The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan

Love love loved the action packed book this was. If I could've just rated the action in this book, I would rate it 5 stars. The book opens with a *fantastic* fight scene.The Magnolia Sword is a wonderful rendition of the story of Mulan we know and love and this version of the story concentrates on the martial arts, loyalty, duty, and politics. We dont really see or feel a lot of the struggles of the insecure "female" Mulan per se, but we see her insecurities in the form of losing trust in those around her and wondering if she is good enough to trust. Readers who may not enjoy that kind of thing may not like those parts of the book that are filled with her doubts, but overall, the focus and beauty of the world Ms. Thomas has created here truly spotlights the martial arts and that is depicted quite beautifully.If you enjoy old martial arts movies, fantastic fight scenes, a bit of political intrigue, and the concepts of honor/duty/family, then this is the book for you.If you are looking to be swept away by the romance that is present in this book, you may be disappointed, as the author does not focus on the romantic portions too much. It seems to happen in the background and is definitely secondary to the storyline (and many readers do prefer that).

The adaptation of this classic story is done extremely well, representing ancient China how it should be represented.However, the writing in it can become a bit wordy and pretentious. It sometimes lacks self awareness by using flowery language for simple descriptions, kind of like fan fiction in some instances.It is the classic try hard writing, sentences will go on for a long time with too many adjectives, when a lot of it could have been implied or more concisely communicated. That is combined with its first person perspective, so it sounds like Mulan herself is trying too hard to tell you the story. It sounds almost like she is exaggerating. Anyways, the story adapted well to English. It captures China how it actually was, instead of being just a theme, like in Disney. The story is as good as it has always been, and the writer does the story and China justice.The writing is not horrible, just a bit pretentious and wordy. If you have any interest in China or the original Mulan story, then get this book.PS: The cover art is fantastic. It is why I bought the book for the reading area in my history class, hopefully encouraging kids to actually read something.

I have a confession to make. I love the Disney version of Mulan. In fact, she is my favorite Disney princess. Okay - The Magnolia Sword is not that story, so set it aside for a moment. However, Sherry Thomas' version is just as endearing but richer in culture and deeper in meaning. The story features the familiar elements of the Mulan ballad: a young woman who dresses as a man to go to war, who brings honor to herself and her family, and finds love (in many ways). Whereas medieval Chinese culture was more of a backdrop or prop in the Disney animation, it is on full display in this story. In particular, Ms. Thomas richly portrays the multi-layered system of hierarchy and honor that underscores every action and interaction in the story. She adds to that the refined martial artistry that was over a thousand years old by the time this story occurs, and bestows the best of it on the heroine. Disney Mulan wouldn't stand a chance against this Mulan. And being Sherry Thomas, she delivers a strong element of romance and writes prose that flows like water. However, I liked this novel best for its deeper meanings. Ultimately, it is a story of walls. Walls that divide people, families, tribes, and nations. Walls built by social rules, gender divides, vendettas, and fear of difference. The Mulan of this story must overcome all these walls to survive, to shine, and to discover herself. Oh, and get the guy.

Are you looking for a new version of Mulan? One set in a well-researched, historically accurate China ("484 A.D." as highlighted in the jacket)? One that embraces the wuxia tradition with a Mulan who has been raised to represent her family in a one-on-one martial arts duel? We weren't sure that was what we wanted when we went into this, but it ended up being one of our favorite books of the year.As usual, Thomas's prose is beautiful but clear. In The Magnolia Sword, she incorporates a lot of Chinese. She does it in a way that clarifies the setting and culture, and it never detracts from the flow of the novel. Although there are no musical interludes, there are enough pining, ambiguous glances to meet your teenage romance quota. And the plot has enough twists, turns, and politics to keep any reader on her toes.Loved this one!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Good characterizations, likable protagonists, and the villains aren't two dimensional. Alas, no Dragon for the little guys. This is a true YA book, a little more complex plot, a bit of romance but it doesn't take over. I appreciated the discussions, both internal and vocalized, of the values and motives of the characters. I will probably get this for my middle school grandson. He will appreciate the martial arts action, and there's nothing inappropriate that would make me uncomfortable to compare notes with him. Not a romance fan, but I'll look up some of Sherry Thomas' other historic fiction.

I devoured this book and finished in the early morning hours because I just could not put it down. The story is packed with action and the element of romance felt very organic and sooo sweet. Despite the books references to different tribes, it never felt like too much information, instead it was fascinating to glimpse into a different time and a different world.After reading, I fervently wish this would have been the book the Mulan movie was based on... I haven't read anything from Sherry Thomas before, but after this beautifully written book I will definitely check out her back list :)

A more realistic take in the Mulan legend, where Mulan is an accomplished martial artist and does not have supernatural powers. Recommended.

O livro é incrível! Eu sou apaixonada por reeleituras de Mulan, e esse livro em questão é uma delas.A história é fantástica, cada ponto em seu devido lugar, nos fazendo imergir no universo e estar presente em cada segundo. Uma reeleitura incrível que nos coloca dentro do universo, nos fazendo lutar junto da protagonista Hua Mulan e estar ao lado dela em todos os momentos.Eu recomendo imensamente essa leitura.

I had to read Maxine Hong Kingston's Warrior Woman as part of my degree and the version of Mulan that she presents in that anthology has stayed with me for years. Sherry's version is engaging, emotional, poetic, vivid, and enthralling and I wish I could erase my memory of the books and read it all over again. A pleasure from page one to the end.

Forget the new Disney movie. This is amazing - brilliant characterisation, fantastic writing, a thoughtful examination of culture and history, and a lovely romance, and by a Chinese-American author. If I could give this book ten stars I would.

Came in perfect condition and the book was actuallu really good. I couldn'y put it down.