The Warrior Maiden (Hagenheim #9) by Melanie Dickerson, Book Review

Book Summary:

Mulan isn’t afraid to pretend to be a son and assume her father’s soldier duties in war. But what happens when the handsome son of a duke discovers her secret?

Mulan is trying to resign herself to marrying the village butcher for the good of her family, but her adventurous spirit just can’t stand the thought. At the last minute, she pretends to be the son her father never had, assumes his duties as a soldier, and rides off to join the fight to protect the castle of her liege lord’s ally from the besieging Teutonic Knights.

Wolfgang and his brother Steffan leave Hagenheim with several other soldiers to help their father’s ally in Poland. When they arrive, Wolfgang is exasperated by the young soldier Mikolai who seems to either always be one step away from disaster... or showing Wolfgang up in embarrassing ways.

When Wolfgang discovers his former rival and reluctant friend Mikolai is actually a girl, he is determined to protect her. But battle is a dangerous place where anything can happen — and usually does.

When Mulan receives word that her mother has been accused of practicing witchcraft through her healing herbs and skills, Mulan’s only thought is of defending her. Will she be able to trust Wolfgang to help? Or will sacrificing her own life be the only way to save her mother?


My Review:

Dickerson performs her magic again and weaves another delightful fairy tale in the Hagenheim series! How she does it, I do not know, but it has to be magic! I loved Mulan's story and she did such a great job of letting us into Mulan's mind and seeing her for who she truly was. I felt Mulan's pain at being different in the village and feeling like she had to marry someone who didn't love her, just to save her mother. Then she made the choice to pretend to be a boy so she could save her mom's home and escape a marriage she doesn't want.  The fact that Dickerson made Mulan fearless yet not a fighter beyond what one would believe made the story realistic and believable. The relationship between Wolfgang and Mulan was a friendship and I wondered if it could or would go anywhere else. The obstacles in the book never seemed to end and it left me reading furiously to see if there would or could be a happily ever after! Dickerson never disappoints and The Warrior Maiden is no exception! I received a review copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my  own.

Happy Reading!!!

You can pick up your own copy via Amazon.