknesses
* Pacing Issues: While the beginning is engaging, the middle section can feel somewhat slow-paced. The narrative could benefit from a tighter focus.
* Unresolved Plot Threads: Some subplots and character arcs are left hanging, leaving the reader with a sense of incompleteness.
* Reliance on Tropes: Certain elements of the story rely on familiar fantasy tropes, which might detract from the novel's originality for seasoned readers.
Overall Impression
"A Song to Drown Rivers" is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that offers a fresh perspective on a classic legend. While it has its flaws, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a worthwhile read for fans of historical fantasy.