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.

I received a complimentary copy of 'The Warrior Maiden' from 'Thomas Nelson' in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.

Mulan's father never loved her mother, so it wasn't much of a surprise that Mulan didn't feel much towards him, either. Upon his death, Mulan takes his name and his horse, posing as his son in order to fight in the war in her father's place. Prophecised to be a warrior, Mulan sets off to battle, determined to keep her secret and her mother safe. Wolfgang doesn't want to fight his brother at war, but with Steffan determined to be reckless, he can do nothing but watch in dispair. When Mikolai, a strange young man, joins his camp at battle, Wolfgang finds himself thrown into a whirlwind of secrets and unresolved feelings.

Okay, wow! I am absolutely in love with 'The Warrior Maiden'! It has kick-ass characters, epic fight scenes, conflict and an awesome set of lead characters! What more could I honestly ask for in a Historical novel? There was obviously a lot of research done for 'The Maiden Warrior' but it certainly paid off as it was all seamlessly written in to creat a diverse and steady pace plot.

Along with the fact that it follows one of my child hood favourite stories, it also demonstrates how desperate families can get to protect one another, and the things that they will do to protect them. I was also given a lot more insight to hw these battles went down. I also loved how this novel didn't only focus on Mulan / Mikolai's character, there was a plot behind Steffan and Wolfgang too, which all helped make the ending of the book that much more impactful.

My verdict, you ask? Read it! This is a wonderful book full of amazing writing and suspensful plot, and a little bit of romance thrown in the mix. If you enjoy all those things, I certainly recommend this book!

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!

I was incredibly excited about this book - a feminist retelling of Mulan? Sign me up! However, for some reason, I did not realize that this book would be so religion-heavy. Unfortunately, I am not religious so this aspect of the book mostly ruined the overall fun for me.

I think those who would enjoy a good, clean fun retelling of a fantastic heroine will enjoy this book much more than I did!

This is an adventurous reimagining of the story of Mulan. Many aspects remain the same as in the original, but the changes are enjoyable. The story has plenty of action without the gore of many fantasy books. This one is good for the entire family!

Melanie has done it again. A long time favorite of mine, I always preorder her books and have never been disappointed. Mulan was all that I hoped it be. I love the creative way Melanie takes old fairy tales and weaves them together. While reading previous books is not necessary, it is nice to see old characters and get more information to the backdrop. Mulan is a tough, but humble and lovable heroine. Wolfgang is her match in every way and I loved reading through the tension of these two discovering themselves and each other.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mulan is a young woman who was brought to Europe by her soldier father to his wife who has always wanted children. The mother loves Mulan like she is her own. The story itself opens with a knight delivering a missive to the house saying if Mulan's father does not report in 3 days, all of his land and property are forfeit. As soon as he leaves, we find out that he has just died (though no one mourns his death). With them days from being homeless, her mother tries to arrange a marriage with anyone in the village who would take them in. The suitor we meet is little better than an ogre and treats the clumsy but loveable Mulan like a soon-to-be servant. Mulan cannot endure this, so she decides to take her father's place so her mother will continue to have a place to live.

We then switch to the second main character's point of view - Wolfgang. He and his brother are called into their father's study where we learn two things: 1) the older brother is extremely unlikable and harbors sympathies for their enemy, and 2) they will leave tomorrow to go to Poland and help their ally in the same war Mulan's father has been drafted into. It is pretty clear that a meeting between the two will soon occur!

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will conclude with a few additional notes. The book was well written and I found the love story to be sweet. And I loved how kick-ass Mulan was even after her secret is discovered. However, it wasn't clear to me why the setting was moved to eastern Europe instead of left in Asia. There wasn't such a specific historical event that left me thinking that this was a warranted move. Even so, I wouldn't have minded too much but then part way through the book a cloying religious presence basically got rid of all non-religious dialogue. Some would have been fine, but it was so clearly a modern Evangelical take on Christianity rather than anything medieval Christianity would have been like.

So, I would recommend this book for those who like historical fiction and romance, but also Christian fiction readers because of such a heavy modern Christian presence in the book. I also don't have any trigger warnings for the book. There is a fair amount of battle scenes, so some blood and injuries. However, nothing with sex or language. For these reasons, I would recommend it to teenagers and up.

#TheWarriorMaiden #NetGalley

The Warrior Maiden, is the story of Mulan, but don't think of Disney's Mulan because the Mulan in this story, doesn't live in China. When Mulan's father dies, she decides to desguise herself as a soldier so her mother can keep her home. Mulan shows bravery among her fellow soldiers and hides her identity
As a woman, as long as she can. Filled with battles, castles and romance.

