So, The Warrior Maiden is a Mulan retelling set in medieval Lithuania. Mulan is half-Asian in this one, but that's about it as far as that cultural connection. Mulan does masquerade as a man in this one too and soon finds herself attracted to Wolfgang, a Duke 's son that fights alongside Mulan. The enemy is the Teutonic Knights and there is a very superficial vein of Christianity interwoven in the story. Basically, the characters drop the big guy in the sky a sweet line or two every number of pages. Then there's the love story...

This book is part of a very well established series and it has a legion of fans that no doubt will enjoy the latest chapter. It didn't hold my attention and so I give it a 2 star. I think if 12 or 13 year old me read this book, I would have devoured it and recommended it to all. Adult me.... well, I just wanted it to end.

The Warrior Maiden was a disappointment. I expected something different from this book. One of the things I didn't like at all was the setting. To me, Mulan represents China with all its culture, while here the story was set in Germany-Poland... why?? With this choice the asian beauty and traditions disappeared. Plus, I wasn't particularly fond of the characters and this aspect penalized even more the reading. So, this book was a huge flop.

Mulan in medieval Europe: when her father dies, she takes his place in battle, disguised as a man, of course. Her skill at archery will prove helpful, but her small stature and lack of ability with a heavy sword could put her in danger. Nonplussed, she bravely goes forth to fight against evil. This novel has connections with the author’s other retellings of ancient tales so it make the story even more fun. The setting comes alive, and you feel like you’re among the soldiers and rooting for good to triumph. I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

Exciting, charming, holds quite a few scenes that allude to the storyline of the beloved Disney film. Andrei is like Mushu, Boldheart is Khan the warhorse, Wolfgang is Shang, Duke Konrad the fatherly emperor, Rusdorf the leader of the Huns, Simon and Gregorius are the loyal comrades who help Milan storm the palace. Plenty of historical detail, too.

But Dickerson has definitely made this tale her own - the story is set in Eastern Europe rather than Asia, for starters. And Mulan is rather quickly discovered to be a woman, but celebrated (not rejected) and even made a leader in the army! She’s also the only Asian character, which makes for quite a different version of the traditional story. Themes of family honor and finding your place, war, and love, along with the beloved Gerstenberg family of Hagenheim, make for a compelling novel. Not to mention Wolfgang, who starts out a bit unfocused but soon grows into a fine hero.

Now we just need to get Steffan straightened out...

The storyline may be somewhat familiar to some, but like her other fairytale stories, Melanie Dickerson adds unique elements and fresh perspectives that craft a story with depth and creativity. And, of course, there is a welcome faith aspect. She also includes subtle references to gender equality and strong, independent females. Some portions were unrealistic, but in the background of fiction, still fun to read. I enjoyed this story and look forward to more fairytale stories!

I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't connect with this story. I was expecting a retelling but having the same name just threw me off. I think. I'm not sure but I know this just wasn't for me.

Melanie has crafted another winner in this fairy tale retelling of the story of Mulan. The Warrior Maiden is full of romance, humor, and exciting moments that kept me on the edge of my seat while reading this fun story. Mulan exhibits more bravery than I could ever have and it makes for quite a compelling tale. It also sets up Steffan’s story, which releases this December, quite nicely. Can’t wait for my next visit to Hagenheim!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

4.5 stars


I admit I haven’t watched or read anything about Mulan, so Melanie Dickerson’s retelling was completely new to me. But Dickerson’s story was great.

Mulan is a likable character with her quiet manner, courage, commitment to her mother, and faith in God. Strong, competent Wolfgang makes an excellent complement to her.

Dickerson expertly balances strained family relationships, political contentions, battlefield action, and a sweet and steady romance, giving readers an engaging, exciting, and thoroughly fulfilling story.

As hard as it is to choose just one, The Warrior Maiden may be my favorite of Dickerson’s retellings yet.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

“The Warrior Maiden” by Melanie Dickerson has it all! Action, adventure, romance, faith and girl power! This is a Mulan retelling that takes place primarily in medieval Lithuania and Poland. I love this time period and Ms. Dickerson does a wonderful job incorporating the culture of the time into her story.

