Scan barcode
A review by rlisaacs
Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh
3.0
I have... mixed feelings about this book. It somehow exists right on the line that divides books that I think are good/great and books that I didn't particularly enjoy. (It's maddening, I tell you, but let me try to explain.)
Please note before continuing, and because I'm paranoid, that there are probably slightly spoilerish things ahead. You've been warned. Also, if you don't feel like reading all of this (I'm going to ramble people), then please just know that, while this story did not in anyway blow my mind or grab and keep my attention for hours... I do fully intend to read the second book. I do want to know what happens next and I want to see if, whatever that is, if Mariko will come out victorious or not. So don't let the three stars fool you. This wasn't the greatest thing I've ever read, but I do intend to finish it rather than just stop right here from lack of enjoyment. (Hope that makes sense. Anyways, onward!)
Firstly, I have heard that this, in someway, is supposed to be a Mulan retelling. I think that's a bit of a false statement. I don't mean that in a bad way! Just that I didn't get "Mulan" vibes out of this. The only true similar feature I really saw, was the fact that a girl disguises herself as a boy so she can infiltrate a camp full of guys. Beyond that, the story really takes on it's own vibe, it's own storyline, that veers quite a bit away, in my opinion, from a Mulan story. So while I can definitely see how this could be called a Mulan inspired work, I don't get 'retelling' out of this. (Does that make sense?)
Second, is Mariko. I liked her, I really did. But so many times throughout this book, we hear her and all the others think and talk about how clever she is. How her mind is so different from other girls and how impressive it is to watch her think her way through situations and find solutions or new ideas. And I do think she's an incredibly clever and smart individual. But... I mean, I felt like I kept waiting to see it. Like, she's supposed to be so impressive, based on everyone else continuously bringing it up in thoughts and conversations. And yes, she did some cool things, came up with some great ideas, and I don't doubt the woman's intelligence, I really don't. But, after what felt like a lot of build up from everybody else... I just felt like there should've been something she did or said or came up with that literally just blew everyone's minds. And perhaps that is something that happens in the second book, but I didn't get that here, and it was kind of disappointing to me.
Thirdly, was the pacing. I can't really say it was slow, although it felt that way at times. And I can't really say it was too fast, although it also felt that way at times. So, we'll settle on choppy, even though that also somehow feels wrong. (See what I mean about the dividing line I mentioned earlier?) I just... I wanted more. Less descriptions, first of all. Some of them were merited, but others I could've done with a lot less and I still would've been impressed with whatever building or place or person was being described. And then more action. Half of our time here is spent watching Mariko get bullied, though I think that's also just how the Black Clan treats all new people. It got so old! And then when there were action scenes, I felt like there wasn't enough to make me really feel the danger, the suspense of the moment. I mean, I knew what was happening (even though I admit I did start skimming when I saw long sections that I new were going to just be descriptions). But I wasn't scared or sitting on the edge of my seat while reading it like I felt I should've been.
I loved the mythology (is that the right word?) in this book though. I liked the magical elements we got to see. I liked the forest they were in, and I even ended up liking most of the Black Clan. Even Ren (which you'll have to read the book to understand.) I also enjoyed the romance that finally flared to life here. It's minimal, in my opinion, in this book. It takes us a while to get there, and at times I felt like we weren't given enough. But I did like what we were given.
I liked Ranmaru and Okami, and the bond they share. And I actually enjoyed how confused I was and still am about everyone else in the story. The Black Clan I like. Mariko I like. But everyone else, like her brother, her father, the emperor himself, and so many others? I have no idea. And it's because you get a lot of points of view in this story, not just Mariko's. You don't just see all these situations through her eyes, you get to see the emperor's as well, and Kenshin's, etc.
All in all, I'm happy to have read it. Will I reread it? Probably not. But I'm happy to have finally read it, and will be reading the second one at some point. I'm not racing to get it, but it's going on my TBR and I will get to it eventually.
