Another find from my local library's new book shelf. I really am a sucker for good cover art and this one has a doozy of look. I probably was always going to pick it up based on that; finding out that it was a fantasy retelling of Mulan just sweetened the deal.
The fantasy world is built on traditional imperial Chinese culture. This includes the gender norms from that era which dictate that a woman's place is as property of her father and then her husband. She has little freedom of choice and she is not meant to have any kind of public life - at least not in the higher classes. Meilin is the daughter of a nobleman who wasted away the family fortune on opium. Her choices are limited and when her father decides to basically sell her off in marriage in order to pay off debts, Meilin feels trapped in a life she doesn't want. To make it worse, her intended husband is abusive and most likely killed all his previous wives.
A chance encounter with a young prince leaves Meilin with an idea. She decides to dress as a man and pose as the bastard son of her father in order to enlist in the army. So far, it's mostly in line with most Mulan adaptations. However, Meilin is not motivated by any kind of familial love. Meilin wants to escape her destiny.
The adaptation also has a fantasy element. Meilin's mother was a spirit-medium and eventually committed suicide after going mad. Meilin inherits a jade seal from her and soon realizes that it is a conduit for a powerful spirit to communicate with her.
This is not a happy story and it ends on a seriously grim note. Far from bothering me, I actually found that a little refreshing. Meilin isn't a dewy eyed heroine and it would have felt disingenuous to have a Disney ending for her. The second book in the duology is coming out in August of 2025. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens
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