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  • A Song to Drown Rivers

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Ann Liang
  • Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
  • Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (3 ratings)

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A Song to Drown Rivers

Written by: Ann Liang
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
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Publisher's Summary

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick • An October 2024 Indie Next Pick • An October 2024 LibraryReads Pick

“Exquisite and devastating. It won’t fail to move you.”—Shelley Parker-Chan, #1 bestselling 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 novel steeped in myth 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.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. 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 neighboring kingdom of Wu, 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, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

"Stunning and heart-rending."—Chloe Gong, #1 bestselling author of Immortal Longings

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Ann Liang (P)2024 Macmillan Audio
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What the critics say

"Nobody does yearning and sacrifice better than the Chinese classics, and 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, #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun and He Who Drowned the World

“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, bringing a truly worthwhile addition to the historical fiction genre." –Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings

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

What listeners say about A Song to Drown Rivers

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Loved every word

Not my usual genre but something sparked my interest and I couldn’t stop listening and when it was over, I was destroyed that the story ended! A must read!

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