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    The Warrior Maiden
    The Warrior Maiden
    The Warrior Maiden
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Warrior Maiden

    Written by Melanie Dickerson

    Narrated by Jude Mason

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    She is expected to marry, cook, and have children—and instead she’s sneaking off to war. Can she manage to stay alive, save her mother, and keep the handsome son of a duke from discovering her secret? The Warrior Maiden is a reimagining of the classic Mulan tale in medieval Europe.

    When Mulan takes her father’s place in battle against the besieging Teutonic Knights, she realizes she has been preparing for this journey her whole life—and that her life, and her mother’s, depends on her success. As the adopted daughter of poor parents, Mulan has little power in the world. If she can’t prove herself on the battlefield, she could face death—or, perhaps worse, marriage to the village butcher.

    Disguised as a young man, Mulan meets the German duke’s son, Wolfgang, who is determined to save his people even if it means fighting against his own brother. Wolfgang is exasperated by the new soldier who always seems to be one step away from disaster—or showing him up in embarrassing ways.

    From rivals to reluctant friends, Mulan and Wolfgang begin to share secrets. But war is an uncertain time and dreams can die as quickly as they are born. When Mulan receives word of danger back home, she must make the ultimate choice. Can she be the son her bitter father never had? Or will she become the strong young woman she was created to be? This fresh twist on the classic tale takes us to fifteenth-century Lithuania where both love and war challenge the strongest of heroes.

    Praise for The Warrior Maiden:

    “In this fantastic retelling, Dickerson brings to life a completely new aspect of the medieval era . . . Discover castles, battles, beliefs, and injustices alongside Wolfgang and Mulan . . .” —Hope by the Book

    • Full length clean fairy tale retelling
    • Stand-alone novel in the Hagenheim Series by New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateFeb 5, 2019
    ISBN9780718074852
    The Warrior Maiden
    Author

    Melanie Dickerson

    Melanie Dickerson is a New York Times bestselling author and two-time Christy Award winner. Melanie spends her time daydreaming, researching the most fascinating historical time periods, and writing and editing her happily-ever-afters. Visit her online at MelanieDickerson.com; Facebook: @MelanieDickersonBooks; Twitter: @MelanieAuthor; Instagram: @melaniedickerson123.

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    Reviews for The Warrior Maiden

    4/5

    89 ratings7 reviews

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    • 4/5
      3.5 StarsA medieval Christian retelling of Mulan with a European setting. This novel is part of a long series and fits it well with the author's other works. The characters, MCs and supporting ones, are interesting enough to keep most readers going, although the flow of the story is not always consistent. Recommended for YA fans, readers who enjoy fairy tale adaptations, and people who prefer a clean read.Net Galley Feedback
    • 3/5
      Okay- I got this book and a few others from the same publisher for reviews. This is actually book 9 in a series. I haven’t read any others, but it isn’t a continuation as far as I can tell except for a couple carry over characters.

      I did a bit of sleuthing and found that Dickerson does fairy tale retellings in a Christian lit way. She never hangs it over your head, but I could see the Christian angle lots of times. It didn’t annoy me or skew the plot line.

      In this story, Mulan, (yes, Disney’s Mulan) is in Lithuania, and then her story continues pretty much according to the Disney plot. (Which is the most important thing- right? Who needs the original fairy tale?) There are some deviations, but it’s the story you’d expect overall.

      I feel like this book would be an excellent bridge for any reader who has outgrown Middle Grade, loves a long narrative but doesn’t want a typical teen love story. This is a squeaky clean romance that will not make your 12/13-year-old reader blush but will provide lots of fun popcorn reading. I think it would be fun to watch the movie again after reading this.

      What’s wrong with it? There wasn’t as much Asian influence as I had hoped and time seemed to be messed up in spots. Maybe because I haven’t read the other books? I’m interested in seeing how they all connect at some point. If you’ve read the rest of Melanie Dickerson's Hagenheim collection chime in and let me know if I should go back to Book One?

