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The Hidden Warrior #2
Dragon Rebellion
Sometimes not even love is stronger than hate. Sometimes sacrifices must be made. Hua Minglan is trapped, presumed dead, and back where it all started. Home. A place that once brought peace to her mind, a place she'd abandoned in order to seek her revenge. But that was before. Before the dragon awoke inside her to destroy an entire village. Before she ceded control. And now, the dragon has a mission, one Hua must do anything to stop. Kill the emperor. There is one way to defeat the beast inside her. Hua Minglan must die. Only one man can prevent her sacrifice. As Jian Li races across Piao to save both Hua and his brother, the emperor, he knows he'll have to choose. Even if he chooses the right one, it might mean the end of Piao. Because the Kou have returned, ready to finish their war. And the only creature that can save the empire also wants it destroyed.
Dive into the second and final installment of this Mulan inspired fantasy. Beware of dragons raining fire upon you, a general who will do anything to save the woman he loves, and an emperor with a heart of gold.
Dive into the second and final installment of this Mulan inspired fantasy. Beware of dragons raining fire upon you, a general who will do anything to save the woman he loves, and an emperor with a heart of gold.
280 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2020
30 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
M. Lynn
57 books408 followersMichelle MacQueen is a USA Today bestselling author of love. Yes, love. Whether it be YA romance, NA romance, or fantasy romance (Under M. Lynn), she loves to make readers swoon.
The great loves of her life to this point are two tiny blond creatures who call her "aunt" and proclaim her books to be "boring books" for their lack of pictures. Yet, somehow, she still manages to love them more than chocolate.
When she's not sharing her inexhaustible wisdom with her niece and nephew, Michelle is usually lounging in her ridiculously large bean bag chair creating worlds and characters that remind her to smile every day - even when a feisty five-year-old is telling her just how much she doesn't know.
The great loves of her life to this point are two tiny blond creatures who call her "aunt" and proclaim her books to be "boring books" for their lack of pictures. Yet, somehow, she still manages to love them more than chocolate.
When she's not sharing her inexhaustible wisdom with her niece and nephew, Michelle is usually lounging in her ridiculously large bean bag chair creating worlds and characters that remind her to smile every day - even when a feisty five-year-old is telling her just how much she doesn't know.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 5, 2020
Dragon Rising ended at a pretty big turning point in Hua’s story and you were left with a cliffhanger hangover! Dragon Rising ended at a logical point in the story, it felt natural, not rushed, and flowed really well. It set up for Dragon Rebellion perfectly and the action we open with is phenomenal.
I loved how we got to experience the story between characters from their own point of view. Hua and the Nagi had a very special relationship that had you holding your breath with each decision made. We can see the growth of each character and feel their fear, respect, love, and eventual understanding.
This book nad the perfect recipe to make it a fantastic adventure; love, war, dragons, revenge,friends, family, and magic- it could not have gone better. I never could’ve predicted the story that was about to unfold.
The tension could be felt throughout the entire book, the whole time I wasn’t sure how it would end. I was really rooting for Hua, Jian, Bo and Luca. I wasn't sure what I would do if they didn't get the endings they deserved and I was at a loss at some points as it looked like I was in threat of a broken heart. But Michelle masterfully crafted an ending that was both fitting and satisfying for fans of this series. I really will miss these characters but am so happy to have had the chance to read their stories and urge you to read them as well.
Great for fans of tough heroines and fantastic retellings.
I loved how we got to experience the story between characters from their own point of view. Hua and the Nagi had a very special relationship that had you holding your breath with each decision made. We can see the growth of each character and feel their fear, respect, love, and eventual understanding.
This book nad the perfect recipe to make it a fantastic adventure; love, war, dragons, revenge,friends, family, and magic- it could not have gone better. I never could’ve predicted the story that was about to unfold.
The tension could be felt throughout the entire book, the whole time I wasn’t sure how it would end. I was really rooting for Hua, Jian, Bo and Luca. I wasn't sure what I would do if they didn't get the endings they deserved and I was at a loss at some points as it looked like I was in threat of a broken heart. But Michelle masterfully crafted an ending that was both fitting and satisfying for fans of this series. I really will miss these characters but am so happy to have had the chance to read their stories and urge you to read them as well.
Great for fans of tough heroines and fantastic retellings.
May 29, 2020
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Book two of this series was great. I loved that we got to see a Mulan retelling as a series. Most retellings are a standalone and we never get to see what happens to the characters after the main point of the retellings is over. This retelling is a new original twist on the classic tale and one that I wasn’t expecting.
Hua Minglan is no longer in control of her body the Nagini, the dragon is. Hua is trying everything in her power to keep the dragon from releasing it’s fury on the empire. Hua is so thoughtful and carrying. Even tho she originally wanted revenge for her sister’s death she doesn’t want innocent people who have done anything wrong to die. I really enjoy her as a character a long with Jian.
Jian is so devoted to Hua and her family it’s heartwarming. He races across the country to get to Hua and try to help her stay out of trouble and free her from the hold that the Nagini has over her.
M. Lynn writes such lovable and relatable characters that I fall in love with each one every single time. I really enjoyed getting to read parts of the book from the point of view of the Nagini.
The ending of this book was one of the best ones I’ve read in a long time. But I would have loved to have some more action in it. The action didn’t start until the battle which is almost the end of the book. Overall it was entertaining and I can’t wait to read whatever fantasy book she writes next.
Book two of this series was great. I loved that we got to see a Mulan retelling as a series. Most retellings are a standalone and we never get to see what happens to the characters after the main point of the retellings is over. This retelling is a new original twist on the classic tale and one that I wasn’t expecting.
