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hellocoda's review against another edition
DNF - I try not to do this often, but I couldn't get past the way this book is written.
calamity_114's review against another edition
4.0
"Does the boy not make you uncomfortable?" he finally asked, his voice inexplicably hesitant. "Does he not- make you ask yourself strange questions?"
Me, knowing where this is going:
I'm a sucker for samurai stories, I'm a sucker for YA fiction and I'm a sucker for forbidden romances. So Flame in The Mist had me coming and going.
I'll dispense with the normal plot summary, and just say that this is a great little book - the characters are well cut and the plot ticks along at a good pace. I was never bored, and couldn't wait to get on to the next book, to find out what Mariko learns of the dangers in the emperor's court...
Me, knowing where this is going:
I'm a sucker for samurai stories, I'm a sucker for YA fiction and I'm a sucker for forbidden romances. So Flame in The Mist had me coming and going.
I'll dispense with the normal plot summary, and just say that this is a great little book - the characters are well cut and the plot ticks along at a good pace. I was never bored, and couldn't wait to get on to the next book, to find out what Mariko learns of the dangers in the emperor's court...
cornpoppy's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 star.
بعد از خوندن کتاب هزارویکخشم رنی عهدیه انتظارم از این کتاب خیلی بالا بود.
امیدوارم جلد بعدی حداقل بهتر باشه.
بعد از خوندن کتاب هزارویکخشم رنی عهدیه انتظارم از این کتاب خیلی بالا بود.
امیدوارم جلد بعدی حداقل بهتر باشه.
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog.
4.5 stars
If it wasn't for the fact that I enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn so much, the cover of Flame and the Mist alone would have prompted me to pick up this book. I've seen many early reviews that described this as a Mulan retelling but personally I found only the vaguest of similarities. Mariko is definitely no Disney princess.
Mariko is the sole survivor of an attack on her convoy taking her to the Imperial City to be married to the second son of the Emperor. Believing that her attackers are the Black Clan, she decides to find out why they attacked her and who paid them to do so by infiltrating the Black Clan disguised as a boy. Things don't turn out exactly as she plans of course, and she finds herself a sort-of-prisoner turned unwilling ally in their encampment. On the other hand, her brother Kenshin, who is an expert tracker and a renowned samurai, realizes very quickly that Mariko is still alive and is out searching for her. But in the Imperial City, the Emperor and his family are playing their own games and everyone has something to hide. In her search for the truth, Mariko, who has thus far lived an extremely privileged and sheltered life, comes to see that the Black Clan and its leaders are very different from what they are made out to be and that things outside the walls of her home are not all she expected them to be.
As someone who doesn't know much about Japanese culture or traditions, I enjoyed this book very much, getting to learn so many new and interesting facts about feudal Japan which is the setting for this story. Mariko is a likeable character even if she doesn't make the most sensible choices at times. She is something of a budding inventor and alchemist as well which her family rather disapproves of, since she's a girl. She has a rebellious streak of course, but her actions through the course of the story are all directed towards protecting the reputation of her family.
Okami is an interesting and rather complex character (though I must say, Khalid was better). No one is what they seem to be, and I get the feeling that there are definitely many secrets yet to be revealed - especially in Ranmaru's case. I definitely did not see that twist at the end coming. It should be interesting to see how all this unravels, especially considering all the plotting that is going on at the castle. I found the whole magic aspect more than a little confusing but hopefully that will be better explained in the sequel. One thing I would have liked to see is more of Mariko's background and early life which is only alluded to very briefly at some points in the story. More insight into Kenshin and Mariko's sibling relationship would have been nice too.
A thoroughly engrossing read and an adventure from page one that makes you want to finish the entire book in one sitting!
4.5 stars
If it wasn't for the fact that I enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn so much, the cover of Flame and the Mist alone would have prompted me to pick up this book. I've seen many early reviews that described this as a Mulan retelling but personally I found only the vaguest of similarities. Mariko is definitely no Disney princess.
Mariko is the sole survivor of an attack on her convoy taking her to the Imperial City to be married to the second son of the Emperor. Believing that her attackers are the Black Clan, she decides to find out why they attacked her and who paid them to do so by infiltrating the Black Clan disguised as a boy. Things don't turn out exactly as she plans of course, and she finds herself a sort-of-prisoner turned unwilling ally in their encampment. On the other hand, her brother Kenshin, who is an expert tracker and a renowned samurai, realizes very quickly that Mariko is still alive and is out searching for her. But in the Imperial City, the Emperor and his family are playing their own games and everyone has something to hide. In her search for the truth, Mariko, who has thus far lived an extremely privileged and sheltered life, comes to see that the Black Clan and its leaders are very different from what they are made out to be and that things outside the walls of her home are not all she expected them to be.
As someone who doesn't know much about Japanese culture or traditions, I enjoyed this book very much, getting to learn so many new and interesting facts about feudal Japan which is the setting for this story. Mariko is a likeable character even if she doesn't make the most sensible choices at times. She is something of a budding inventor and alchemist as well which her family rather disapproves of, since she's a girl. She has a rebellious streak of course, but her actions through the course of the story are all directed towards protecting the reputation of her family.