      Overall, a thumbs up from me.
    • 2/5
      I had so many high expectations for this book – an adaptation of Mulan with a beautiful cover? Sign me up! – but I ended up being so, so disappointed with this book. If I had realized that, not only was it part of a larger series but it was a YA Christian historical romance that effectively white-washed Mulan into a good Christian, Lithuanian woman, I would have chosen another book instead.If you’re familiar with the Disney movie Mulan, the plot is basically the same: Mulan disguises herself as boy and goes to war to take the place of her father, Mulan has some hero moments and impresses her compatriots, Mulan falls in love with some guy she meets on the battlefield, Mulan lives happily ever after.Except, in this book, although she is still Asian (technically, half-Asian), she is raised in Lithuania in a Christian household that effectively serves to strip away everything that made Mulan, Mulan. I understand that the author had to move her to Europe to fit into the rest of her series, but I feel like it didn’t work. The book focused on the tension of Mulan being female yet at the same time ignoring the tension that would have existed due to the fact that she was Asian in Medieval Europe. I feel like it wasn’t a concept that the author cared about nor felt the need to pursue, and it really took away from the story.Honestly, the whole tone of the book was so juvenile (even for YA). Not only was there insta-love between exactly who you’d expect there to be insta-love between, but the one-dimensionality of the characters and the overt moral theme (the characters were either “good” or they were “bad” – there were no in-between, morally-complex characters). Also, I really hated how, once Wolfgang found out Mikolai was Mulan, he decided that it was his moral duty to protect her as if she was a fragile damsel-in-distress, even though SHE HAD PROVED HERSELF ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE; and let’s not even mention the fact that, for the climax of the book – the ultimate showdown – Mulan was sidelined.The author managed to take a story about a strong, independent Chinese woman, set it in Medieval Europe, and turn it into a story about a half-white Lithuanian, Christian woman who was strong – but only until she had a man to rescue her.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
    • 3/5
      First off, I loved the fitting title and gorgeous cover of the book. I also loved the well-paced story line that held my attention from beginning to end. I liked that The Warrior Maiden was loosely based on the Mulan movie, but didn't strictly adhere to the movie's plot. The author gave fresh resolutions to scenarios from the movie. There was a different setting and reason for war. These variations allowed the story to give a nod to the original while retaining its own uniqueness.I also liked that the author subtly addressed gender equality through the character of Mulan and her experiences. Though sometimes moody, Mulan's determination and resilience made her a strong female leader. Her ability to deal with difficult situations inspired others to have confidence in her. She demonstrated solid confidence and faith in God numerous times.Unfortunately, I felt like this book was not as well-written as some of Melanie Dickerson's other books. Especially in the beginning, some conversations felt choppy and stilted. My husband and I agreed that certain things the characters did were unrealistic. (Not naming them because I don't want to include spoilers.) Plus, I strongly disliked Mulan's pet name for Wolfgang.Bottom line: I loved the story enough to overlook the sometimes mediocre prose and give it a permanent home on my bookshelf.Lastly, The Warrior Maiden is part of Melanie Dickerson's YA Fairy Tale Romance series. I have read some, but not all of them and this functioned fine as a stand-alone. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
    • 5/5
      “The Warrior Maiden” by Melanie Dickerson has it all! Action, adventure, romance, faith and girl power! This is a Mulan retelling that takes place primarily in medieval Lithuania and Poland. I love this time period and Ms. Dickerson does a wonderful job incorporating the culture of the time into her story. I really love the main character in this story, Mulan. She is a kick-butt heroine, but she’s also not obnoxious and in your face. I love how she grows personally throughout the story and in her relationship with God. She learns that God can indeed be trusted. Mulan gives credit to God for her abilities and victories and knows that God made her brave and fierce for a purpose. I also love the romance with Wolfgang. During this time period, it is seen as witchcraft when a woman fights or dresses as a man. This story stresses seeing women as an equal. I love all the ways Mulan is able to prove herself and show that she is often just as capable as a man.Mulan’s