I really liked this book and I really do hope to read the next book in the series in the future. I'm really living for these kinds of books.

Actual rating three and a half stars. Did not enjoy this as much as I did the first book (which was a four star read for me). However, I do plan to continue on with the series.

This story is the Mulan sequel we all deserve. It takes Mulan, a hero of China on the battlefield, and puts her in a completely different type of battlefield: the royal court. When the emperor of China surprises everyone-including Mulan-and names her as his heir, Mulan must decide if she will turn him down for the life she had planned, or accept his offer and become the next ruler of China, and give up the love of her life. As Mulan attempts to navigate court life and it's political intrigue, she struggles with determining the difference between allies and foes, and it seems she can't trust anyone, not even herself, to make the right choice for China and its future. The prose has a lyrical taste to it and the adventure takes Mulan on many twists and turns. If you are a fan of Mulan, court intrigue, warrior women, strong female friendships, and a bit of romance, this story is for you.

Home in her village, training an all-female militia, Mulan is called upon once again to save China, this time from a threat inside the kingdom as well as outside. Called to service by the Emperor, via her friend Shang, Mulan faces new and unexpected threats - but will she be successful again?

Join her in her new adventure, as she answers her emperor’s call once again, in this action-filled story about the next chapter in Mulan’s life. Fans of the movie will greatly enjoy this next chapter in Mulan's life; those who have read the novel will enjoy it even more, as it contains the types of details only possible in novels.

I am providing this review in return for being given a preview copy of the novel by NetGalley.

A look at life after the Huns were defeated, this second entry in the Queen's council series follows Mulan as she transtions from a life training a female militia to becoming Empress of China - a whole new kind of war. Mulan has earned the trust of her Emperor, enough that he declares her his heir. She is not equipped for the kinds of war and intrigue that await her, however, and she quickly finds herself training just as hard for the new war as she did when she first entered the army.
Mulan's growth and pacing suit her character, and the plot intrigues build tension without becoming unbearable or unbelievable. The tension is held not just through plot but also through relationship, as she and Shang must navigate their new status and what it means for their futures. The novel stays true to the values Mulan holds: for China, and for her people, she will sacrifice all.

You ever wonder what would happen if Mulan did take some kind of deal or the emperor really didn't stop thinking about her afterwards. This is the perfect book for that. This, like the story before it, was absolutely fun and thought-provoking; however, at times seemed a bit surface-level.

I must say I was impressed with this book, I loved the idea of the series the publisher had for these books, having the princess characters now taking over their kingdoms. This one is based in Mulan, while the first one was Bella. In this one we get into China after it was saved by the princess in the original story, we get a lot of historical aspects, which you can say the author took the time researching in order to be accurate to the character and the history. Definitely loved it and would totally recommend it!

The Review

As a longtime fan of mythology, history, and Disney, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to review another great book from Disney Hyperion. The author did such a beautiful job of bringing ancient China to life in such a vivid and magical way. The balance the author struck between the Disney story we know and the historical accuracy and mythology of the novel’s backstory within this series was superb. The setting of the narrative felt so alive and the author’s style of writing took on a very cinematic tone, allowing readers to read and bring to life this adventure in their mind’s eye.

The character development was outstanding in this novel. The way the author delved into Mulan as a person when confronted with her new reality was amazing, as was her relationship with Shang. Not only did the narrative do a great job of tackling the issues of equality amongst the women warriors and showing the balance one must find between showing strength and courage in the face of adversity without losing who they are inside, but the author also did an amazing job of showing politics and power struggles within ancient China, giving Mulan’s story more depth and intrigue this time around.

The Verdict

Action-packed, entertaining, and brilliant written, author Livia Blackburne’s “Feather and Flame” is a must-read historical fiction/fantasy book and the next great addition to the Queen’s Council series. A fantastic series of twists and turns in Mulan’s saga and her battle both with another invading Hun army and her own political rivals will keep readers hanging on the author’s every word.

Didn't catch this was a series and 2nd installment of Disney's the Queen Council series. each book is the story of a different heroine written by a different author and is the story after their story. This one is about mulan. Since i can't jump in a series and not read them all i will have to go back and read the first one as well. If you're a mulan fan this is a book for you. Thank you net galley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a review.

