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Tales of Eukarya #4
A Tangle of Iron and Feathers
Mulan meets The Goose Girl...
Malana never aspired to wear a crown, but after years of war have decimated the royal family of Brisia, she finds herself in the unexpected position of being the closest thing to a princess her country has left…and also the chosen candidate for the marriage treaty that will finally seal the peace between Brisia and Cabriole.
If only she weren’t keeping a secret that could ruin everything.
After treachery and betrayal occur on the journey to her new home, Malana arrives in a much different position than she expected—a fact she is almost grateful for when she realizes she’s met her fiancé before.
On the battlefield.
Her forced position as Keeper of the Geese seems like the perfect cover to keep her secrets, until she stumbles upon an assassination plot and finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets that threaten to destroy the tenuous relationship just starting to build between the two countries. Will she be able to salvage a future with the prince who has slowly begun battling his way past her defenses, or will the tangle of iron and feathers lead them right back to war?
If only she weren’t keeping a secret that could ruin everything.
After treachery and betrayal occur on the journey to her new home, Malana arrives in a much different position than she expected—a fact she is almost grateful for when she realizes she’s met her fiancé before.
On the battlefield.
Her forced position as Keeper of the Geese seems like the perfect cover to keep her secrets, until she stumbles upon an assassination plot and finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets that threaten to destroy the tenuous relationship just starting to build between the two countries. Will she be able to salvage a future with the prince who has slowly begun battling his way past her defenses, or will the tangle of iron and feathers lead them right back to war?
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2025
18 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beran
31 books198 followersSarah lives in sunny southern California with her husband, two small children, and dog Pippin. An elementary music teacher by day, when she is not writing or devouring books she spends her free time running, making music, or playing make believe.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 6, 2025
4 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fairytale Retelling (this one was non-magical but the prior books in the series have magic content)
After reading the prior books in the series last December—and particularly adoring A Bond of Ice and Sunshine & meeting Shea—I’ve been so excited for his story! Also, Mulan was one of my favorite princesses growing up, so the idea of a mash-up between it and The Goose Girl also had me throughly intrigued.
I do wish we could have see Shea and Malana together more as most of the book is her perspective and/or flashback chapters, because it did feel a little quick for them to start falling for the other and thinking about marriage. Shea was more a romantic sap than I was expecting (oooh, side note: I need Freddy to react to his friend’s comments and tease him mercilessly), but I honestly can’t complain too much because I really liked the two of them together. Usually I would be a little *eyebrow raised* at the thought of two people who were fighting a war against each other for their country ending up together, but Sarah Beran made it work well because they valued peace more than any hatred for the other’s country. I almost feel like we don't see enough of Shea in this book, but it's only 200 pages and there's quite a bit to share about Malana and her fighting skills, so I guess that made sense.
There was quite a bit of fight scenes because half this book is flashback chapters to the battles Malana and Shea faced two years prior, but it didn’t feel gruesome or gory at all. It wasn’t violent in some ways? I mean, yes, Malana dropkicks her enemy and there’s mentions of blood, but somehow it still didn’t feel very violent and I greatly appreciate that detail!
As someone who loves reading about sibling dynamics in books, Malana’s banter with Lane and then her friends were fantastic and truly stole the show (sorry Shea!) and made me laugh multiple times while reading. Overall this highly anticipated book was a success!
(Side note: I love that the author shared in the acknowledgments that this book was inspired by an Adam Young/Owl City song 🥰)
Main Content-
(No magic in this book, but the prior books in the series do have magic.)
Mentions of the Almighty & priests; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of being blessed by the Almighty.
No language; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eavesdropping.
Lots of fight scenes (both present-day and past) with weapons like swords and guns, being hit/attacked, being shot, seeing others shot, gunfire, fires and an explosion, pain/injuries, blood/bleeding, fighting, and knocking others unconscious (it’s not directly said if there is death/killing, but you could think that based on Malana throwing up after the first fight) (up to a handful of sentences in terms of the movements, but not gory); Causing someone to lose an eye (recalled, up to a few sentences and the person thinks they are going to die and passes out); Grieving and believing someone to be dead (up to a few sentences).
All about & many mentions of the war, fighting, battles/attacks, deaths, injuries, & people bleeding/blood (up to a few sentences); Mentions of deaths & grief (mainly Malana and her family for her father); Mentions of planned murders/assassinations; Mentions of fires; Mentions of sicknesses (Malana’s brother is often sick with a weak constitution); Mentions of hatred; A few mentions of a town being set on fire (implied massacre with graves); A few mentions of kidnapping/abductions; A couple mentions of Malana having nightmares of soldiers screaming and dying; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of drinking; A mention of Malana and Lane’s deception to their mother (about what they have been doing for the past two years).