I really love the main character in this story, Mulan. She is a kick-butt heroine, but she’s also not obnoxious and in your face. I love how she grows personally throughout the story and in her relationship with God. She learns that God can indeed be trusted. Mulan gives credit to God for her abilities and victories and knows that God made her brave and fierce for a purpose. I also love the romance with Wolfgang.

During this time period, it is seen as witchcraft when a woman fights or dresses as a man. This story stresses seeing women as an equal. I love all the ways Mulan is able to prove herself and show that she is often just as capable as a man.

Mulan’s story really touched me, because as Christians, God calls us to be warriors for Him. Sometimes we have to do brave and hard things. It really inspired me to step out and trust that God will help me.

This is a wonderful book that is appropriate and entertaining for the whole family!

Content: This is a clean read with some minor content. I give it a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: mention of alcohol and a person being drunk; allusion to a woman’s chest; a child is born out of wedlock and a man has a mistress; mention of the devil; innuendos.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Fairy tale retelling; Romance

I want to thank Melanie Dickerson and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

Hagenheim series. Traditional tales reimagined.

Usually I love Melanie Dickerson's work. This ninth book in the Hagenheim series, a reimagination of fifteenth century Lithuania and Poland just didn't stir me. I found the lead characters Mulan and Wolfgang to be wooden in their interactions and their reflections. I know that Christianity is a central tenet for Dickerson's work and I applaud her for that. In this novel she seems to have lost the ability to infuse her characters' faith so that it comes naturally to them, to be an organic extension of their being. Maybe there was too many references when less would have been more. Mulan is the illegitimate daughter of a soldier brought back to his small Lithuanian village to live as a family with his barren wife who longed for a child. A prophecy for Mulan by a visiting friar when she was six, that she "would conquer an oppressor in a foreign land and a nation would call [her] blessed,” together with her faith in God, gives Mulan strength.
Mikolai has been called to battle by his Lord Butautas. "He is to report to Vilkaviškis to join the army in fighting the Teutonic Knights who have besieged his ally's castle [Duke Konrad of Zachev] in Poland.”
However Mikolai has died. Mulan disguises herself as Mikolai's supposed son so that her mother will not loose her meager home.
I liked Mulan's bravery in the face of impossible odds. I enjoyed her struggles with how to be a man in an encampment of soldiers. I loved the support she has from twelve year old Andrei, her father Mikolai's attendant in the last two wars he fought in.
I thought the break between Wolfgang and his brother Steffan (Duke Konrad's two sons), the causes, the interaction with each other gave depth to them as characters, but again in speech and interaction they were just flat.
The relationship between Mulan and Wolfgang grows from awkward and initially jealousy on Wolfgang's part, into one of respect and support, even when he discovers Mulan is a woman.
Dickerson's research into the backgrounds for her story is solid and her author's notes as always are a pleasure to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I acquired a copy of this book for the purpose of creating a bookstagram post for JustRead Tours.

Annie assured me that I am not required to write a review.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Sincerely,
Amanda Geaney

Title: The Warrior Maiden
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 3.7 out of 5

Mulan doesn’t want to stay home and marry the butcher’s son, but with her father dead, there aren’t many options for her and her mother. Rather than waste her life tied to a man she doesn’t love, she disguises herself as a soldier and goes off to war to protect her liege lord’s castle.

Wolfgang, a duke’s son, is eager to fight against the rampaging Teutonic Knights, but his brother, still bitter from a childhood tragedy, defects to join the Knights, leaving Wolfgang to fight his battles alone. Until he meets the young soldier Mikolai, who is inexperience but brave, and the two form a formidable team.

But there’s something that doesn’t quite add up about Mikolai, and when the boy is injured, Wolfgang realizes he’s really a girl—Mulan. She is still determined to be a soldier and to keep her mother safe, but Wolfgang just wants to protect her—and make a future for them together.