Mulan is one of my favorite Disney movies, so I was very excited to read this 'continuation' of her story! I didn't love the previous book in this series, so I was a little nervous going into this one, but I ended up absolutely loving this story! There was the perfect mix of political intrigue, action, romance and good old fashioned girl power. Mulan becoming empress of China starts off our story and the action never lets up. I loved Mulan's relationship with her militia and how her journey in the film shapes how she handles things in this story. Shang remains one of my favorite Disney 'princes,' especially after this story and I adored how their relationship was portrayed. The Queen's Council is such an interesting idea and I am very intrigued to see how it's used in future stories with other Disney 'princesses' and how it shapes their happily ever afters as rulers of their kingdoms.

Feather and Flame by Livia Blackburne is a continuation of the story of Disney’s Mulan and part of their “Queen’s Council” series which tells the stories of different Disney princesses and what happens after the fairy tale is over. I enjoyed Rebel Rose, the story of Belle and her Beast during the French Revolution, but something was missing for me and with Feather and Flame I think Blackburne has the entire package.

Mixing real life history and folklore with iconic Disney imagery, Blackburne is able to tell the story of Mulan coming into her own not only as the hero of China but as a leader in her own right. When the Emperor makes her his heir, her life is turned upside down. Being a soldier and a hero is different than being a leader and I really enjoyed coming along for the journey as Mulan deals with misogynistic ministers and the perils of leading a people. The characterizations were right on point and the Mulan of Feather and Flame is still the snarky, resourceful and brave character we love from the movie.

Rebel Rose also dealt with themes of undermining leadership as well as a form of magical, spiritual guidance but while for Belle that was in the form of the enchantress, for Mulan it was the spirit of her grandmother, her ancestors and other female warriors of China. Blackburne did her research and I spent a lot of time while reading googling the real people she included in her book. I also appreciated how the spiritual elements don’t necessarily save either Belle or Mulan but just given them the tools to follow their instincts and become the leaders they were meant to be.

I also loved how the book dealt with the romance between Mulan and Shang and the way they supported each other made my heart swell.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Jasmine’s story next. I think Disney is doing some very cool things with their imprint and I am excited to see what’s next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Queen's Council #2: Feather and Flame
Author: Livia Blackburne
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The war is over. Now a renowned hero, Mulan spends her days in her home village, training a militia of female warriors. The peace is a welcome one, and she knows it must be protected.

When Shang arrives with an invitation to the Imperial City, Mulan’s relatively peaceful life is upended once more. The aging emperor decrees that Mulan will be his heir to the throne. Such unimagined power and responsibility terrifies her, but who can say no to the Emperor?

As Mulan ascends into the halls of power, it becomes clear that not everyone is on her side. Her ministers undermine her, and the Huns sense a weakness in the throne. When hints of treachery appear even amongst those she considers friends, Mulan has no idea whom she can trust.

But the Queen’s Council helps Mulan uncover her true destiny. With renewed strength and the wisdom of those that came before her, Mulan will own her power, save her country, and prove once again that, crown or helmet, she was always meant to lead.

I really enjoyed this! The Disney Mulan cartoon is my absolute favorite, and I kept seeing those characters in my mind throughout the entire book. I loved how Mulan’s confidence developed, showcasing her strength. She wasn’t afraid to find help from unexpected sources, and she wasn’t so committed to what she thinks is correct that she ignores anything that doesn’t agree with it. I loved the mix of action and romance, and found this a compelling story.

Livia Blackburne is a bestselling author. Feather and Flame is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Disney in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog post scheduled for 6/14.)

I'm glad I decided to stick with this series from Disney. It's an interesting project: a series based on Disney heroines that have to learn to lean on their power and prowess, connected by the Queen's Council. I had a great difficulty with the first installment due to tragically flawed characterization of the Disney cast, but I wanted to try this anyway because different author and my favorite Disney heroine. Thankfully, I did not have the same problem with this one.