1 hand kiss,
1 forehead kiss,
1 cheek kiss,
1 almost kiss (a couple of sentences),
1 kiss with no details,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences,
Wanting to kiss (up to a couple sentences).
Some touches, dancing, hand holding, butterflies, & nearness (up to a couple sentences); Blushes & Flirting.
Lane teases Malana that her groom won’t care what she wears to the wedding unless she wears “noth—“ and promptly gets smacked by their mother; There’s a handful of mentions about an expected wedding night & Shea needing an heir but nothing more than him welcoming his bride into his bed is said (no details or comments on sexual actions); Both Shea and Malana blush when the topic is brought up.
Malana feels like a “lumbering giraffe” next to a young women to has “generous curves” and thinks about her own non-existent curves; Malana binds her chest to take her brother’s place in the military to appear as a boy.
Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of an affair that caused the start of the war (one country’s queen had an affair with a man from the other country and when her husband the king found out, he killed both her and her lover and tried to seize land from the other country); A mention of a man trying to pose seductively (teasingly); A mention of a woman being unable to “resist a man in uniform”.
After reading the prior books in the series last December—and particularly adoring A Bond of Ice and Sunshine & meeting Shea—I’ve been so excited for his story! Also, Mulan was one of my favorite princesses growing up, so the idea of a mash-up between it and The Goose Girl also had me throughly intrigued.
I do wish we could have see Shea and Malana together more as most of the book is her perspective and/or flashback chapters, because it did feel a little quick for them to start falling for the other and thinking about marriage. Shea was more a romantic sap than I was expecting (oooh, side note: I need Freddy to react to his friend’s comments and tease him mercilessly), but I honestly can’t complain too much because I really liked the two of them together. Usually I would be a little *eyebrow raised* at the thought of two people who were fighting a war against each other for their country ending up together, but Sarah Beran made it work well because they valued peace more than any hatred for the other’s country. I almost feel like we don't see enough of Shea in this book, but it's only 200 pages and there's quite a bit to share about Malana and her fighting skills, so I guess that made sense.
There was quite a bit of fight scenes because half this book is flashback chapters to the battles Malana and Shea faced two years prior, but it didn’t feel gruesome or gory at all. It wasn’t violent in some ways? I mean, yes, Malana dropkicks her enemy and there’s mentions of blood, but somehow it still didn’t feel very violent and I greatly appreciate that detail!
As someone who loves reading about sibling dynamics in books, Malana’s banter with Lane and then her friends were fantastic and truly stole the show (sorry Shea!) and made me laugh multiple times while reading. Overall this highly anticipated book was a success!
(Side note: I love that the author shared in the acknowledgments that this book was inspired by an Adam Young/Owl City song 🥰)
Main Content-
(No magic in this book, but the prior books in the series do have magic.)
Mentions of the Almighty & priests; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of being blessed by the Almighty.
No language; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eavesdropping.
Lots of fight scenes (both present-day and past) with weapons like swords and guns, being hit/attacked, being shot, seeing others shot, gunfire, fires and an explosion, pain/injuries, blood/bleeding, fighting, and knocking others unconscious (it’s not directly said if there is death/killing, but you could think that based on Malana throwing up after the first fight) (up to a handful of sentences in terms of the movements, but not gory); Causing someone to lose an eye (recalled, up to a few sentences and the person thinks they are going to die and passes out); Grieving and believing someone to be dead (up to a few sentences).
All about & many mentions of the war, fighting, battles/attacks, deaths, injuries, & people bleeding/blood (up to a few sentences); Mentions of deaths & grief (mainly Malana and her family for her father); Mentions of planned murders/assassinations; Mentions of fires; Mentions of sicknesses (Malana’s brother is often sick with a weak constitution); Mentions of hatred; A few mentions of a town being set on fire (implied massacre with graves); A few mentions of kidnapping/abductions; A couple mentions of Malana having nightmares of soldiers screaming and dying; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of drinking; A mention of Malana and Lane’s deception to their mother (about what they have been doing for the past two years).
1 hand kiss,
1 forehead kiss,
1 cheek kiss,
1 almost kiss (a couple of sentences),
1 kiss with no details,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences,
Wanting to kiss (up to a couple sentences).