I love the Disney Mulan, and I love a good re-telling, so I was eager to read this. The story itself was solid and enjoyable, but I never did feel close to the characters. All of their emotions and motivations felt distant, and unconvincing because of it. I’m actually interested in reading more of these re-tellings from this author—I do love Disney—because she has a solid following and I’m hopeful this book just wasn’t a good fit for me.

Melanie Dickerson combines her love for history, adventure, and romance in her writing. The Warrior Maiden is her newest novel, a re-telling of Mulan.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I ended up DNF-ing this book within the first 30 pages. I found the writing style hard to follow. I could see the Mulan-inspired elements, and they did take on a unique twist. I was excited to see where this book would take me, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

This was a great story. I loved Mulan and her tenacity as she fights to make a name for herself as well as help her mother not lose her home. Wolfgang is a man of integrity. I enjoyed watching how he looks out for those who are around him. Both are great team members and the way they fight through all the treachery and deceit. This book kept me captivated to the very end. I would recommend this to anyone that loves romance and a strong woman character that won't back down when the going gets tough.

THE WARRIOR MAIDEN by Melanie Dickerson is an inspired young adult retelling of the classic Mulan tale but with a historical twist—the story is set in fifteenth-century Lithuania, its pages are filled with castles, Teutonic Knights, and sieges. Danger, warring knights, battles and secret identities make for a fast read.

This was my first experience with Dickerson and I was looking forward to reading a fresh take on Mulan, and I was curious to see the story taking place in a whole new realm. Would Mulan still be the spirited, warrior-girl trying to save her family we all have come to love once hearing her story?

Melanie Dickerson is a well known and established writer. Her fairy tale retellings are fan favorites. They are written for readers who enjoy sweet and clean romance stories filled with adventure, authentic historical settings, and beautiful descriptions. I have to say THE WARRIOR MAIDEN was a perfect example of this.

“She knows women are expected to marry, cook, and have children, not go to war. Can she manage to stay alive, save her mother, and keep the handsome son of a duke from discovering her secret?”

The story opens with Mulan needing to choose between accepting an unwanted marriage proposal or taking up her father’s mantle and joining other warriors in a battle against the besieging Teutonic Knights.

All her life Mulan has tried to fit in, as an adopted daughter to a warrior father who treats her like a burden, but a mother whose precious love makes up for it, Mulan wants more than anything to prove herself, her adventurous spirit calls on her for something more. At the last minute, she disguises herself as the young son her father never had, assumes his duties as a soldier, and rides off to join the fight to protect the castle of her liege lord’s ally from the besieging Teutonic Knights.

This story has some really great battle scenes featuring Mulan using the bow and arrow, riding a warhorse and fighting alongside her fellow warriors. It also touches on an interesting prophecy about her was given by a friar to her mother. The idea that Mulan may be destined for greater things, a spiritual calling by her Christian beliefs, added another interesting layer to Mulan.

Throughout the story, Mulan encounters hardships and adversity, but she remains strong in her faith. The change in her fellow warriors, and their eventual acceptance of her when she is revealed to be the daughter rather than the son of their fellow warrior, is well-written and believable. There is, of course, one particular villain who does not accept her as a woman-warrior that drives the plot, and readers are definitely not going to like him.

My one wish was for Dickerson to have included in the book some of Mulan’s rich heritage. In the story, she is adopted at a rather young age and taken back to Lithuania. It would have enriched the story even more if she had included some details of her ancestry and culture which I felt were lacking.

The building relationship between Mulan and Wolfgang is really one of rival warriors and eventual friendship. These two characters end up learning to trust one another on the field of battle and off, where acceptance plays a crucial part in their feelings for each other. Wolfgang is a fierce warrior with a heart of gold, his loyalty and devotion to Mulan make him a worthy and perfect counterpart to her.

In the End

THE WARRIOR MAIDEN by Melanie Dickerson is a wonderful example of clean YA reading while maintaining plenty of thrilling action, historical details, and sweet romance. This is a great choice if you are looking for an inspired Mulan retelling that features a spirited heroine with a unique setting and positive Christian themes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for an ARC. This is an honest review.

