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Unlike most girls in China, Mulan would rather wield her bow or climb a tree instead of practice her embroidery. When the emperor summons a great army to combat the invading Huns, each family must send a male to fight. Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself as a boy and answers the call.
The last thing Mulan expected to find amid the backdrop of war was a friend and soulmate in the commander of her division. Prince Jian is well respected among the men, and Mulan hates that she’s been lying to him about her true identity. It will take a new kind of bravery for her to share her feelings with him while also taking a stand for her country.
Like most people, I grew up with the Disney Mulan animated film and only have a vague notion of the original Ballad of Mulan. Wild Orchid seems to toe the line between both. The plot is similar to the movie; however, there is no real conflict over her being a woman fighting in a war — like in the ballad.
One area Cameron Dokey excels in is creating immersive backstory and origins for familiar characters we think we already know. Mulan’s story is no exception, and I loved the chance to truly get to know her as a character before being thrust into the plot. However, with the story barely reaching the 200-page mark, the pacing felt off. The beginning was slow, the ending came way too fast, and the romance aspects (as well as the war) were rushed. However, if you’re looking for a simple low-conflict retelling to binge read, this is a good option.
Rated: Mild, for one mild battle scene featuring some blood and death.
