Written by Emma Knight
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.
The Warrior Maiden is now available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes a fresh reimagining of the classic Mulan tale.
Mulan isn’t afraid to pretend to be a son and assume her father’s soldier duties in war. But what happens when the handsome son of a duke discovers her secret?
Mulan is trying to resign herself to marrying the village butcher for the good of her family, but her adventurous spirit just can’t stand the thought. At the last minute, she pretends to be the 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.
Wolfgang and his brother Steffan leave Hagenheim with several other soldiers to help their father’s ally in Poland. When they arrive, Wolfgang is exasperated by the young soldier Mikolai who seems to either always be one step away from disaster . . . or showing Wolfgang up in embarrassing ways.
When Wolfgang discovers his former rival and reluctant friend Mikolai is actually a girl, he is determined to protect her. But battle is a dangerous place where anything can happen—and usually does.
When Mulan receives word that her mother has been accused of practicing witchcraft through her healing herbs and skills, Mulan’s only thought is of defending her. Will she be able to trust Wolfgang to help? Or will sacrificing her own life be the only way to save her mother?