Based in Melanie Dickerson's world of Hagenheim, The Warrior Maiden is the ninth book of the series. Taking the legend of Mulan, Dickerson reimagines the story to fit her world. An orphan girl from Asian descent adopted by a European family Mulan was prophesied to be a warrior and now her time has come.

So when I first picked this book I did not know many things including two important factors, the heavy Christian aspects and this was a book in a series. Cultural appropriation is a big thing and it should be something to be aware of. I was very concerned about that when I first started reading this book. Once I realized this was a book that was part of series with a world already built I was less concerned about that. She kept Mulan's ethnicity correct if not the religious aspects but truly I was okay with it. Adopted children are usually raised in their parent's faith. If this had been a stand alone novel I would have cried foul. So the second thing mentioned was the Christian aspects. This is heavily Christian for an Eastern Asian story. I generally do not read Christian books because I am not religious. Well this was heavily Christian based for me, I did not find it overly preachy or completely in my face. Taking in the time frame this is based I found accurate for the customs.

Now I am going to say more about the plot and characters. I found Mulan oddly boring. This is woman who would live in a world where racism would run rampant as well as sexism. For instance when all the soldiers came together right away, Mulan barely faced any racism where Wolfgang faced a lot of prejudice? For as much as Mulan would have to overcome she was forgettable and did not seem to really address all she had to overcome. The most interesting character was Stefan but even he was meh. The plot at the end was twist because it was boringly civil.. This was supposed to be a war and I never felt like I was truly dealing with warring nations.

Final thoughts is two stars for Goodreads because it was an ok book, just bland. Three on NetGalley because I would maybe recommend it. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Book Summary (Amazon): She knows women are expected to marry, cook, and have children, not go to war. Can she manage to stay alive, save her mother, and keep the handsome son of a duke from discovering her secret?
When Mulan takes her father’s place in battle against the besieging Teutonic Knights, she realizes she has been preparing for this journey her whole life—and that her life, and her mother’s, depends on her success. As the adopted daughter of poor parents, Mulan has little power in the world. If she can’t prove herself on the battlefield, she could face death—or, perhaps worse, marriage to the village butcher.
Disguised as a young man, Mulan meets the German duke’s son, Wolfgang, who is determined to save his people even if it means fighting against his own brother. Wolfgang is exasperated by the new soldier who seems to be one step away from disaster at all times—or showing him up in embarrassing ways.
From rivals to reluctant friends, Mulan and Wolfgang begin to share secrets. But war is an uncertain time and dreams can die as quickly as they are born. When Mulan receives word of danger back home, she must make the ultimate choice. Can she be the son her bitter father never had? Or will she become the strong young woman she was created to be?
This fresh reimagining of the classic tale takes us to fifteenth-century Lithuania where both love and war challenge the strongest of hearts.

My thoughts...I absolutely fell in love at first sight with this beautiful cover! For me, it's one of the best I've seen. I was intrigued with the idea of a Mulan retelling...I wasn't sure I was going to like it as much as some of the other fairy tale retellings Melanie Dickerson has done. Let's just say from the start that I loved it! And here's why...
Mulan's courage throughout the novel is inspiring. I love that this is written as a young adult novel...perfect for my almost 12 year old. I let her read it as well and Mulan has become one of her favorite characters. Mulan was willing, over and over, to sacrifice herself for others. Courage, sacrifice, and humility are all character traits that I want for myself, but especially for my pre-teen. I love that this is such a big part of this novel.
I also loved the sacrificial love that was part of the romantic aspect of the story. This was a sweet romance, with an appropriate amount of romantic tension for a young adult audience. Woven through the love story was also a friendship that developed between the two main characters, compassion for each other and their circumstances, and each willing to put themselves in harm's way in order to protect the other. I can't help but think about the verse, "Greater love hath no man than this than one who lays his life down for his friend."
This is also a faith-based novel, so there are moments in which the characters wrestle with their beliefs and work out their faith. They also ponder the Bible and verses that are meaningful. Again, I like this aspect of the novel as I am personally a woman of faith and my daughter is growing in her faith.
I'm so thankful for novels like this that not only have a great storyline, but also explore important themes like honor, love, humility, and faith. This is much needed in our society today, especially for our youth. I'm so glad that I can pass on Melanie's books to my daughter with confidence that we'll both come away encouraged and entertained.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in order to give an honest review, which I did.**

