A Song to Drown Rivers Ann Liang 9781035050390

'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.

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 neighbouring 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; she knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu 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

About the Author
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. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. 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.

Reviews
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



Book Information
ISBN 9781035050390
Author Ann Liang
Format Hardback
Page Count 336
Imprint Tor
Publisher Pan Macmillan