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A review by worldsunlikeourown
Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh
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!