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Also by Ann Liang:

To Dream in Darkness, October 2026
Hardcover / e-Book
To Dream in Darkness, October 2026
Hardcover / e-Book
A Song to Drown Rivers, October 2025
Trade Paperback / e-Book (reprint)
Never Thought I'd End Up Here, June 2025
Hardcover / e-Book
A Song to Drown Rivers, October 2024
Hardcover / e-Book

A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS
By: Ann Liang

Deluxe Edition

St. Martin's Press
October 2024
On Sale: October 1, 2024
Featuring: Xishi
336 pages
ISBN: 1250289467
EAN: 9781250289469
Kindle: B0CQHLN681
Hardcover / e-Book
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Other Editions
Trade Paperback (reprint - October 2025)

Romance Fantasy

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

Order now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last—featuring a gold foiled cover, gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, as well as exclusive metallic ink patterned endpapers and unique foiled front and back case stamps. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run, a must-have for any book lover.

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.