Some touches, dancing, hand holding, butterflies, & nearness (up to a couple sentences); Blushes & Flirting.
Lane teases Malana that her groom won’t care what she wears to the wedding unless she wears “noth—“ and promptly gets smacked by their mother; There’s a handful of mentions about an expected wedding night & Shea needing an heir but nothing more than him welcoming his bride into his bed is said (no details or comments on sexual actions); Both Shea and Malana blush when the topic is brought up.
Malana feels like a “lumbering giraffe” next to a young women to has “generous curves” and thinks about her own non-existent curves; Malana binds her chest to take her brother’s place in the military to appear as a boy.
Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of an affair that caused the start of the war (one country’s queen had an affair with a man from the other country and when her husband the king found out, he killed both her and her lover and tried to seize land from the other country); A mention of a man trying to pose seductively (teasingly); A mention of a woman being unable to “resist a man in uniform”.
October 12, 2025
Only Beran could pull off a mashup of Mulan and The Goose Girl. It was so enjoyable watching how elements from both fairy tales were effortlessly included. I never thought those two stories could be combined, and Beran proved that supposition incorrect. The banter, the feathery fiends, the brotherhood and family tropes, and lovable main characters make A Tangle of Iron and Feathers a fun read.
Definitely a book to add to your list if you enjoy clean fairy tale retellings.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. A positive review was not required, and all opinions stated are my own.
Definitely a book to add to your list if you enjoy clean fairy tale retellings.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. A positive review was not required, and all opinions stated are my own.
September 25, 2025
Mulan was always one of my favorite movies and this retelling merged with Goose Girl was well done. I just wish it had been longer!
September 30, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild. There is a war going on in flashback sequences, and people are killed. The author is very vague on the actual violence though, but states when there is blood without being graphic. Bullet wounds, sword wounds, explosions, etc.
Sexual: Mild. Barely there really. Hand-kisses, hugs, and G-rated touches. One on-the-lips kiss.
Triggers: War, and the losses/grief of it. Losing family and hatred/prejudice between nations.
This is such a great brotherhood book.
The plot is divided between past and present, with the past focusing more on the Mulan aspects of the retelling, and the present on the Goose Girl storyline. But both focus on the unique comradery found between both blood family and found family.
Lana takes the place of her sickly twin brother in the war between her country and the neighboring Cabriole. She spends two years in a small unit with 3 other men, who become her brothers in every sense except blood. The byplay between them is humorous and yet deep as they fight and live together for years.
Shea is the Commanding General of Cabriole, and is sick of the war, and is willing to do anything for peace. Including marry the princess of (hopefully) past enemies. He is determined to make it work, and when the princess arrives, he is dismayed to see her obvious disgust of his war wound, and his nationality. But he makes a friend of the odd maid that came with her, who was put in charge of the geese.
The story hops between past and present and has a smattering of letters between twins Lana and Lane in both. I enjoyed the way that the gravity of war was balanced with humor and love. The sibling element was hilarious and realistic. Lane is a chaos goblin and such a b(r)other.
I actually wish there had been more from Shea, as I was looking forward to seeing him from his cameo in the last book. His relationship with Evander was something I would've liked to see more. And the family relationships really stole the show in this book, leaving the romance in the dust. There was not much of it explored at all. There was too much else going on to focus on it and get the story told in a way that was paced well. Though I would've liked more scenes of Shea and Lana talking between the garden wall.
The little nods to some of the songs in Mulan had me smirking too. I may or may not have starting humming 'A Girl Worth Fighting For' at some point.
Such a fun addition to Eukarya. Well done, as usual!
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild. There is a war going on in flashback sequences, and people are killed. The author is very vague on the actual violence though, but states when there is blood without being graphic. Bullet wounds, sword wounds, explosions, etc.
Sexual: Mild. Barely there really. Hand-kisses, hugs, and G-rated touches. One on-the-lips kiss.
Triggers: War, and the losses/grief of it. Losing family and hatred/prejudice between nations.
This is such a great brotherhood book.
The plot is divided between past and present, with the past focusing more on the Mulan aspects of the retelling, and the present on the Goose Girl storyline. But both focus on the unique comradery found between both blood family and found family.
Lana takes the place of her sickly twin brother in the war between her country and the neighboring Cabriole. She spends two years in a small unit with 3 other men, who become her brothers in every sense except blood. The byplay between them is humorous and yet deep as they fight and live together for years.
