Mulan is an only child forced to make the very difficult choice marry and have a home for her mother and herself or run away disguised as a man and go to war in the place of her father. Mulan chooses the latter. With her faithful retainer Andrei at her side Mulan goes off to war where she has to learn how to make war and despite her smaller size save the people in the villages ravaged by the Teutonic Knights. She comes under the command of Wolfgang the son of a lord and when he learns that she is a woman he also aids in keeping her secret. Falling in love is not part of her plan, when Mulan and Wolfgang are an amazing team, but can their love survive in a time of war and turmoil. This is a great story and the historical setting is very interesting since it brings the many challenges of living in such a time to the forefront like not having hospitals to go to when injured, devotion to the church, and women not having the ability to do things for themselves because of their gender. Mulan is a very unusual girl in a very difficult set of circumstances and it is her will, prayers, and willingness to try that helps her along,

The Warrior Maiden is the latest young-adult tale from Melanie Dickerson. When Mulan's father suddenly dies, she decides to take his place in an uprising against the innocent people of Poland. This 20-year-old plans to hide her identity by dressing as a young man!

A wealthy man in Hagenheim, Germany, has two young sons, Steffan and Wolfgang, who want to prove themselves worthy of being knighted. These young men decide to join in with this fight. As they make their way to join the battle, Wolfgang learns that while he wants to fight for the Polish people; unfortunately, his brother, Steffan, has decided he will take up arms on the opposite side of the battle!

Unfortunately, the fight will be brother against brother! You will see how God will use these three young people, Mulan, Steffan, and Wolfgang, as they are confronted with the evilness in this world!

There is an ancient Chinese ballad about a maiden who takes her father's place in the Chinese army and saves the day. You are probably familiar with the story from the Disney movie. (I've attempted watching the movie twice but fell asleep both times!)

Author Melanie Dickerson places Mulan in Europe and instead of battling the Huns, she joins the army of a Duke to fight against the Teutonic Knights, a group of militaristic monks. I really appreciated how the author showed who these monks were in such an interesting way that integrated into the story so well.

I don't always relate to strong women characters. Do I believe women should be shy and retiring? Absolutely not! But I don't get women trying to be like men in every way. Mulan was very relateable, though. While she disliked the "womanly" arts of cooking and cleaning, preferring to be outdoors and learning archery, she was still very much a woman. She only joined the army out of necessity, to save her mother from eviction. Her strength in the face of fear was very admirable as was her compassion and kindness.

I loved Wolfgang! He is a younger son in the family of the Duke of Hagenheim, the family involved in all the stories of this series. He struggled with feelings of guilt related to an incident in his childhood and subconsciously tried to earn forgiveness. His love for his brother caused him to make some choices that almost got Mulan hurt, and that broke his heart.

There were some beautiful spiritual truths that came out through this narrative as both Mulan and Wolfgang sought to figure out their place in the world.

Most of the story was wonderful, with fun situations and a great picture of what it would have been like for a woman to attempt impersonating a man at that time in history. There was a section, however, pertaining to one of the battles, that seemed to lack some details and appeared a bit abrupt.

If you enjoy young adult fairy tale retellings or even just medieval fiction, I recommend this for your library.

The Warrior Maiden was written by Melanie Dickerson. It was published in 2019 with HarperCollins Publishing. This enrapturing new installment in Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale romance collection explores the story of Mulan!