So… I rated this a 3-star because it was very hard for me to get into this.
Religion, more specifically Christianity, is a HUGE influence here. While I have no objections to it, it was such a primary focus that it took away from the history and the retelling. Some of the dialogue revolving around the religion was too simple and too unrealistic. For example, Mulan forgave waaaaay too easily. I know a lot of Christians praise forgiveness and encourage others to do so, but for an 18-year old to just simply accept what is with no hint of anger was just too easy of an answer for me. She’s young and still her in adolescence so where’s all the hormones that would affect her choices? Another example would be when Wolfgang discovers she’s a girl – he BARELY had a reaction to it and brushed it off as easily as if it were dust. Which part of me does appreciate because it empowers gender equality BUT for a story based on a time period where gender equality was not a forefront presence, there should have been more argumentative consequences.
As I was reading, how the story progresses made every character more childish and immature than what I wanted them to be – especially Mulan. Her development didn’t move at all through the entire story. I felt like she was stagnant and didn’t grow as much as a MC is supposed to grow. In retrospect, the Disney movie shows more growth than this did. Their love was an insta-love: they barely knew each other (less than a week if I recall) and once it was discovered she was a girl and among dying circumstances, they profess their love. Not really believable. Mulan also continues to have the need to always be the sacrificial lamb and doesn’t learn to accept help when she needs it. Part of this is due to her stubborn nature which finally shows a hint of its colors when Andrei locks her in the room, but when she brings it up to Wolf, she retracts into this submissive weak girl that I didn’t like. It was like she was only a strong female warrior when the armor was on, but once she changed into a dress she withered and became a simpering princess.
The pacing of the story was also a bit slow. I really liked the dialogue but the plot just didn’t work for me and it was due to the unrealistic religious aspects and the immaturity and lack of development of these characters. Maybe it’s just me but this wasn’t my cup of tea ☹️

I absolutely adore fairy tale retellings, and I have a special place in my heart for Hua Mulan and all versions of kickass warrior girls. So when I saw a YA retelling of it, I jumped on it. What I didn’t realize was that it was the 9th (!) in a series, though it works well as a standalone, and that it was Christian fiction.

Queasiness flipped Mulan’s stomach. Was her Oriental appearance—black hair, slightly darker skin, and almond-shaped eyes—unpleasant to Algirdas? Certain boys in the village had taunted her, calling her “Mongol,” and even some women looked askance at her, as if they disapproved of her. But Mother always told her she was beautiful, and even her father when asked had grunted and said, “You are not an ugly girl.”


First off, I need to address the elephant in the room. When I read the blurb, I assumed that Mulan would be Chinese – that is, that she was raised in China and then travelled to Europe as a young adult. Instead, she was basically raised as Lithuanian from the time she was three, and the only non-Lithuanian characteristic about her is her appearance. This is problematic for me in so many ways. There’s a tendency for authors to write biracial characters as a way to get diversity brownie points but still write, basically, white people with extra melanin, without having to do any of that pesky research into a different background. I don’t believe this is what Ms. Dickerson intended at all, but I truly wish she’d chosen to do a looser retelling with a non-ethnic character, especially since so little of the book actually follows the fairy tale to begin with. Mulan’s appearance is only brought up by bad guys as a negative to disparage and “other” her, and otherwise pretty much ignored.

I hadn’t realized this was Christian fiction when I requested it. While I generally don’t mind it, I found parts of the story especially heavy handed, and the heavily Protestant-influenced theology (scripture in the common tongue, laity interpretations) felt amusingly inaccurate for the time period, at least to my knowledge. I did like how spiritual both Mulan and Wolfgang were – both frequently pray for God’s help – but could’ve done without the prophecy sub-plot. It felt like spackling on some sort of God-given approval for Mulan’s choices, when I thought they were perfectly Biblical without that.

