Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

2 reviews

niftyreads's review against another edition

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5.0

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! 
 
I’m a fan of Ann Liang’s writing, and I’m a fan of Natalie Naudus’ narration. To have them combine on Liang’s new book, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS, for its audiobook was very exciting for me! The book is inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, which I know nothing about. For me, this was a gorgeous fantasy novel filled with love and hate, war and traitors, sacrifice and hope. There’s no surprise that lots of tears were shed. 
 
I found some difficult and sad to read, while others were full of joy and light. The pace was strange, but then again, it was a different type of tale, so it made sense. I think having Naudus as the narrator helped a lot. They are one of my favorites because they are so skilled in their profession, bringing stories to life that I forget I’m listening to one person and not a full cast. 
 
This is a book I can’t wait to reread because of the beauty of it! 
 
Content warnings: child death, grief, violence, war, animal cruelty 
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love_and_lilacs's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

 I loved this book. Being completely unfamiliar with both the author and the subject matter, I wasn't really sure what I was getting into, but by the end I was compelled to begin researching the myths and stories that formed the foundation of this novel. 

There were certainly a few points that I felt the pacing could have been improved but it wasn't enough to stop me from enjoying the story. And there were a few minor points where I wasn't entirely clear on how much time was passing, particularly once Xishi arrives at the Wu castle. 

The ending was also entirely unexpected, and then unexpected one more time before it all wrapped up. Maybe if you're familiar with Xishi's story and the variations of her myth, you won't be surprised at all, but I certainly was. 

I hesitate to make this comparison, because I feel like it puts too much pressure on this book, but I would say that people who enjoy Madeline Miller's works will also enjoy this one. Miller's prose is likely the stronger, but I was hardly disappointed by Liang's writing style either. 

The romance was also constructed in a way that felt compelling and satisfying to read, and I found myself anxious to learn the ultimate fate of Xishi and Fanli. 

I devoured this in almost a single sitting and only stopped reading because it was 3 am. I can imagine myself returning to this book to read it again, perhaps at a slower pace that allows me to savor what I might have missed the first time around. 

Perhaps the highest praise I can give this book is that it moved me to tears, and any book that can move me to feel real emotion is worth my time. 


ARC provided by NetGalley 
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