Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh (Epub)

Description

The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor’s favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family’s standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.

Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and track down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

User’s Reviews

Review Praise for Flame in the Mist:New York Times Bestseller A Spring 2017 Amazon Pick – Spring’s Best Young Adult FictionA PW Best Summer Book of 2017 ★ “[A]n elaborate fantasy set in feudal Japan . . . Ahdieh (The Wrath & the Dawn) is immensely skilled at crafting vibrant settings inhabited by sympathetic characters with rich pasts . . . readers will enthusiastically anticipate the next installment.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review “Ahdieh’s first duology (begun with The Wrath and the Dawn, 2015) propelled her to the top of the charts, and this new series starter brings that same blend of history, magic, and sensuality that drew readers in the first place.”—Booklist “This story of female empowerment will resonate with girls today. This novel has something for every reader to savor: a budding romance, invention of new weaponry, and detailed battle scenes.”—School Library Connection “This story . . . will undoubtedly enthrall readers.”—Kirkus Reviews “Rich in magical realism and cultural nuance of feudal Japan, Ahdieh’s series starter begins with a girl-power bang. . . . A wonderful choice for YA shelves, especially where lush fantasy is popular.”—School Library Journal“[A] fun feudal samurai drama. . . . an action-packed and well-paced young adult novel.”—The Washington Post “Filled with strong female characters, action and adventure, and beautiful storytelling, Flame in the Mist offers a world you’ll want to escape into for a long while.”—BuzzFeed “Romance, action and magic intertwine in this novel likely to keep readers enthralled.”—Deseret News“This richly imagined, action-packed adventure, featuring a feisty heroine and set in feudal Japan, comes from the acclaimed author of The Wrath & The Dawn and The Rose & The Dagger. . . . Ahdieh is a superb craftsman, and this engaging tale of betrayal and revenge ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader eagerly awaiting the next book.”—Buffalo News “Rich world-building in feudal-era Japan and plenty of intrigue make this page-turning young-adult novel a winning foray into fantasy.”—Austin American Statesman “[With] Flame in the Mist, Ahdieh has gifted us a new series to obsess over. If you live for books that have lush worlds, swoony romance and non-stop action, you’ll want to read this.”—Paste Magazine “Even in the long line of fictional females who pose as male to thwart patriarchal restrictions, Mariko stands out. . . . The novel’s surprising, tumultuous ending leaves the reader eagerly anticipating a sequel, impatient to find out what iteration of herself Mariko will invent next.”—Chicago Tribune “Set to marry the emperor’s son, Mariko is attacked by hired bandits en route to meet him. To uncover the truth behind the assassination attempt, Renée Ahdieh’s heroine must infiltrate the assailants’ gang —disguised as a man.”—US Weekly “From the best-selling author of The Wrath and the Dawn duology, comes a new adventure. Set in Feudal Japan, Mariko has long known that despite her talent and intelligence, her future lies in making an advantageous political marriage. Traveling to the capital city for her marriage, she narrowly escapes an assassination attempt. Determined to get to the bottom of the plot, she dresses as a boy and infiltrates the gang sent to kill her. If you liked Disney’s Mulan, you’ll like this.”—The Newark Advocate “Anyone who has read Renée Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn duology (and if you haven’t — get on it!) will be thrilled that she’s releasing a new novel this year, called Flame in the Mist. Set in feudal Japan, this story follows a young woman named Mariko, who is the daughter of a samurai. On the way to be married in order to help her family’s political standing, Mariko’s group is attacked, and she poses as a boy to escape and infiltrate the clan of her enemies (attention: Mulan-lovers!).”—PopCrush “Alchemy, samurai, and Renée Ahdieh. Need we say more?”—Culturess “Beautifully written and masterfully plotted . . . Shades of Mulan and 47 Ronin frame the novel, but the fantasy elements and the vivid characters give the story its own distinct flavor . . . a definite must-read!”