Sometimes not even love is stronger than hate.
Sometimes sacrifices must be made.
Hua Minglan is trapped, presumed dead, and back where it all started.
Home.
A place that once brought peace to her mind, a place she’d abandoned in order to seek her revenge.
But that was before. Before the dragon awoke inside her to destroy an entire village.
Before she ceded control.
And now, the … destroy an entire village.
Before she ceded control.
And now, the dragon has a mission, one Hua must do anything to stop.
Kill the emperor.
There is one way to defeat the beast inside her.
Hua Minglan must die.
Only one man can prevent her sacrifice. As Jian Li races across Piao to save both Hua and his brother, the emperor, he knows he’ll have to choose.
Even if he chooses the right one, it might mean the end of Piao.
Because the Kou have returned, ready to finish their war.
And the only creature that can save the empire also wants it destroyed.
Dive into the second and final installment of this Mulan inspired fantasy. Beware of dragons raining fire upon you, a general who will do anything to save the woman he loves, and an emperor with a heart of gold.
The Hidden Warrior series:
- Dragon Rising
- Dragon Rebellion
more
*I received an early copy from the author. This does not affect my review.*
As with the first, I loved reading this one, and the story keeps getting better! I loved getting to know Jian Li and Hua better, as well as getting to see more of their story, and all the action and excitement. That said, I can’t wait for the next book as this one ends with quite a shock, and I’m so excited to find out what happens next! Loved it, and highly recommend this series!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I have since bought an autographed copy to go along with book 1.
I was on the edge of my seat multiple times throughout the call. Goose bumps and yes I even cried at times. I really felt the struggle, the turmoil, the questions being faced by multiple characters throughout the book. I couldn’t put it down.
I love how Ms. Lynn really developed not only the story, but each individual character. I hope there will be another book.
Fantastic conclusion! Dragon Rebellion by M. Lynn is the final book in The Hidden Warrior duology picking up weeks after the events of Dragon Rising. If you haven’t read book one, there may be spoilers to it in the following review. Read at your own risk. Jian Li has spent the last several weeks at the Minglans’ in Zhouchang waiting for Hua to wake up. After destroying Kanyuan village, killing innocents and soldiers from Piao and Kou alike, the Nagi spared him and took him to the only place she knew that would be safe. While war with the Kou looms on the horizon, Dragon Rebellion looks inward to the war taking place between Hua and the Nagi.
Hua Minglan is trapped inside her own mind, wrestling for control of her body and preventing the Nagi from taking its true dragon form. She is heartsick over what happened in the village. She gave her body over to the dragon thinking she could take her revenge on the Kou, yet the Nagi wants its own revenge against the empire of Piao for its killing of the dragon blooded. Hua is still strong and stubborn in her own rights, and she uses what little control she has over her mind to talk to the Nagi. Hua has one goal, and it is the same goal as when she first disguised herself as Huan and went to war: Protect the people of Piao. Will she have to protect them from herself?
Jian Li is no longer commander of the Piao army. He’s lost his sense of duty, but gained something more. He’s found a family in the Minglan home. He’s fallen for Hua, even while she sleeps. It’s Jian who recognizes the Nagi inside of her, controlling her actions. And it is Jian that will fight to bring her back. I liked Jian in the previous book, but I fell in love with him here. He has found a purpose greater than war and revenge, and he will do whatever it takes to succeed.
The plot revolves around Hua and the Nagi, their struggle to control Hua’s body, and the looming war with the Kou. The Nagi is an interesting twist to this story. It is supposed to be a protector of Piao, but instead it wants its own revenge. While the internal struggle drives Hua’s part of the story, Jian’s story follows him as he searches for Hua and tries to recover the girl he knows.
Overall I enjoyed Dragon Rebellion. The tension and uncertainty of what would happen to Jian and Hua drove the plot, keeping me reading til it was finished. If you are a Mulan fan, a fantasy lover, or just love dragons, I highly recommend it.
*I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.*
This book is everything. Seriously, this is my new favorite retelling series (and I read a lot of them). M. Lynn does such an incredible job building up this world and story that most of us are already familiar with, but she makes it something unique and her own. She makes it truly magical. This will be a series I reread soon for sure!
I throughly enjoyed this book. It’s a great Mulan retelling that’s filled with magic, action love and friendship that keeps you intrigued to the very end.
I loved this book and could not put it down!
Book 2 begins where it left off with Juan still at Hua’s family home. I’m not going to lie, I was definitely expecting Hua to break free but we find the Nagi’s hold is firm. Book 2 is full of action and takes you on a journey full of emotions! I loved the loyalty her friends had in her, even after knowing that she had the Nagi. They had faith that she was still in there somewhere.