Hua Minglan is no longer in control of her body the Nagini, the dragon is. Hua is trying everything in her power to keep the dragon from releasing it’s fury on the empire. Hua is so thoughtful and carrying. Even tho she originally wanted revenge for her sister’s death she doesn’t want innocent people who have done anything wrong to die. I really enjoy her as a character a long with Jian.
Jian is so devoted to Hua and her family it’s heartwarming. He races across the country to get to Hua and try to help her stay out of trouble and free her from the hold that the Nagini has over her.
M. Lynn writes such lovable and relatable characters that I fall in love with each one every single time. I really enjoyed getting to read parts of the book from the point of view of the Nagini.
The ending of this book was one of the best ones I’ve read in a long time. But I would have loved to have some more action in it. The action didn’t start until the battle which is almost the end of the book. Overall it was entertaining and I can’t wait to read whatever fantasy book she writes next.
May 4, 2020
Satisfying conclusion to this exhilarating Mulan retelling (with dragons)
Love and honor and magic combined.
Highly recommended.
Love and honor and magic combined.
Highly recommended.
May 10, 2020
*This contains some spoilers for DRAGON RISING*
After finishing Dragon Rising a few days ago and absolutely LOVING IT, I couldn’t wait to read the sequel, which I then devoured in two days.
Dragon Rising ended at a pretty big turning point in Hua’s story, which I sometimes hate in books and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes the ending of a book like that simply feels like the author is just trying to spread out the small bit of story they have to create more books, however in Dragon Rising this was not the case. It ended at a logical point along the timeline, one that felt natural and thanks to that I truly and utterly couldn’t wait to continue in Dragon Rebellion.
Knowing Michelle’s stories, I had some hunces on what to expect, but let’s be real people, I never could’ve predicted the story that was about to unfold.
This book truly had ever recipe to make it a grand adventure; threats, war, love, dragons, enemies, family, hello hot commanders, magic, I mean, it was simply just amazing.
I loved how we got to experience the dance, as I’d like to call it, between Hua and the Nagi. We can see the growth of both, sense their mutual fear, respect and eventually understanding and inevitable bonding. It was beautifully done and also felt quite natural (that is if it were possible to have a dragon inside you of course). I felt for both Hua (duh, she’s my girl) and the Nagi, because after all, neither knew any better and both just looked at the world through their own eyes.
And despite Michelle’s often happy endings, the tension could be felt throughout the entire book. The whole time I wasn’t sure how it would end. I felt a strong fear for Hua, Jian, Bo and Luca, as I couldn’t see the happy ending that I so badly wanted for all of them. How could I live if any of them didn’t get the ending theyr deserved? But as Michelle so masterfully does, she crafted an ending that was both fitting and satisfying and left a gaping hole in my heart as I’ve dived in Piao the past week and can’t believe this story has already come to an end.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
After finishing Dragon Rising a few days ago and absolutely LOVING IT, I couldn’t wait to read the sequel, which I then devoured in two days.
Dragon Rising ended at a pretty big turning point in Hua’s story, which I sometimes hate in books and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes the ending of a book like that simply feels like the author is just trying to spread out the small bit of story they have to create more books, however in Dragon Rising this was not the case. It ended at a logical point along the timeline, one that felt natural and thanks to that I truly and utterly couldn’t wait to continue in Dragon Rebellion.
Knowing Michelle’s stories, I had some hunces on what to expect, but let’s be real people, I never could’ve predicted the story that was about to unfold.
This book truly had ever recipe to make it a grand adventure; threats, war, love, dragons, enemies, family, hello hot commanders, magic, I mean, it was simply just amazing.
I loved how we got to experience the dance, as I’d like to call it, between Hua and the Nagi. We can see the growth of both, sense their mutual fear, respect and eventually understanding and inevitable bonding. It was beautifully done and also felt quite natural (that is if it were possible to have a dragon inside you of course). I felt for both Hua (duh, she’s my girl) and the Nagi, because after all, neither knew any better and both just looked at the world through their own eyes.
And despite Michelle’s often happy endings, the tension could be felt throughout the entire book. The whole time I wasn’t sure how it would end. I felt a strong fear for Hua, Jian, Bo and Luca, as I couldn’t see the happy ending that I so badly wanted for all of them. How could I live if any of them didn’t get the ending theyr deserved? But as Michelle so masterfully does, she crafted an ending that was both fitting and satisfying and left a gaping hole in my heart as I’ve dived in Piao the past week and can’t believe this story has already come to an end.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
January 19, 2022
This book is everything. Seriously, this is my new favorite retelling series (and I read a lot of them). M. Lynn does such an incredible job building up this world and story that most of us are already familiar with, but she makes it something unique and her own. She makes it truly magical. This will be a series I reread soon for sure!
June 6, 2020
I loved that in this book you got to see firsthand what Nagi was thinking and feeling with the chapters from the dragon's perspective. It really made the Nagi into it's own character rather thing just a mindless dragon or just a beast within Hua. More secrets are revealed as well. But I won't tell what your going to want to read to find out. Hua is in a major battle of wills, she is facing a whole different kind of fright then one with a sword or knife. Jian bless his soul he just wants to safe her but what will it cost him, and everyone else. Another work of art by this great author.
