A Song to Drown Rivers

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What to expect

Instant New York Times bestseller

‘Exquisite and devastating. It won’t fail to move you’ ­– Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose . . .

Since birth, Xishi’s extraordinary beauty has been seen as a blessing. 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 neighbouring kingdom, 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 and seduce their immoral king.

What neither Xishi nor Fanli expect is the doomed attraction that ignites between them. Even worse, Xishi soon finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king and his advisors. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher she climbs in the court, the further she and Fanli have to fall. And if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down . . .

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.

Why readers love A Song to Drown Rivers:

'I am STUNNED by just how beautiful this was'

'This book will break your heart in a way only a talented author can do'

'Ended up reading until 2am on a work night . . . Beautiful writing and characters'

'Amazing . . . I was fully crying on the plane while reading it'

Critics Review

Liang has given us a new classic that achingly captures the will of kings, the intelligence of women and the heartbreak of war. Exquisite and devastating. It won’t fail to move you
Shelley Parker-Chan, no. 1 bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun
Ann Liang has fashioned an elegant historical epic, honouring the ingenuity of women in the face of impossible odds. With impeccable pacing, evocative prose, and a romance that had my heart in a vice, A Song to Drown Rivers will call you onward, page by page, until you reach its devastating end
Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Bone Season and The Priory of the Orange Tree
A stunning, heart-rending feat of a story. A Song to Drown Rivers retells ancient legend with phenomenal voice
Chloe Gong, author of Immortal Longings
Exquisite, riveting, heart-wrenching. Prepare to be swept away by the beautiful writing, forbidden love and complex characters
Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
By turns searingly ambitious and heartbreakingly intimate, A Song to Drown Rivers is an incisive, intricately crafted examination of power, politics and what we will become for those we love. This story swept me away
Grace D. Li, author of Portrait of a Thief
A devastatingly romantic tale of survival and sacrifice amidst the rise and fall of empires
June CL Tan, author of Jade Fire Gold
Ann Liang’s mesmerizing prose, coupled with a poignant love story, weaves a tale of love, revenge and grief that will leave you breathless
June Hur, author of The Red Palace
Poignant and devastating, A Song to Drown Rivers is filled with yearning, a breathtaking story that examines, with both gentleness and relentless honesty, those caught up in the violent ambitions of people in power
Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
An emotional odyssey that you’ll want to read again and again – the first time with your heart in your throat, and every time after to savour each stolen look and word
Joan He, author of The Ones We're Meant to Find
Liang has managed that rare feat of retelling that honors a great epic while finding new depths and intimacies within it. This book stole my breath away with its yearning and sorrow. Each word is chosen with exquisite care, each emotion crafted with true feeling, such that your own heart beats in time with the characters
Vaishnavi Patel, author of Kaikeyi

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