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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
maybe i’m stupid… i thought lei was like. gay and then whenever he hit on meilin i was like what game is he playing and then they almost had sex and i was like wow he’s really deep undercover. i get to the end of the book and im like no wait hes actually into her. anyway i hope they don’t get together and that meilin and sky do and then lei and winter do and then meilin and lei have to be inlaws. that’s the funniest outcome to me
reread (31.05.2025):
Happy to say this still holds up after rereading it for the second time! Everything I enjoyed on my first read through I still enjoyed the second time around.
Meilin is still a badass, Lei is still on my mind 24/7 365, making me grin and giggle like a school girl, and Sky is… Sky.
I think I enjoyed this more as a reread since I got to pick up on more of the foreshadowing and pay attention to all the different plot points teased for the next book. I’ll be interested to see how it all comes together in the final book and manifesting Meilin x Lei endgame!!
first read through (30.09.2024):
this is a powerful, evocative story about finding one’s place in the world. there’s a strong message of feminism that is told through the eyes of meilin, somebody forced to dress as a boy and go to war in exchange for freedom and a better life for her family. it is a mulan retelling, but it resembles more of the hua mulan folktale/poem than the disney film. it delves on the themes of gender inequality and it will have you reflecting on it by the end of the novel. seriously, one day literature students will be picking this book up and analyzing it.
yes, there are similarities to the disney film, but song breathes new life into this retelling by infusing war with black magic and two morally gray MMCs. i would even say everyone is morally gray, including the FMC, which makes for a very gritty but realistic read. the stakes are high, people die, and there’s tons of blade to throat action
Happy to say this still holds up after rereading it for the second time! Everything I enjoyed on my first read through I still enjoyed the second time around.
Meilin is still a badass, Lei is still on my mind 24/7 365, making me grin and giggle like a school girl, and Sky is… Sky.
I think I enjoyed this more as a reread since I got to pick up on more of the foreshadowing and pay attention to all the different plot points teased for the next book. I’ll be interested to see how it all comes together in the final book and manifesting Meilin x Lei endgame!!
first read through (30.09.2024):
this is a powerful, evocative story about finding one’s place in the world. there’s a strong message of feminism that is told through the eyes of meilin, somebody forced to dress as a boy and go to war in exchange for freedom and a better life for her family. it is a mulan retelling, but it resembles more of the hua mulan folktale/poem than the disney film. it delves on the themes of gender inequality and it will have you reflecting on it by the end of the novel. seriously, one day literature students will be picking this book up and analyzing it.
yes, there are similarities to the disney film, but song breathes new life into this retelling by infusing war with black magic and two morally gray MMCs. i would even say everyone is morally gray, including the FMC, which makes for a very gritty but realistic read. the stakes are high, people die, and there’s tons of blade to throat action
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book started strong in my opinion, Meilin deserves the freedom she was striving for and I was rooting for her. Also as a kid having Mulan on repeat I just knew I was going to enjoy the book had I was having a good time… until I wasn’t.
I stopped liking the main protagonist about 60% of the way through the book. The charming price was generic and boring. There was only one character I think I enjoyed being in the opposing side, and every other character in this book I had no care in the world for them at all.
A magic system was attempted but it just didn’t stick and was boring and over powered. It was an interesting idea but just didn’t land well IMO.
I stopped liking the main protagonist about 60% of the way through the book. The charming price was generic and boring. There was only one character I think I enjoyed being in the opposing side, and every other character in this book I had no care in the world for them at all.
A magic system was attempted but it just didn’t stick and was boring and over powered. It was an interesting idea but just didn’t land well IMO.
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
✨”They would never let a woman get away with something like this.”
“Something like what?”
“They would never let a woman hold on to power.”✨
As someone whose favorite Disney Princess is Mulan, I absolutely loved this one! This darker tale is definitely heavily influenced by the Chinese legend itself— filled with complex themes of female rage, power, and destiny. Following a character who is driven by a selfish wanting rather than filial piety offered the opportunity for more moral quandaries and interesting discussions within a society that values duty and honor above all else.
It honestly had moments that reminded me of The Poppy War, especially the complexity of a female warrior’s fight for power in a world built to suppress her personhood and capabilities. A wonderful fantasy story that had a delectable hint of romance (a love triangle I can get behind), this was an addicting, exhilarating, and thoughtful read!
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes