Reflection: A Twisted Tale

This is book 4 in the series. I have been reading them in order, but you don't have to. This series offers a different take on the Disney classics. I like that they delve into the characters a bit more. I will continue and read all of them; they're a great, easy read for middle grades and up.

First, these are best read when you're familiar with the source story. I've watched the live action film, but not the animated version. This means I had some idea of the plot, and the writing helped me catch up easily. This tale is heavily based in Chinese mythology of the Underworld: "Mulan didn’t know whether she should be awed or frightened. After all, it was the first time she had ever encountered a deity. To her surprise, Yama didn’t glow like his subjects, and he looked nothing like the demons. Yet his appearance was monstrous. Wrinkles contorted his face, and his cheeks were ruddy; his eyes flickered a fiery red and yellow. His neck was thick as the trunk of a willow tree, and his wild black hair was so abundant it rivaled ShiShi’s mane. When he stood, as he did now, the top of his heavy gold crown disappeared into the dark space above, and his black and emerald robes flooded down the steps past his desk." It's a great read for the mythology as well as a continuation of Mulan's tale. I appreciate that it stays culturally true rather than Westernizing into a princess fairy tale ending. I would read more from this author.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I loved the Disney movie, which made me buy this book, but this book fleshed out Mulan and Shang so much more. The details of the Underworld and the different realms Mulan and Shang have to travel in order to get back to the world of the living are well thought out and intriguing. I also love the minor characters like ShiShi, the three Fa family members, and Meng Po. The only thing I would have liked to have been added is how everything worked out. Does the Emperor honor Mulan, does her family accept her back? In the cartoon, we know that she gets her happy ending, and we're left with the hope that in this alternate version, she does as well, but it would have been nice to read it. Overall, a well written book with strong characterization.

After reading the first three books in this series, I'm loving it. I think it's fun to learn about different other versions of my favorite Disney movies, it means there's more to their story. I was very excited to read this twisted tale on Mulan when it arrived.

I loved this book! Managing to read it in 6 hours because I didn’t want to put it down! I loved all the ties back to the original and all the information we got about Chinese folklore! Although I wasn’t a fan of Mulan constantly being the smartest in the room, such as when she and ShiShi were stuck in the well. ShiShi was stepping on the rope but couldn’t connect the dots until Mulan pointed it out? I understand that Mulan (in the original) was portrayed as smarter than the men, but ShiShi is the great guardian and I felt that was downplayed a little bit. The end got me a little bit too, with the villain being so generous now when before he was always frowning. I would have felt like he would have been mad and a little hesitant to let them go. I wouldn’t have guessed that they get what felt like a whole 10 minutes to say goodbye and talk to each other. Overall, it was an amazing story and my heart LOVED seeing Mulan and Shang working together more and becoming more (only wish I could have seen more of it!)

Love this series! All books are worth the read

Okay, this book sent my little shipper's heart all a fluttering! I'm going to be brief with this review because I don't want to reveal spoilers, and in the fact of that there's SO MUCH that happens in this book. I will tell you guys right up front, this book pays homage and does its predecessor justice with its twisted retelling, where it sends your Mulan X Shang shipping heart all the feels. It's a fanfic come to life! The story takes place after the battle on Tung-Show Mountain, where Mulan as Ping shot their last cannon at the mountain causing the avalanche that obliterated Shan Yu's army. Instead of Shan Yu striking Mulan, Shang leaps in front of her and takes a fatal blow. From there on, facing the possibility of Shang dying from the wound, their descent from the mountain becomes weary. One night, after Shang's condition worsens, General Li's spirit comes to tell Mulan that there is a way to save his son's life. After that, Mulan finds herself in Diyuu, the Chinese version of the World of the Dead, where she strikes a deal with the Underwold ruler himself, King Yuma, that if she can find Shang and escape Diyuu before morning, Shang will live. Mulan, Shang, and the Li family's guardian, Shishi, go through tremendous obstacles throughout Diyuu, where all of them must face both inner and outer demons; Mulan especially. There's even the big reveal of Mulan's gender in this story, in which I find myself favoring over the movie's version of it. And the relationship between Shang and Mulan is just as invigorating as in the movie itself, and even more so in this book. At the end of this book, I wish it were in the canon-verse of Mulan.

I was a little skeptical about this book at first because it started out extremely slow. I pushed through the slow parts and I was surprised. The author has a great way of writing to spike the readers emotions and keep them wanting more. I couldn't put it down because enjoyed this book so much.

While I love all the other books from this serie, I think this one might be my favorite so far. I've always loved Mulan as a Disney film but the twist they had in this one made me love even more the original work. The only downside is that I can't forget the book to experience it for the first time once again.

Loved this book. A little dark but I loved to know about another side of the Chinese mythology. We got to know more about Mulan and her inner struggles. Definitely recommand.

Chegou corretamente embalado. No prazo..Muito satisfeita

This is a great retelling of Mulan, I think you can go many ways but this one was unexpected. I liked it! I really like Lim's writing, it's so fluid and it sucks you in. Mulan was great in this version, it stayed true to how she is portrayed in her Disney movie. She is strong and doesn't back down from a fight or a quest. I honestly want this as a Disney movie, this would have been better than Mulan II. I think the take of Mulan going to the Underworld very interesting, this is something which always has interested me but the Asian Underworld is totally new to me. I like the ancestor part as well, I think it's interesting and it makes me start to wonder what it will be like for me after I die. I think that this one with So this is Love, also by Elizabeth Lim are my favourites of this series!

aschön,gerne wieder.