This was exactly the book I was hoping it would be. Fun, quick, and a dive into Mulan's character.

All admit, some of this felt rehashed from the movie, but that's to be expected as this book is essentially an alternative ending. Still, I adored the exploration of Chinese mythology and downright loved the ability to get into Mulan's head a bit more.

How much her secret weighs on her, unintended consequences of keeping it, and a better resolution of it's reveal between Mulan and Shang. Plus, a more in-depth look at her own personal journey to find out who she is, diving into all the reasons she left and how deeply committed she is to her family.

A personal journey of self-confidence and self-worth, completely independent of others? (Because her judgment of herself is harmed by how she imagines Shang and her family would react but at the core its her own thoughts that matter.) That's my jam. The stuff I throw money at. And the stories I come back to again and again and again.

I probably won't reread this as often as I watch the movie, it takes a little more than twice as long, but I'm proud to have it on my shelf and will probably read it again in the coming years.