Song to Drown Rivers – Liang Ann (2024)

“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, this epic historical fantasy explores womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance. Since birth, Xishi’s extraordinary beauty has been seen as a blessing. When she attracts the attention of the famous young military advisor Fanli, he offers her a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon that could topple the rival neighbouring kingdom, improve the lives of her people and avenge her sister’s murder. She must infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy and seduce its immoral king. Neither Xishi nor Fanli expects the doomed attraction that ignites between them. As Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king and his advisors, she knows she can never let her guard down. 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.