ARC review: A Song To Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

Title: A Song To Drown Rivers

Author: Ann Liang

Number of Pages: 336

Publishing Date: 1 October 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Retelling, Young-Adult 

Synopsis:

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.

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.

Review:

 Okay, so first off, Ann Liang completely nailed the vibe of this book. If you love historical fantasy, especially anything about ancient Chinese history or mythology, you’re in for a treat. “A Song to Drown Rivers” is all about political intrigue, strategic seduction, and some serious emotional turmoil, and it's got this underlying tension that doesn’t let up from start to finish.

The legend of Xishi is reimagined in such a way, that’s both epic and personal. Xishi is a lot more than just a pretty face—her beauty becomes a literal weapon in this story, and it’s fascinating to see how she navigates a world where her value is constantly tied to how she looks. But she’s no passive character. Xishi is ambitious, sharp, quick problem solver, and complicated. The push and pull between her loyalty to her village and her desire for revenge over her sister's death is intense. And Fanli? Oh my God, don't even get me started. Their chemistry is totally off the charts. You feel the tension every time they’re in the same room, especially because they both know their attraction could quite literally ruin everything.

And speaking of Fanli, I appreciated that he wasn’t just the mysterious and brooding strategist. He’s got layers (thankfully), and his relationship with Xishi is equal parts strategic and emotional, which makes for a compelling dynamic. The power balance between the two of them shifts constantly, and I love how Ann plays with that tension.

The palace scenes were also a standout. The way Xishi has to constantly perform, seduce, and manipulate while staying one step ahead of everyone at court gave me all the edge-of-my-seat vibes. The king himself is a mix of gentle and terrifying, and that makes their interactions so uncomfortable yet oddly intimate and swoony at times. Zhengdan and Luyi are my literal babies. The cuties with the most amazing humor, and answers. You'll find yourself giggling over the fun banter one moment and then crying over all the trauma that Ann had put in this book, the very next moment. You'll constantly be questioning how far Xishi is willing to go to achieve her goals. You won't be able to help yourself but feel sad for each and every character even the evil king Fuchai.

At its core, this book is about survival and sacrifice. Xishi is placed in impossible situations where there’s no “right” choice, and the stakes are sky-rocketing every moment. You can feel the weight of every decision and step that she takes. If I had one critique, it’s that the pacing can be a bit uneven at times. But again, that's where the fun and intrigue is. Some moments feel like they drag a little too much while others fly by (like, I could’ve used more Fanli time, but that might be just me). But honestly, that’s very teeny tiny compared to everything else this book does justice to.

Overall, “A Song to Drown Rivers” is a powerful story about how beauty, power, and agency are intertwined in a world where women often have to fight with whatever tools they have at their disposal and sacrifices their dearest people and sometimes even themselves in the way, for the greater good. It’s intense, beautiful, and heartbreaking. If you’re into historical fantasy with complex characters and high stakes, add this to your Goodreads asap!!

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ARC Review: The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist book # 2) by Kylie Lee Baker

 

Title: The Blood Orchid

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Number of Pages: 384

Publishing Date: 22 October 2024

Genre: Young-Adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Romance, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature

Synopsis:

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost loved ones in her search for broader justice against the evil Empress and all she wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of the myth of Penglai Island, where it’s rumored life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But when old threats come back to haunt her and the path to Penglai Island means facing down unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, alchemists, she wonders just how high of a price she may be willing to pay.

Review:

In "The Blood Orchid", Kylie Lee Baker picks up right where The Scarlet Alchemist left, it weaves a captivating narrative that delves into the dark side of alchemy and the true cost of playing with the fundamental forces of life and death. Zilan, a talented and determined royal alchemist, is driven by a personal tragedy that sets her on a perilous quest for resurrection and redemption.

As Zilan navigates the treacherous world of alchemy, she finds herself entangled in a web of old threats, new dangers, and unpredictable allies. Her search for Penglai Island, a fabled haven where life can be fully restored, becomes an all-consuming obsession that challenges her morals, her loyalties, and her very sense of self. 

While reading book #1 all I could think about all day long was how Kylie was feeding my Full Metal Alchemist fangirl early teenage self. And then I got the book #2 e-arc on netgalley. As soon as I read the dedication, I screamed out of joy, lol. There was a lot of banter and family moments that made me giggle and kick my feet in the air, and then there was even more betrayal and angst in The Blood Orchid as compared to The Scarlet Alchemist. The duology was completely action packed and is now in my top 5 fantasy duologies. One of the many things that I loved about this book, is the different types of alchemists we got to see who have thrown their morals out in the trash for glory and power.

Kylie's world-building is exceptional, with a richly detailed environment that draws inspiration from Chinese mythology and culture. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with Zilan being a particularly compelling protagonist. Her growth and development throughout the story are authentic and satisfying, making her an easy character to root for. The writing is lyrical and evocative, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to a world of wonder and magic. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of high tension and action expertly interspersed with quieter moments of introspection and character development. Each chapter is like as if it's ending with a cliff hanger, which keeps the reader engaged throughout the book. Every time the reader might start thinking, oh this is the biggest plot twist nothing will top this. And then wham bam yes ma'am, here comes another even bigger and better totally unexpected plot twist, right in your face.

As compared to the book itself the last chapter was lightly written, and the subtilty with which everything was described, oh my God it scratched an itch in my brain so good. "The Blood Orchid" is more than just a fantasy adventure – it's a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. Baker raises important questions about the ethics of alchemy, the consequences of ambition, and the true cost of redemption. Through Zilan's story, we are reminded that even the most well-intentioned pursuits can come at a steep price, and that the line between good and evil is often blurred.