—RT Book Reviews “As author Renée Ahdieh did with her debut, The Wrath & the Dawn, Flame in the Mist explores a young woman’s power and strength to effect great change in a patriarchal society. And the realistic stories, fascinating culture and complex relationships of Ahdieh’s fictional characters—explored in actual, historical settings—are completely enrapturing.”—BookPage “Consider us #blessed to have a new series from Renee Ahdieh, because Flame in the Mist has her signature lush and dangerous romantic adventure vibes we loved so much in The Wrath and the Dawn.”—Bustle “Swoony dudes, new worlds, and crazy high stakes . . . [Flame in the Mist is] the kind of book that’ll have you staying up late and calling in sick, just so you can finish it in one sitting.”—Brit + Co “With Flame in the Mist, Renée Ahdieh delivers a vibrant, action-packed historical fantasy that unfurls in Feudal Japan . . . Ahdieh creates characters you long to learn more about. She’s adept at building a world that feels enchanting, hypnotic, real and sensual. Every page shimmers with intrigue and desire.”—USA Today Happy Ever After“The story is full of palace intrigue, disguises, magic, and Mariko’s search to find a place where she can be herself—not a bargaining chip, a daughter, a sister, or a prisoner. . . . Fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore will enjoy this magical feudal tale.”—VOYA Praise for The Wrath and the Dawn: #1 New York Times Bestseller #4 on the Summer 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List! An Amazon Best Book of the Year for 2015 – Young Adult A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens for 2015 A Seventeen Magazine Best Book of 2015 A YALSA 2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick “Lushly imagined and powerfully characterized, it’s a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance.”—Publishers Weekly “This book is a fairy tale, a mystery, and … promises to become a classic tale of its own.”—VOYA ★ “Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and a simmering revolution, this isa carefully constructed narrative of uncertain loyalties, searing romance, and subtle magic in a harsh desert city.”—Booklist, starred review ★ “The rich, Middle Eastern cultural context adds to the author’s adept world building… a surefire hit with teens.”—School Library Journal, starred review ★ “Renée Ahdieh’s lush debut novel, The Wrath and the Dawn, is a suspenseful and beautiful reimagining of The Arabian Nights, with an edge.”—Shelf Awareness, starred review “Dreamily romantic, deliciously angst-y, addictively thrilling.”—Kirkus Reviews “Sumptuous detail … satisfyingly steamy scenes, along with some angsty push and pull moments between the two for optimal romantic tension.”—BCCB “Don’t be surprised if the pages melt away and you find yourself racing through warm, golden sands or drinking spiced wine in cool marble courtyards. This is an intoxicating gem of a story. You will fall in love, just as I did.”—Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series and The Young Elites “In her absorbing debut, Renée Ahdieh spins a tale as mesmerizing as that of her heroine Shahrzad, filled with lush details and brimming with tension. The Wrath and the Dawn is truly an exceptional story, beautifully written.”—Carrie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth “Ahdieh weaves a world that is lush with detail. You will want to hear, taste, and touch everything. But it’s not just the world that is vividly alive. The characters are fascinating too: I loved the friendships, romance, and shifts in feeling. A beautifully written book, The Wrath and the Dawn is a story I could not put down.”—Marie Rutkoski, author of The Winner’s Trilogy Praise for The Rose and the Dagger: #1 New York Times Bestseller ★ “Beautiful, lyrical writing combines with a cohesive plot, richly drawn backdrop, and just the right mix of action and romance to create an undeniable new classic.”—School Library Journal, starred review “Above all there is the shattering, triumphant catharsis of love… In a story about stories, love is ‘the power to speak without words.’ Thrillingly full of feeling.”—Kirkus Reviews “Fiery romance, a spirited heroine, shifting loyalties… With more than a few heartrending twists and turns.”—Booklist “[Ahdieh’s] prose remains lush and evocative, ideal for sand-swept landscapes and racing hearts.”—VOYA

