Scaled

by M.J. Marstens

Mulan as you've never imagined. . .

Set in the resplendent backdrop of ancient China, SCALED tells a tale about the Liú Sòng Dynasty of Nánqí, led by Emperor Zuòcí.  Nánqí is a euphonious nation and your musical talent determines your status within it.  Unfortunately for the Dàn family, they are tone-deaf and must live in the Shēngdiào Lóng region, or The Toneless Zone. 

Even worse, Dàn  Xuánlǜ isn’t just tone-deaf, she’s actually deaf.

When news spreads that the feared Tàbá wèi have invaded the Northern borders, the emperor calls for the Qí Liànxíqū to be awoken.  The Qí Liànxíqū is a fabled creature that has not been seen in Nánqí for over two hundred years.  A magical beast comprised of all the solfege tones, it can only be summoned and controlled by the most musically talented.

To save her brother, Xuánlǜ disguises herself and takes his place in the army.

As a Tone Deaf, she knows that her only purpose will be to fight in the front lines.  In this kingdom, you’re expendable if you can’t carry a tune.  But Xuánlǜ has a secret.

She’s not mute like everyone assumes.

Nor is she tone-deaf.

And she might just be the only one who can control the Qí Liànxíqū and save The Liú Sòng Dynasty.

This legendary retelling harmoniously blends together Mulan and the Chinese folk tale, Ten Brothers.  It’s a slow-burn reverse harem story told in the third person.  There is a glossary of all the names and meanings. 

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2020

About the author

Bestselling author M.J. Marstens mixes romance, suspense, comedy, and sassy characters who can say whatever they are thinking because it is just a story. When she is not creating steamy scenes or laugh-out-loud fiascos, she is refereeing her four children that she homeschools. In her free time, she loves to eat, sleep, and pray that her children do not turn out like the characters she writes about in her books.

Reviews

[Angela James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it!

I loved it! It was a twist on the story of Mulan. This retold and re-imagined twist on the classic was everything I never knew I needed. I certainly never considered dragons and shifters! Quick read with a slow burn and YA friendly.

[Tarissa17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading stories that are retellings of fairy-tales and myths. This one, while short, is really inventive. Low on heat but utterly charming with a moral at the end.

Set in the resplendent backdrop of ancient China, SCALED tells a tale about the Liú Sòng Dynasty of Nánqí, led by Emperor Zuòcí. Nánqí is a nation where your musical talent determines your status within it. Unfortunately for the Dàn family, they are tone-deaf and must live in the Shēngdiào Lóng region, or The Toneless Zone.
To save her brother from war, Xuánlǜ disguises herself and takes his place in the army. In this kingdom, you’re expendable if you can’t carry a tune. But Xuánlǜ has a secret....

She’s not mute like everyone assumes.
Nor is she tone-deaf.

And she might just be the only one who can control the Qí Liànxíqū and save The Liú Sòng Dynasty.

[~TheBlasian~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

heroine \\ Xuanlu
harem \\ Qi Lianxiqu (Shang, Gong, Zhi, Jue, Yu)

Cute, clean read.

I wouldn't explicitly classify this as a romance, although the romantic element is there once the heroine meets her guys. Of course, it's a very clean and almost (sorta) pure romance (despite the notoriety of this authors RH stories).
This story focuses more on teaching a moral (similar to an Aesop tale), which I still thought was enjoyable.

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series of retellings of fairytales and myths. This one, while short, is really inventive. Low on heat but utterly charming with a moral at the end. It has been researched with a pronunciation guide at the start but could do with a quick edit because I spotted a couple of mistakes. Didn't take away from my enjoyment though

[Beth Rosalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s done it once again!

MJ has proven her genius once again. This book took my breath away. I have always loved the story of Mulan and the beauty behind it. This amazing author has taken a classic story and made it epic. The passion and beauty put into these words warm my heart. Scaled is a true master piece and deserves a best seller title. Highly recommended!

[Orianna Blesi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

It's written like an old fairy tale. Some things didn't make sense, and I didn't enjoy the point of view. I think this particular retelling would have been much cooler if it had been done in this authors usual style. Oh well

[Sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just because its MJ freaking Marstens I know it will be good!! I can't wait!!

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! M.J. has such incredible range! I didn't even miss her usual romantic steaminess though because I was so caught up in the story.

I really enjoyed the Asian culture, history, and tid-bits woven into the book. It was also really cool to see all the inclusiveness and read an RH twist on one of my favorites, Mulan. This story left me guessing the whole way and was just such a great read!!

[Lawanda Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Remake of Mulan

This book is totally different from MJ Marstens' normal writing. It is like a breath of fresh air. It is so beautifully told. I loved it.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but it was hard to read because of all the Chinese names and sayings. I’m ok with it, it was just HARD to read lol