story really touched me, because as Christians, God calls us to be warriors for Him. Sometimes we have to do brave and hard things. It really inspired me to step out and trust that God will help me. This is a wonderful book that is appropriate and entertaining for the whole family! Content: This is a clean read with some minor content. I give it a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: mention of alcohol and a person being drunk; allusion to a woman’s chest; a child is born out of wedlock and a man has a mistress; mention of the devil; innuendos.Rating: I give this book 5 stars!Genre: Christian fiction; Fairy tale retelling; RomanceI want to thank Melanie Dickerson and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
    • 3/5
      Hagenheim series. Traditional tales reimagined.Usually I love Melanie Dickerson's work. This ninth book in the Hagenheim series, a reimagination of fifteenth century Lithuania and Poland just didn't stir me. I found the lead characters Mulan and Wolfgang to be wooden in their interactions and their reflections. Mulan is the illegitimate daughter of a soldier brought back to his small Lithuanian village to live as a family with his barren wife who longed for a child. A prophecy for Mulan by a visiting friar when she was six, that she "would conquer an oppressor in a foreign land and a nation would call [her] blessed,” together with her faith in God, gives Mulan strength. Mikolai has been called to battle by his Lord Butautas. "He is to report to Vilkaviškis to join the army in fighting the Teutonic Knights who have besieged his ally's castle [Duke Konrad of Zachev] in Poland.” However Mikolai has died. Mulan disguises herself as Mikolai's supposed son so that her mother will not loose her meager home.I liked Mulan's bravery in the face of impossible odds. I enjoyed her struggles with how to be a man in an encampment of soldiers. I loved the support she has from twelve year old Andrei, her father Mikolai's attendant in the last two wars he fought in.I thought the break between Wolfgang and his brother Steffan (Duke Konrad's two sons), the causes, the interaction with each other gave depth to them as characters, but again in speech and interaction they were just flat.The relationship between Mulan and Wolfgang grows from awkward and initially jealousy on Wolfgang's part, into one of respect and support, even when he discovers Mulan is a woman.Dickerson's research into the backgrounds for her story is solid and her author's notes as always are a pleasure to read.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
    • 4/5
      Mulan has grown up in a small villiage in Lithuania. She is the daughter of Milokai, a warrior who fathered her while fighting in the East. Milokai's wife has raised Mulan as her own. Now, Mulan is a young woman and Milokai is dead. Mulan's mother attempts to marry off Mulan, however when Milokai is called to battle, Mulan assumes his place as Milokai's son. Assisted by her father's steward and her archery coach, Andrei, Mulan marches off to protect the castle of an ally from the Teutonic Knights. Fighting with Mulan is the Duke of Hagenheim's son, Wolfgang. Wolfgang's brother Stefan however is fighting for the Teutonic Knights. At first, Wolfgang sees Mulan as a rival in archery, but Mulan's skills in battle win her respect and Wolfgang see's her as an equal. Now, fighting closely with Wolfgang, Mulan must protect her secret and her feelings towards Wolfgang while continuing to fend off the Teutonic Knights, including Wolfgang's brother. A very creative re-imagining of the Mulan story within the world of Hagenheim. At first, I was very wary of how Mulan would fit into the western European world, but with a few twists here and there, it seemed liked she was made to belong all along. I enjoyed how the spirit of Mulan was kept in her personality. Mulan was scared, but kept a very confident face, and showed bravery and ingenuity in battle, using her strengths as a woman. She balked against the gender norms of marrying for safety and security to a man who would not love her for who she is. I loved reading the battle scenes and seeing Mulan's mixed emotions as she fought to protect herself as well as what she believed was right. Mulan and Wolfgang's relationship was also very interesting. Beginning as a rivalry and then a respected friend and warrior, Wolfgang then turns into the only other person who know Mulan's secret and his feelings towards the soldier and now woman must change. There is a lot of will they or won't they that drove me a little mad as neither of them wanted to ruin the friendship forged in battle. I also appreciated the incorporation of the historic Teutonic Knights and Grand Master Rusdorf. With an exciting ending and the hope of a happily ever after, The Warrior Maiden is another wonderful installment in the Hagenheim stories.This book was received for free in return for an honest review.