Adopted and raised by a peasant couple, the young woman is expected to marry well enough to provide for her family. When her father dies, Mulan makes the risky decision to take his place in battle against the Teutonic Knights – disguised as a man. As she fights alongside Wolfgang, son of the German Duke Wilhelm, Mulan must make sure that no one recognizes her for who she truly is. As they learn to trust one another, they find that they both have secrets to hide – secrets that could prove fatal. And when Mulan receives word of danger back at her home, she must decide who she will be – the young woman her mother expects, or the son her father wanted?
SPOILER ALERT! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
As an avid reader of Melanie Dickerson novels, I was only too eager to review this book. I absolutely loved how the author created a strong character in Mulan, who was not afraid to stand up for her beliefs. I loved her companion and friend, Andrei, who risked his life at times to ensure her safety. The male characters in this book were over all very well-rounded, which I really appreciate in romances told from a girl’s perspective. Wolfgang saw Mulan’s character before he saw her attractiveness. He got along with her as a friend first, since he didn’t realize she was a girl. He also had to accept that girls can be strong when he found her out, as he was pretty sexist at the beginning of the story. But in the end, both he and Andrei stick by her side, no matter the danger. Nonetheless, the characters were still flawed, which made them even more relatable. Wolfgang struggled with guilt over his older brother’s disloyalty; Mulan questions her abilities and motives for deception.
I believe this book would best suit teens or older, as there are some *ahem* delicate scenes in the book. There’s an instance where Wolfgang and Mulan (disguised as a boy at this point) have to bathe in the same room, although the content is handled very well and nothing inappropriate is seen or stated directly. All things considered, this is a great read, and I would definitely recommend to that age group.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purposes of providing a review. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Review to be published February 10th on The Nerd Daily]

Melanie Dickerson's Hagenheim series reimagines classic tales and brings these stories back to life in a new, enchanting yet more realistic light. For me, Mulan is one of my favourite movies of all time, and so when I saw this novel, I had nothing but high expectations. The Warrior Maiden gets back to the true core of Mulan. While this story may lack in witty dragons and catchy musical numbers, it makes up for it with a heartfelt story of courage and staying true to yourself. The book is written so beautifully that it makes you fall back in love with both old and new characters by tugging at your heartstrings all the while making you sit on the edge of your seat.

"She longed to help them, to defeat the enemy so they never came to endanger her own people but how was that possible? A woman, eighteen years old, was expected to marry, to have children, to cook and clean and sew, not fight."

After her father passes away, Mulan takes his place in the next battle to prevent her home being taken away. As an outcast of her village due to her mixed lineage, she is already looked down upon, so when she joins the army disguised as a man, the feeling of being misplaced still lingers. But in true Mulan spirit she proves that she belongs there as much as any other person.

Mulan proceeds to demonstrate that you are capable of anything if you have motivation and strong core beliefs. She not only destroys them all in an archery competition, but thinks out of the box, proving she is a valuable asset and takes the lead in battle and pretty much saves all their lives. Mulan shows both skill and courage which makes her worthy in the eyes of her comrades when she is revealed to be a woman.

Mulan grows closer to a prince named Wolfgang who has just has a falling out with his brother after going their separate ways. They form a strong friendship which eventually grows romantic after circumstances prevail. He loves her not because of the way she looks but because of her heart, bravery, and he also respects her as a human being. Wolfgang is living fictional proof that chivalry is not dead and it is a very admirable trait in a person. This is a very limited trait that is not found in many books. So perhaps out with the bad boys that all somehow have leather jackets, motorbikes, and a bad attitude and in with the men that treat everyone equally, don’t wear tight pants, and find a pure heart the most important quality in a woman.

"Mulan made sure to walk beside Wolfgang instead of behind him. She couldn’t let him think she considered herself any less than his equal."

The Warrior Maiden focuses a lot on the multiple ways that love can be found, it balances them out well by showing how love can be behind many decisions: romantic, family, and self. Mulan joins the army to keep a roof over her mother's head while Wolfgang volunteers to spar to make sure Mulan does not get hurt.

When hearing about a new fairytale retelling, some may sigh in exhaustion and skip over the opportunity of ANOTHER retelling, but when it comes to Melanie Dickerson, that is not the case. Melanie brings a fresh new perspective that makes them more alive and relatable than the original. She has created her own world that where every book and character is connected, which makes it a series you can immerse yourself in. The Warrior Maiden is no different. It is easy to read and get into plus there are little twists and turns to keep you so interested making it easy to read in one sitting.

Overall, it's a heartfelt story that proves that you can be kind, a soldier, and a woman all at the same time. Mulan is such a wonderful example of a true strong female character proving you can stay true to yourself by have a kind heart even in war.

"She had been accepted as a woman, soldier, and rescuer."

