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A Song to Drown Rivers

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A Song to Drown Rivers

By: Ann Liang
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
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About this listen

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

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


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.

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 . . .

'An elegant historical epic' – Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

‘Stunning and heart-rending’ – Chloe Gong, author of Immortal Longings

©2024 Ann Liang (P)2024 Macmillan Publishers International Limited
Editors Select Epic Fantasy Historical Royalty King Heartfelt
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Editorial Review

Ann Liang’s second hit of the year
A Song to Drown Rivers is a captivating retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of Ancient China’s four famed beauties. There’s a tinge of fantasy here, but it’s mostly one part love story, one part historical spy thriller. Xishi is trained to enact revenge on the neighbouring Wu kingdom by making their ruler, Fuchai, become so obsessed with her that he ignores his duties as king. She’s both beautiful and clever, so she’s well-suited for the task. The only problem is that she loves someone else, and her broken heart is not easily ignored. Listeners will be well cared for in the hands of veteran narrator Natalie Naudus. — Melissa B., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

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)

What listeners say about A Song to Drown Rivers

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Wonderful immersion into a fascinating historical period.

Great storyline. I wasn’t totally happy with the narrator, but nevertheless enjoyed the audiobook a lot and can definitely recommend it.

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