A Song to Drown Rivers

Bestselling YA author Liang makes her adult debut with a plotty, romantically-laced historical fantasy based on the ancient legend of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Xishi’s beauty is renowned throughout the land, but when the king’s military advisor discovers she is also brave, she is recruited to use that beauty as a weapon in service of her people. Driven by her sense of duty, she consents, agreeing to spy on the enemy kingdom of Wu by becoming their reviled king’s concubine: her job is to make the man she loathes fall in love with her. A page-turning epic that thoughtfully examines the complexities of womanhood, the horrors of war, the obstacles to love, and even the nature of fame. Heads up for audiophiles: the audiobook narrated by Natalie Naudus is excellent.