Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - A Song to Drown Rivers

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A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

19 reviews

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

*vibes vibes vibes*

This book was written so beautifully. I think Ann Liang could easily become one of my favorite authors. Her prose is lush, atmospheric (like again, vibes vibes vibes!!!), and I loved reading this both with my eyeballs and listening to the narration. It flowed gorgeously!

However, I am not sold on the main romance in this novel. I was told that they were inlove, and not really shown it.

I hate to ship the main character Xishi with someone who is allegedly horrible and someone we are not supposed to root for (enemy king of Wu terrority, Fuchai).... but I did lmao. I'm not going to apologize about it either. They had *chemistry*. They had a connection that was built up and developed over years!

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here, but damn .... I did not know that was how the book would end, and I found Xishi's other love interest Fanli to be .... boring. His name should've been BLAND-LI (lol sorry that was corny, but I am a corny, unserious person).

Anyway, I will continue to read from Ann Liang, but I also struggle to understand how this is marketed as "fantasy" ???? Can someone explain it to me like I'm five? Please??

Content Warnings

natashaleighton_'s review

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adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A politically charged, historical epic that was as emotionally devastating as it was compelling! Ann Liang’s venture into the historical genre was a surprising shift from her more contemporary, YA adjacent works. But I really enjoyed every atmospheric moment of it.

Inspired by the story of Xishi (one of the Four Legendary Beauties of Ancient China), Liang weaves an intricately rich narrative that delves into the complex themes of war, love, sacrifice and betrayal. Which sees Xishi charge headfirst into the tumultuous world of corruption and court politics; to take down the tyrannical king whose army destroyed her village (and stole her sister’s life.)

It’s tragic and gut wrenching at times, but at the beating heart is the anger and desperation of countless women, whose lives are forever changed by the whims of callous, egotistical men. Xishi’s not the only woman on a quest within the place walls, as desperation and a need for survival has led others to seek refuge/vengeance there also. But she was definitely the most determined and successful in her endeavours. Which were soo nerve wrecking to experience.

I absolutely loved Xishi as a character and really enjoyed watching how she navigated such a cut throat world. Her conflicting emotions, as she meets others in this enemy kingdom whose experiences of war mirror her own, were exquisitely evocative and really highlighted the disproportionate impact war causes on the poorest and most vulnerable— but especially women and children.

For someone like me, who lives in a country that has never had to experience the effects of war firsthand, but have seen (via social media,etc) the very real and horrifying damage they inflict— Xishi’s hesitancy is probably the most relatable response I’ve seen in a protagonist in a while. And will no doubt kick start soo many thought provoking discussions that would be perfect for book clubs (or even a starting point for classroom dialogues surrounding War.)

On a lighter note, Xishi’s chemistry with military advisor, Fanli was off the charts! The longing looks and yearning they had for one another was soo good, I was literally rooting for them to just give up and run away together.

I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoiling the plot. But I highly suggest investing in the biggest box of tissues you can, as there were quite a few scenes that absolutely destroyed me. So do take this into consideration if you’re also an emotional reader.

Overall, an unforgettable read that I really enjoyed— I just wish it was a bit longer as the second half passed by far too quickly for my liking. And as a always, do check TWs beforehand.

Also, a huge thank you to BookBreak / Tor UK for the stunning proof.

Content Warnings

izzyrbell's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of ancient China's Four Beauties, this novel follows a young woman's journey as she becomes a spy to save her kingdom. Trained by military advisor Fanli, Xishi infiltrates the rival Wu palace to seduce & weaken their king. As she navigates court politics & her growing feelings for Fanli, Xishi must maintain her cover or risk the destruction of both kingdoms.
•
•
•
Ann Liang's retelling of Xishi's legend is a breathtaking journey through ancient China's political landscape. Her writing paints such a vivid world, bringing to life the struggles of women in a male-dominated society.

The intricate dance of courtly politics & espionage was brilliantly executed, contrasted with the forbidden romance & pining between Xishi & Fanli added so much more to this already emotional story.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘠𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦.

This isn't just historical fiction; it's a captivating experience that will resonate long after the final page. Prepare for a harrowing odyssey through love, duty, & self-discovery.

Fair warning: it's emotionally intense and gut-wrenching at times. I have not fully recovered as of posting this review ❤️‍🩹 but Ann has truly elevated her craft, cementing her status as a must-read author of mine.

If you loved I Hope This Doesn't Find You, prepare for something totally different but equally amazing ✨

Read if you love:
🏮 ancient Chinese legend retelling
🪷 strongly written FMCs
🏮 forbidden romance
🪷 star-crossed lovers
🏮 espionage

Content Warnings

btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

No one talk to me.

---

Okay, I've taken a breath. Review below.

