I don't do many recommendations for books on this thread, mostly because I don't do a very good job
of keeping track of what I read in the way of romances. But, I just finished reading Ann Liang's
A Song to Drown Rivers, which is out tomorrow (I had a review copy), and it is one of the best books I've read this year. Not totally sure it's a romance rather than a fantasy, but posting it here because I think of it as a romance. It's a retelling of a Chinese legend, and just has so many emotions all wrapped up in a rollercoaster ride. The romance is very slow-burn and not at all explicit, but still really powerful - powerful enough that I cried my way through the last couple of chapters, although it ends up feeling natural and fitting in the end. (If you want to read my full review, the URL is in my signature, and just pop "Liang" in the search box...)
Anyway, it's really expensive right now, because it's brand new, but if you can grab from your library, and/or I'll post if I see it on sale.
Kindle US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQHLN681
Kobo US:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-song-to-drown-rivers
Kindle UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1035050390
Kobo UK:
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-s...drown-rivers-2
Spoiler:
Quote:
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.
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