So no one told me this is kind of a Mulan retelling--or at least uses the female dressing like male to enter army premise which I am always here for! I thoroughly dislike everything about Val but the ending made me believe I'm supposed to feel for her so...I don't know how the sequel is going to mess with that. The big battle was really well done and the slow burning romances were very well written. I love the animal human bonding so much too!