The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan

by Sherry Thomas Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

Overview

CHINA, 484 A.D.

A Warrior in Disguise
All her life, Mulan has trained for one purpose: to win the duel that every generation in her family must fight. If she prevails, she can reunite a pair of priceless heirloom swords separated decades earlier, and avenge her father, who was paralyzed in his own duel.

Then a messenger from the Emperor arrives, demanding that all families send one soldier to fight the Rouran invaders in the north. Mulan's father cannot go. Her brother is just a child. So she ties up her hair, takes up her sword, and joins the army as a man.

A War for a Dynasty
Thanks to her martial arts skills, Mulan is chosen for an elite team under the command of the princeling--the royal duke's son, who is also the handsomest man she's ever seen. But the princeling has secrets of his own, which explode into Mulan's life and shake up everything she knows. As they cross the Great Wall to face the enemy beyond, Mulan and the princeling must find a way to unwind their past, unmask a traitor, and uncover the plans for the Rouran invasion . . . before it's too late.

Inspired by wuxia martial-arts dramas as well as the centuries-old ballad of Mulan, The Magnolia Sword is perfect for fans of Renee Ahdieh, Marie Lu, or Kristin Cashore--a thrilling, romantic, and sharp-edged novel that lives up to its beloved heroine.

Editorial Reviews

MARCH 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller delivers an engrossing performance of this historical retelling of the Chinese “Ballad of Mulan.” Ever since the death of her twin brother, Mulan has trained in his place to win the duel that every generation of her family must fight in order to reunite a pair of treasured heirloom swords. But when the emperor demands that all families send a soldier to fight in the war, she doesn’t hesitate to fight in her injured father’s stead. Her exceptional martial arts skills place her on an elite team under the command of the very handsome, very secretive princeling. Zeller’s crisp Chinese pronunciation, distinct voices, and slow-burning intensity create an approachable and immersive narrative of a familiar story with a unique twist. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

★ 10/14/2019

Rich cultural references, intricate political machinations, and thrilling Wuxia elements distinguish this deftly woven Mulan retelling by Thomas (The Immortal Heights), who was born and raised in China. Hua Mulan, who publicly assumes her deceased twin brother’s name, Hua Muyang, fills her days with projectile training alongside her father, caring for her seven-year-old brother, and secretly looking forward to the sporadic training sessions she has with Yuan Kai, a mysterious boy she is fated to duel with over a pair of matchless inherited swords. But mandatory conscription causes the match to be deferred, and Mulan enlists on behalf of her household. Her martial arts expertise earns her a role accompanying the royal duke’s son, a young man who seems strangely familiar. As the Rouran invasion looms, Mulan and her companions must evade danger and uncover a traitor at court while unpacking their preconceived notions about family, fear, and nomadic tribes. Skillful martial arts scenes combine with crucial discourse on power, gender, and the impact of language on history in this gripping, thoughtfully layered reinterpretation. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

* "Rich cultural references, intricate political machinations, and thrilling Wuxia elements distinguish this deftly woven Mulan retelling by Thomas, who was born and raised in China... Skillful martial arts scenes combine with crucial discourse on power, gender, and the impact of language on history in this gripping, thoughtfully layered reinterpretation." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"New life is breathed into the ballad of Mulan... A refreshing new take that pays homage to a legendary character." — Kirkus Reviews

"The Magnolia Sword is the epic adventure I have always wanted: an intense, riveting, heart-pounding race against time coupled with a surprisingly tender forbidden love." — Courtney Milan, New York Times bestselling author of After the Wedding

"I found this book historically rich like few other tales of the setting are, and full of both family drama and exciting action." — F. C. Yee, author of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo

"A fierce, beautifully written Mulan retelling. The Magnolia Sword, much like its titular weapon, is sharp, glimmering with detail, and intensely powerful. Adventure seekers: this one's for you." — Arvin Ahmadi, author of Down and Across and Girl Gone Viral

Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Spirit of Texas Reading List - Texas Library Association (TLA)

MARCH 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller delivers an engrossing performance of this historical retelling of the Chinese “Ballad of Mulan.” Ever since the death of her twin brother, Mulan has trained in his place to win the duel that every generation of her family must fight in order to reunite a pair of treasured heirloom swords. But when the emperor demands that all families send a soldier to fight in the war, she doesn’t hesitate to fight in her injured father’s stead. Her exceptional martial arts skills place her on an elite team under the command of the very handsome, very secretive princeling. Zeller’s crisp Chinese pronunciation, distinct voices, and slow-burning intensity create an approachable and immersive narrative of a familiar story with a unique twist. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2019-06-05
New life is breathed into the ballad of Mulan.

The Hua and Yuan families share a legacy: As caretakers of the deftly made swords Sky Blade and Heart Sea, each generation must fight to determine the next guardians of the swords. Hua Mulan has only known a life of being disguised as a boy, trained in weaponry by her father. What her father does not know is that Mulan already spars with her future duel partner. On the eve of the showdown, the Hua family receives a letter citing political unrest threatening the Yuans as a reason to withdraw from this year's duel. When the Hua family receives a conscription notice requiring one male per household to report for duty, Mulan enlists, quickly being recruited into the princeling's elite team for her skills. Mulan finds herself caught in a web of sabotage, battles, and strained loyalties, trying to maintain her own cover and handling the growing affection between the princeling and herself. While the resolution may seem too neat for some, Thomas (The Hollow of Fear, 2018, etc.) brings new dimensions to the iconic character, weaving emotional depth and ethnic political issues into the plot. She immerses readers in bustling city streets and freezing swaths of wilderness. Scaffolded by detailed research, the story is based on actual historic conflicts and artifacts.

A refreshing new take that pays homage to a legendary character. (author's note, linguistic and historical notes) (Historical fiction. 12-15)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169295085
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/10/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

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