Please note before continuing, and because I'm paranoid, that there are probably slightly spoilerish things ahead. You've been warned. Also, if you don't feel like reading all of this (I'm going to ramble people), then please just know that, while this story did not in anyway blow my mind or grab and keep my attention for hours... I do fully intend to read the second book. I do want to know what happens next and I want to see if, whatever that is, if Mariko will come out victorious or not. So don't let the three stars fool you. This wasn't the greatest thing I've ever read, but I do intend to finish it rather than just stop right here from lack of enjoyment. (Hope that makes sense. Anyways, onward!)
Firstly, I have heard that this, in someway, is supposed to be a Mulan retelling. I think that's a bit of a false statement. I don't mean that in a bad way! Just that I didn't get "Mulan" vibes out of this. The only true similar feature I really saw, was the fact that a girl disguises herself as a boy so she can infiltrate a camp full of guys. Beyond that, the story really takes on it's own vibe, it's own storyline, that veers quite a bit away, in my opinion, from a Mulan story. So while I can definitely see how this could be called a Mulan inspired work, I don't get 'retelling' out of this. (Does that make sense?)
Second, is Mariko. I liked her, I really did. But so many times throughout this book, we hear her and all the others think and talk about how clever she is. How her mind is so different from other girls and how impressive it is to watch her think her way through situations and find solutions or new ideas. And I do think she's an incredibly clever and smart individual. But... I mean, I felt like I kept waiting to see it. Like, she's supposed to be so impressive, based on everyone else continuously bringing it up in thoughts and conversations. And yes, she did some cool things, came up with some great ideas, and I don't doubt the woman's intelligence, I really don't. But, after what felt like a lot of build up from everybody else... I just felt like there should've been something she did or said or came up with that literally just blew everyone's minds. And perhaps that is something that happens in the second book, but I didn't get that here, and it was kind of disappointing to me.
Thirdly, was the pacing. I can't really say it was slow, although it felt that way at times. And I can't really say it was too fast, although it also felt that way at times. So, we'll settle on choppy, even though that also somehow feels wrong. (See what I mean about the dividing line I mentioned earlier?) I just... I wanted more. Less descriptions, first of all. Some of them were merited, but others I could've done with a lot less and I still would've been impressed with whatever building or place or person was being described. And then more action. Half of our time here is spent watching Mariko get bullied, though I think that's also just how the Black Clan treats all new people. It got so old! And then when there were action scenes, I felt like there wasn't enough to make me really feel the danger, the suspense of the moment. I mean, I knew what was happening (even though I admit I did start skimming when I saw long sections that I new were going to just be descriptions). But I wasn't scared or sitting on the edge of my seat while reading it like I felt I should've been.
I loved the mythology (is that the right word?) in this book though. I liked the magical elements we got to see. I liked the forest they were in, and I even ended up liking most of the Black Clan. Even Ren (which you'll have to read the book to understand.) I also enjoyed the romance that finally flared to life here. It's minimal, in my opinion, in this book. It takes us a while to get there, and at times I felt like we weren't given enough. But I did like what we were given.
I liked Ranmaru and Okami, and the bond they share. And I actually enjoyed how confused I was and still am about everyone else in the story. The Black Clan I like. Mariko I like. But everyone else, like her brother, her father, the emperor himself, and so many others? I have no idea. And it's because you get a lot of points of view in this story, not just Mariko's. You don't just see all these situations through her eyes, you get to see the emperor's as well, and Kenshin's, etc.
Spoiler
Not gonna lie, when I read the first scene from the emperor's perspective, I thought I was gonna like him. Thought he was gonna be a good guy that I could get behind. Nope! Or at least, I'm pretty sure it's a nope. See! I'm confused!All in all, I'm happy to have read it. Will I reread it? Probably not. But I'm happy to have finally read it, and will be reading the second one at some point. I'm not racing to get it, but it's going on my TBR and I will get to it eventually.