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No one is more disappointed than me that I didn't absolutely love the heck out of this book. Ann Liang is one of my favourite authors, but this just didn't work out for me for a few reasons, which I'll get into.

This is sold as an adult historical fantasy romance. I'm not sure which part of this book qualified it as adult other than the ages of the characters (which was more New Adult than Adult, and I wonder why the cast was so young for what they needed to do), but it felt more YA in its overall storytelling and themes. To temper expectations, this is 80% historical, 15% romance, and 5% fantasy. The historical aspect was really interesting. I feel like she set up the war and the political theory side of the story really well. The two fighting kingdoms are well established, the impact of the war on our MC's village was clear, and the message at the end was really effective. Everything was pretty solid in that area, though it did get a little lost in the middle.

The romance is something I had a lot of issues with. I cared more about the unhinged villain king than I did the LI, and that's because the LI is basically not in this book, which is a wild choice. I did feel the tension when he was in certain scenes, but as a whole, he was forgotten by the MC and by me as a result. Fuchai, on the other hand, was absolutely unhinged, but his story arc was extremely interesting and I loved how everything played out for his character. That packed such a punch for me, that everything that happens with the LI felt inconsequential to Xishi's life and journey.

The last piece, fantasy, was barely present. However, it is the key to understanding why much of the story feels a bit disconnected. I can't say much else without spoiling, but while I found it interesting, it felt too little too late by the time that reveal happens, and by then I was already fully disconnected from the MC.

As a whole, the pacing of the story was off, the world building itself was very limited, and the relationships just weren't developed well enough for me to be invested in everything (outside of Fuchai), and it just left me disappointed. That being said, maybe this book will be for you as I've seen so many people absolutely loving it. However, it just didn't work for me in the end.

TW: death, blood, death of a child, war, violence, injury detail, sexism, alcohol consumption, suicide; mentions torture, murder

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 1.5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Pacing: 2.5/5
Overall: 3/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

ceruleanshelves's review against another edition

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4.0

the mind destroys, the heart devours

the fact that this is the same author that wrote i hope this never finds you is crazyyy (/pos). i enjoyed IHTNFY, it's just a total 180 going from a YA contemporary romcom to this fantasy tragedy in a fictional ancient china. it's a testament to her writing bc if i hadn't known it was the same author, i would never have guessed.

a beautiful but tragic tale of the most beautiful woman from a distant village conscripted to seduce and betray the king of a neighboring kingdom who ruthlessly took over hers. the YEARNING between xishi and fanli was crazyyyy. i was impressed with the writing, as there were very poetic lines and felt very true to the time period/genre, but there was also a simplicity and pacing to it where i never felt bogged down. i was actually able to read this very quickly, and i needed to know if xishi and fanli would succeed in their mission and reunite.

overall, i enjoyed it and but there were a few small things i think could be improved. emotionally though, i'm devastated please give me 5-10 business days to recover 😭 there are romance elements, but fair warning, this is not a romance with a perfect happy ending.

Content Warnings

dymonlikestoread's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

ARC Review

A Song To Drown Rivers

Author: Ann Liang

Rating: 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Spice: 0/5

Release Date: October 1st 2024

I HAVE NEVER LOVED AND HATED A BOOK SO MUCH IN MY LIFE.

There's so much to unpack in this book I don't know where to start. I will give a full review closer to the release date.

The book follows Xishi from the Yu kingdom whose curse is her undeniable beauty. Because of her beauty, she's recruited by King Gouijan's handsome military advisor Fanli. Xishi is offered the opportunity to use her beauty as a weapon to bring the neighboring Wu kingdom down and get personal revenge on her own by seducing their tyrant King Fuchai. Personally trained by Fanli, Xishi quickly discovers her desire for him, will she be able to seduce Fanchi in order to bring down the Wu kingdom and be with the man she truly desires?

I was gasping for air I couldn’t believe the amount of twists I could not predict the ending if I tried. I am screaming this is the biggest WTF ending. I am not okay. But if you’re looking for a book that entices you from the beginning and breaks you at the end read this book.

Content Warnings

lastblossom's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

tl;dr
An emotional ride featuring a clever protagonist that absolutely sticks the landing.

Thoughts
I finished this book a while ago, but I had to sit with my thoughts for a while because they are many. Like the lead character, this book is beautiful and clever and ambitious and tragic, and I found myself caught up in it the whole way through. Espionage tales are tricky, but this one really fulfills is promise, with a lead character who is absolutely cunning, and I love every move she makes. Pacing can be a bit hard to follow in some places, with large portions of time passing quickly in a way that makes me feel a TV show would convert it into a quick musical montage. The parts where it slows down to really detail the character interactions are by far the best parts, and I was surprised at how delicate and tender some of the emotions are. If the description of the book seems even the least bit interesting to you, give it a read. Strong recommend on this end.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Content Warnings

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

Content Warnings

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