Shea is the Commanding General of Cabriole, and is sick of the war, and is willing to do anything for peace. Including marry the princess of (hopefully) past enemies. He is determined to make it work, and when the princess arrives, he is dismayed to see her obvious disgust of his war wound, and his nationality. But he makes a friend of the odd maid that came with her, who was put in charge of the geese.
The story hops between past and present and has a smattering of letters between twins Lana and Lane in both. I enjoyed the way that the gravity of war was balanced with humor and love. The sibling element was hilarious and realistic. Lane is a chaos goblin and such a b(r)other.
I actually wish there had been more from Shea, as I was looking forward to seeing him from his cameo in the last book. His relationship with Evander was something I would've liked to see more. And the family relationships really stole the show in this book, leaving the romance in the dust. There was not much of it explored at all. There was too much else going on to focus on it and get the story told in a way that was paced well. Though I would've liked more scenes of Shea and Lana talking between the garden wall.
The little nods to some of the songs in Mulan had me smirking too. I may or may not have starting humming 'A Girl Worth Fighting For' at some point.
Such a fun addition to Eukarya. Well done, as usual!
September 25, 2025
The combination retelling of Mulan and the Goose Girl works in this beautiful fairytale retelling by Sarah Beran. A Tangle of Iron and Feathers will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Come for the heroism, but stay for the witty banter.
I received a complimentary ARC from the author for a fair and honest review
I received a complimentary ARC from the author for a fair and honest review
September 7, 2025
Sarah Beran is easily one of my top favorite authors! And I know…I know…every time she releases a new book I say it is my new favorite book of her’s…and to be completely 100% honest…it’s absolutely true Every.Single.Time! Every book she writes, every tale she tells, every cheeky pun she sneaks in, gets better than the last! And I cannot help but absolutely devour them. I never intended to finish this story in under 24 hours…but once I picked it up…well…those minutes turned to hours and before I knew it it was 10 pm and I knew I was only going to get maybe 5 hrs of sleep before I had to drag my exhausted tushy into work…but my HEART was FULL and my SOUL was HAPPY! So it was worth the loss of sleep.
Malana aka Lana snuck away and joined the war. It was either her or her twin brother Lane and well, Lane wasn’t all that healthy…nor was he at all competent with a sword. But Lana had trained with her father and knew if either one had any chance of coming home alive, it was her. But when the war ends Lana finds herself face to face with a new type of battle. Marry Prince Shea to form a marriage alliance between the two nations. However, things are often not as they appear and when her lady’s maid forces her to switch places Lana’s life has gotten a whole lot more complicated.
And Shea…well Shea…can’t stop thinking about the soldier in the mountain that could have killed him but…didn’t. He wants peace and he is willing to marry the Princess Malana to get it…even if she is cold and distant. Her lady’s maid with the geese on the other hand…she is slowly beginning to sneak her way into his heart.
And what follows is a cozy, yet emotional, story about brotherhood, choices, love, and doing what’s right…even when it could cost everything…
This story was the perfect combination of Mulan and The Goose Girl. And let me tell you…I never realized I needed this particilar combination in my life…but I SO DID!!!
I absolutely LOVED LANA and SHEA! They were excellent main characters. Who were perfect and perfect for each other. Shea was the perfect cinnamon roll of a male MC and Lana was all kinds of altruism, sweetness, and fierce loyalty! I couldn’t have loved them any more!
I loved the cozy vibes that radiated off the pages, that some how meshed perfectly with the depth of emotion that Beran created throughout the story. I laughed…I cried…and it was utter perfection!
And the humor! Oh the humor! I laughed…OUT LOUD…several times! Beran is a genius when it comes to puns and perfectly executed humor and this story was top notch! TOP NOTCH!!!
So yep…I could write about my love for this story for at least another 500 words but instead let me leave you with one of my very favorite quotes:
“I won’t lie, with the dark, serious looks and the eyepatch, you come off a little frightening. Like a criminal, but a polite one.”
Malana aka Lana snuck away and joined the war. It was either her or her twin brother Lane and well, Lane wasn’t all that healthy…nor was he at all competent with a sword. But Lana had trained with her father and knew if either one had any chance of coming home alive, it was her. But when the war ends Lana finds herself face to face with a new type of battle. Marry Prince Shea to form a marriage alliance between the two nations. However, things are often not as they appear and when her lady’s maid forces her to switch places Lana’s life has gotten a whole lot more complicated.
