To Dream in Darkness
A Novel

Quotes

Praise for To Dream in Darkness:

"To Dream in Darkness is lyrical, heart-wrenching and gloriously romantic. I luxuriated in every beautiful sentence and every twist and turn of emotion. Hades and Persephone meet Romeo and Juliet to give us the ultimate in star-crossed lovers who must defy the heavens to be together." – Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of This Immortal Heart

"Another gorgeously spun fantasy from Ann Liang, whose crystalline prose and lush, mythic worlds enchant readers into a poignant yet perilous tale of love and duty. Readers will be swept away, as I was." – Elizabeth Lim, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Forgery of Fate

"To Dream in Darkness is a sweeping tale of forgiveness, doomed love, and the exquisite pain and joy of living. Romantic, aching, and impossible to put down." – Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide

“The Chinese romantic high fantasy of my dreams. With her signature exquisite prose, Liang masterfully spins a sweeping tale of star-crossed love spanning lifetimes and worlds. Beauty, tragedy, destiny, and hope collide in this triumph of an epic that fans of fantasy romance C-dramas will not want to miss.” – Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Scorpion and the Night Blossom

"Lush, atmospheric, and painfully romantic, Ann Liang's To Dream In Darkness is an enchanting read full of vivid worldbuilding and divine characters." – Lynette Noni, bestselling author of The Prison Healer

“To Dream in Darkness is a resplendent tale of two gods’ ruinous and undying love, rich with Liang’s enchanting prose and endearing romance. The most epic love story since The Song of Achilles.” – Kylie Lee Baker, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

"Ann Liang masterfully crafts a story of fate and freedom—rich, wondrous, and devastating all at once. A must read." – C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of the Dark Rise series

"If you liked A Song to Drown Rivers, this book will be your next obsession. Rujia may be a powerful healing god, perhaps the most promising in ages, but she feels incredibly human. Sweet and guileless? Absolutely not. This heroine has a heart of gold, but she’s a delightful blend of scrappy and snarky, and one of the most memorable romantic fantasy protagonists I’ve encountered in a very long time. Fans of Liang’s poignant love stories will be enthralled." – Kemi Ashing-Giwa, USA Today bestselling author of The Splinter in the Sky and The King Must Die

Praise for A Song to Drown Rivers:

"A beautiful young peasant is selected to become a spy in an enemy king’s court in Liang’s take on an ancient Chinese legend... Lovely historical fiction breathes new life into an old tale." – Kirkus Reviews

"Propulsive...Xishi’s narration brings personalized stakes to imperial court drama and shows the double-edged sword of beauty. Fans of plot-driven historical fantasy should take note." – Publishers Weekly

"Nobody does yearning and sacrifice better than the Chinese classics, and 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, #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun and He Who Drowned the World

“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, bringing a truly worthwhile addition to the historical fiction genre." – Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings

"By turns searingly ambitious and heartbreakingly intimate, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is an incisive, intricately crafted examination of power, politics, and what we'll become for those we love. This story swept me away." – Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

"Liang has managed that rare feat of retelling that honors a great epic while finding new depths and intimacies within it. This book stole my breath away with its yearning and sorrow. Each word is chosen with exquisite care, each emotion crafted with true feeling, such that your own heart beats in time with the characters'." – Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

“Ann Liang doesn’t simply capture Xishi’s indescribable beauty; she transcends it. 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 savor each stolen look and word.” – Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find

"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, internationally bestselling author of The Drowning Empire trilogy

“Exquisite, riveting, heart-wrenching. Prepare to be swept away by the beautiful writing, forbidden love and complex characters, that have you rooting for them against the odds.” – Sue Lynn Tan, USA Today bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

"Liang shines an intimate light on the legendary Xishi, whose beauty is both boon and burden, and whose journey from naive peasant to reluctant hero—and perhaps, calculating villain—spins a devastatingly romantic tale of survival and sacrifice amidst the rise and fall of empires." – June CL Tan, internationally bestselling author of Jade Fire Gold and Darker By Four

"If you are looking for a book that reads like a historical c-drama, then look no further. A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is just the book you need. 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, bestselling author of The Red Palace