May 27, 2020
One word Incredible!! To me that describes the storyline, characters and for transporting me into a world reality that became my own. I actually gave it my own standing ovation as nobody else was here 👏👏👏. M.Lynn is an outstanding author, I would love to be able to curl up in her mind and enjoy her limitless adventures and originality. Not only that, her execution of storylines are immensely skillful as you can feel the heart and soul that has been poured into every word, sentence, world building and each of her characters. Dragon Rebellion picks up as the Nagi takes over Hua, this story of lose, sadness & brutality is followed by the people who love her, those who won’t give up on her as Hua wearies for dominance over this beast inside her, facing actions she can’t claim for herself. This is a story of determination, love and acceptance as the final battle comes to fruition.
I can’t say much more as I don’t want to leave any spoilers for you. Know one thing this series has been an incredible experience for me and one I believe should be shared with as many people as possible, as a Hidden Warrior can come in all shapes and forms with a hidden strength to take on anything we love. M.Lynn take a bow 💐🌹💐🌹💐
I can’t say much more as I don’t want to leave any spoilers for you. Know one thing this series has been an incredible experience for me and one I believe should be shared with as many people as possible, as a Hidden Warrior can come in all shapes and forms with a hidden strength to take on anything we love. M.Lynn take a bow 💐🌹💐🌹💐
May 1, 2020
I loved it. I adored the movie Mulan as a kid and reading such a unique variation on it is wonderful. I’m hoping there will be a third, and if so I very much look forward to reading it. And I swear, Heima, may be one of my favorite characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2020
Loved this book just as much as the first one, it was so hard to put down once I started. Loved the ending
June 7, 2020
OMG THE ENDING I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!! THIS IS SOO UNFAIR I NEED MORE!!
I LOVE EVERYTHING!!! Hua: such an inspiration, strong, brave, warrior, kindhearted, selfless, resilient. Jian: strong warrior, commander and loves Hua!!! Luca, sweet, brave, strong, warrior, helped Hua hide her secrets Bo: emperor, kind, true, honor, best emperor ever!!! and more, they are soooo amazing. I LOVE THEM!! The emotions and feelings hit me soooo hard!! HEARTBREAKING scenes, Thrilling, epic, dangerous, EMOTIONAL this book has EVERYTHING
Important events:
-Hua has a the dragon Nagi inside her, she destroyed Kanyan in the previous book. Jian sit beside her for 3 weeks. They are in her home village
-hua fights the nagi who takes control over her body and mind. She feels guilty for what she did when she was the dragon. The mission of nagi is to take revenge on Piao (past emperors killed the blooded with dragonblood. Nagi were the leaders of the empire)
-there is a fire and hua as nagi saved the family and Jian. Emotional scene!! -hua/nagi killed Luca's soldiers!! he is Jian's and bo's (emperor) brother and their love for each other is just sooo admiring. Almost killed too!! Emotional scene with Jian
-family especially Ru are devasted... Hua/nagi goes away on Heima to go to master Delun (who has a nagi too) to help her take over Hua, instead he helps the real Hua, she will fight for her family, Jian and Piao- later Jian goesafter her to save her, asks luca to take care of the family so she has something to come back too...
-Jian meets Zhoa, chen and Yan (friend warriors) Meets Qara (he's old love, seer and told Hua about the Nagi) tells hhim she knows he loves Hua and he must save her
-jian is saved by the good Kou soldiers, Khen, they want go free Kou of general Altan (the big enemy) he tells Jian to go to master Delun
-he arrives, but Hua is already on her way to the empire to kill Bo!! Master helps him, changed into the dragon and brings Jian to Dasha (empire, festival were Luna, hua sister, was killed)
-hua/nagi sees Jian, she fights him, luca saves Jian and nagi knocks hkm out, almost killed him!!- hua/nagi takes control back and threated to kill herself!! EMOTIONAL SCENE with Jian!! They declare their love for each other!!! But to save everyone Hua is convinced she must sacrifice herself so the nagi will die...
-Hua asks Luca to go with her to the emperor as prisoner, because luca loves her he helps her, but he loves Bo more so he is the only one who can do what must be done...
-Hua meets Bo and he is soo kind, but nagi almlst killed him, luca interfered at the last moment
-hua is in a cell and Jian goes to Bo, the brothers reunite, emotional scene. Jian goes to Hua, she kissed him again and takes his Dao and stabbed herself!!!
-nagi healed them
-new event, the kou armies are on their way to Piao!! The only way to defead them is to have the help of the dragon!! The Nagi will help only if she can kill Bo for her mission to complete... Bo makes a secret deal, she will sacrifice himself for his people and let hua kill him!!
-love and emotional scene between Jian and Hua!!! Their love is sooo strong and emotional!!!
-the armies arrived much sooner, Jian is commander once again, their army exist of people willing to fight for their home, the real army was alreay defeated in a secret ambush!!
-the battle is merciless... Bo almost and the prince almost killed, Nagi saved Bo from a fatal blow and disappears... The real Hua is back, The nagi mission was not to kill the emperor, BUT TO SAVE HIM!!
Hua joins the fight like the warrior she is 'no one fights like Hua Minglan'!!!
-when hope seems lost, a new dragon arrives MASTER DELUN!! The kou is defeated!!
-jian says goodbye to his brothers for he is going to live with Hua snd the family his new home
-bo the emperor declares his love for Luca andt theg will be getting married!!! His new heir is his other brother, the prince duylin
-hua's grandmothef had a nagi too, her/nagi mission was to save a little boy who would be of great importance in the future. This boy was Master Delun!!!
-Hua and Jian are having a romantic scene (again) when suddenly an injured girl arrives at hua's house, she has a nagi too and her brother is killed and her family is hunted . Hua desides it's her purpose to save the people persecuted, to save the people of Piao 'it's only the beginning'
THAT CLIFFHANGER OMG!!! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS!!