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mulan disguises herself as a man to take her father's place in the war against the Teutonic Knights and to keep her home from being taken away from her. She meets the Duke's son, Wolfgang, who she shares secrets with and both become heroes as they lead their armies into battle.

First off, this is not your average Mulan Disney movie. I don't know the other legend of Mulan, but I'm sure it's not like that either. This Mulan is from Lithuania and honestly I think it could have stood as it's own book and character and not have to be a Mulan retelling. The only similarity is that she disguised herself as a man and even that is revealed very early in the book, which I found surprising. But as I read, the early reveal allowed a relationship to bloom and added another subplot. Other than it didn't really need to be a Mulan retelling, I liked it. It had a good adventure feel, with battles and people getting shot, a villain seeking revenge (albeit he was a little wimpy,) witchcraft, and a little romance.

I didn't realize it was a Christian novel, but I feel like it went well with the time period and the Teutonic Knights' motivations.

I also have a feeling that Wolfgang's brother, Steffan, will be getting his own story.

I have always loved the Disney movie Mulan so when I saw this book I knew I needed to read it. I love this story and I really can't wait to see if there is going to be another book in this series.

Starts out well and is an enjoyable tale. I know it’s a retelling but I still don’t see the need to take a Mulan and move it to Lithuania, just could have been done differently. It was good, lots of action, a bit of romance. It’s a fun retelling but I found it overly heavy on religion , I didn’t realise it was Christian YA so again why take Mulan ! I’m sure plenty will enjoy this more than I did, it was nice but just too religious for me

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so I’ve read other books by this author that I really enjoyed. This one, I didn’t like very much. As a story, I liked it, but as an adaptation of the legend of Mulan, I hated it.

There may be spoilers below, just warning.

So, they took Mulan, a Chinese legend from China and made the character half-Lithuanian and half-Mongolian…the author took China out of Mulan?? Really??

The books I’ve read by Dickerson had good romances with characters that went together well. This book would have been better if she had decided not to go along the romantic route. Wolfgang was a boring romantic partner who would rather lock Mulan in a castle while he fought her battle for her (yes, this is a thing that happened, sorry about the spoiler).

The religion in this book was insane. I realize that in the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church ruled everything, but it was jarring when I’m reading about a battle and suddenly there’s a Bible study class in the middle of the scene.

Also Wolfgang’s brother was a terribly written character. His thoughts made no sense and his motivations were nonexistent.

Here are some things I liked, since it may seem like I’ve just been shitting on this book (I have been, it was not good).

I liked the relationship between Mulan and her stepmother. Honestly, Feodosia was a BAMF. I also liked the relationship between Mulan and Andrei. It was almost like the relationship between siblings, and they were always looking out for each other.

If you’re looking for a good book by Melanie Dickerson, this is not it. Go to The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, that one it a 5 star read. The Warrior Maiden is a 2.5 star read.

Mulan has grown up in a small villiage in Lithuania. She is the daughter of Milokai, a warrior who fathered her while fighting in the East. Milokai's wife has raised Mulan as her own. Now, Mulan is a young woman and Milokai is dead. Mulan's mother attempts to marry off Mulan, however when Milokai is called to battle, Mulan assumes his place as Milokai's son. Assisted by her father's steward and her archery coach, Andrei, Mulan marches off to protect the castle of an ally from the Teutonic Knights. Fighting with Mulan is the Duke of Hagenheim's son, Wolfgang. Wolfgang's brother Stefan however is fighting for the Teutonic Knights. At first, Wolfgang sees Mulan as a rival in archery, but Mulan's skills in battle win her respect and Wolfgang see's her as an equal. Now, fighting closely with Wolfgang, Mulan must protect her secret and her feelings towards Wolfgang while continuing to fend off the Teutonic Knights, including Wolfgang's brother.