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ I had a tremendous amount of expectations going into Renée Ahdieh’s Flame in the Mist, the first installment in her newest series. The Wrath and the Dawn is one of my favorite duologies and I am still struck by the beauty of Ahdieh’s writing. Flame in the Mist unfortunately did not meet my expectations. It’s a novel that I really wanted to like, but I never felt fully immersed in its world. I liked the concept of the story more than it’s execution. I liked the idea of a girl disguising herself as a boy in order to uncover the truth about the failed assassination attempt on her life, but Mariko herself felt like an incomplete character. We’re told countless times that she is odd and clever, but I never felt that the story actually showed these characteristics in action. She infiltrates the Black Clan, a group of thieves who she believes tried to kill her, but she never really has a concrete plan on how to find answers to her questions. I found myself really frustrated while reading this one because a lot of time is spent on character introspection. I wouldn’t mind this normally since inner conflict is a good sign of a character-driven novel which I love, but so many times these characters were reflecting on things I’d already been told and it felt very superfluous. The book has this really interesting magical element that is not explored enough and which I wanted so bad to learn more about. In the end, I never felt an emotional connection to any of the characters which really affected the way I received this book.

⭐ I picked up Renée Ahdieh’s Flame in the Mist on a whim as the description appealed to a lot of themes I like: high-born girl disguising herself as a boy in order to survive, taking control of her life, infiltrating a gang, discovering things that challenge her pre-conceived beliefs, and the like. And for the most part, I was not disappointed. It reads smoothly, the pacing is well done, and the characters are fairly engaging. That said however, it did have a couple things that I ended up having a problem with, which I will mention later. But for the most part, it was indeed an enjoyable read.Mariko is the only daughter of a high-ranking samurai noble. An ambitious samurai noble who has arranged for her to marry the emperor’s second son. While on the road to meet her betrothed in the capitol, her convoy is attacked in the forest by a gang of bandits with the express purpose of killing her. In spite of everyone else in her convoy ending up dead, Mariko miraculously survives, but only because she is believed to be dead. Thrown into a hostile environment of which she has learned nothing in her privileged life, Mariko has only her wits to rely on to survive. And her daring, which prompts her to disguise herself as a boy and then find and infiltrate the Black Clan, the gang she believes assaulted her convoy, in order to find out who was behind the attack meant to kill her.Here’s a sample of the prose style:”Fear knifed through Mariko’s center, its aim hot and true. She knew she could not afford to let a boy like Ōkami see even a hint of distress. She had to get free of these men. Had to gain the upper hand somehow. Seeking a way to distract herself — any weakness in the strength surrounding her — she studied Ōkami’s fingers. They were long. Strong. His forearms were corded with muscle. His hold on the reins was loose. Easy. Which meant he was likely an accomplished rider. Any attempt to unseat him would be ill-advised.– But perhaps Mariko could unseat him in other ways.– “What kind of a name is Ōkami?” she began, her tone low and brusque.– “You really don’t learn, do you?”– “You mocked my name, even though your parents named you after a wolf?”– “They didn’t.”– Despite all, her curiosity took hold once more. “Then it’s a nickname?”– “Stop talking,” Ōkami said. “Before I pass you to someone who really will beat the impudence out of you.”– She paused. “Wolves are pack creatures, you know.”– Anther rumble of coarse laughter rang out from behind them. “I just admit that boy is tenacious, even in the face of doom.”– Mariko felt Ōkami shift in the saddle to address the cook. At that, she took the opportunity she’d been waiting to catch him unawares.– She bit into the skin just above Ōkami’s knee. Hard.– He cursed loudly, causing his horse to rear. Mariko almost slid headfirst from her perch, but Ōkami took hold of her in a firm grip, catching her at the last possible moment.– He yanked her toward him, chest to chest, grasping her tight by the collar of her threadbare kosode. Mariko expected to find fury in his eyes. Instead she was met with an impenetrable expression. Not the cold sort. But rather carefully veiled, though his eyes were remarkably clear. Like glass in a cavern at midnight.– Mariko returned his stare, her heart thrashing wildly. “If you were me, you would have done the same thing.” She could not prevent her voice from quavering on the last word.– “No, I wouldn’t.” Ōkami’s dark brows lowered. Shadowed his gaze. Something tugged at his lips. “I would have succeeded.”Note: One important thing people need to know before picking up this book: this is not a stand-alone novel. While nothing in the title or the jacket description reveals it, this is very obviously intended to be the first book of a series as it ends on a number of cliff-hangers. And while Flame in the Mist falls into the category of YA fantasy, the reader should be advised that the actual fantasy elements are few and far between, at least in this volume. That said, however, the two that were present are key to the long-term plot.The only real problem I had with Flame in the Mist – the reason that I ended up giving it four stars instead of five – is that a great deal of the plot depends on the central character, Mariko, who is described as being keenly observant, somehow missing the equivalent of an 800-lb gorilla in the room for pretty much the entire book. I can’t say more about what she misses without getting into spoiler territory however. But a great deal of what happens is dependent on her missing it and continuing to miss it when it should have been increasingly obvious from when she first manages to infiltrate the Black Clan. It caused me to have real trouble finding Mariko credible as the character she was described to be.Overall though, highly recommended for anyone who enjoys good YA fantasy and particularly for anyone who likes such stories in Asian settings and cultures.

