Reflection (A Twisted Tale: Mulan) by Elizabeth Lim -- Restarting June 17th 2024

[Danique]

What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?

When Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily.

With the help of Shang's great lion guardian ShiShi, Mulan must traverse Diyu to find Shang's spirit, face harrowing obstacles, and leave by sunrise⁠—or become King Yama's prisoner forever.

Moreover, Mulan is still disguised as the soldier called Ping, wrestling with the decision to reveal her true identity to her closest friend.

Will Mulan be able to save Shang before it's too late? Will he ever be able to trust her again? Or will she lose him--and be lost in the Underworld⁠—forever?

[Jammin Jenny]

I have this book from the library!

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 9 (view spoiler)[ I love the twist this has on the original already! Instead of being a retelling it's like an alternate story. I'm so sad for general Li. King Yama is kind of a jerk, but at least Mulan has a chance now! (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 15 (view spoiler)[ Dang this journey through Diyu is wild! That field of knives was something else. I totally think Mulan has started to fall for Shang, just a little bit. I'm glad she was able to convince him to go and glad she told him the truth about the bargain Yama struck with her (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 22 (view spoiler)[ Argh Shang's reaction to Mulan unveiling herself was not ideal, tho I did expect it sadly. I'm glad he came back tho. And he saved her from Meng Po's illusion!! Thank god. Now there's just this fire demon to tend to ahaha *cue nervous laughter* (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Gosh the mirror test really got me. I had so many chills with Mulan's final test there. Also to find out that Meng Po is a demigod and that was her sword!! Hell YES!! This was such a good retelling. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Starting this one today! Excited for this one since Lim's other Twisted Tale was a 5 star read for me

[Katrina G]

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[ Man this is off to a really sad start lol (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ So Mushu isn't going with her? Well that makes me sad. I love Mushu. I hope he's snuck along with her or something (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Andy wrote: "Ch. 9 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 15 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 22 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ I agree! So far this seems to be a shining star of the series. I like that it's still the story we know, but with an alternate ending. I also feel sad for Li. I hope we encounter him more as the story goes on (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ I'm sad that Lao Lao turned out to be one if the bad guys. I fell into her trap just as much as Shang did lol (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ Ahhh I'm worried about ShiShi. I didn't know he had grown on me until now (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Andy wrote: "Ch. 9 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 15 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 22 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[ Yeah it's nice to know Mulan has one less secret to hold onto (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Chapter 18
(view spoiler)[ Pleasantly surprised that Mulan's identity is getting revealed so soon. I figured it wouldn't be until after they came out of the Underworld. Excited to see where things go now (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Chapter 21
(view spoiler)[ Ahhh he came back for her!!!! This was an oddly emotional chapter lol (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Chapter 28
(view spoiler)[ This chapter gave me Divergent vibes (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Andy wrote: "Ch. 9 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 15 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 22 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Also finished
(view spoiler)[ Agree with everything you said. This is the best from the series I think. I wish Elizabeth Lim wrote all of them because she really does do a great job (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 13
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ ShiShi was such a joy!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 18
[spoilers removed]"

I was glad it happened sooner rather than later!

[Dr. Andy]

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 21
[spoilers removed]"

Omg yes it was!!

[Dr. Andy]

Katrina wrote: "Andy wrote: "Ch. 9 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 15 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 22 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Also finished
[spoilers removed]"

I just finished Conceal, Don't Feel and I think that one is currently tied at favorite along with Mulan! But I haven't read them all yet lol

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting November 9th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Maddie]

I'll join!

[akacya ❦]

Just started! Hoping to finish today since it’s such a short read.

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

I'm starting it now as well, wanted to continue this series for some time now... :D

[Maddie]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Just started! Hoping to finish today since it’s such a short read."

They always look so short but they're all 400+ pages because of the super thin pages

[akacya ❦]

Maddie wrote: "akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Just started! Hoping to finish today since it’s such a short read."

