Title: Zhànshì
Series: Sinister Fairytales Collection
Genre: Dark Fairytale Retelling
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Lia has known she was different since the age of five when her father taught her the skills of her ancestors. His stories of heroic exploits have fueled her fantasies for years. Little did she know that her expertise would be called upon when two cities, two triads, go to war. Will it be a step too far to think she can hide who she really is?
Jaxon has known his career path since he was a little boy when his father promised his only son to the leader of the Yu Shi triad. Jaxon doesn’t mind—it allows him to center his chaotic thoughts and fight his opponents to the death. But when he’s partnered with a mysterious new recruit, he begins to question everything he knows. What is the young boy hiding from him?
Zhanzhi is a modern day retelling of the tale of Mulan for the Sinister Fairytales Collection. Warrior Lia must find her inner strength to defeat a deadly enemy, who’s been left bitter by his quest for absolute power, while at the same time falling in love when she least expects it. Nothing will be as it seems in this dark triad world where a moment’s hesitation can be your downfall.
All I am a British author, from the depths of the rural countryside near London. In a previous life, I was an accountant from the age of twenty-one. I still do that on occasions, but most of my life is now spent intermingling writing while looking after my husband, two children and two cats (probably in the inverse order to the one listed!). When I have some spare time, I can also be found writing poetry, baking cakes (and eating them), or behind a camera snapping like a mad paparazzi.
I’m an avid reader who turned to writing to combat my depression and anxiety. I have a love of travelling and like to bring this to my stories to give them the air of reality.
I like my heroes hot and hunky with a dirty mouth, my heroines demure but with spunk, and my books full of dramatic suspense.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5
A dark retelling of Mulan in the Sinister Fairytales Collection.
Lia Zhanshi is a young woman who does not want to live her life in the traditions of the Yu Shi, as her family has done since her grandfather was brought to San Francisco years ago to make a better life for himself and his family. He promised his duty to the Yu Shi as well as his son and the next generations to come.
Jaxon is known as the blond demon of the Yu Shi. He rises to the second in command of the Yu Shi after the leader’s brother is killed during a recent battle. Jaxon does not look like the rest of the Yu Shi; he has blond hair and looks to be of European descent. His story of becoming a Yu Shi warrior is unique.
This was an action packed, fast-paced story that I loved. I love Mulan and this story, while being a dark retelling, followed some of the plot of Mulan and I really enjoyed it. The characters were entertaining, enjoyable to read and life like. Being from California, it was easy to picture some of the areas they were describing in the story which made it that more entertaining to me. I was drawn in from the prologue, where Lia is being trained by her warrior father and the pull to the story remained throughout the book. I have enjoyed the Sinister Fairytales Collection that have been published so far and this book did not disappoint. They certainly are not the fairytales I was told as a young girl or that I read to my daughter, but they are perfect for me now. I give this story a 5-star review and highly recommend Zhanshi to readers who like fairytale retellings, strong women and the men that complete them, or stories of mafia wars.
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