⭐ The hype surrounding Flame in the Mist mostly seemed to arise from the exciting idea that this book would be a retelling of one of the most beloved Disney films, Mulan. I, too, was really excited by that possibility and so I went in with some pretty high expectations. After reading, I have to say that while I really like this book, I can’t say that it’s perfect.Renée Ahdieh’s writing is just as descriptive and fluid as her prose in her The Wrath & the Dawn duology. She goes into great detail to bring her setting of feudal Japan to life, and it’s quite obvious that the author did a good bit of research to make her characters and the world they live in to be as authentic as possible. While some elements of the Mulan storyline are present (i.e. girl disguises herself as a boy), the story itself is fairly original and a story all its own.The characters were all very interesting, especially Mariko, whom I found to be very clever, independent, strong-willed, and extremely capable of taking care of herself. And luckily, Mariko wasn’t the only strong female character. There were other women who excelled in their own strengths, such as the geishas, the emperor’s mistress, and even the empress, and so I really appreciated the feminist aspect of the book.I also found Mariko’s and Kenshin’s sibling relationship to be strong and genuine despite the distance between them. And even though we weren’t given that many chapters from Kenshin’s POV, I felt that we were given enough to get to really know and appreciate his character.Okami had a mysteriousness about him I found appealing and I liked his standoffish yet playful nature. I enjoyed his odd friendship with Mariko while she was disguised as a boy, but I felt as if the romance between him and Mariko (once it she is revealed to be a girl) was a bit forced and not at all very well-developed. It kind of appeared for the sake of plot progression and it just didn’t feel natural enough.As for the plot itself, I felt the beginning was very engaging and started out with a bang, but the rest of the book sort of reaches a plateau in which nothing of great interest occurs. The action is severely reduced as the pacing slows down so that we’re better able to see Mariko engage with her environment. The ending, however, picks up the pace again, only to end far too quickly and somewhat abruptly.The magic element was a welcome addition to the story but the description of the magical acts were kind of vague. I didn’t really understand the rules of magic use in this world and by the end, I was kind of wondering if it was really necessary even though I knew it was. Hopefully the next book clears some things up.Mariko’s fierceness and determination are the best parts about the book and I love how detailed this world is. I would have liked to read more action scenes and I wish the romance and Mariko’s friendships among the Black Clan members were better established. Other than those few things, I thought this was a very enjoyable book.