A very creative re-imagining of the Mulan story within the world of Hagenheim. At first, I was very wary of how Mulan would fit into the western European world, but with a few twists here and there, it seemed liked she was made to belong all along. I enjoyed how the spirit of Mulan was kept in her personality. Mulan was scared, but kept a very confident face, and showed bravery and ingenuity in battle, using her strengths as a woman. She balked against the gender norms of marrying for safety and security to a man who would not love her for who she is. I loved reading the battle scenes and seeing Mulan's mixed emotions as she fought to protect herself as well as what she believed was right. Mulan and Wolfgang's relationship was also very interesting. Beginning as a rivalry and then a respected friend and warrior, Wolfgang then turns into the only other person who know Mulan's secret and his feelings towards the soldier and now woman must change. There is a lot of will they or won't they that drove me a little mad as neither of them wanted to ruin the friendship forged in battle. I also appreciated the incorporation of the historic Teutonic Knights and Grand Master Rusdorf. With an exciting ending and the hope of a happily ever after, The Warrior Maiden is another wonderful installment in the Hagenheim stories.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

At first I thought this book would follow the story of Mulan close to the Disney version, but I soon realized that this retelling would take new twists and turns that brought a new life and energy to the story. I loved the different backstory to Mulan and her family, and the interesting political dynamics between the different powers of the region that are embroiled in conflict. The ugliness of war is realistically portrayed without being overly graphic, but it made me grateful for how times and society has changed, especially in attitudes toward women. I was glad that there was plenty of story before Wolfgang discovers Mulan is female, and also plenty of story after. They had great chemistry first as brief rivals, then as friends, then as more. The pacing was well-balanced with the exciting action and moments of reflection and connection between Mulan and those around her. Family dynamics are a strong theme with Wolfgang's struggles with his brother, and Mulan's loyalty to her mother and complicated relationship with her father. I admired Mulan's faith, courage, and determination as she fought for her country's allies and learned more about herself and what she wants out of life. Highly recommend to fans of clean romance, fairy tale retellings, or medieval fiction.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

This title was an adventure in deed and in heart. The story of Mulan is known by many due to the Disney Adaptation, but this book delivers more into her psyche and why she did “what she did.” Much like Joan of Ark, she wanted to end oppression of her country, ordained by God,

In Ms. Dickerson’s latest release, The Warrior Maiden is a new twist to the fairytale Mulan. In this novel, Mulan must go to battle to take her father's place so that she can protect her mother. Mulan’s faith is key throughout this novel. I loved how sure she was that God would protect her. She befriends Wolfgang, who is fighting for what he believes is right. They are both fighting against the Teutonic Knights who say everything they do is right and justified, because God is behind them. Together they discover more about each other- their strengths and weaknesses. They also befriend people of title and importance that could prove allies to them both. This is a great retelling of a classic fairytale! If you enjoy historical romance novels, I believe you will enjoy reading this one. I highly recommend this book!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

I think some people who have read this do not understanding this series of books. They are fairy tale re-tellings so they aren't supposed to be the same as the fairy tale. They are just supposed to be recognizable as being based on the fairy tale and told with the authors own twist. So I wasn't bothered at all that the author took an Asian girl and plopped her down in Lithuania in medieval times. Honestly I don't know the story of Mulan well enough to say how much of this book follows her story and where it veers off into Dickerson's creation.

And this series is Christian lit so yes, there is going to be religion in it. This had very religious characters so their beliefs were part of their every day thoughts and conversation. Therefore there was a lot in in the book. If you don't want religion this isn't the book for you. It is all over this book. Even the "bad guys" are religious though their version of Christianity didn't match up to mine or the main characters of the book. But the point is, there is a lot of religious discussion.

I think that many were upset by Mulan being the strong woman yet in the end, the male "saved the day". That may have been unfortunate but I think the author needed a way to have Wolfgang face his brother so there could be some resolve in that story line and this was how she chose to do that. Plus, she had already established that Mulan had no jousting skills and was small so the likelihood of her being able to succeed would have made the ending less believable.

And this is a young adult book which makes a difference in how it is written.

So I liked the story for what it was and just enjoyed the read.