I LOVE EVERYTHING!!! Hua: such an inspiration, strong, brave, warrior, kindhearted, selfless, resilient. Jian: strong warrior, commander and loves Hua!!! Luca, sweet, brave, strong, warrior, helped Hua hide her secrets Bo: emperor, kind, true, honor, best emperor ever!!! and more, they are soooo amazing. I LOVE THEM!! The emotions and feelings hit me soooo hard!! HEARTBREAKING scenes, Thrilling, epic, dangerous, EMOTIONAL this book has EVERYTHING
Important events:
-Hua has a the dragon Nagi inside her, she destroyed Kanyan in the previous book. Jian sit beside her for 3 weeks. They are in her home village
-hua fights the nagi who takes control over her body and mind. She feels guilty for what she did when she was the dragon. The mission of nagi is to take revenge on Piao (past emperors killed the blooded with dragonblood. Nagi were the leaders of the empire)
-there is a fire and hua as nagi saved the family and Jian. Emotional scene!! -hua/nagi killed Luca's soldiers!! he is Jian's and bo's (emperor) brother and their love for each other is just sooo admiring. Almost killed too!! Emotional scene with Jian
-family especially Ru are devasted... Hua/nagi goes away on Heima to go to master Delun (who has a nagi too) to help her take over Hua, instead he helps the real Hua, she will fight for her family, Jian and Piao- later Jian goesafter her to save her, asks luca to take care of the family so she has something to come back too...
-Jian meets Zhoa, chen and Yan (friend warriors) Meets Qara (he's old love, seer and told Hua about the Nagi) tells hhim she knows he loves Hua and he must save her
-jian is saved by the good Kou soldiers, Khen, they want go free Kou of general Altan (the big enemy) he tells Jian to go to master Delun
-he arrives, but Hua is already on her way to the empire to kill Bo!! Master helps him, changed into the dragon and brings Jian to Dasha (empire, festival were Luna, hua sister, was killed)
-hua/nagi sees Jian, she fights him, luca saves Jian and nagi knocks hkm out, almost killed him!!- hua/nagi takes control back and threated to kill herself!! EMOTIONAL SCENE with Jian!! They declare their love for each other!!! But to save everyone Hua is convinced she must sacrifice herself so the nagi will die...
-Hua asks Luca to go with her to the emperor as prisoner, because luca loves her he helps her, but he loves Bo more so he is the only one who can do what must be done...
-Hua meets Bo and he is soo kind, but nagi almlst killed him, luca interfered at the last moment
-hua is in a cell and Jian goes to Bo, the brothers reunite, emotional scene. Jian goes to Hua, she kissed him again and takes his Dao and stabbed herself!!!
-nagi healed them
-new event, the kou armies are on their way to Piao!! The only way to defead them is to have the help of the dragon!! The Nagi will help only if she can kill Bo for her mission to complete... Bo makes a secret deal, she will sacrifice himself for his people and let hua kill him!!
-love and emotional scene between Jian and Hua!!! Their love is sooo strong and emotional!!!
-the armies arrived much sooner, Jian is commander once again, their army exist of people willing to fight for their home, the real army was alreay defeated in a secret ambush!!
-the battle is merciless... Bo almost and the prince almost killed, Nagi saved Bo from a fatal blow and disappears... The real Hua is back, The nagi mission was not to kill the emperor, BUT TO SAVE HIM!!
Hua joins the fight like the warrior she is 'no one fights like Hua Minglan'!!!
-when hope seems lost, a new dragon arrives MASTER DELUN!! The kou is defeated!!
-jian says goodbye to his brothers for he is going to live with Hua snd the family his new home
-bo the emperor declares his love for Luca andt theg will be getting married!!! His new heir is his other brother, the prince duylin
-hua's grandmothef had a nagi too, her/nagi mission was to save a little boy who would be of great importance in the future. This boy was Master Delun!!!
-Hua and Jian are having a romantic scene (again) when suddenly an injured girl arrives at hua's house, she has a nagi too and her brother is killed and her family is hunted . Hua desides it's her purpose to save the people persecuted, to save the people of Piao 'it's only the beginning'
THAT CLIFFHANGER OMG!!! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2020
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Fantastic conclusion! Dragon Rebellion by M. Lynn is the final book in The Hidden Warrior duology picking up weeks after the events of Dragon Rising. If you haven’t read book one, there may be spoilers to it in the following review. Read at your own risk. Jian Li has spent the last several weeks at the Minglans’ in Zhouchang waiting for Hua to wake up. After destroying Kanyuan village, killing innocents and soldiers from Piao and Kou alike, the Nagi spared him and took him to the only place she knew that would be safe. While war with the Kou looms on the horizon, Dragon Rebellion looks inward to the war taking place between Hua and the Nagi.
Hua Minglan is trapped inside her own mind, wrestling for control of her body and preventing the Nagi from taking its true dragon form. She is heartsick over what happened in the village. She gave her body over to the dragon thinking she could take her revenge on the Kou, yet the Nagi wants its own revenge against the empire of Piao for its killing of the dragon blooded. Hua is still strong and stubborn in her own rights, and she uses what little control she has over her mind to talk to the Nagi. Hua has one goal, and it is the same goal as when she first disguised herself as Huan and went to war: Protect the people of Piao. Will she have to protect them from herself?
Jian Li is no longer commander of the Piao army. He’s lost his sense of duty, but gained something more. He’s found a family in the Minglan home. He’s fallen for Hua, even while she sleeps. It’s Jian who recognizes the Nagi inside of her, controlling her actions. And it is Jian that will fight to bring her back. I liked Jian in the previous book, but I fell in love with him here. He has found a purpose greater than war and revenge, and he will do whatever it takes to succeed.
