“A Song to Drown Rivers” Book Review
Inspired by a true legend? Fantasy? A strong, beautiful heroine who is also a death-or-glory warrior? A forbidden love interest?
All these storylines serve as utterly transporting themes in this historical fiction that mixes fantasy, romance, espionage, politics, loyalty, revenge, and the mystical landscape and culture of two kingdoms bound to destroy one another.
We all need a fantasy world more than ever right about now, don’t you agree?
This immersive, epic novel, A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang, takes you to another world. To another magical time and place.
The story will lead you to ask yourself, “What would you sacrifice for love?”
At the heart of the novel is Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, and Fanli, the dedicated young military advisor, who on behalf of their king, presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon to save their people from the evil Wu empire. And to seal the deal, she will avenge the bloody death of her sister in one of the Wu kingdom’s village raids.
Beauty is power. And Xishi’s beauty is the realm of the coin that Fanli implements as a weapon to eventually score the ultimate Wu defeat and victory for their dynasty.
Fanli’s strategy is to lure the Wu ruler King Fuchai so that his total infatuation with Xishi could lead to the Wu downfall.
The story brings us into the mysterious, mythical legend as Xishi trains as a kind of Mata Hari; rising to the top of Fuchai’s court, influencing politics and executing her job as a spy. A very, very cunning spy.
Fuchai takes the bait and falls hard for Xishi. You can’t help aligning yourself with him, looking beyond his savage ruling and painful warring.
That she manipulates the king while holding off any actual consummation in their “love” relationship is a tender triumph.
The deep love that has blossomed between Xishi and her dedicated, heroic trainer, Fanli, unfolds with a palpitating throb beat that pulses with vibrating passion, unrealized because loyalty to their mission to save their kingdom is paramount. The seduction and their mutual parts in the plan ate an enormous yet delicate balance.
The seasons change with a mystical beauty, friendships are formed and alliances are built. Deceptions abound.
Bit by bit, the suspense crescendos.
In the end, you will cry with deep emotion as a more invested, devastating, nuanced kind of Romeo and Juliet fate awaits the lovers. Or does it?
A Song to Drown Rivers offers a spellbinding tale of Love manifested in many relationships: with one’s homeland, family and friends, a romantic lover; a cause.
What would you sacrifice for love?
I so very much enjoyed this novel and heartily recommend it to you. Liang’s mastery of storytelling is sublime ~ brimming with action, romance, history, and intrigue.
I thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this book.
(I look forward to the film 🤩)
A Song to Drown Rivers is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, a Good Morning America book club pick, an October 2024 Indie Next Pick, an October 2024 LibraryReads Pick.
Further, according to the publisher, you can order now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last―featuring 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.
* I am a copious reader! Until I can write all the book reviews for the print and audio books I enjoyed ~ or didn’t ~ this year, please visit and follow me on Goodreads.
Happy Reading.