Sex: some kissing, references to being celibate.
Language: no
Violence: yes- it is a war story

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

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

Mulan é uma das minhas princesas favoritas da Disney, então eu estava muito animado para ler esse livro quando ganhei um ARC no NetGalley. Depois de ter sido aceitado, fui procurar mais sobre a autora e descobrir que o livro era o mais recente em uma série de nove livros, aí eu pensei,"será que tenho que ele os outros oito livros?". Fiquei bem espantado com a quantidade de livros na hora, mas depois relaxei.
Escrever um retelling é uma grande coisa, porque você tem que dar uma cara nova a história, porém também não pode mudar tantas partes da historia original e dizer que escreveu um retteling.
Nesse livro tem muitos elementos da história original da Mulan, porém muitas coisas aqui me incomodaram: 1) a Mulan falar e pensar a palavra God a todo momento, parecia que eu estava lendo uma história de uma garota num acampamento religioso; 2) ficou muito claro que a autora tentou fazer que o Wolfgang fosse um cavalheiro e que agradasse x leitorx, porém não rolou comigo, porque em muitos moemtnso ele parecia muito forçado, como se tivesse que impressionar a gente e a Mulan depois que ele descobriu que ela se vestiu de homem para a mãe não perder a casa. Também tive muitos problemas com algumas coisas que ele pensava e dizia sobre a Mulan ter se vestido de homem; 3) a criancice e a birra do Stefan quase me fizeram arrancar os meus cabelos, porque pensa num personagem insuportável que está a li só para mostrar como o Wolfgang é bom e tudo mais. Gente, sério, ele é debochado, sarcástico e fica jogando piadinha para cima do Wolfgang dizendo que a Mulan era a namoradinha dele. Parecia que eu estava lendo um livro de 2012.
Eu particularmente não gostei muito desse livro, mas acredita em mim quando digo que queria muito.
The Warrior Maiden promete entregar uma boa história sobre uma das melhores princesas da Disney, mas o o resultado deixa a desejar.

The Warrior Maiden is the Ninth installment in author Melanie Dickinson's Hagenheim series. Each book features two different characters from book to book. This story is about an 18 year old girl named Mulan. Mulan enjoys horses and archery. She has been trained not by her father who is a soldier, but by her friend 12-year old Andrei who has followed her father around from battle field to battle field.

With her country, Lithuania, fighting against the Teutonic Knights, her father having passed away weeks ago, her mothers attempt at marrying her to a local butcher, and the fear of losing her home, Mulan makes a choice to leave home and pick up the name of Mikolai. With men’s clothes hiding her secret she sets off to prove her worth as a soldier but complications arise when she meets Wolfgang of Hagenheim.

She must work with Wolfgang, who just happens to be a Duke's son, to end the war and save the people she loves. Wolfgang and his brother Steffan are like yin and yang. Wolfgang joins with Duke Konrad's army to fight against the Knights. It is where he meets the fearless Mikolai who seems a bit too good to be true. Steffan wants to fight for the Teutonic Knights who claim that the Pope has given them and excuse to oppress people from countries like Lithuania and Poland.

Steffan's actions in this book are reckless. He's hurting from an incident that took place when he and Wolfgang were children and has carried the baggage for years. The only question is whether or not the brothers will have to face each other in battle, and who will be standing in the end. The other question is what will happen once Mulan's secret is finally discovered. Under Christian dharma, women aren't allowed to fight as soldiers, nor are they allowed to wear men's clothing.

Melanie Dickinson is a new author to me. So, I wasn't aware that this was a Christian based series. I haven't read the first 8 books in this series. I learned, through reading this story, about other characters who have been featured in previous novels. I am not sure if I will go back and read any of the other books. I have become rather apathetic when it comes to Christian novels. I am a believer in God but I'm not afraid to question things that I have seen in my 6 decades of living. Nor am I afraid of calling out the Church for centuries of wrongdoing. With the rise of anti-Christianity in this country and other places, I do not believe that someone who is not a Christian will like this story.

