A reimagining of the classic Mulan tale in medieval Europe, where both love and war challenge even the strongest of hearts. 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 … 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 seems to be one step away from disaster at all times–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?
Praise for Melanie Dickerson:
“When it comes to happily-ever-afters, Melanie Dickerson is the undisputed queen of fairy-tale romance, and all I can say is–long live the queen!” –Julie Lessman, award-winning author
This is a novel in the Hagenheim series by New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson, but it can be read as a standalone. Includes discussion questions.
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When it comes to happily-ever-afters, Melanie Dickerson is the undisputed queen of fairy-tale romance, and all I can say is — long live the queen!
Oh, man. I’ve forgotten how much I absolutely adore Melanie Dickerson’s medieval fairytale retellings. It’s been too long since I’ve read one! The Warrior Maiden sets the story of Mulan in Lithuania as the German Teutonic Knights invade Poland and Lithuania. The author is quite clever in merging Mulan into a European culture and having her meet Wolfgang, one of the sons of Duke of Hagenheim, while they’re together on a quest to assist the Duke Konrad, his father’s ally, against the Teutonic Knights. I didn’t read all of the books in the Hagenheim series but this can definitely be read as a stand-alone. There is great dialogue, plenty of medieval war action, fast-paced and intriguing plot, beautifully crafted characters, and a strong thread of faith woven through themes of forgiveness, mercy, grace, redemption and acceptance.
Mulan is a strong and compassionate woman who masquerades as a soldier to protect her mother. Wolfgang is a swoony hero, fierce and protective – a loyal and faithful knight at the core though he hasn’t been knighted yet. The plot broadens to include Wolfgang’s older brother Steffan, whom we’ll hopefully meet in the next novel.
Anyone who enjoys medieval YA fairytales would love this book and all of Melanie Dickerson’s other novels! I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Melanie Dickerson’s best yet!
Long, long ago…there was a little girl who’s older brother took her out to the theater to see a Disney film. This was the little girl’s second time in a movie theater, and her little brother’s first… Even though the little girl was never into the Disney princess thing or animated movies she really liked the one she saw that day…the movie was Mulan…
Now, fast-forward over twenty years later and Mulan is still one of my favorite animated Disney films and every so once in awhile I drag out my VHS and watch it. When I heard that Melanie Dickerson was doing a Mulan retelling I was thrilled. She is one of my absolute favorite authors and I adore all of her fairytale retellings.
The Warrior Maiden was everything I could have hoped for and much much more! The story was both familiar and new. Recognizable and fresh. You get the idea. Melanie Dickerson has expertly penned a fairytale retelling that stands out of the crowd and leaves the reader both satisfied in the reading and wishing for more.
The Warrior Maiden, like its predecessors, is rich in historical detail and even more rich in characters. Readers will feel totally immersed in the era, location, and in the lives of the heroine and hero. To be honest, I just can’t say enough good things about the book.
With equal amounts of sword-fighting action and young romance, this story while aimed at the YA market is sure to delight readers of all ages and I wouldn’t hesitate to read it to younger kids as a bedtime or family-time story.
Soooo, the moral of the story is….you should definitely read this story and maybe even share it with others…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I enjoyed this retelling. I liked the action scenes and thought it was well done. I’ve enjoyed this series. I feel I can get immersed in the story and enjoy a nice relaxing read.
Mulan is one of my favorite stories because it features an amazing Asian woman who did much more than was expected of her. I was a little nervous to read, The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson because of how much I liked the original story, however it was really good. The Warrior Maiden is the 9th book in Melanie Dickerson’s Hagenheim series. Wolfgang is one of Rose and Wilhelm’s, and he grew up so much in this story! He finally got his happy ending.
Wolfgang and his brother have both joined those who are fighting against Teutonic Knights, but in a twist of faith Wolfgang finds himself fighting against his brother. Mulan will do anything to save her adopted mother even signing up to fight as a man. As she fights, she meets the German duke’s son, Wolfgang, who is determined to save his people. At first Wolfgang is exasperated with Mulan, but as they fight together he starts to admire the new soldier. But war is a dangerous time and dreams and hopes can change, when Mulan receives word of danger back home she will have to make a choice. Will she try to be the son her father never had, or become a strong woman that she could be proud of?
Mulan was such a strong female, and I really liked her. She wanted to protect her mother, and she was willing to even fight in a war and pretend to be a man. I liked how she was fearless. I also liked how she enjoyed her role as a woman. She just wanted to do more than was expected of her. She wanted to be able to protect the mother who had taken her in.
Wolfgang was also super sweet, I really liked reading about him growing up. He was kind, and he really cared for his brother. He didn’t want his brother to join the wrong side, and he tried his best to help him. But in the end he had to learn to trust God. It was fun to read about him falling in love with Mulan. He admired her first as a soldier, but as he spent more time with her he fell in love.