And Shea…well Shea…can’t stop thinking about the soldier in the mountain that could have killed him but…didn’t. He wants peace and he is willing to marry the Princess Malana to get it…even if she is cold and distant. Her lady’s maid with the geese on the other hand…she is slowly beginning to sneak her way into his heart.
And what follows is a cozy, yet emotional, story about brotherhood, choices, love, and doing what’s right…even when it could cost everything…
This story was the perfect combination of Mulan and The Goose Girl. And let me tell you…I never realized I needed this particilar combination in my life…but I SO DID!!!
I absolutely LOVED LANA and SHEA! They were excellent main characters. Who were perfect and perfect for each other. Shea was the perfect cinnamon roll of a male MC and Lana was all kinds of altruism, sweetness, and fierce loyalty! I couldn’t have loved them any more!
I loved the cozy vibes that radiated off the pages, that some how meshed perfectly with the depth of emotion that Beran created throughout the story. I laughed…I cried…and it was utter perfection!
And the humor! Oh the humor! I laughed…OUT LOUD…several times! Beran is a genius when it comes to puns and perfectly executed humor and this story was top notch! TOP NOTCH!!!
So yep…I could write about my love for this story for at least another 500 words but instead let me leave you with one of my very favorite quotes:
“I won’t lie, with the dark, serious looks and the eyepatch, you come off a little frightening. Like a criminal, but a polite one.”
September 2, 2025
Let me tell it to you straight: I hate Goose Girl. And I apparently love Mulan, but that’s a rabbit trail we don’t need to go down. Back to the hating…Goose Girl is the worst fairy tale. The betrayal, the silence, the helplessness. BUT, I read it anyway from beloved authors, and here’s why: so many of them redeem the story for me.
Did I cringe in the early chapters of this book? You better believe it. Did I forget I hated Goose Girl by the end? Also true.
Tangle of Iron and Feathers is a long-awaited book for me as Shea—the MMC—completely captured my attention in A Bond of Ice and Sunshine. This book works as a standalone, but I would suggest you read Ice and Sunshine first for two reasons. 1) It’s AMAZING. 2) I think you’ll fall in love with Shea just like I did, and it has been so satisfying to read his story.
Honestly, I’m not sure Beran can write something that doesn’t feel like perfection. The themes of family and brotherhood, of forgiveness and mercy—and of sacrifice—are strong here. At the same time, it follows the pattern of the series and doesn’t feel too heavy, in spite of it being a book with a background of war.
I adored everything about it! (Yes, even Goose Girl.) It’s hilarious. It’s sad. It’s hilarious. It’s deep. It’s hilarious. It made me think. And did I mention that it’s hilarious? Seriously, I don’t know how she makes banter so good and so non-repetitive with all the other books she has written. And for those of you pun lovers out there, this is definitely a book with them in it. Considering I have a weakness for them, it may play a part in how much I loved Tangle, but only a small one. It’s just a fantastic plot filled with fantastic characters and I want more.
On that note, let me wrap this up:
Romance: 110% no spice
Violence: war. Attempted assassination. We see some fighting. It doesn’t feel bad. I suppose it might be PG-13.
While I did receive an early copy of this book from the author, these thoughts and opinions are all my own and I’ll be rereading this one for sure and for certain.
Did I cringe in the early chapters of this book? You better believe it. Did I forget I hated Goose Girl by the end? Also true.
Tangle of Iron and Feathers is a long-awaited book for me as Shea—the MMC—completely captured my attention in A Bond of Ice and Sunshine. This book works as a standalone, but I would suggest you read Ice and Sunshine first for two reasons. 1) It’s AMAZING. 2) I think you’ll fall in love with Shea just like I did, and it has been so satisfying to read his story.
Honestly, I’m not sure Beran can write something that doesn’t feel like perfection. The themes of family and brotherhood, of forgiveness and mercy—and of sacrifice—are strong here. At the same time, it follows the pattern of the series and doesn’t feel too heavy, in spite of it being a book with a background of war.
I adored everything about it! (Yes, even Goose Girl.) It’s hilarious. It’s sad. It’s hilarious. It’s deep. It’s hilarious. It made me think. And did I mention that it’s hilarious? Seriously, I don’t know how she makes banter so good and so non-repetitive with all the other books she has written. And for those of you pun lovers out there, this is definitely a book with them in it. Considering I have a weakness for them, it may play a part in how much I loved Tangle, but only a small one. It’s just a fantastic plot filled with fantastic characters and I want more.