The plot revolves around Hua and the Nagi, their struggle to control Hua’s body, and the looming war with the Kou. The Nagi is an interesting twist to this story. It is supposed to be a protector of Piao, but instead it wants its own revenge. While the internal struggle drives Hua’s part of the story, Jian’s story follows him as he searches for Hua and tries to recover the girl he knows.
Overall I enjoyed Dragon Rebellion. The tension and uncertainty of what would happen to Jian and Hua drove the plot, keeping me reading til it was finished. If you are a Mulan fan, a fantasy lover, or just love dragons, I highly recommend it.
This review first appeared on Mom with a Reading Problem. To see it and other reviews, follow the link.
Fantastic conclusion! Dragon Rebellion by M. Lynn is the final book in The Hidden Warrior duology picking up weeks after the events of Dragon Rising. If you haven’t read book one, there may be spoilers to it in the following review. Read at your own risk. Jian Li has spent the last several weeks at the Minglans’ in Zhouchang waiting for Hua to wake up. After destroying Kanyuan village, killing innocents and soldiers from Piao and Kou alike, the Nagi spared him and took him to the only place she knew that would be safe. While war with the Kou looms on the horizon, Dragon Rebellion looks inward to the war taking place between Hua and the Nagi.
Hua Minglan is trapped inside her own mind, wrestling for control of her body and preventing the Nagi from taking its true dragon form. She is heartsick over what happened in the village. She gave her body over to the dragon thinking she could take her revenge on the Kou, yet the Nagi wants its own revenge against the empire of Piao for its killing of the dragon blooded. Hua is still strong and stubborn in her own rights, and she uses what little control she has over her mind to talk to the Nagi. Hua has one goal, and it is the same goal as when she first disguised herself as Huan and went to war: Protect the people of Piao. Will she have to protect them from herself?
Jian Li is no longer commander of the Piao army. He’s lost his sense of duty, but gained something more. He’s found a family in the Minglan home. He’s fallen for Hua, even while she sleeps. It’s Jian who recognizes the Nagi inside of her, controlling her actions. And it is Jian that will fight to bring her back. I liked Jian in the previous book, but I fell in love with him here. He has found a purpose greater than war and revenge, and he will do whatever it takes to succeed.
The plot revolves around Hua and the Nagi, their struggle to control Hua’s body, and the looming war with the Kou. The Nagi is an interesting twist to this story. It is supposed to be a protector of Piao, but instead it wants its own revenge. While the internal struggle drives Hua’s part of the story, Jian’s story follows him as he searches for Hua and tries to recover the girl he knows.
Overall I enjoyed Dragon Rebellion. The tension and uncertainty of what would happen to Jian and Hua drove the plot, keeping me reading til it was finished. If you are a Mulan fan, a fantasy lover, or just love dragons, I highly recommend it.
This review first appeared on Mom with a Reading Problem. To see it and other reviews, follow the link.
May 29, 2020
Dragon Rebellion
by M. Lynn
Book 2 in the Hidden Warrior series
Rating:4/5
The saga continues! This leaves off where the first book ended so I would definitely recommend reading the first book prior to this one. (And you won't have to wait a few months to know what happens next like I did!) As a Chinese-American, I have always loved the story of Mulan and how she sacrificed for her family and challenged herself to go beyond the normal gender limitations. I love a strong female main character who still has struggles and insecurities.
If you have not read the first book, then this review may have some spoilers. Hua Minglan is dragon-blooded and has wreaked horrific devastation as a Nagi. The Nagi inside Hua Minglan is determined to get its revenge on Piao, the land that betrayed its dragon protectors and had them hunted and slaughtered. However, Hua Minglan knows that the new emperor, Bo, is not like his father and is a man wanting peace. Hua must learn how to deal with having a dragon, a Nagi, inside of her and how to control them. Meanwhile, Jian searches for Hua when the Nagi takes her on another path. Jian must deal with his insecurities as an illegitimate brother to emperor Bo. He feels like a failure as a commander but also knows that Hua Minglan and the Nagi are the key to winning Piao's war against the Kou. Jian cannot imagine his life before Hua(n) Minglan entered it and Hua doesn't know if she can trust they will even have a future together.
This adventure was nonstop and I am sad that it is over. For some reason I thought the series was a trilogy but sadly, this is the last book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the struggles each character had and the sacrifices they were willing to make for the greater good. Such heroism in the characters! For the most part, I think the author is respectful of the Chinese culture (Note: the naming convention should be surname first) but I was so caught up in the story that I didn't really notice until after the fact. The fantasy genre tends to fuse different cultures together all the time and I think the author does a good job of balancing the culture with her intended story.
I highly recommend this story for those that enjoy fantasy adventures with some romance in an Asian setting. I loved this Mulan retelling and am sad to see it end.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
by M. Lynn
Book 2 in the Hidden Warrior series
Rating:4/5
The saga continues! This leaves off where the first book ended so I would definitely recommend reading the first book prior to this one. (And you won't have to wait a few months to know what happens next like I did!) As a Chinese-American, I have always loved the story of Mulan and how she sacrificed for her family and challenged herself to go beyond the normal gender limitations. I love a strong female main character who still has struggles and insecurities.
