Mulan Book Recommendations

She Took Her Father’s Place

    Believed to have origins in the Northern Wei dynasty of China, the Ballad of Mulan has captured the imaginations of millions around the world. The story depicts the journey of Hua Mulan as she disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the Chinese army as the country fights the Rouran nomads. In some versions, she fights for many years with no one discovering her identity and declines a position of high office offered by the emperor. She retires to live with her family, only then revealing her true gender to her fellow soldiers. In other versions, she is captured by the enemy and to avoid being forced into servitude she takes her life.

    Though there have been many adaptations over the years, the most well-known is the 1998 adaptation by Disney. This and the original ballad have inspired others to write their own versions of the tale or been inspired by having the element of a girl disguised as a boy for one reason or another. We will explore five book adaptations of the story in this post.

Book 1: Flame in the Mist

    This first book recommendation has a young woman concealing her gender to better investigate why a group of bandits want her dead.

Book Name: Flame in the Mist

Author Name(s): Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: May 16, 2017

Book Number: 1 of 2

Number of Pages: 392 pages

Book Description:

    The only daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only; to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother, Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.

    So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. However, the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.

    The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

Book 2: Crown of Feathers

Book Name: Crown of Feathers
Author Name(s): Nicki Pau Preto
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: February 12, 2019
Book Number: 1 of 3
Number of Pages: 496 pages
Book Description:

    I had a sister, once…

    In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

    “I promised her the throne would not come between us.”

    Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

    “But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.”

    Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. Meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Book 3: To Best the Boys

    This book has a girl disguising herself as a boy to participate in a boy’s only competition for a chance at higher education.

Book Name: To Best the Boys

Author Name(s): Mary Weber

Genre: Dystopia

Release Date: March 19, 2019

Book Number: Standalone

Number of Pages: 314 pages

Book Description:

    The task is simple: don a disguise. Survive the Labyrinth. Best the boys.

    In a thrilling new fantasy from the bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys.

    Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port have received a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see if their names are on the list. The wealthy look to see how likely their sons are to survive. Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

    In the province of Caldon, where women train in wifely duties and men pursue collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

    With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Not everyone is ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Book 4: Princess of Thorns

    This next book recommendation has the daughter of Sleeping Beauty trying to save her kingdom with the help of a cursed prince.

Book Name: Princess of Thorns

Author Name(s): Stacey Jay

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Book Number: Standalone

Number of Pages: 388 pages

Book Descriptions:

    Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

    Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

    Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Book 5: Reflection-A Twisted Tale

    This last book Recommendation asks the question: What if Disney’s Mulan had to travel to the underworld?

Book Name: Reflection-A Twisted Tale

Author Name(s): Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Book Number: 4 of 13 (more in Development)

Number of Pages: 408 pages

Book Description:

    What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?

    When Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily.

    With the help of Shang's great lion guardian ShiShi, Mulan must traverse Diyu to find Shang's spirit, face harrowing obstacles, and leave by sunrise⁠—or become King Yama's prisoner forever.

    Moreover, Mulan is still disguised as the soldier called Ping, wrestling with the decision to reveal her true identity to her closest friend.

    Will Mulan be able to save Shang before it's too late? Will he ever be able to trust her again? Or will she lose him—and be lost in the Underworld⁠—forever?

Conclusion

     Do any of these books sound like interesting reads? Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments below!