On that note, let me wrap this up:
Romance: 110% no spice
Violence: war. Attempted assassination. We see some fighting. It doesn’t feel bad. I suppose it might be PG-13.
While I did receive an early copy of this book from the author, these thoughts and opinions are all my own and I’ll be rereading this one for sure and for certain.
September 9, 2025
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Malana & Shea’s points of view
– there are flashbacks to wartime (with brief mentions of fighting, blood, injuries, and death)
Review:
This was soo good! I just about read it in one sitting! I loved how Sarah Beran mixed the tales of Mulan and the Goose Girl fairy tale (and that she made some funny references to the Disney Mulan movie). It was also really cool to see how everything worked in this particular world! I loved that there was a lot of humorous moments between characters. I laughed at a bunch of them! Especially Nathan’s dialogue. 😂
I’m going to have to go read the previous books in the series and find out what kind of quest Shea was helping another person with while avoiding meeting Malana for the first time!
Summary:
The war between Brisia and Cabriole has ended and Malana is in the position to confirm the peace between the two countries through a marriage treaty. But along the way to Cabriole, another woman usurps her and forces her to switch places. Though infuriated by the change of plans, Malana is ultimately grateful when they arrive at the palace and she lays eyes on who was meant to be her intended. Prince Shea may not recognize her, but she remembers him from the battlefields of the war. And if he were to remember their past connection, it might end the peace they were trying so hard to attain…
Prince Shea wants peace between the two countries, but has no idea how to court a woman. When he finds an unexpected confidant in the new Keeper of the Geese, Shea is able to hold onto hope that he might grow to love his intended and she might love him back. But the more they converse over the wall, the more Shea finds himself wishing that she were his intended over the woman he’s been courting…
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Malana & Shea’s points of view
– there are flashbacks to wartime (with brief mentions of fighting, blood, injuries, and death)
Review:
This was soo good! I just about read it in one sitting! I loved how Sarah Beran mixed the tales of Mulan and the Goose Girl fairy tale (and that she made some funny references to the Disney Mulan movie). It was also really cool to see how everything worked in this particular world! I loved that there was a lot of humorous moments between characters. I laughed at a bunch of them! Especially Nathan’s dialogue. 😂
I’m going to have to go read the previous books in the series and find out what kind of quest Shea was helping another person with while avoiding meeting Malana for the first time!
Summary:
The war between Brisia and Cabriole has ended and Malana is in the position to confirm the peace between the two countries through a marriage treaty. But along the way to Cabriole, another woman usurps her and forces her to switch places. Though infuriated by the change of plans, Malana is ultimately grateful when they arrive at the palace and she lays eyes on who was meant to be her intended. Prince Shea may not recognize her, but she remembers him from the battlefields of the war. And if he were to remember their past connection, it might end the peace they were trying so hard to attain…
Prince Shea wants peace between the two countries, but has no idea how to court a woman. When he finds an unexpected confidant in the new Keeper of the Geese, Shea is able to hold onto hope that he might grow to love his intended and she might love him back. But the more they converse over the wall, the more Shea finds himself wishing that she were his intended over the woman he’s been courting…
September 8, 2025
I throughly enjoyed every minute of A Tangle of Iron and Feathers and only wish there was even more of it! It is fast paced and ever shifting between past and present, letters and narration, male and female perspectives, etc. The sibling bond are the best, so deep, jocular, and strong. The bonds unite biological siblings and found family siblings. They had me laughing out loud many times throughout the book and they gave me the warm fuzzies at the right times too. There are so many fun references to movies, songs, and even a sneaky Pride and Prejudice quote that had me simultaneously laughing and applauding the author. The book is full of fun surprises in the midst of an engaging plot and not one, but two fake identities to unpack. The FMC and MMC are both so honorable, dutiful, hopeful, strategic, and good. They also have great sense of humor. The theme of love overcoming hatred definitely shines through. A Tangle of Iron and Feathers is the fourth books in the Tales of Eukarya series. It can definitely be read on its own, but Prince Shea is introduced in the previous book, A Bond of Ice and Sunshine. A creative and light-hearted mashup of Goose Girl and Mulan that charms and delights from beginning to end.