If you have not read the first book, then this review may have some spoilers. Hua Minglan is dragon-blooded and has wreaked horrific devastation as a Nagi. The Nagi inside Hua Minglan is determined to get its revenge on Piao, the land that betrayed its dragon protectors and had them hunted and slaughtered. However, Hua Minglan knows that the new emperor, Bo, is not like his father and is a man wanting peace. Hua must learn how to deal with having a dragon, a Nagi, inside of her and how to control them. Meanwhile, Jian searches for Hua when the Nagi takes her on another path. Jian must deal with his insecurities as an illegitimate brother to emperor Bo. He feels like a failure as a commander but also knows that Hua Minglan and the Nagi are the key to winning Piao's war against the Kou. Jian cannot imagine his life before Hua(n) Minglan entered it and Hua doesn't know if she can trust they will even have a future together.
This adventure was nonstop and I am sad that it is over. For some reason I thought the series was a trilogy but sadly, this is the last book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the struggles each character had and the sacrifices they were willing to make for the greater good. Such heroism in the characters! For the most part, I think the author is respectful of the Chinese culture (Note: the naming convention should be surname first) but I was so caught up in the story that I didn't really notice until after the fact. The fantasy genre tends to fuse different cultures together all the time and I think the author does a good job of balancing the culture with her intended story.
I highly recommend this story for those that enjoy fantasy adventures with some romance in an Asian setting. I loved this Mulan retelling and am sad to see it end.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
May 14, 2020
Dragon Rebellion is book 2 in M. Lynn's The Hidden Warrior series. The first book Dragon Rising was one of my favorite reads and was a Mulan retelling with an extra punch 💪
Dragon rebellion picks up immediately after the events and focuses a lot more on the internal battle of our protagonist instead of war and action. It's a very interesting take on mutual soul possession and concepts of fate and purpose in life 🤔
The multi-generational stories in this book is DEFINITELY the highlight for me 🙈 the way we are drip fed information about characters pasts and slowly they all start to come together in a beautiful tapestry of life, love and loss ❤
I also actually SCREAMED at a certain romantic moment I didn't see coming but fell head over heels for! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ it's such a sweet and perfect moment of sacrifice, bucking social expectations and embracing the truth of your feelings. I am obsessed with that moment and I want people to read this book just to experience the sheer joy of that moment ❤❤❤❤❤
My only qualm with this book is that because majority of the story is intrinsic battle I felt like it moves a lot slower than the first book 😩 the main action we get starts at Aaron's 80% through (war/battle action - as I mentioned the rest is an intrinsic, psychological battle) so there is still action per se but for my personal liking I would like the beginning to be a bit faster paced but overall it's still an amazing book!
Dragon rebellion picks up immediately after the events and focuses a lot more on the internal battle of our protagonist instead of war and action. It's a very interesting take on mutual soul possession and concepts of fate and purpose in life 🤔
The multi-generational stories in this book is DEFINITELY the highlight for me 🙈 the way we are drip fed information about characters pasts and slowly they all start to come together in a beautiful tapestry of life, love and loss ❤
I also actually SCREAMED at a certain romantic moment I didn't see coming but fell head over heels for! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ it's such a sweet and perfect moment of sacrifice, bucking social expectations and embracing the truth of your feelings. I am obsessed with that moment and I want people to read this book just to experience the sheer joy of that moment ❤❤❤❤❤
My only qualm with this book is that because majority of the story is intrinsic battle I felt like it moves a lot slower than the first book 😩 the main action we get starts at Aaron's 80% through (war/battle action - as I mentioned the rest is an intrinsic, psychological battle) so there is still action per se but for my personal liking I would like the beginning to be a bit faster paced but overall it's still an amazing book!
September 8, 2020
This was an absolute pleasure to read, a standard I soon adopted after reading one or two of Michelle's books. Her talent as an author is phenomenal. She can build a world and characters who are completely believable and relatable.
This book engrossed me and allowed me to immerse myself into a different world (and let's face it, who doesn't need that at the moment?). We follow Hua and the Nagi on the Nagi's mission. Each Nagi has a mission, and I was really impressed with how thoroughly this mission and references to past events meshed together perfectly; it's nice to see a backstory where the loose ends are not only tied up but also the importance of them is explained.
The characters are easy to relate to, and I love the development and personality that is put into them. Even if someone is considered a side character, they are still fully fleshed out, which is a nice touch.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. It was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to reading more of Michelle's work in the future!
This book engrossed me and allowed me to immerse myself into a different world (and let's face it, who doesn't need that at the moment?). We follow Hua and the Nagi on the Nagi's mission. Each Nagi has a mission, and I was really impressed with how thoroughly this mission and references to past events meshed together perfectly; it's nice to see a backstory where the loose ends are not only tied up but also the importance of them is explained.
The characters are easy to relate to, and I love the development and personality that is put into them. Even if someone is considered a side character, they are still fully fleshed out, which is a nice touch.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. It was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to reading more of Michelle's work in the future!
May 24, 2020
*All of my reviews are voluntarily written*
This book follows the events of the first book, Dragon Rising, and kept me reading until I was done! In this book, we see more of the internal struggle for Hua and the Nagi that is occupying her body. It's very different than book one in that sense, but I also really liked seeing both sides of the story, that of Hua, and that of the Nagi.
Then we also see Jian fighting to save his love, even though he's not even sure she's still "alive." He has grown to love her even more, and he has also grown to love her family like his own.
I loved seeing both sides of the story arc come together through Hua, Mulan, and the Nagi.
I will miss this world so much! I've loved the characters, the world, and the twist on Mulan's story. I want more!
This book follows the events of the first book, Dragon Rising, and kept me reading until I was done! In this book, we see more of the internal struggle for Hua and the Nagi that is occupying her body. It's very different than book one in that sense, but I also really liked seeing both sides of the story, that of Hua, and that of the Nagi.