Okami is an interesting and rather complex character (though I must say, Khalid was better). No one is what they seem to be, and I get the feeling that there are definitely many secrets yet to be revealed - especially in Ranmaru's case. I definitely did not see that twist at the end coming. It should be interesting to see how all this unravels, especially considering all the plotting that is going on at the castle. I found the whole magic aspect more than a little confusing but hopefully that will be better explained in the sequel. One thing I would have liked to see is more of Mariko's background and early life which is only alluded to very briefly at some points in the story. More insight into Kenshin and Mariko's sibling relationship would have been nice too.
A thoroughly engrossing read and an adventure from page one that makes you want to finish the entire book in one sitting!
caramv130's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
iceboundreader's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book.
I loved the whole plot premise.
Mariko is strong-willed and smart. She reluctantly accepts her lot in life as a women with no say but gets ambushed and left for dead by the Black Clan. She thinks that revenge and finding out why they tried to kill her will make her happy but instead finds much more.
I absolutely adored the interactions between Mariko and Okami especially because he thought she was a he. Fantastically written.
Cannot wait to read the conclusion in smoke in the sun
I loved the whole plot premise.
Mariko is strong-willed and smart. She reluctantly accepts her lot in life as a women with no say but gets ambushed and left for dead by the Black Clan. She thinks that revenge and finding out why they tried to kill her will make her happy but instead finds much more.
I absolutely adored the interactions between Mariko and Okami especially because he thought she was a he. Fantastically written.
Cannot wait to read the conclusion in smoke in the sun
amyhungerford's review against another edition
5.0
AHH ALL THE STARS!
Lately, I've been so disappointed by most of my Most Anticipated books this year, but I am so excited this one pulled through!
Lately, I've been so disappointed by most of my Most Anticipated books this year, but I am so excited this one pulled through!
emleemay's review against another edition
4.0
“Never forget, Sanada Takeo: in this forest, there is no place to hide.”
*shivers*
This book was just pure enjoyment from start to finish. Japanese mythology, samurai, crossdressing female warriors, secrets, lies AND just the right amount of sexiness. Sure, it's not a perfect book, but somewhere along the way I forgot to care.
[b:Flame in the Mist|23308087|Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1)|Renee Ahdieh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476724612s/23308087.jpg|42862752] is set in feudal Japan. I keep seeing "Mulan retelling" floating around, but even if you ignore the fact that this is set in Japan, not China, it's a bit of a stretch. Mariko doesn't go to war, for herself or for anyone else. She is travelling to the imperial city of Inako when her litter is attacked by a gang known as "The Black Clan".
Mariko survives the attack and devises a plan to infiltrate The Black Clan, disguised as a boy. However, things don't turn out exactly how she hoped they would, and Mariko finds herself a prisoner-turned-reluctant-ally. Meanwhile, Mariko's brother and badass samurai soldier, Kenshin, is determined to prove his sister is still alive, and find the criminals responsible for the attack.
There's some bloodsucking Jubokko trees and forest spirits, plenty of action and bloodshed, even more secrets and betrayals. The more I read, the more I started to feel like no one is as they first seem, and everyone - from the emperor's royal consort to The Black Clan's leader Takeda Ranmaru - is hiding something.
For the most part, this book is far less romantic than Ahdieh's [b:The Wrath & the Dawn|18798983|The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath & the Dawn, #1)|Renee Ahdieh|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1417956963s/18798983.jpg|26724902]. Which was fine by me. And the romance that did surface was... perfection. I won't spoil anything but I'll just say it's one of those rare occasions where I almost felt myself swooning. Look, there's just something sexy about the whole wolf thing, 'kay? Yes, I know, I have problems.
"A word of warning..." He bent closer. The scent of warm stone and wood smoke emanated form his skin.
Mariko blinked.
"Don't bare your neck to a wolf."
See what I mean? Problems.
All of the characters were interesting to me. All of them. Even side characters like Yumi, Ren and Yoshi added something important to the story. I especially loved the complexity of Kenshin's character - he is resourceful and cares deeply for his sister and Amaya, but is also a cruel warrior. I like multifaceted characters; it keeps things interesting. And I appreciated the author's decision to put the emphasis on Mariko's smarts over her strength. I like it when female heroines have skills that real world girls can relate to, and realistically aspire to.
Another general positive-- The use of setting was fantastic. Ahdieh captured the setting well in her previous novels, and she does it again here. I personally think many authors underestimate the atmospheric power of place. Things like this:
Inako.
A city of a hundred arched bridges and a thousand cherry trees. A city of mud and sweat and sewage. A city of golden cranes and amber sunsets.
A city of secrets.
I did say this wasn't a perfect book, so I'll talk about the few negatives. Mariko makes some decisions throughout that were - to put it nicely - stupid. I didn't always understand why she did things.
Spoiler
For example, saving members of The Black Clan when they're supposed to be her enemies.But, you know, whatever. I enjoyed this book so much. I’ve come to the conclusion that Ahdieh just has that special something that draws me in, that special storytelling charisma that you can’t get from a writing class. You can learn sentence structure; you can learn metaphor; but I don't think you can learn charm. And this author has all of the charm ♥
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