This was such a great retelling of Mulan. There aren’t really a lot of retellings of Mulan, and I really enjoyed it! It is a beautifully written romance and adventure novel.This was one of my favorites in the series and I would definitely recommend it! I can’t wait to see what else Dickerson writes. The Warrior Maiden is a clean historical retelling of Mulan.
I couldn’t put it down.
Dickerson performs her magic again and weaves another delightful fairy tale in the Hagenheim series! How she does it, I do not know, but it has to be magic! I loved Mulan’s story and she did such a great job of letting us into Mulan’s mind and seeing her for who she truly was. I felt Mulan’s pain at being different in the village and feeling like she had to marry someone who didn’t love her, just to save her mother. Then she made the choice to pretend to be a boy so she could save her mom’s home and escape a marriage she doesn’t want. The fact that Dickerson made Mulan fearless yet not a fighter beyond what one would believe made the story realistic and believable. The relationship between Wolfgang and Mulan was a friendship and I wondered if it could or would go anywhere else. The obstacles in the book never seemed to end and it left me reading furiously to see if there would or could be a happily ever after! Dickerson never disappoints and The Warrior Maiden is no exception! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have been fascinated with Melanie Dickerson’s Hagenheim series and this boom, The Warrior Maiden, did not disappoint!
Melanie Dickerson takes us on a journey into a brilliant retelling of the Mulan story legend. In a world and time when women meant nothing, Mulan was able to cross barriers, but will romance suffer because of it?
I have never read the Fairy Tale of Mulan,so this book was a breath of sunshine to me. I thought it was well balanced between a blooming romance and fighting for what is right and noble. Although it is directed towards YA I equally enjoyed it. The strength, bravery, love, and faith that Mulan possesses to protect her mother is impressive. I could imagine the castles, knights, arrows flying, etc as the words painted a picture in my mind. A solid clean read to share with your daughters and granddaughters.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Dickerson’s writing style isn’t my favorite, but she can tell a good story and create fun characters, the kind of characters you want to go on an adventure with. And Mulan was one of those characters.
In a way, I was disappointed by how quickly Mulan’s identity was discovered, but I also appreciated how realistic it was. In battle, it’s hard to hide your gender for long. I also felt like her friendship with Wolfgang was a bit rushed, but I did enjoy watching their relationship grow.
You can check out my full review at https://justjenniferpurcell.com/2019/07/26/just-read-the-warrior-maiden-by-melanie-dickerson/
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required to give a favorable review. This is another wonderful telling of a fairy tale written with a strong young woman who would do anything both for her family and her country. Each of Melanie’s book have such wonderful characters but tell such strong tales
The Warrior Maiden is a great rendition of Mulan.
Melanie Dickerson takes the classic legend of Mulan, transporting it to Lithuania and into the Hagenheim Universe. I was so excited when I heard that the next book in the Hagenheim Dynasty was Mulan. I love how Ms. Dickerson has been embracing more diverse heroes and heroines with the additions of Mulan and Aladdin. Mulan has always been one of my favorite stories because of her bravery, patriotism, and loyalty to her family, as well as her Asian ethnicity (I’m Asian-American).
Mulan bravely volunteers to serve her country in place of her deceased father in order to protect her mother from being thrown out of her home. Skilled with a bow, she is small and quick, with a wide streak of stubborn. I admired her faith and relationship with her mother, though there is not a lot between them in the book, it is clear that her mother is a kind, godly woman.
Wolfgang and his brother Steffan are sent to fight alongside the Lithuanians against the Teutonic Knights, but Steffan instead chooses to fight with the Teutonic Knights. Wolfgang stays true to his duty, determined to act honorably in his obligations and in battle. He is a fierce fighter, faithful friend, and noble to the core.
Overall, a riveting story, with a worthy heroine and hero who bravely stand up for what they believe in. I found some of the facets of the story interesting in how they seemed to be drawing a parallel between events of the story and modern day legalism and Christianity in politics. There are strong themes of family, faith, and second chances. Plenty of action keeps the story going, I liked how the book was realistic about Mulan’s strengths and weaknesses. A must read for fans of Melanie Dickerson’s Hagenheim Series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Warrior Maiden #9 Hagenheim series by Melanie Dickerson
The Warrior Maiden is a faith-based retelling of the fairy tale Mulan (I had never heard of the fairy tale Mulan before reading this book) set in 1423 Lithuania. I enjoyed this medieval story with brave knights, powerful dukes, fair maidens, warriors and the spiritual elements woven within the story-line. Mulan certainly is a surprising character and Wolfgang is not only handsome but strong and wise but a little baffled by Mulan, who he knows as the brave warrior Mikolai. There are some tense moments when a serious injury reveals a closely guarded secret. Will the secret be kept in confidence or will it be shared bringing even more danger? An enjoyable retelling of the fairy tale Mulan.
~I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~
Just finished reading this book and I loved it
I’m definitely going to buy this book for my nieces to read
“The moment of truth. Or, rather, untruth.”
Rather than allowing her recently widowed mother to become destitute, Mulan of of Lithuania bravely disguises herself as a young man and takes her father’s place in military service, as the armies of Butautas gather to fend off repeated forays into Poland by the misguided Teutonic Knights. Changing her name to Mikolai, she travels with her father’s young attendant in hopes that she can exchange courage and dexterity for strength on the battlefield. She does not have to wait very long for an opportunity to prove herself.
Wolfgang, son of the powerful duke of Hagenheim, is more than just a little curious about the young soldier with the smooth skin and small stature, especially when Mikolai nearly bests him in an archery contest. But when the adolescent warrior bravely leads the entire regiment into the face of their enemy, their connection strengthens . . . . before desperation exposes a well kept secret.
Melanie Dickerson fans will be positively enchanted by the story of Mulan and Wolfgang ,with its raging battles and sweetest of moments, for war has a way of coaxing love to the surface of each and every heart.
Mulan is my favorite Disney movie so when I saw this retelling on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. I did not realize that it is a Christian retelling until I finished the book. My stance on religious books is that I will read them if the theme suits me and this one did. The action scenes and the bravery Mulan showed was my favorite part of the book. She is very good with a bow and arrow, which is my favorite weapon in books. I thought that sometimes the breaks for religious talk fit and other times, it felt forced. I can see how faith would play a roll in war but to read the bible while in the midst of a steak out felt strange to me. The issue I have is that this is a story from Chinese culture and putting it into Eastern European culture felt wrong to me. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.
https://bookishstateofmind.com/book-reviews/2019/2/13/the-warrior-maiden
A historical novel that draws you into the time from the start of the story. Mild romance with Christian beliefs rounded out the wartime battles. Mulan strives to be true to her Christian beliefs while going off to war pretending to be a boy to save her mother’s home. Mulan meets Wolfgang as they gather to go into battle and begin what will become a friendship between them. Witnessing their friendship through these pages includes you in the time period’s beliefs about a female’s place. A beautiful story.
Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings have long captivated me and I have looked forward to sharing them with my girls as they have grown. My oldest began to read her fairly recently and has already devoured her backlist, requesting her own copy of each novel for birthday and Christmas presents. Fans of Dickerson know why: she tells exciting, adventurous, romantic tales with heroines who are imperfect but worthy role models.
This latest novel is certainly no exception, and a strong candidate for my favorite of hers (I’m still not sure any book can dethrone The Captive Maiden, my first Dickerson read). I loved the characters, the plot surprised me in a few places, and the ending was powerful and unrushed.
Mulan’s fierce and beautiful heart won me over from the start. She loves her mother deeply and is willing to do whatever necessary to protect her, giving up her dreams and even her own life. Wolfgang is perhaps less focused at the beginning of the novel, but his honor and integrity soon rise to hero status as it becomes clearer to him what really matters.
Christianity was part of many lives during this time period, so the characters naturally discuss spiritual things. I was intrigued by the many differences noted, too; for example, Mulan’s mistaken idea that carrying only a part of Scripture might be blasphemous as it separated part from the whole. But I loved how Wolfgang gently corrected the notion, then read portions of 1 John to her as they sat. Guilt and forgiveness are addressed in multiple spots as well, again gently and without preaching, but truth is always spoken.
Part of what makes these books so special is that I can share a novel with my younger teens, we can enjoy them, talk about them, get as fangirly as we’d like to, and I don’t have to worry about what may be on the next page, either word or scene, even with as wonderful a romance as this book is. I highly recommend it to fans of fairy tales, for moms and even their youngest teens, as a book they can both get something out of even as they are thoroughly entertained. The positive role models are desperately needed for today’s teens and Dickerson’s place on my daughter’s, and my own, keeper shelf is permanent and growing with each new release!
I received a review copy of this book from the author and publisher but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
A courageous young woman and a warrior seeking knighthood. This multi-layered story is one of Melanie Dickerson’s best stories covering not only a hardships of women in the middle ages, but the spiritual battle of those who claim to stand for God and those who actually follow God’s will. There is even tension of two brothers who find themselves on opposing sides of the battle. Plenty of action, sweet romance, and a healthy dose of faith and forgiveness, this story will have you cheering for both Mulan and Wolfgang by the end.