Feather and Flame (The Queen's Council #2) by Livia Blackburne Book Review

Title: Feather and Flame
Author: Livia Blackburne
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: February 1, 2022
Pages: 336

She brought honor on the battlefield. Now comes a new kind of war...

The war is over. Now a renowned hero, Mulan spends her days in her home village, training a militia of female warriors. The peace is a welcome one, and she knows it must be protected.

When Shang arrives with an invitation to the Imperial City, Mulan’s relatively peaceful life is upended once more. The aging emperor decrees that Mulan will be his heir to the throne. Such unimagined power and responsibility terrifies her, but who can say no to the Emperor?

As Mulan ascends into the halls of power, it becomes clear that not everyone is on her side. Her ministers undermine her, and the Huns sense a weakness in the throne. When hints of treachery appear even amongst those she considers friends, Mulan has no idea whom she can trust.

But the Queen’s Council helps Mulan uncover her true destiny. With renewed strength and the wisdom of those that came before her, Mulan will own her power, save her country, and prove once again that, crown or helmet, she was always meant to lead. This fierce reimagining of the girl who became a warrior blends fairy-tale lore and real history with a Disney twist. 

Buy it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon  

My Thoughts

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Disney Books for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**

Book 1: Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault ★★★★☆ (4)

This book follows Mulan after her days on the battlefield as a soldier. She now runs her own militia that are all female warriors she has trained.

Men would have us think that we're not suited for battle, that swordsmanship and kung fu are their domain.

Then Shang arrives from the Imperial City, asking Mulan to go back with him. She soon meets the emperor who designates Mulan as the next empress, shocking everyone with the news.

If you feel inadequate for the job, it means that you understand the magnitude of the responsibility on your shoulders. This is a good thing.

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3)

The author incorporates the original elements into the book as well as newer elements. I love Mulan as a character in the book; she's so strong and stands up for herself and other women.

Overall, Feather and Flame was a good follow up in The Queen's Council series. I'm so excited to read the next book, a Jasmine retelling!

About the Author

New York Times-bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while researching the neuroscience of reading at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since then, she's switched to full time writing, which also involves getting into people's heads but without the help of a three tesla MRI scanner. She is the author of the Midnight Thief and Rosemarked duologies. Livia was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to Albuquerque, NM when she was five. After a twelve year stint at Harvard and MIT, where she earned a AB in Biochemical Sciences and a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, she moved to Los Angeles, where she now lives with her husband and daughter. In her free time, Livia likes to karaoke, dance, and dabble in martial arts.