Having read nearly all of Melanie Dickerson's previous works, I knew that The Warrior Maiden would be excellent. There were certainly some surprises though that I was not expecting. To begin with, in previous books the name of the main character did not give away the fairy tale the story was based on. This book did right away so the reader does not have to guess and piece together clues to figure it out. However, even though many readers may be familiar with the overall story, the large variation in setting requires others changes as well. Compared to previous works in this series, I found that the male character had a much more prominent role than I recalled in the other books. I found the larger emphasis on warriors, knights, and war allowed the male perspective to be emphasized. The story also alternates between the two main characters which provides deeper insights into both.

While this book is number 9 in a series, it is not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this title.characters. That said, characters from previous books in the series are mentioned in passing and knowledge of the previous books is helpful. Dickerson's books are written from a Christian perspective but are not pushy. The middle ages setting provides the perfect opportunity for prayer and Bible verses to be included and seem a natural part of the story. Dickerson also does a fantastic job of including accurate historical detail.

The typical audience for these books is teen girls. I have found them to be completely enjoyable and would encourage anyone of any age to read them. I did find that this particular addition to the series with the more prominent male characters may be interesting to young teen boys and could be considered as a read-aloud for a mixed group.

Definitely not Disney's Mulan and better for it a great read full of action and romance i highly recommend

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?

I was so exited to read The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson when I was approved for it via NetGalley. I'm usually ready for anything involving my favorite Disney (and legendary) character Mulan, and the description of this novel sounded fantastic. Unfortunately, now that I've read it I can say that this novel just didn't work for me. Firstly, I had no idea that this novel was actually the ninth book in the Hagenheim series. Obviously, I felt a little lost from the get-go. Secondly, so much of what I love about Mulan as a character (and story) are gone - her identity has been stripped away. Thirdly, I knew that it was a Christian YA book going in which is fine, but sometimes I felt like I was reading a sermon rather than anything else. Overall, Dickerson's newest novel just wasn't what I was hoping it would be. I might have felt differently about it if I had read the first eight books in the series, but then again this version of Mulan wasn't exactly to my liking. Thanks, but no thanks, NetGalley.

~~I was given an ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion~~

I will preface this review by saying that I was not aware that this story is part of an existing world and series. Since I didn't have that knowledge, I found it hard to understand the world building and why the storyline was going the way that it was. The main character has a Mulan-esque story line, stepping into her father's commission as a soldier. The geographic location has been altered for the story line, moving it to eastern Europe (which made no sense to me until I realized it was part of an entire series of books). I didn't care much for the main character or her counter-parts and wasn't particularly interested in her battles or growth. However, this may have been different had I followed the series from the start.

I received a copy though NetGalley for review.

I've got to say it's not often I feel like I need to pick apart a book, but this one, really deserves it.
I'm very good a letting a storyline lead its self and go with it most of the time.
I actually cannot finish reading this.
And I can let go the fact that this version of Mulan was edited down to fit within her existing storyline and world of Hagenheim. If you are in any way looking for a more historical or closer accounting of Mulan in any way, keep away from this.

Mulan as we find her here is living in a sort of Christian fictional version of Poland as the illegitimate daughter from Asia, who was brought back after her mother died to be raised in her father's household. As he and his wife had no other children, Mulan is raised as their daughter. Some historical elements are blended into this reality.
Mulan's father has suddenly died and she decides to take his place in the army to battle against the Teutonic Knights who are revenging the countryside. To prevent her home from being seized by their overlord.
Mulan's only skills seem to be archery and climbing things. She doesn't seem to have much of a developed personality either. Just the standard "one dimensional girl wants more" and that wasn't even that strong of a pull.

I've read plenty of books in eras where characters worry about sin and propriety, with some religious overtones, but this kept slapping uncomfortable dull sermons in every scene that could have added to the plot. And instead made it so awkward.
As I said I can't actually get though with reading this. I know there's a romance so stiff that you could snap it like a twig, with zero heat coming. And I have no desire to be hit over the head with more sermons.

I was excited to read this initially. But it's a hot mess.

This was a very vibrant and immersive read that scratched my love for fairy tale retellings.

At first I was worried that Mulan was being a bit white washed with the Lithuania setting. But I was relieved that the author did keep her Asian and as a mixed person myself I love that she was mixed too in this story.

This being my first book from Dickerson, it took me a bit to realize that Mulan's story was being told in a broader fairy tale retelling universe and that's why it was based in Europe. I am definitely intrigued and would like to read her other books in this series.

I am a religious person so I did like the medieval references to the Bible and Christianity in the dark ages but I understand that part could be off-putting to others. It is kinda a major part of the plot development.

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

The Warrior Maiden is a retelling of the Mulan story that transfers Mulan into Lithuania where she becomes involved in the holy wars being fought between Poland and Germany. The story has a strong Christian message, and much of the book focuses on characters’ discussions, internal monologues, and their reflections about God. At times, this focus made the characters' dialog seem stilted and a little unnatural, especially in light of how mature they are in other places; their surety about religion seemed at odds with how unsure they were about everything else. The battle scenes were infrequent but excellent. The retelling was interesting and brought new aspects to the mythology of Mulan. The story did need some balance between philosophical ideas and world building and action.