Then we also see Jian fighting to save his love, even though he's not even sure she's still "alive." He has grown to love her even more, and he has also grown to love her family like his own.
I loved seeing both sides of the story arc come together through Hua, Mulan, and the Nagi.
I will miss this world so much! I've loved the characters, the world, and the twist on Mulan's story. I want more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2020
M. Lynn is an amazing author and if you haven't started this series stop now and go get book 1 and buy book 2 because you will have to have it after you read the first one .
This story far exceeded any retelling I have read before . Plain and simple no questions asked .
Everything you could ask for in a story is here and once I started I knew it was going to be a long night because I wasn't going to get much sleep lol. But it was so worth it .
If Goodreads allowed I would give this 10 stars easy . I recommend this story to anyone that loves a retelling that I honestly enjoyed more than the original .
So stop reading this and go read this series from M. Lynn and like me you will be tired the next day lol . And read it , love it , review it .
This story far exceeded any retelling I have read before . Plain and simple no questions asked .
Everything you could ask for in a story is here and once I started I knew it was going to be a long night because I wasn't going to get much sleep lol. But it was so worth it .
If Goodreads allowed I would give this 10 stars easy . I recommend this story to anyone that loves a retelling that I honestly enjoyed more than the original .
So stop reading this and go read this series from M. Lynn and like me you will be tired the next day lol . And read it , love it , review it .
June 8, 2020
DRAGON REBELLION opens up with Jian and Hua taking refuge in Hua's family farm, but she hasn't awoken since she turned into a dragon. With the empire looking for the dragon, Jian has no choice but to leave the war. But when the farm is attacked, he finds himself face-to-face with a close friend. While Jian sits waiting, Hua is fighting for ownership of her body. The Nagi lives within her and will remain there until her mission is complete. Hua fears what havoc the Nagi will cause if she's given free will of her body. But Hua can only hold out for so long before the Nagi takes over.
Soon, it becomes a race against time. The Nagi is trying to get revenge for all those killed with dragon blood. Jian is trying to protect Hua while stopping the Nagi. It's just a matter of who will win in the end and what is truly right and wrong.
DRAGON REBELLION is the last installment of this Mulan retelling with a slow burning romance and lots of action. I love how loyal and dedicated Jian is to both his brother and Hua. I also love the strength Hua has and how she's determined to not give into the Nagi. The relationship between Jian and Hua is strained with the Nagi's existence, but Jian doesn't give up. M. Lynn took me on a whirlwind adventure of emotions and I'm satisfied with the end result.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of retellings, Mulan, fantasy, dragons, strong and lovable characters, and romance.
This review can also be found on YABC: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindi...
Soon, it becomes a race against time. The Nagi is trying to get revenge for all those killed with dragon blood. Jian is trying to protect Hua while stopping the Nagi. It's just a matter of who will win in the end and what is truly right and wrong.
DRAGON REBELLION is the last installment of this Mulan retelling with a slow burning romance and lots of action. I love how loyal and dedicated Jian is to both his brother and Hua. I also love the strength Hua has and how she's determined to not give into the Nagi. The relationship between Jian and Hua is strained with the Nagi's existence, but Jian doesn't give up. M. Lynn took me on a whirlwind adventure of emotions and I'm satisfied with the end result.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of retellings, Mulan, fantasy, dragons, strong and lovable characters, and romance.
This review can also be found on YABC: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindi...
June 5, 2020
Loved it!
I loved this book and could not put it down!
Book 2 begins where it left off with Juan still at Hua's family home. I'm not going to lie, I was definitely expecting Hua to break free but we find the Nagi's hold is firm. Book 2 is full of action and takes you on a journey full of emotions! I loved the loyalty her friends had in her, even after knowing that she had the Nagi. They had faith that she was still in there somewhere.
Hua's battle to not be completely overtaken was a long and hard one. She was such an admirable character. This book is one full of love, angst, acceptance, sacrifice, and purpose. A beautiful ending to an amazing series ❤️
I loved this book and could not put it down!
Book 2 begins where it left off with Juan still at Hua's family home. I'm not going to lie, I was definitely expecting Hua to break free but we find the Nagi's hold is firm. Book 2 is full of action and takes you on a journey full of emotions! I loved the loyalty her friends had in her, even after knowing that she had the Nagi. They had faith that she was still in there somewhere.
Hua's battle to not be completely overtaken was a long and hard one. She was such an admirable character. This book is one full of love, angst, acceptance, sacrifice, and purpose. A beautiful ending to an amazing series ❤️
June 5, 2020
This is the second book to the duology, so definitely read the first book before this one. This book continues after Hua and Jian ended up back at her family farm. Hua was under for a long time before finally waking up. But when she woke up, it was obvious she was no longer Hua. This book was packed with adventure and I really enjoyed the ending. The only reason I couldn't give it 5 stars was because the first quarter of the book was really slow and had too much internal fighting between Hua and the Nagi that it was hard to get through. After that, the story picked up and it was great. I recommend this duology!
June 5, 2020
What an epic way to end a thrilling adventure. This book picks up right where Dragon Rising left off and man am I glad that I didn't have to wait long for the rest of the story. I love how well written all her books are. They never feel rushed or incomplete and they always tie up the story in a satisfactory way. I really enjoyed the characters in this series and loved the way the reader was able to see the story from different viewpoints. I had mixed feelings about the book ending because part of me couldn't wait to find out what happened but the other part didn't want the story to end. What I didn't have mixed feelings about was the story. It was fantastic and concluded in the best way.
