The Magnolia Sword Audiobook By Sherry Thomas cover art

The Magnolia Sword

A Ballad of Mulan

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Magnolia Sword

By: Sherry Thomas
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

China, AD 484.

A warrior in disguise.

All her life, Mulan has trained for one purpose: to win the duel that every generation in her family must fight. If she prevails, she can reunite a pair of priceless heirloom swords separated decades earlier, and avenge her father, who was paralyzed in his own duel.

Then a messenger from the Emperor arrives, demanding that all families send one soldier to fight the Rouran invaders in the north. Mulan's father cannot go. Her brother is just a child. So she ties up her hair, takes up her sword, and joins the army as a man.

A war for a dynasty.

Thanks to her martial arts skills, Mulan is chosen for an elite team under the command of the princeling - the royal duke's son, who is also the handsomest man she’s ever seen. But the princeling has secrets of his own, which explode into Mulan's life and shake up everything she knows. As they cross the Great Wall to face the enemy beyond, Mulan and the princeling must find a way to unwind their past, unmask a traitor, and uncover the plans for the Rouran invasion...before it's too late.

Inspired by wuxia martial-arts dramas as well as the centuries-old ballad of Mulan, The Magnolia Sword is perfect for fans of Renee Ahdieh, Marie Lu, or Kristin Cashore - a thrilling, romantic, and sharp-edged novel that lives up to its beloved heroine.

©2019 Sherry Thomas (P)2019 Listening Library
Literature & Fiction Martial Art Young Adult Combat Sports
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Magnolia Sword

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    193
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    164
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    161
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent! entertaining and yet educational

I've listened to it several times now and expect to do so many times in the years to come. I not only enjoy the plot but how the author has handled character development and sketches the culture and scenery. the voice actor is exceptional

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite books of all time!

This book is fantastic! The writing is beautifully done and paints a clear picture in your mind. The action sequences and sword fighting sequences are very well done. The story line is very interesting and moves along nicely. Mulan is officially my hero! Buy this book you will not regret it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed

The mostly monotone cadence of the narrator was very off putting, but I prevailed and the story was worth it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Listen to the historical notes and afterward

I really like both this book and the narrator. I found that the historical notes and the afterward enriched the story. I appreciate the author’s attention to the theme of Chinese literature and themes — that I did not know about.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Compelling historical fiction

The best yet of all the Sherry Thomas books I’ve read or listened to. Her research and attention to detail of life in 5th century China in this book brings amazing depth to this version of the ancient legend of Mulan. The audible version is outstanding.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

I’ve never watched the Disney version of Mulan, so I only had a passing acquaintance with the story, but I am a Sherry Thomas fan. She did not disappoint. I was enthralled!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved

it was amazing, told a story I have heard many times in many ways in a new way. using history and some imagination it has created an amazing story to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

The story is so amazing and wonderfully written. I wish that there was a book 2! Its so good!!!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story or honor, adventure, friendship

After watching the live action Mulan movie a few times I read through the credits and found the movie as an interpretation of the Ballad of Mulan. I was intrigued, and found this version. I kept an open mind knowing it would be a different interpretation. This story delivered to say the least. I am very happy this version by Sherry Thomas. It was rich with cultural experience. Her version provides a look into different layers of hierarchy and how honor is at the core of each layer. Friendships are formed by honor and adventures are encountered between friends. I was won over.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Adventure

I am honestly shocked that I really enjoyed this book, I came in with very low expectations but the story and the adventure was so enjoyable and I felt like I was watching a mini chinese drama
I liked the chemistry between Mulan and Kei and together they were a great team
If you are not familiar with the story of Mulan it's about a girl who dresses up as a boy to go to war instead of her father and there she encounters all sorts of trouble, specially when she falls in love with her commander
I liked this book and hope to read other Mulan retellings that are this good

The narration was average, but her voice had that sleepiness into it that didn't fit the war theme of the book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful