“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win” — Sun Tzu, The Art of WarLia has known she was different since the age of five when her father taught her the skills of her ancestors. His stories of heroic exploits have fueled her fantasies for years. Little did she know that her expertise would be called upon when two cities, two … when two cities, two triads, go to war. Will it be a step too far to think she can hide who she really is?
Jaxon has known his career path since he was a little boy when his father promised his only son to the leader of the Yu Shi triad. Jaxon doesn’t mind—it allows him to center his chaotic thoughts and fight his opponents to the death. But when he’s partnered with a mysterious new recruit, he begins to question everything he knows. What is the young boy hiding from him?
Zhanzhi is a modern day retelling of the tale of Mulan for the Sinister Fairytales Collection. Warrior Lia must find her inner strength to defeat a deadly enemy, who’s been left bitter by his quest for absolute power, while at the same time falling in love when she least expects it. Nothing will be as it seems in this dark triad world where a moment’s hesitation can be your downfall.
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A dark and dangerous retelling of Mulan. Whenever one of my childhood stories is re-told, I’m a goner to see how creative and different an author sees something that oftentimes is a sweet story. Don’t get me wrong, think about the scary villains in those Disney movies.
Ms. Edwards certainly provided her readers with a page-turning version. I enjoyed it. It can be read in one sitting.
I received an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I really liked this story.
The writing is nicely paced and the plot gripping.
The characters are well developed and the author gives all of their backstories.
The grow throughout the book.
They don’t stay stuck on traditions or old believes.
I loved Lia.
I thought she was fierce and loyal.
She is physically,mentally and spiritually strong and determined.
Lia’s beliefs go against what her culture teaches.
But that doesn’t scare her away from doing what she thinks is right.
Jaxon has been raised and brought up in the Yu Shi ways.
He’s now one of their most important generals.
Jaxon doesn’t question their old fashion view points.
Because that is what has kept them going.
But all this comes crashing down when Lia enters his realm.
I loved the comradery between them.
They worked extremely well together to uphold what they believe in.
Also their physical reaction to each other is very real.
Even when Jaxon didn’t know Lia’s true identity.
There are a few rough parts that deal with the abuse Lia goes through.
But also a lot of sensual parts.
I thought the author did a good job balancing the dark with the light.
It’s what helped see Lia through her most excruciating times.
Best of all is how Jaxon never tried to change Lia.
He was the one willing to change for her needs and wants.
This was an interesting dark retelling of Mulan. Lia is one determined lady who goes against tradition. Fighting in battle against her enemies.
Sinister Fairytales series:
Venom, Cold Queen, Sacrifice, Insolent, Madness, Siren, Legend, Mirage, Imprisoned, Lock, Abducted.
I felt that this was a very compelling an intriguing modern twist on the Mulan story. I liked Lia and Jaxon. The story was complex and entertaining. This book has a well crafted blend of action, emotion, drama, excitement, adventure, heat and darkness. Intense darkness. If you have triggers this book is not for you. I really enjoyed it but it is not for every reader. This is my frank, forthright review.
Lia is taught the ways of her ancestors by her father. Jaxon is promised to the Triad to be the leader by his father. Lia becomes a warrior and will have to battle a bitter enemy. She never planned to fall in love and neither did Jaxon. Can this couple be together or will they be torn apart? A dark retelling of the Mulan fairytale.
Zhanshi was an amazing modern day retelling of Mulan. Lia was an incredibly strong and courageous young woman willing to do whatever was necessary to take care of her family. Jaxon was an intriguing and powerful soldier who found himself unexpectedly drawn to Lia. I adored the way Jaxon fell and showed him much he cared for Lia as they fought side by side for their happily ever after. I enjoyed the author’s creative twist on Zhanshi and how she spun it into her own engaging Sinister Fairytale.
A darker, modern retelling of Mulan, a young woman with the heart and spirit of a warrior. Strong, brave, kickass and a little crazy, Lia Zhanshi is all that and more, she’s never fit into the life expected of her, despite her fathers intense training and is determined to bring honour to her family.
I really liked Lia/Zhan and Jaxon, the Blond demon. He had honour and compassion despite or because of his history. Their initial attraction was unusual, but their love was insta. That’s not my favourite trope, I do like a build up of a relationship and more detail, so this is the area I’d have liked a lot more of. They had really good chemistry and it wasn’t an easy path for them. Lia goes through hell. Wang is viscious, violent and power hungry, exactly what I want in a bad guy (although his HQ security seemed severely lacking!) Her strength and will means she is perfect for the role required to bring balance.
Its a shortish book, a long novella, so an easy, quick read. I loved that the weapons used were traditional, unusual in a modern retelling, but I have a thing for swords so loved that. It gave it a very Chinese feel despite it being set around San Francisco.
I dont know the story of Mulan well, but well enough to feel this is a good retelling with all the feels of the spirit of loyalty, family, tradition and honour with a good modern day Anna Edwards twist.
***4 Stars***
A re-telling based on Mulan???
Yes, please! And yes, my mind did automatically go to the animated version first ~ couldn’t help it since I love the movie ~ but I do know about the actual legend, so I was quite curious to see where the author would take us and I have to say, I really enjoyed her vision of “Mulan” and the world she lived in.
I really liked Lia and Jaxon. Both are really good people who live and breathe honor and loyalty, but also find that they don’t quite fit in with the norms of the world they’ve been raised in. Their journey to their HEA was a fun one, kinda insta, a little rushed, but still a fun one when everything was said and done. I loved the way they collided/collected and that when they saw each other for who they were underneath it all, it just all clicked for both of them in the best of ways.
This is my first read by this author (not a surprise when it comes to this collection) and I really enjoyed this book. The writing was engaging, pacing good and I really liked the first person POV’s. I thought she did a great job with the world building, it’s history, the conflict and how she kept bits and pieces of the Mulan story and yet made it her own. Wang was definitely all kinds of baddie goodness, but it was two of the patriarchs that definitely made the story for me, and one I wouldn’t mind getting more of a backstory on because I have no doubt that his story would be kind of epic!
~ Copy provided by EJBP & voluntarily reviewed ~
I’m not quite sure if this was quite a 4 star read but it was much closer to that than 3 stars, so 4 it is.
Zhànzhì is a well paced, entertaining, has a great heroine, a sexy hero and held my interest throughout. The story is set in modern times, though this is only obvious when modern technology is mentioned. Most of the time it had either an historical or a fantasy feel to it, but that made it more interesting not less.
Whilst this didn’t totally absorb me it did retain my attention and, unlike a couple of other recent reads, I never considered DNF’ing it. I appreciated how skillfully the author wove a tale that really did feel like a darker retelling of the Disney fairytale (as opposed to the original Chinese legend). Lia has always felt like an outsider, uninterested in becoming a warriors wife but rather wanting to be the warrior herself. I liked both her and Jaxon, they both held honour, faith and family in high regard and were prepared to die for their principles.
We all have our own interpretation of dark, so for me it was more that this had dark themes. However it does need a trigger warning as it contains one more detailed scene, and another implied, of sexual assault on the heroine. There are also incidences of physical assault too. However I find my darkness in the psychological effects and emotional impact on main characters but Lia was too strong, too much of a warrior to allow the enemy to break her, so for me it made the dark aspects easier to read. It fitted well with Lia’s strength of character so I had no qualms about her response to Wang’s treatment.
I would have liked just a bit more drama, a touch more angst and not quite such a quick resolution (I won’t say easy because it wasn’t). Not so much plot holes as glossing over the difficult parts. However I still enjoyed this story and read it in one sitting, it’s a decent story.
This is my first book by Anna Edwards and even though i initially was cautious with this book (i really didn’t care for the movie of Mulan) i am happy to say that this book was full of surprises and i truly enjoyed reading this tale.
Lia is a skilled fighter who was trained by her father, an accomplished fighter in the Yi Shu army. When total devastation happens between the Yi Shu and the Jin Long armies, all males are ordered to show up for the upcoming war. Lia sneaks out and disguises herself as a male and enters the Yi Shu quarters with full intention of fighting off the Jin Long army and to bring honor to her family.
Jaxson is one of the most trusted in the Yi Shu army, he is the one who watches and finishes Lia’s training even though at the time he believes her to be a man. For weeks her disguise goes unnoticed until one event and then she has no choice but to tell Jaxson the truth. He’s relieved, as his attraction to Lia has been unnerving to him!
When Lia’s cover is blown and she is banished from the land, Jaxson is totally confused. While he pledged his devotion to the Yi Shu he has fallen in love with Lia and cannot fathom the thought of being without her or her being hurt.
Days later when the whole truth in revealed to Jaxson, he must decide where his loyalty lays…does he keep silent about the woman he has fallen in love or does he rise to the challenge and fight for the woman and the love he has just recently found that finally makes him feel whole after all these lonely years?
It’s a tale as old as time…no wait, that’s a different one. It starts with a girl who fights like a warrior. A big heart, a sense of honor, and a need to do what is right propel her into a life she never thought she could have but desperately wanted. Oh, and she fell in love!
Seems like a reason to celebrate…now she just has to tell him she is a she. Zhànshì is filled with honor, duty, and a little revenge. Enjoy the adventure, watch out for prophecy, and hold onto love.
Zhànzhì is one of the best fairy tale retellings I’ve read! I loved how Anna Edwards kept true to the fairy tale while also adding her own originality. She spun it in a way that made Mulan fresh and modern while keeping the core of the story.
Lia is a badass. She’s trained her whole life knowing that she will have to be forced to be a wife. She dreams of being herself but also doesn’t want to dishonor her family. When a chance comes to honor her family and be who she feels she really is, she jumps on it. Jaxson is loyal through and through. He bleeds Yi Shu and will die Yi Shu. The romance that builds between Jaxson and Lia was one that was breatgtaking to see! These two were meant for each other.
Anna Edwards delivers a slightly dark and riveting read with Zhànzhì!
*First time reading author
I love when the female character is strong, independent, and doesn’t take shit from anyone. Zhanzhi is that type of book. This is a dark retelling of Mulan. Lia takes her father’s place to go and fight for the Yi Shu who is the local gang that comes from China. When placed with the second in command Jaxon she has to hide that she is a female at all cost.
I enjoyed Anna’s retelling and think it is a great addition to the Sinister Collection.
This was a interesting and unique take on Mulan. As this whole collection is on the darker side I wasn’t surprised by the violence but the rape and abuse is still something I don’t really enjoy reading, thankfully it wasn’t super detailed. You do get a full happy ending. It was well written I give it four stars.
By TIffany
Zhanzhi was a wonderful read! It’s a gripping retelling of Mulan with a dark edge! It’s emotional and heart-pounding and 100 percent addictive! Zhanzhi is a part of the Sinister Fairy Tale collection. Mulan is one of my all-time favorite stories, I loved the movie growing up and I’ve been excited to see Disney’s remake, so I’ve been super excited for this retelling. It pulls you in and really makes you fall in love with Lia, and then once you start getting really comfortable Edwards steals the breath from your lungs with her dark twist! I’m not going to lie, it was one of the more brutal stories to read, but it has so much raw heart and emotion! You feel Lia and her mission, you cry for her and you push through for her! This book deals with some dark content, it is not for the faint of heart, it will crush you but it so worth it. I loved the storyline and Edwards modernized it. It’s every bit an original piece, a one of a kind story that will stay with you. It was romantic and steamy, heartwarming, and leaves you feeling proud. I loved it! I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
From the moment I signed up for the release of the sinister fairy tales collection,I was pretty freaked out. Because these were a new bunch of authors I was going to try, but it was this unique concept of turning fairy tales into something so dark and attractive, made me sign up for these books.
And just like all the other books of this anthology, i absolutely Zhanshi!!! the way the story is portrayed is amazing. the characters and story line, just blew my heart. I had never read the fairy tale on which this book was based on, but after reading this book , i finally read the fairy tale too. After reading that I was severely impressed with the author, of how she did a marvelous job of turning it into a sinister fairy tale!!
this was the first book by Anna edwards that I read and I enjoyed it a lot. this book is recommended it to all the sinister fairy tale lovers, let me warn you , once you read one book of this anthology, you won’t be able to stop until you read them all!!!
Where do I start? First I want to say that this story based on Mulan is definitely the most different of the sinister fairy tales series but equally as good. It’s based on two different triad mafia groups but is violent and as dark as they come. I enjoyed the twisted mafia story but I enjoyed the relationship between Lia and Jaxon more. Lia trying to honour her family and fight is brave and relentless. Jaxon who has so much going on in his life didn’t see Lia coming. The development of the characters is very well done and the plot definitely dark. Loving this series so far and really enjoyed Zhanshi by Anna Edwards very much.