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leovaliquette's review
4.0
Howdy. At last gave this a read and didn't regret it. I am a little past the target age group but very much enjoyed Jillian's Mulan-influenced coming of age story with, ya know, dragons.
sonshinelibrarian's review
4.75
I've been wanting to reread this and finally worked it into my very tall TBR. I enjoyed this just as much the second time. It is a lot more violent than I remembered toward the end, but it's a war story. I think I would have liked to see the characters grapple with the killing aspect of war a little bit more. I do love Rain's character and Nuaga. I wanted more of the dragons!
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A fantasy retelling of Mulan WITH DRAGONS... need I say more? I loved this. I love Rain and I love Forest. I really, really love Nuaga. There needs to be more fantasy with furry dragons please. I have so much more that I want to say, but I don't have the words right now. Just go read it. You won't regret it :)
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A fantasy retelling of Mulan WITH DRAGONS... need I say more? I loved this. I love Rain and I love Forest. I really, really love Nuaga. There needs to be more fantasy with furry dragons please. I have so much more that I want to say, but I don't have the words right now. Just go read it. You won't regret it :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
moriaine's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
spellboundbybooks's review
3.0
Actual Rating 3.5
When I read the synopsis of this book and saw it was about a girl named Rain who wants to disguise herself as a boy to become a soldier and save her family, I just had to read it. She uses a magical powder to help disguise herself, and soon she begins to hear the voice of a dragon and comes to realise that the only way to save the kingdom is to awaken the mythical dragons.
I really liked Rain. She is selfless with a deep love for her family. She can fight as well as any man and I enjoyed watching her training to become an elite warrior and her determination to do whatever she has to save her family and the unit she has formed a bond with.
And of course there are dragons! Who doesn't love a good dragon story?! It was fun learning about the dragons within this world and I would have loved to delve even deeper into this side of the story.
I did feel that the ending wrapped everything up too quickly and a little too easily for me. This was a solid ya fantasy debut with an enjoyable story to tell. If you liked Disney's Mulan, then I think you will like this too.
When I read the synopsis of this book and saw it was about a girl named Rain who wants to disguise herself as a boy to become a soldier and save her family, I just had to read it. She uses a magical powder to help disguise herself, and soon she begins to hear the voice of a dragon and comes to realise that the only way to save the kingdom is to awaken the mythical dragons.
I really liked Rain. She is selfless with a deep love for her family. She can fight as well as any man and I enjoyed watching her training to become an elite warrior and her determination to do whatever she has to save her family and the unit she has formed a bond with.
And of course there are dragons! Who doesn't love a good dragon story?! It was fun learning about the dragons within this world and I would have loved to delve even deeper into this side of the story.
I did feel that the ending wrapped everything up too quickly and a little too easily for me. This was a solid ya fantasy debut with an enjoyable story to tell. If you liked Disney's Mulan, then I think you will like this too.
discoverelysian's review
3.0
You can also read my review here
A BOOK ABOUT MULAN RETELLING WITH A DRAGON IS ALL I NEEDED.
I'm always interested in stories about a woman disguised as a man because it reminds me of Mulan, and how I love her. So when I read the synopsis, I could already tell that I'm going to like this book.
Right from the beginning, I was welcomed with old countryside vibes when kings and queens ruled the lands. It's a good start because from there I could easily picture the world on my mind. The writing helped a lot with the world-building. Even though the world was actually pretty big and complex, Boehme solved it with smooth, detailed but easy-to-understand style. Love it!
And what's interesting are the characters. I just didn't expect them to be so ‘eye-catching’ and unique. I wasn't really paying attention to the others because the main character, Storm, was taking up all of my focus. But as the story goes, they slowly but surely stood out one by one. What I'm trying to say is: they're not what they seem to be. You may like them or you may be suspicious towards them. Just be careful with the plot twists!
Unfortunately, I didn't get all soft and excited about the romance. For me, it was too predictable, cliché, just a no-no. Well, I have no problem with them being together, it's just I can't bring myself to enjoy the romantic scenes. Aside from that, I also have a love-hate relationship with Storm. Sometimes she looks cool and mature. But other times, I couldn't understand her mindset. But throughout her journey in this book, she became wiser and stronger, I really appreciate that.
Overall, I liked Stormrise. It has a nice and steady pace, plus the world-building is no joke. A story about a girl doing something against the law to protect her family was really inspiring. Oh, there were also some awesome quotes that touched the dark corner of my heart. As you can see, I've included 5 of my favorite quotes. Aren't they just amazing? If you're looking for a fun book, especially fantasy, you should check out this one!
“You are worth more to me than twenty capable sons. Surely you know that.”
A BOOK ABOUT MULAN RETELLING WITH A DRAGON IS ALL I NEEDED.
I'm always interested in stories about a woman disguised as a man because it reminds me of Mulan, and how I love her. So when I read the synopsis, I could already tell that I'm going to like this book.
Let it be swift, Great God. And let it be hidden, where no one will see my rotting flesh.
Right from the beginning, I was welcomed with old countryside vibes when kings and queens ruled the lands. It's a good start because from there I could easily picture the world on my mind. The writing helped a lot with the world-building. Even though the world was actually pretty big and complex, Boehme solved it with smooth, detailed but easy-to-understand style. Love it!