Hua’s battle to not be completely overtaken was a long and hard one. She was such an admirable character. This book is one full of love, angst, acceptance, sacrifice, and purpose. A beautiful ending to an amazing series
Please read this. Oh, you must read book one first. Lol. Maybe I’m bias because I love this author’s books. Mostly, I have read her contemporary books. Since I’m a lover of fantasy and this author is an amazing writer, I figured her fantasy books would be awesome too. You won’t be disappointed. There is a little something for everyone, and I think guys would enjoy this book too. Dragons are for dreamers. If you are a dreamer, then you will love Dragon Rebellion.
Hot warriors and dragons, what more do you need? This is the best Mulan-esque series! I loved it so much. It was interesting getting to know the dragon throughout this book. She definitely had her own ideas about what was going to happen, though I don’t think she really knew what her real purpose was. Hua’s grandma stays keeping her little secrets, but it’s okay cause she’s super cool. I admired the strength Hua was given even when it seemed all hope was lost. This is amazing and you should read it.
I really, really enjoyed this book. What’s not to love in a Mulan retelling with dragon shifters?!
It was so cool to be able to read from the three different perspectives–Hua, Jian, and the Nagi–and see how their history affected their relationship with their country. There was so much going on, with touching sacrifices, epic battles, and amazing friendships. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
This is the second book to the duology, so definitely read the first book before this one. This book continues after Hua and Jian ended up back at her family farm. Hua was under for a long time before finally waking up. But when she woke up, it was obvious she was no longer Hua. This book was packed with adventure and I really enjoyed the ending. The only reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars was because the first quarter of the book was really slow and had too much internal fighting between Hua and the Nagi that it was hard to get through. After that, the story picked up and it was great. I recommend this duology!
So, this is one of those series I just am in love with and am so happy I took my time to read and enjoy them. They are worth rereading one day too just to enjoy them again and again. This series gave me all the feels and dragged me into an action-packed world with dragons, magic, suspense and romance! I highly recommend this series.
Dragon Rebellion is the second book in The Hidden Warrior series.
I voluntarily received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Final Rating: 5 Stars
Dragon Rebellion, the sequel of Dragon Rising, follows Hua and Jian Li in the aftermath of the battle at Kanyuan. Jian Li has taken the unconscious Hua to her parents in Zhouchang and never left her side. However, Jian Li doesn’t know Hua is fighting her own battle against the Nagi in her body and when he finally sees Hua open her eyes, he soon realizes that Hua isn’t in control of her own body. The Nagi inside Hua’s body has one goal: to bring destruction upon Piao by killing the emperor. How can Jian Li save his brother from this fate?
What a conclusion. Dragon rebellion did not disappoint. The book was filled with plot twists and I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. Dragon Rebellion and Dragon Rising made me love Mulan even more.
Dragon Rebellion was amazing and I could not put it down. The plot, the characters, everything was well executed. The characters grow and start to learn how to put their past behind them and I think that’s a powerful message a lot of us can learn from.
The conclusion was well written. It closes the story in a satisfying way while also leaving room for more and I think that’s a talent not a lot of authors have.
I highly recommend reading this series. Just do it, you won’t regret it
Book two of this series was great. I loved that we got to see a Mulan retelling as a series. Most retellings are a standalone and we never get to see what happens to the characters after the main point of the retellings is over. This retelling is a new original twist on the classic tale and one that I wasn’t expecting.
Hua Minglan is no longer in control of her body the Nagini, the dragon is. Hua is trying everything in her power to keep the dragon from releasing it’s fury on the empire. Hua is so thoughtful and carrying. Even tho she originally wanted revenge for her sister’s death she doesn’t want innocent people who have done anything wrong to die. I really enjoy her as a character a long with Jian.
Jian is so devoted to Hua and her family it’s heartwarming. He races across the country to get to Hua and try to help her stay out of trouble and free her from the hold that the Nagini has over her.
M. Lynn writes such lovable and relatable characters that I fall in love with each one every single time. I really enjoyed getting to read parts of the book from the point of view of the Nagini.
The ending of this book was one of the best ones I’ve read in a long time. But I would have loved to have some more action in it. The action didn’t start until the battle which is almost the end of the book. Overall it was entertaining and I can’t wait to read whatever fantasy book she writes next.
Dragon Rebellion
by M. Lynn
Book 2 in the Hidden Warrior series
Rating:4/5
The saga continues! This leaves off where the first book ended so I would definitely recommend reading the first book prior to this one. (And you won’t have to wait a few months to know what happens next like I did!) As a Chinese-American, I have always loved the story of Mulan and how she sacrificed for her family and challenged herself to go beyond the normal gender limitations. I love a strong female main character who still has struggles and insecurities.
