A Song to Drown Rivers
Published on 30. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-0350-5041-3 (ISBN)
Description
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 expects is the doomed attraction that ignites between them. Even worse, Xishi soon finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king and his advisors. A brutality lurks behind his gentleness, 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 2 a.m. on a work night . . . Beautiful writing and characters'
'Amazing . . . I was fully crying on the plane while reading it'
'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 expects is the doomed attraction that ignites between them. Even worse, Xishi soon finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king and his advisors. A brutality lurks behind his gentleness, 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 2 a.m. on a work night . . . Beautiful writing and characters'
'Amazing . . . I was fully crying on the plane while reading it'
Reviews / Votes
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, number one bestselling author of <i>She Who Became the Sun</i> 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 onwards, page by page, until you reach its devastating end -- Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of <i>The Bone Season</i> and <i>The Priory of the Orange Tree</i> A stunning, heart-rending feat of a story. A Song to Drown Rivers retells ancient legend with phenomenal voice -- Chloe Gong, author of <i>Immortal Longings</i> Exquisite, riveting, heart-wrenching. Prepare to be swept away by the beautiful writing, forbidden love and complex characters -- Sue Lynn Tan, author of <i>Daughter of the Moon Goddess</i> 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 <i>Portrait of a Thief</i> A devastatingly romantic tale of survival and sacrifice amid the rise and fall of empires -- June CL Tan, author of <i>Jade Fire Gold</i> 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 <i>The Red Palace</i> 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 <i>The Bone Shard Daughter</i> 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 <i>The Ones We're Meant to Find</i> Liang has managed that rare feat of retelling that honours 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 <i>Kaikeyi</i>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
234 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-5041-3 (9781035050413)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2024
Tor
€6.99
Available for download
Person
Ann Liang is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It's Real, If You Could See the Sun and I Hope This Doesn't Find You. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to-do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who's a good dog. A Song to Drown Rivers is her adult historical debut.