September 2, 2025
I was so thrilled to receive this ARC and I immediately began reading it as I have been waiting for this book for SO long. This book truly DID NOT disappoint!!! I finished the entire book in one day! I absolutely loved every minute of it. Malana was such a relatable character as she truly loved her brother and all the sibling bonds were so incredible to experience. This book was also extremely hilarious as there were so many puns, jokes, banter, and teasing that made this book very entertaining to read. The storyline was also incredible and I loved how the story progressed, how Malana got to know Prince Shea, and I just LOVED the big reveal at the end of the novel! This is truly one of the best books I have ever read (and I have probably read over 1000 books in my lifetime) and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves competent FCs, noble MCs, sweet and clean romance, a little bit of danger, and tons of humour! Overall, this was a great read and I will definitely be reading it again... actually, I already did 🤣.
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are completely my own.
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are completely my own.
September 11, 2025
Wow! This books was incredible! I've been waiting for this book for MONTHS and it definitely did not disappoint! This is by far my favourite book by Sarah Beran so far. I love the brotherly relationship between Malana and all four of her brothers (well, kind of...). Shea and Malana's relationship was awesome too and I loved how he was able to accept all of her, even after she told him all her secrets (more like he found them out, but...). I absolutely LOVED the big reveal at the end and I love all the puns and jokes! (It wouldn't be a Sarah Beran story without those!). The family teasing and ribbing each other was so sweet and enjoyable and incredibly funny, and were probably my favourite moments in the book. The plot was amazing and well-paced and I loved every minute of it (or, should I say that I loved every word of it?)! I can't wait for whatever book Sarah Beran decides to write next!
September 8, 2025
A Tangle of Iron and Feathers was a clever mash up of Mulan and The Goose Girl. the two tales blended together well, creating a fantastic and riveting plot. I loved all the hilarious puns 😂 Beran is excellent at using them. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks. I loved that we got Malana’s back story in the army. It really enriched the story. She was fierce and compassionate. Malana and Shea had a great dynamic and banter. The romance was sweet, kisses only. I also loved her relationship with her brother and army comrades. Their banter was hilarious as well. This book has fighting/battles scenes that are not gory. Highly recommend this story! It was a very great read!
February 8, 2026
"I should have died, but I didn't. Because my enemy looked at me and didn't see an enemy, but someone's brother. My enemy looked at me and chose mercy.
This book was so cute! It was interesting to see a mashup of these two fairytales that are so drastically different. When I tell you I loved the MMC, I mean it. He was actually so honorable, responsible, loyal, and sweet. The sibling banter in this book was also quite enjoyable. I was SHOCKED by a twist near the end. This series has been so unique, and the world so vast.
Content
Romance: Clean/Chaste
Violence: Medium
Language: None
Faith: Yes
Notes: War, fighting, killing, injuries
This book was so cute! It was interesting to see a mashup of these two fairytales that are so drastically different. When I tell you I loved the MMC, I mean it. He was actually so honorable, responsible, loyal, and sweet. The sibling banter in this book was also quite enjoyable. I was SHOCKED by a twist near the end. This series has been so unique, and the world so vast.
Content
Romance: Clean/Chaste
Violence: Medium
Language: None
Faith: Yes
Notes: War, fighting, killing, injuries
September 5, 2025
Wow! This one had a bit of everything good! Clean romance, suspenseful scenes, heroic rescues and strategy, enemies to lovers, treachery, and redemption! The main characters had such amazing growth arcs that I was cheering for them even when they were on opposite sides of the war! The two fairytales Mulan, and The Goose Girl were well represented here. This was an amazing story, and one I want to read again.
November 4, 2025
Clean and Fun fairytale retelling
This is the first novel that I've read from Sarah Beran, I wasn't sure how the mash-up of Goose Girl and Mulan would go but Beran did a fantastic job. I want to read more from Beran and hope to read more of her work. It was a clean romance, adventurous, and had some humor. I'd recommend this story to Anyone who loves a good fairytale retelling. I'm excoted to read more of her work.
This is the first novel that I've read from Sarah Beran, I wasn't sure how the mash-up of Goose Girl and Mulan would go but Beran did a fantastic job. I want to read more from Beran and hope to read more of her work. It was a clean romance, adventurous, and had some humor. I'd recommend this story to Anyone who loves a good fairytale retelling. I'm excoted to read more of her work.
September 4, 2025
Pretty good. I liked the characters, Shea was so sweet and Malana was a good Mulan. I really liked all the brother type relationships and how close everyone was. Garreth, Nathan, John, and Lune were amazing! A good portion of the book was told through letters and it spent a good amount of time in the past. But all in all, it was good and sweet. I really enjoyed it!
October 7, 2025
If you've ever wanted Mulan but with even more secrets and hidden identity issues, you will need to grab this book right away!