“Because that’s how I feel. Just trying to make up for my illegitimate birth, to make it up to Mother, who raised me and never resented me for the pain she felt at my father’s betrayal, or the fact that she could never have her own children.”
“Is that why you became a soldier? You were making amends by ensuring she had a home?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “She would have rather I’d married the butcher.”


Once I realized this was Christian fiction, I wondered how Mulan’s deception of pretending to be a man would be handled. Wolfgang discovers Mulan’s ruse pretty quickly, and is suspicious of her from the beginning. There’s some funny bits in there before that happens though, including a sword fight and archery competition. In fact, the book was very action packed – almost too much action at points. Mulan and Wolfgang barely have any time to talk in between battles before they’re threatened by another skirmish. But when they do get the chance, I loved their interactions, especially Wolfgang teaching Mulan to read and the initial “meet-cute” while Wolfgang still thinks she’s a man. I thought their relationship was sweet and well-developed, and thought their conflict – what future could they have together? – was believable. I was less impressed that her supposed friends literally trick her and lock her in her room for the pivotal battle, on Wolfgang’s orders, and afterwards, she basically just lets it go. It seemed entirely out of character and I hated that she was completely sidelined.

There’s also a side plot with Wolfgang’s brother, Steffan, who decides to join the opposing forces (you know, the people burning villages supposedly in the name of God). I liked how both Wolfgang and Mulan dealt with that, though I did feel like sometimes it detracted from their own relationship. On that note, all the villains are one note evil. They’re greedy and power hungry and one is even described as looking like Satan; the main villain thinks all women are evil and tools of Satan. There’s little room for gray areas or nuance, so this read much younger at times than I think was intended.

Overall, this was an OK read, but not something I could really recommend.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The tale of Mulan, a daughter inspired to go to war to save her family, is a common tale, but what if Mulan lived in Europe in the medieval times? What if she went to war for an unknown Duke to save her mother from destitution only to meet the man of her dreams? Would she meet with renown or with shame? What would those around her do if they found out that she was a woman?

The heroine of this tale is stubborn and fierce. Mulan's father has just died, and she must take care of her mother. Faced with the choice of marrying the town butcher to live as nothing more than a glorified servant in his house and dressing up as a boy and going to war in her father's stead, Mulan sets off on an adventure that will change her life. Transformed by the battle field and by the praise and admiration of her fellow soldiers, Mulan is transformed from a clumsy girl of 18 who never fit in in her small village into a warrior who is capable and strong. She earns the respect of those around her as she goes from being the illegitimate daughter of a Lithuanian soldier to a capable leader and warrior in her own right.

Wolfgang lived his life motivated by the guilt of his past... guilt over a childhood choice that impacted so many other lives and guilt that he can't reach his hard-hearted brother. A kind, noble man, he is given an opportunity to join his father's soldiers who are journeying to Poland to defend the castle belonging to his father's allies, Duke Konrad. Believing that he can use his sword and bow to do good, he fearlessly sets off despite his brother's betrayal. His pride is wounded when he is bested in an archery competition by a young soldier, Mikolai from Lithuania, but he soon comes to respect this brave comrade-in-arms.

The Warrior Maiden is another of Melanie Dickerson's re-imagined fairy tale. The heroine is inspiring and endearing. Mulan goes off to fight against knights and experienced soldiers to keep her mother and herself from being displaced -- with no place to live and no way to make a living for herself. On the battlefield, she finds fame and glory and love. Mulan is headstrong and stubborn but she also seeks to please God in all things and to defend those who are dear to her. Through the story, you can see how her mother's faith influenced her own faith and steadfastness. It is a beautiful tribute to her mother and her love for her adopted daughter. The hero is a man of honor, courageous and strong. Wolfgang seeks to do what is right and defend those whom he loves.

The Warrior Maiden is a uplifting story that reminds us that bravery still exists and that those who honor God will prosper in the end. Evil will not win in the end, and love is a great and powerful force. Though it is a retelling of a fairy tale and many of my assumptions about the book were proven true, the story line wasn't completely predictable, which I appreciated.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC copy that I was given in exchange for my honest opinion.