FEATHER AND FLAME By Livia Blackburne
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Feather and Flame by Livia BlackburneSeries: The Queen's Council #2
Published by Disney-Hyperion on 6/14/22
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fantasy & Magic, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 307
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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She brought honor on the battlefield. Now comes a new kind of war... The war is over. Now a renowned hero, Mulan spends her days in her home village, training a militia of female warriors. The peace is a welcome one, and she knows it must be protected. When Shang arrives with an invitation to the Imperial City, Mulan's relatively peaceful life is upended once more. The aging emperor decrees that Mulan will be his heir to the throne. Such unimagined power and responsibility terrifies her, but who can say no to the Emperor? As Mulan ascends into the halls of power, it becomes clear that not everyone is on her side. Her ministers undermine her, and the Huns sense a weakness in the throne. When hints of treachery appear even amongst those she considers friends, Mulan has no idea whom she can trust. But the Queen's Council helps Mulan uncover her true destiny. With renewed strength and the wisdom of those that came before her, Mulan will own her power, save her country, and prove once again that, crown or helmet, she was always meant to lead. This fierce reimagining of the girl who became a warrior blends fairy-tale lore and real history with a Disney twist.
Short and Sweet Review
Feather and Flame shows Mulan’s life after fighting the war, now she’s back home and training a militia of female warriors. Shang comes bringing news that the Emperor wants to see Mulan. While in the Imperial City the Emperor announces that he wants Mulan to be his successor and become the Empress. When Mulan takes the throne it becomes evident that not everyone is happy to see her there, now Mulan has to navigate this new life in power and figure out who she can trust.
I love how this series shows us the possible futures of our Disney characters. I can definitely see Mulan having her own militia who are as fierce as she is. We follow Mulan from her village to the throne and see her try to figure out if she can handle this new position she’s been put in. We also see the Huns and they’re ready to spot out any weaknesses. Mulan also has to deal with advisors who aren’t quite trustworthy and have their own agenda. The book really starts picking up when Mulan figures out that someone in the palace is not to be trusted. My favorite thing about this book was seeing Mulan go from doubting herself to fully believing she has the ability to be a great empress and be the leader China needs, she also had a great support system behind her. I do think the ending was a bit rushed but nonetheless this was a great book! If you like Disney Princesses and want a glimpse into what their futures could be like after what we’ve seen in the movies than this series of retellings is for you!