THE WARRIOR MAIDEN

THE WARRIOR MAIDEN by Melanie Dickerson

The Warrior Maiden is a squeaky clean retelling of the story of Mulan. (Do you know how awesome it is to be able to have the words "squeaky clean" and YA appear in the same post?!) While Dickerson holds true to a few of the original elements of the story, she encases them within a fresh, engaging story that is sure to capture the imagination.

First off, the setting has changed. Mulan is of Asian descent, but the story takes place in Lithuania. She is found and adopted by a soldier fighting in the east, and he brings her home with him to his wife who has always desired a child. Mulan grows up in this foreign area loved by her mother, tolerated by her father, and only semi-accepted by the area people. When her father passes away from sickness, Mulan and her mother can't hide it very long. The call comes for him to report for the next battle and to ignore the call means the loss of their home, so Mulan poses as a son and steps in to take her father's place. Instead of fighting the Huns, as the original Mulan does, this story focuses on the Teutonic Knights who have conquered the Polish territories. They are now turning their sights on Lithuania. Lithuania's only hope is reinforcements from the Germans. Fighting in the German forces is one handsome, young, Duke's son, Wolfgang, but he's carrying heavy burdens of his own that stem from his past. He doesn't need any more trouble added to the weight he already bears. This is a great read! I highly recommend it!

HEADS UP - Only one to report - a bit of passionate kissing.