On the whole, the characters we know and love from the animated Mulan are much better characterized in this installment. While I was disappointed in some of Mulan's hesitations and reservations, I'm seeing this as something forced into this series so that there's a reason for the Queen's Council. Thankfully for a great portion of this story, we do still see the brave, selfless, heart-thinking warrior we know and love.

I was most impressed with the treatment of Shang, and his relationship with Mulan. This story did an excellent job of showing us a believable friendship years after the Hun invasion that still sparked with more. Given the focus of women and girlhood empowerment of this series, I absolutely love that Shang was not pushed to the back for its sake. Mulan and Shang's teamwork and partnership is a wonderful thing that blossomed out of the Mulan animated film, and I'm glad it wasn't shoved away. Shang was absolutely a partner to Mulan in this story and kept in a support role that didn't overtake her accomplishments and progress. We got Shang AND new women companions that were strong leaders and supports in their own rights, not one or the other.

I found myself wishing at times that this had been written for an Upper YA audience, because the events of the story would have benefited greatly from a more thorough and developed writing style. However, I understand that Disney novelizations are written accessibly for a younger teen audience and that this writing is more a reflection on Disney's wants than the writing style of the authors they work with.

Overall, an enjoyable read and I appreciated the chance to read another What If? story based on Fa Mulan.

Thank you NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced copy for review.

The war is over and Mulan has headed back to her village where she has formed a militia of woman who help her carry out missions for the emperor. When Shang comes to her village asking her to make an appearance before the emperor, she doesn't expect that the emperor will name her his successor. Will Mulan be able to learn how to rule China? Can she trust those who are supposedly there to protect and lead her? IS every one as they seem? Join Mulan as she learns what it truly means to become a defender of China.

This book does such a lovely job of drawing the reader into Mulan's story shortly after the tale we know has ended. Yes time has passed as Mulan and her militia have helped on many different missions throughout China, yet they are not left wondering what came between. Even though this book is published under Disney, please know that characters such as Mushu do not exist in this retelling, yet they are not missed and the author does such a lovely job of integrating the important aspect of ancestors and spirits that is throughout the Chinese culture. This book seamlessly weaves together a tale that I think Mulan would even be proud of. Her growth and discovery of herself and how to become a leader who can properly defend China is just beautifully laid out.

Thank you so much to Disney and NetGalley for allowing me to have an advance copy of this title.

I could not put this book down! The world-building and descriptions was great without being excessive. The character growth was believable, and I appreciated that the romance was there, but it wasn't the center of the plot.

Feather and Flame is about a Disney Princess, but it's so much more. It's about finding strength when the odds seemed stacked against you. It's about finding courage when facing your enemies. It's about never underestimating people and some things are not what they seem.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love the movie Mulan, so going into this I had high expectations. While things didn't always go the way I expected them to, I was still really happy with this book.

It felt true to Mulan's character, and I felt it made a better sequel than the second movie did.

The author did a great job of capturing Mulan's spirit and created such a real, feminist narrative that I think the warrior would be proud of. Though I missed Mushu, I'm glad that this story wasn't lacking in the spirit guide department. Spirits and ancestors play such a huge roll in Mulan's story, and I was happy to see that this author saw that, too.

We may have been missing Mushu, but I was so glad to see Shang in the story! I love that he didn't hold Mulan back--in fact thought he himself was holding her back! He was a refreshing love interest that saw the heart, strength, and soul of the woman he loved and only looked to see how he could offer his aid in any way she needed.

Overall, this story may not be what I expected, but it was exactly what I needed.

I am a sucker for Disney retellings and this one didn't disappoint as a Mulan retelling. It continues after the original animated movie. I really enjoyed this book but wish Mushu was in it because he is my favorite character from the movie and provides some comic relief.

This is one of the best Mulan retellings i have read and recommended to many friends who are fans of retellings! Blackburne did an amazing job sticking to the bones of the story and making you really feel what Mulan has been through!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of the only continuations of "happily ever after" that rings true to the original characters!

This one surprised me in a good way! It’s more of a sequel to the Mulan movie. The book was well-paced and had good sword-fighting action. The best part of the book was hands down the forbidden romance! Love love loved it! Kept true to the essence of the original Disney Mulan movie. A joy of a read!