Mulan, even though she is Chinese in birth, really doesn't bring a whole lot of Asian influence to the story. As the only woman with Mongolian decent in her village, she suffered unjustly because she did not look like everyone else. One of the puzzling aspects of this story is Mulan herself. In the beginning, she struggles to hit the broad side of a barn, and can barley carry a sword. Yet, when it comes to battle, she is a bright star who rushes head strong into danger without fear for her safety. Maybe a bit over the top which is why my rating is what it is.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I know The Warrior Maiden is a retelling of Mulan but it also had a very Joan of Arc feel to it as well. It has a very strong Christianity influence but also very well done historical elements. I loved the story.

Historical fiction that feels real! I always love when you can tell a book is well researched even before you read the author’s note. I love stories that span the areas of Lithuania and Poland. My grandparents were Lithuanian immigrants (although my grandma was born in Russia). It made me laugh because my grandmother’s mother’s maiden name actually starts with Mikolai (Mikolaiunis) It was cool to have Mulan take place in a different piece of history. They are battling the Teutonic Knights who are trying to conquer lands in the name of Christ. With no male in her family to go and fight (otherwise they would lose their house) she disguises herself as Mikolai’s illegitimate son.

I loved the characters in the story. I was impressed with their faith in God but also in their own abilities. The bond of Mulan and her mother is so sweet. Her mother never has treated Mulan like she is not her own and would defend her with her life. I love how much pride her mother has for her and how supportive she is.

I love Wolfgang. He is such a sweet guy, that kind of guy that could easily get his heart broken. He’s a fierce in battle but so kind that you could see someone taking advantage of it. He just has this giant heart and so much respect for his family. He doesn’t give up on his brother, no matter how much he fights him on it.

Mulan is fierce but I also like how she is a warrior with a warrior’s heart but she also likes to dress nice. She doesn't have to be one way or the other. She can want to fight battles and also want to have a husband who loves her and wear a nice dress in a while. She has such a strong personality and isn’t going to let anyone push her around.

I thought it was a really cool way to do a retelling. I’m interested to look back at what the other stories are about. Wolfgang mentions Aladdin as a brother-in-law, sooo. If you enjoy historical fiction and retellings, this is that perfect combo of both.

Another classic fairy tale by Melanie Dickerson. This story will capture you on page one...and will not let you go until the final chapter. Experience this story yourself. You will not be disappointed.

I have never seen the movie Mulan, or really know much about the story, so I didn’t know what to expect from this story. I have read other stories by Melanie Dickerson though and enjoy her writing style.

The Warrior Maiden (book 9 of the Hagenheim series) is action-packed. Although it’s part of a series, it works as a standalone. (I’ve only read one other book in this series.)

I really enjoyed Mulan’s fearlessness and her willingness and ability to step into a world foreign male world. I can’t even imagine trying to pull this off. This story deals with many harsh and unfair realities and tackles them nicely. Although parts were a bit unrealistic in my eyes (such as Mulan’s transformation) I still enjoyed this tale.

Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 320
Opening Line: Galloping her horse past the bit oak tree, Mulan pulled the bow string taut.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers and was under no obligation to post a review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

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

This was my first read by Melanie Dickerson - but I'm a sucker for anything Mulan related. It's my understanding that this is actually 9th in a series of 'retellings' and there's some overlap of characters in this one from previous ones. Since this is my first read of one her books I may not have fully understood the connections, but I don't think it's necessary to as each book is technically a stand-alone.

Mulan retellings have always been a favorite of mine ever since first watching the Disney movie many many years ago. This was a completely different angle as this book seems to take out most if not all cultural references to Mulan being Chinese and recreates her in a European environment. This I believe turned off a lot of readers, which I can understand, as it's a fairly big deviation between what's 'traditionally' Mulan, but I find it to be an interesting twist and can appreciate taking this story in a different direction.

Mulan in Dickerson's retelling is everything I always look for in a representation of the character - a boundary-pusher, someone who's faced with adversity and is ready to kick ass and take names. She more than lives up to my expectations.

I do recommend anyone who reads this book to go into it with an open mind - as trying to conform this Mulan story into what our typical construct of the character and her world may leave the reader feeling confused and left wanting. However, going into this story with no expectation other than an epic story will leave the reader feeling pleased!