They always look so short but they're all 400+ pages because of the super thin pages"

Ah, I was going off the audiobook which is nearly ten hours

[akacya ❦]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[We have our hero’s quest! Super excited to see how this plays out. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Ah yeah that's a pretty standard length between 10-13 :)

I'm hoping to complete the series so will be reading as they come in which won't be a quick thing haha

[akacya ❦]

Ta || bookishbluehead wrote: "I'm starting it now as well, wanted to continue this series for some time now... :D"

I’ll have to read the rest of the books. I just jumped in for this one haha

[Maddie]

Yeah they're all standalone. It's exciting though how they bring out new ones all the time. Sometimes the stories are really annoying (in past experience) but the ideas are good, and I'm hoping to save them for future children along with the original stories haha

[akacya ❦]

Maddie wrote: "Ah yeah that's a pretty standard length between 10-13 :)

I'm hoping to complete the series so will be reading as they come in which won't be a quick thing haha"

Ah I think I’ve just gotten so used to audiobooks on the higher end that 10 seems so short. Plus I listen to it at 2.15x so really it’s closer to 5 hours🤣

[akacya ❦]

I love series where the individual books can be standalones!

[Maddie]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Ah yeah that's a pretty standard length between 10-13 :)

I'm hoping to complete the series so will be reading as they come in which won't be a quick thing haha"

Ah I think I’ve jus..."

I listen on 3x haha

[Maddie]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "I love series where the individual books can be standalones!"

If they're companion novels like romances I read them in order, but these technically aren't even set in the same world haha

[akacya ❦]

54% (in chapter 18)
(view spoiler)[Ahhh no, Mulan is being confronted…I know her secret has to come out sometime but I don’t want her to say it until she’s ready hah (hide spoiler)]

[akacya ❦]

Chapter 27
(view spoiler)[These “hallucinations” (is that what they’re called?) are too real, I’m getting so nervous for Mulan! (hide spoiler)]

[akacya ❦]

Chapter 29
(view spoiler)[FINALLY she’s out!!! I don’t know how long that actually lasted but it felt like forever lol. Can’t wait to see her reunited with her family. (hide spoiler)]

[akacya ❦]

Chapter 31
(view spoiler)[Wellll I was gonna comment on how cute Mulan and Shang are, but…what just happened?! (hide spoiler)]

[akacya ❦]

Done
(view spoiler)[So I was expecting that family reunion but I’m really not mad with how it ended. I enjoyed this! Can’t wait to get started on the rest. (hide spoiler)]

Excited to hear everyone’s thoughts!

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

14 % (view spoiler)[Mulan has always been one of my favorite Disney-Movies, so I hope this doesn't disappoint. And I'm SO happy that Mushu is in this.

All of her "It's my fault"-bla bla is annoying me already. But now we go down to the Diyu. Let the action begin! (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "54% (in chapter 18)
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes! Even though I would have loved if she already told him, I don't want her to reveal it just because she has to. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

58 % (view spoiler)[So she decided to finally tell him and he's a dick about it?! I really can't imagine living in a world where woman are worth so less, that they can't make their own decisions to protect their family. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Wow flew through Akacya!

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

84 % (view spoiler)[This room of mirrors is the hardest challenge so far. I wouldn't want to be in Mulans shoes seeing all her fears and self-doubt playing out in front of her. I hope she gets out of it soon. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Chapter 29
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes. finally!! I'm looking forward to see her parents reaction to Mulan returning. On the other hand I'm always thinking: Is Shan Yu really dead? (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

The End (view spoiler)[This was a nice ending. At first I thought that maybe Shang wouldn't remember and Mulan had to keep her secret again but I'm not mad that she didn't and that he wants to tell the emperor about her. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Done
[spoilers removed]

Excited to hear everyone’s thoughts!"

(view spoiler)[I hoped for a family reunion as well, but I'll just imagine it went like it did in the movie. :D (hide spoiler)]

If you want to continue with the other books, I read 1-4 now, but I'd be open to buddy read the rest.

[akacya ❦]

Ta || bookishbluehead wrote: "58 % [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah that made me so upset! (hide spoiler)]

[akacya ❦]

Maddie wrote: "Wow flew through Akacya!"

Lol, it was a pretty easy read!

[akacya ❦]

Ta || bookishbluehead wrote: "akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Done
[spoilers removed]

Excited to hear everyone’s thoughts!"

[spoilers removed]

If you want to continue with the other books, I read 1-4 now, but I'd be open to buddy read ..."

(view spoiler)[That’s fair, imagination is great! (hide spoiler)]

My library has the rest available right now so I can start whenever :)

[Maddie]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Wow flew through Akacya!"

Lol, it was a pretty easy read!"

Yeah they aren't tough haha

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Ta || bookishbluehead wrote: "akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ wrote: "Done
[spoilers removed]

Excited to hear everyone’s thoughts!"

[spoilers removed]

If you want to continue with the other books, I read 1-4 now, ..."

I have them also, want to read Part of your World on Monday?