June 5, 2020
Hot warriors and dragons, what more do you need? This is the best Mulan-esque series! I loved it so much. It was interesting getting to know the dragon throughout this book. She definitely had her own ideas about what was going to happen, though I don’t think she really knew what her real purpose was. Hua’s grandma stays keeping her little secrets, but it’s okay cause she’s super cool. I admired the strength Hua was given even when it seemed all hope was lost. This is amazing and you should read it.
June 8, 2020
This book does not disappoint!
The story is complex, but beautifully written. The tension and emotions are tangible, and it’s too easy to get lost in Hua’s world. Dragon Rebellion takes you on a wild roller coaster ride and leaves you wanting more. It was so addicting that I read it in less than 24 hours, and then I was mad at myself.
If you like dragons, epic battles, intense love stories, beautifully written characters and worlds, and stories that suck you in and make you feel like you’re there; then this is definitely the book for you.
The story is complex, but beautifully written. The tension and emotions are tangible, and it’s too easy to get lost in Hua’s world. Dragon Rebellion takes you on a wild roller coaster ride and leaves you wanting more. It was so addicting that I read it in less than 24 hours, and then I was mad at myself.
If you like dragons, epic battles, intense love stories, beautifully written characters and worlds, and stories that suck you in and make you feel like you’re there; then this is definitely the book for you.
May 14, 2020
Unlike many readers, I had no knowledge of the Mulan story,film ,transcript or whatever. I was simply interested in reading a jolly good fantasy story. That this exceeded my expectations was indeed a bonus.
But it wasn’t simply a fantasy story. As the title suggests, dragons are an intrinsic part. Lots of action and interplay between them and normal people. Passion and intrigue in abundance. A battle of good and evil with a twist.
A most enjoyable read indeed.
But it wasn’t simply a fantasy story. As the title suggests, dragons are an intrinsic part. Lots of action and interplay between them and normal people. Passion and intrigue in abundance. A battle of good and evil with a twist.
A most enjoyable read indeed.
May 22, 2020
The first book in this series blew me away. The second book was good, but not as good as the first. There was just something missing, an element I can't quite put my finger on, that would've made this book perfection had it been added into the story. Despite that missing thing, I still enjoyed reading this book from start to finish.
I'm still hoping Jian's prequel is in the works because I need that backstory ASAP.
I'm still hoping Jian's prequel is in the works because I need that backstory ASAP.
June 5, 2020
I really, really enjoyed this book. What's not to love in a Mulan retelling with dragon shifters?!
It was so cool to be able to read from the three different perspectives--Hua, Jian, and the Nagi--and see how their history affected their relationship with their country. There was so much going on, with touching sacrifices, epic battles, and amazing friendships. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
It was so cool to be able to read from the three different perspectives--Hua, Jian, and the Nagi--and see how their history affected their relationship with their country. There was so much going on, with touching sacrifices, epic battles, and amazing friendships. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
June 5, 2020
Wow!
Action, adventure, love and loss.
There was so much depth to this book and so many different things happening. Between all the wonderful characters, the war, the Nagi and love. The story flows so well and doesn’t feel rushed at all. I love how everything is beautifully concluded by the end. Plus I also liked how we got to know more of the Nagi and got to see more of the story from Jian’s point of view.
Action, adventure, love and loss.
There was so much depth to this book and so many different things happening. Between all the wonderful characters, the war, the Nagi and love. The story flows so well and doesn’t feel rushed at all. I love how everything is beautifully concluded by the end. Plus I also liked how we got to know more of the Nagi and got to see more of the story from Jian’s point of view.
June 6, 2020
Rebellion
Please read this. Oh, you must read book one first. Lol. Maybe I'm bias because I love this author's books. Mostly, I have read her contemporary books. Since I'm a lover of fantasy and this author is an amazing writer, I figured her fantasy books would be awesome too. You won't be disappointed. There is a little something for everyone, and I think guys would enjoy this book too. Dragons are for dreamers. If you are a dreamer, then you will love Dragon Rebellion.
Please read this. Oh, you must read book one first. Lol. Maybe I'm bias because I love this author's books. Mostly, I have read her contemporary books. Since I'm a lover of fantasy and this author is an amazing writer, I figured her fantasy books would be awesome too. You won't be disappointed. There is a little something for everyone, and I think guys would enjoy this book too. Dragons are for dreamers. If you are a dreamer, then you will love Dragon Rebellion.
Read
June 6, 2020Please read this. Oh, you must read book one first. Lol. Maybe I'm bias because I love this author's books. Mostly, I have read her contemporary books. Since I'm a lover of fantasy and this author is an amazing writer, I figured her fantasy books would be awesome too. You won't be disappointed. There is a little something for everyone, and I think guys would enjoy this book too. Dragons are for dreamers. If you are a dreamer, then you will love Dragon Rebellion.
June 8, 2020
Loved this book! It picked up where the first one left off and continues Hua’s story. However, you also get to see things from the Nagi’s POV which I really enjoyed. The story was really well paced and didn’t feel rushed. Plus, Jian is amazing and probably one of my favorite fictional characters. I loved getting to see how much he cares for Hua and her family
July 17, 2020
After reading this book, I wanted to leave this review to share my opinion and thoughts on the story.
An epic conclusion! In this tense, fast-paced epic fantasy, combined with elements from Mulan, this is definitely not to be missed. It was a really enjoyable read, one which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves ya fantasy. 🤩🤩
An epic conclusion! In this tense, fast-paced epic fantasy, combined with elements from Mulan, this is definitely not to be missed. It was a really enjoyable read, one which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves ya fantasy. 🤩🤩
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