She who knows the pain of parting knows its power.
And what's interesting are the characters. I just didn't expect them to be so ‘eye-catching’ and unique. I wasn't really paying attention to the others because the main character, Storm, was taking up all of my focus. But as the story goes, they slowly but surely stood out one by one. What I'm trying to say is: they're not what they seem to be. You may like them or you may be suspicious towards them. Just be careful with the plot twists!
“The warrior who is not moved by death has lost his soul.”
Unfortunately, I didn't get all soft and excited about the romance. For me, it was too predictable, cliché, just a no-no. Well, I have no problem with them being together, it's just I can't bring myself to enjoy the romantic scenes. Aside from that, I also have a love-hate relationship with Storm. Sometimes she looks cool and mature. But other times, I couldn't understand her mindset. But throughout her journey in this book, she became wiser and stronger, I really appreciate that.
“To our rising Storm!” Mandrake raised his mug. “Rising Storm!” and “Stormrise!” came the answering calls.
Overall, I liked Stormrise. It has a nice and steady pace, plus the world-building is no joke. A story about a girl doing something against the law to protect her family was really inspiring. Oh, there were also some awesome quotes that touched the dark corner of my heart. As you can see, I've included 5 of my favorite quotes. Aren't they just amazing? If you're looking for a fun book, especially fantasy, you should check out this one!
prags's review
3.0
*ARC received as a part of a blog tour. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
Stormrise follows the story of Rain, a girl, who disguises herself as a boy, her twin brother, and takes his place in a war. As she grapples to keep her true identity a secret, and to fight for the honour of her father, and her country, she stumbles upon something that could help them win the war. But at what price?
This was a good book. The writing was crisp and succulent, the actions sequences were well done, the plot was easy to keep up with. But, somehow, I just didn’t really like Rain as much as I’d thought I would, and that kinda made it difficult for me to get through with this because I just didn’t really care about her enough to see her win.
What I loved the most about this was definitely the dragon folk lore and everything surrounding it. The way dragons have been incorporated in this book is truly commendable and I admire the author for doing it such justice. The whole mystery surrounding the dragons, and my need to see them was the main motivation in reading this book and finishing it off so quickly.
Another thing that I liked was that this didn’t have a lot of long descriptions. I’m not really a big fan of those, so it was nice to read a book where we didn’t have to know the colour of the trees that passed by. On the other hand, maybe a little description about certain things would’ve been nice.
The social commentary in this book is brilliant. I loved how the author tried to show the contrast in how Rain was treated when she was a boy as compared to when she was a girl. It just sent the message across so well and drove home the point that women do face a lot of struggles as members of the society at every turn.
All in all, this was a pretty decent book and I had fun reading it.
Stormrise follows the story of Rain, a girl, who disguises herself as a boy, her twin brother, and takes his place in a war. As she grapples to keep her true identity a secret, and to fight for the honour of her father, and her country, she stumbles upon something that could help them win the war. But at what price?
This was a good book. The writing was crisp and succulent, the actions sequences were well done, the plot was easy to keep up with. But, somehow, I just didn’t really like Rain as much as I’d thought I would, and that kinda made it difficult for me to get through with this because I just didn’t really care about her enough to see her win.
What I loved the most about this was definitely the dragon folk lore and everything surrounding it. The way dragons have been incorporated in this book is truly commendable and I admire the author for doing it such justice. The whole mystery surrounding the dragons, and my need to see them was the main motivation in reading this book and finishing it off so quickly.
Another thing that I liked was that this didn’t have a lot of long descriptions. I’m not really a big fan of those, so it was nice to read a book where we didn’t have to know the colour of the trees that passed by. On the other hand, maybe a little description about certain things would’ve been nice.
The social commentary in this book is brilliant. I loved how the author tried to show the contrast in how Rain was treated when she was a boy as compared to when she was a girl. It just sent the message across so well and drove home the point that women do face a lot of struggles as members of the society at every turn.
All in all, this was a pretty decent book and I had fun reading it.
popthebutterfly's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Jillian Boehme
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 24, 2019
Recommended Age: 16+ (cursing, slight fire, blood, violence)
Genre: YA fantasy
Publisher: TorTeen
Synopsis: If Rain weren’t a girl, she would be respected as a Neshu combat master. Instead, her gender dooms her to a colorless future. When an army of nomads invades her kingdom, and a draft forces every household to send one man to fight, Rain takes her chance to seize the life she wants.
Knowing she’ll be killed if she’s discovered, Rain purchases powder made from dragon magic that enables her to disguise herself as a boy. Then she hurries to the war camps, where she excels in her training—and wrestles with the voice that has taken shape inside her head. The voice of a dragon she never truly believed existed.
As war looms and Rain is enlisted into an elite, secret unit tasked with rescuing the High King, she begins to realize this dragon tincture may hold the key to her kingdom’s victory. For the dragons that once guarded her land have slumbered for centuries . . . and someone must awaken them to fight once more.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. I felt the writing was pretty good, the characters were very well developed, and the worldbuilding was well done. I liked that this book was a retelling of Mulan and I loved the female empowerment message behind it.