If you have not read the first book, then this review may have some spoilers. Hua Minglan is dragon-blooded and has wreaked horrific devastation as a Nagi. The Nagi inside Hua Minglan is determined to get its revenge on Piao, the land that betrayed its dragon protectors and had them hunted and slaughtered. However, Hua Minglan knows that the new emperor, Bo, is not like his father and is a man wanting peace. Hua must learn how to deal with having a dragon, a Nagi, inside of her and how to control them. Meanwhile, Jian searches for Hua when the Nagi takes her on another path. Jian must deal with his insecurities as an illegitimate brother to emperor Bo. He feels like a failure as a commander but also knows that Hua Minglan and the Nagi are the key to winning Piao’s war against the Kou. Jian cannot imagine his life before Hua(n) Minglan entered it and Hua doesn’t know if she can trust they will even have a future together.
This adventure was nonstop and I am sad that it is over. For some reason I thought the series was a trilogy but sadly, this is the last book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the struggles each character had and the sacrifices they were willing to make for the greater good. Such heroism in the characters! For the most part, I think the author is respectful of the Chinese culture (Note: the naming convention should be surname first) but I was so caught up in the story that I didn’t really notice until after the fact. The fantasy genre tends to fuse different cultures together all the time and I think the author does a good job of balancing the culture with her intended story.
I highly recommend this story for those that enjoy fantasy adventures with some romance in an Asian setting. I loved this Mulan retelling and am sad to see it end.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
I have so many feels right now, but the things that I like most about Dragon Rebellion is it’s passionate, wild, intense, fast-paced, heart-stopping, magical, and creative!! And that’s only to name a few things! I read this very quickly because I couldn’t put it down. It held me captive, stole my heart, and I honestly feel like I lived a life inside this book. I lost track of time, and the world, it was that immersive, and now I’m back in the real world and all I want to do is head back inside this series! Thank you M.Lynn!!
Exciting book start to finish!
*This contains some spoilers for DRAGON RISING*
After finishing Dragon Rising a few days ago and absolutely LOVING IT, I couldn’t wait to read the sequel, which I then devoured in two days.
Dragon Rising ended at a pretty big turning point in Hua’s story, which I sometimes hate in books and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes the ending of a book like that simply feels like the author is just trying to spread out the small bit of story they have to create more books, however in Dragon Rising this was not the case. It ended at a logical point along the timeline, one that felt natural and thanks to that I truly and utterly couldn’t wait to continue in Dragon Rebellion.
Knowing Michelle’s stories, I had some hunches on what to expect, but let’s be real people, I never could’ve predicted the story that was about to unfold.
This book truly had ever recipe to make it a grand adventure; threats, war, love, dragons, enemies, family, hello hot commanders, magic, I mean, it was simply just amazing.
I loved how we got to experience the dance, as I’d like to call it, between Hua and the Nagi. We can see the growth of both, sense their mutual fear, respect and eventually understanding and inevitable bonding. It was beautifully done and also felt quite natural (that is if it were possible to have a dragon inside you of course). I felt for both Hua (duh, she’s my girl) and the Nagi, because after all, neither knew any better and both just looked at the world through their own eyes.
And despite Michelle’s often happy endings, the tension could be felt throughout the entire book. The whole time I wasn’t sure how it would end. I felt a strong fear for Hua, Jian, Bo and Luca, as I couldn’t see the happy ending that I so badly wanted for all of them. How could I live if any of them didn’t get the ending theyr deserved? But as Michelle so masterfully does, she crafted an ending that was both fitting and satisfying and left a gaping hole in my heart as I’ve dived in Piao the past week and can’t believe this story has already come to an end.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Great story that takes an old story and gives it a new and refreshing twist. Adding dragons makes it even more fun.
There’s so much I love about this book. Yes it’s based off of Mulan but there’s just so much depth to this. I absolutely fell in love with these characters!!!
The ending of this book is wonderful and full of action.
Apart from this being the final brother Caine’s story, I don’t feel it added much apart from everything that happened right at the end. Too many unanswered questions for me.
Loved that Caine gets a HEA and that he has a heart to heart with his brothers about their past.
This is the last book in this series about the Ice Dragons but cannot be the last about The Outsiders as they are still there waiting.
Whilst I loved all the action in this book, it was really all at the end. Even with the fun stuff happening at the beginning, it dragged for me due to not knowing why she was running and what was Annalise’s background. Didn’t find out until over 60% into the book and I was bored by then, only to think, THAT’S IT. No spoiler here but even though it wasn’t nice, it really wasn’t that spectacular. We never really get any answers as to her parentage either, how come she looks so much like Violet and has the same mother’s name on her birth certificate? I am hoping these questions get answered further in this series.
Why is Senator Lee not being persecuted? Cannot say for what or it will be a spoiler.
This is my honest review of this book.