I loved the banter and the twists, but it really is a moving story and one filled with some really unexpected things, all happening right at the end.
It might be bumping up there with the last one as some of my favorites from this series!
I loved the banter and the twists, but it really is a moving story and one filled with some really unexpected things, all happening right at the end.
It might be bumping up there with the last one as some of my favorites from this series!
September 28, 2025
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I absolutely loved this retelling of Mulan and The Goose Girl! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
Read
November 8, 2025So I did, in fact, continue reading this story out of intrigue to see the Mulan / Goose Girl crossover, and I am so glad I did!! Another sweet lil’ story, not too much conflict, which made my peacemaker heart so happy. Cute read.
December 22, 2025
Loved it!
A Tangle of Iron and Feathers was such a cute book! I enjoyed combining two fairytales into one story. So clever! Both Melana and Shea were very likeable characters and easy to root for, and all Lana's brothers were a hoot! Now, I'm off to read another Tale of Eukarya.
A Tangle of Iron and Feathers was such a cute book! I enjoyed combining two fairytales into one story. So clever! Both Melana and Shea were very likeable characters and easy to root for, and all Lana's brothers were a hoot! Now, I'm off to read another Tale of Eukarya.
September 5, 2025
Amazing
As someone with many brothers, the brotherhood in this book comes only second to the romance. Beran is a master at evoking emotions and I loved every minute of this book!
As someone with many brothers, the brotherhood in this book comes only second to the romance. Beran is a master at evoking emotions and I loved every minute of this book!
September 12, 2025
Absolutely fantastic mashup of Mulan and the goose girl! Loved all the banter and puns from different characters. Highly recommend for those looking for a short fun read ❤️
September 15, 2025
Another delightful book
I love how the author makes me laugh while crafting such a beautiful story of love and mercy. I look forward to her next books.
I love how the author makes me laugh while crafting such a beautiful story of love and mercy. I look forward to her next books.
October 17, 2025
Absolute perfect blend of Mulan and The Goose Girl. I loved every second.
Spice: none
Violence: mild, despite battle scenes in war.
Spice: none
Violence: mild, despite battle scenes in war.
December 21, 2025
so cute
This book was filled with banter and jokes. It does true justice to both Mulan and the Goose Girl. Very lighthearted and fun read.
This book was filled with banter and jokes. It does true justice to both Mulan and the Goose Girl. Very lighthearted and fun read.
February 7, 2026
Again, i really like the camaraderie and humor in this series! I wish we had seen more of Shea's personality and his friendship with Lana. Overall, I really enjoyed the books
October 24, 2025
A girl who's a secret soldier and the prince who ended the war because of a chance encounter? Tell me more! :)
This book was full of Sarah's usual puns and banter. I loved the sibling relationship in it and the way family came together to support each other (mostly.) This book had it all - twists, suspense, war-action, betrayal, danger, romance and banter - to say the least. Sarah never disappoints with her writing and this book was absolutely one of her best! I loved the original Mulan and Goose Girl mashup and was very impressed at how well she brought those two stories together. I also liked the theme of the outer appearances not being that important - it's character that counts. I also really enjoyed the lark (was it a lark? it was a bird at any rate) being the messenger between the siblings and the way that everyone reacted to the truth in a bit of a surprising way when all was revealed. Another thing I adore about Sarah's retellings is the way she tells us the original story in the front of the book (the one the book is based on) but adds her own flavour to it so that you're loving from the beginning. Five stars are not enough for any of Sarah's books, this one least of all, but unfortunately I can't award more or I absolutely would!
This book was full of Sarah's usual puns and banter. I loved the sibling relationship in it and the way family came together to support each other (mostly.) This book had it all - twists, suspense, war-action, betrayal, danger, romance and banter - to say the least. Sarah never disappoints with her writing and this book was absolutely one of her best! I loved the original Mulan and Goose Girl mashup and was very impressed at how well she brought those two stories together. I also liked the theme of the outer appearances not being that important - it's character that counts. I also really enjoyed the lark (was it a lark? it was a bird at any rate) being the messenger between the siblings and the way that everyone reacted to the truth in a bit of a surprising way when all was revealed. Another thing I adore about Sarah's retellings is the way she tells us the original story in the front of the book (the one the book is based on) but adds her own flavour to it so that you're loving from the beginning. Five stars are not enough for any of Sarah's books, this one least of all, but unfortunately I can't award more or I absolutely would!
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