However, there were some things I didn't particularly like or understand about this book. The use of the word "simpleton" to describe Storm made me feel uncomfortable. I get it was a word used in a previous time period but it just always made me uncomfortable. I thought the book had some awkward time jumps too. They weren't separated from the previous passage, making the read confusing. And I thought the addition of the dragons confused the story for me. I didn't get their overall purpose when it seemed that it could have been a straight Mulan retelling and be fine as just that.
Verdict: If ye love dragons then ye will love this book!
Author: Jillian Boehme
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 24, 2019
Recommended Age: 16+ (cursing, slight fire, blood, violence)
Genre: YA fantasy
Publisher: TorTeen
Synopsis: If Rain weren’t a girl, she would be respected as a Neshu combat master. Instead, her gender dooms her to a colorless future. When an army of nomads invades her kingdom, and a draft forces every household to send one man to fight, Rain takes her chance to seize the life she wants.
Knowing she’ll be killed if she’s discovered, Rain purchases powder made from dragon magic that enables her to disguise herself as a boy. Then she hurries to the war camps, where she excels in her training—and wrestles with the voice that has taken shape inside her head. The voice of a dragon she never truly believed existed.
As war looms and Rain is enlisted into an elite, secret unit tasked with rescuing the High King, she begins to realize this dragon tincture may hold the key to her kingdom’s victory. For the dragons that once guarded her land have slumbered for centuries . . . and someone must awaken them to fight once more.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. I felt the writing was pretty good, the characters were very well developed, and the worldbuilding was well done. I liked that this book was a retelling of Mulan and I loved the female empowerment message behind it.
However, there were some things I didn't particularly like or understand about this book. The use of the word "simpleton" to describe Storm made me feel uncomfortable. I get it was a word used in a previous time period but it just always made me uncomfortable. I thought the book had some awkward time jumps too. They weren't separated from the previous passage, making the read confusing. And I thought the addition of the dragons confused the story for me. I didn't get their overall purpose when it seemed that it could have been a straight Mulan retelling and be fine as just that.
Verdict: If ye love dragons then ye will love this book!
beautifullybookishbethany's review against another edition
4.0
Mulan meets Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce in this standalone debut fantasy! I haven't seen too many people talking about Stormrise, but it's a lot of fun and I think more people should pick it up.
Rain disguises herself as a boy and joins the military in order to protect her family. While there she is chosen to be a hero by a dragon, and has a forbidden romance. So very similar to Mulan, but with its own world and magic system! It slows down a bit in the middle, but the pacing is mostly decent and the ending had me riveted. Not groundbreaking, but a solid debut and an enjoyable read.
Here is a much more eloquent review that wonderfully captures how the book tackles misogyny and toxic masculinity!: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2288352024?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
CW include sexual assault, misogyny, and war violence.
Rain disguises herself as a boy and joins the military in order to protect her family. While there she is chosen to be a hero by a dragon, and has a forbidden romance. So very similar to Mulan, but with its own world and magic system! It slows down a bit in the middle, but the pacing is mostly decent and the ending had me riveted. Not groundbreaking, but a solid debut and an enjoyable read.
Here is a much more eloquent review that wonderfully captures how the book tackles misogyny and toxic masculinity!: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2288352024?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
CW include sexual assault, misogyny, and war violence.
sempiternal_books's review against another edition
4.0
“I could at least find comfort in knowing that I’d take my last breath saving the lives of everyone I loved.” - Jillian Boehme, Stormrise
This book was basically what I expected. It is a retelling of Mulan, but with dragons! As with any retelling, some details are changed. In this case, our main character Rain goes to war in the place of her brother, who has the mind of a child and is unfit for war.
I found some of the plot to be disappointingly predictable and a wee bit drawn out. But the major storyline was fun and exciting. (Although it is a bit darker than Mulan so be warned, there is some sexual abuse, but nothing too crazy or graphic.) The dragons and dragon magic were a unique touch and I really enjoyed it. The romance, however, wasn’t the best. There was insta love, (sigh) and I kind of liked the two characters better as friends, but what are you gonna do.
This is will be out September 24th! So definitely pick this up if you like Mulan and Dragons! Honestly, I’ve never read a book with dragons before so I found that aspect really interesting. I need more books with dragons!
This book was basically what I expected. It is a retelling of Mulan, but with dragons! As with any retelling, some details are changed. In this case, our main character Rain goes to war in the place of her brother, who has the mind of a child and is unfit for war.
I found some of the plot to be disappointingly predictable and a wee bit drawn out. But the major storyline was fun and exciting. (Although it is a bit darker than Mulan so be warned, there is some sexual abuse, but nothing too crazy or graphic.) The dragons and dragon magic were a unique touch and I really enjoyed it. The romance, however, wasn’t the best. There was insta love, (sigh) and I kind of liked the two characters better as friends, but what are you gonna do.
This is will be out September 24th! So definitely pick this up if you like Mulan and Dragons! Honestly, I’ve never read a book with dragons before so I found that aspect really interesting. I need more books with dragons!