⭐ Title: Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist #1)Author: Renée AhdiehPublisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2017 (May 16)Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Retellings**I received a copy of this book free from Penguin First to Read in exchange for an honest review**This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads pageMy Review:This book has been one of the most anticipated reads of the year. So when I got approved for a copy of this, I was over the moon. I got approved for this book, A Million Junes, and The One Memory of Flora Banks. While I now have the other two books in physical form, this book is now gone from my library because you don’t get to keep your review books from First to Read: they expire. So I still love looking at this beautiful cover and I know I must eventually get my hands on a copy of this book for my library. Just look at it…Breathtaking. Just breathtaking. And although it’s been hyped to an extreme…I think it deserves it.This book has been considered a Mulan retelling. Honestly…I’ve never seen the movie. (Please don’t hurt me!)Mulan came out in 1998, when I was a teen. I wasn’t watching Disney movies; I was getting my learner’s permit and working my first job. I never watched it but I knew the story: girl pretends to be boy to be warrior, or something like that. Figured there was a love story and eventually Disney would make a live-action remake, which I planned on watching at some point.But after this book…I think I’m going to go get my Disney on and watch Mulan.I guess the good thing about never seeing the movie is that I had nothing with which to compare the book. And I think that can be a good thing.Ok, but let’s get into Flame in the Mist, because that’s what I do…so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, lol.Mariko is the daughter of a prominent family, a family that has now become even more prestigious because Mariko has been promised to Minamoto Raiden. Raiden is the Emperor’s son…not the son that will take the throne, but the son from his consort. Mariko will be taken care of the rest of her days and her family will rise in social status and wealth.On the way to the palace, Mariko’s caravan is attacked by the notorious Black Clan, thieves and bandits that have apparently been hired to assassinate Mariko. She narrowly escapes after the bandits flee from the fire they started, and she stumbles into the woods to figure out what to do.She realizes if she were to go to the palace now, after being attacked by the Black Clan and surviving, Mariko might be considered “damaged goods.” She also can’t go home; she would shame her family. After all, she is only a girl, and as one is thought of as property. Mariko decides she will go find the Black Clan and find out who ordered the assassination and why.She cuts her hair. She changes her clothes. She knows her brother, once he discovers Mariko is alive, will come and try to find her. But Mariko isn’t ready to go back yet. She needs answers. She needs to find the Black Clan.When she finds the Black Clan, she finds more than she bargained for. She knows they don’t trust her, but they (thinking she’s a boy) take her into the Clan. As she tries to understand these murderers, she learns about the leader, Ranmaru, and his closest confidant, Okami, the “wolf.” Okami, scarred and radiating an energy that can only be magic, doesn’t trust Mariko. He knows there’s something off with her. Is she a spy? Has she been sent to infiltrate and destroy them? Who is this mysterious “boy” that has joined the Clan?In the meantime, Mariko is trying to figure out the Black Clan and its motives…the “gangsters” aren’t behaving the way she suspected. She is constantly afraid that someone will discover her true identity and kill her, but she needs answers. She needs to know why anyone would want her dead. What would they gain?Mariko has an obstacle: Okami. He obviously doesn’t like her and doesn’t trust her. And she doesn’t like him either. She hates him.But why then does he make Mariko feel like her skin is alive when he is around? Why does she seek him out in a crowd?As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she starts to question all that she knows…are the Black Clan really the monsters she has been led to believe? Or is there more to the gang than meets the eye?Is It Classroom-Appropriate?Omg, yes! This book…it’s an instant classic. (I’m sure you’ll be able to tell already how I’ll be rating it). It’s rich in Japanese culture with the language and traditions…I already knew some information because I’m a big historical fiction fan, and I have read a lot of books set in Feudal Japan. But the emphasis on honor and moral codes, along with the ways of the bushīdo, make this an excellent story with new vocabulary and varying customs. The mythology in the woods and the practices in the geiko tea houses are all intricate pieces weaved through the story to create a world rich in fantasy AND history. And the masquerade of Mariko demonstrates how little power women had across the globe.Though it ends on a mighty cliffhanger, I give Flame in the Mist ★★★★★ for classroom use.I will be using this text in my own lesson plan. I will be focused on getting Flame in the Mist and its sequel in my classroom library ASAP. I know the students will enjoy this one.Age RangeAs Flame hasn’t technically been released, I’m assuming it’s not on Lexile.com for that reason. (I’d be surprised if they left this book off the website). I found nothing too inappropriate except for some conversation between the male characters regarding sex, but it’s all very tongue-in-cheek. It’s more of an “experience” with women conversation. All implied. I would recommend 13 and up because of that…and I also stress that the reader be more ambitious because of the writing style. The writing is a little different and the pacing slower…I would make sure the younger the reader, the more seasoned.End Result:In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I obviously loved this book. I might as well cut to the chase and rate it. Right? Though I could discuss this book all day…and how frustrated I was when I got to the “end” of it because I’m now on the edge of my seat.So I give Flame in the Mist ★★★★★.You got give this one a try. It’s completely different than Ahdieh’s The Wrath & The Dawn but still had that otherworldly vibe. You feel transported to the time and place. Mariko and Shazi are completely different characters…Mariko is more calculated where Shazi was more hotheaded. Ahdieh really can create characters that do not repeat themselves. They are wholly original from her other books’ characters.Are you reading Flame yet? (You gotta love a girl that can kick butt, right?)

⭐ While this book is being hyped up as a Mulan retelling, I must say that the only similarity between the tales is that a girl cross-dresses. Mariko’s reasons are not for honor, exactly, but they come close – when she is attacked and left for dead, she infiltrates the Black Clan to find out who paid them to do so and why, and so that she can prove her worth as more than just marriage material. What she doesn’t know is that she has become a player in the power struggle between a cunning Emperor and a disgraced ronin, as well as other forces in the Imperial court.Mariko’s journey through the book is to learn the meaning of honor on her own terms, as well as to reclaim her femininity. The edicts of bushido are a big theme in the book, along with philosophical ruminations. Coming from a noble family, she only knows these things in a theoretical sense, but living with the Black Clan and finding belonging there, as well as the true meaning of honor in protecting the people, Mariko’s eyes are opened to the apathy in the nobility. While staying with them, she is also drawn to the two leaders (not romantically for both – this is not a love triangle!) – Ranmaru and Okami. Her romance with the latter is a lot of hate-to-lust-to-love, and I felt it could have been fleshed out better. Ranmaru’s and Okami’s closed off natures seem to conflict with their characters at some points, too.The beginning of the book slowly develops the characters, with the writing attributing meaning to every gesture in most scenes in the first half. While the narrative is mostly from her perspective in the third person, it also occasionally switches to that of the two young men, as well as her brother Kenshin (who is interesting in his own right but vastly underutilized in this book) who has been searching for her, and some other players in the Imperial court. The political ramifications of that ending set up an interesting plot for the sequel, and I, for one, am delighted that I can read it right away. (Can you believe having to wait after THAT ending?!)

⭐ After reading The Wrath and the Dawn, I went on a binge reading this author’s books. This one didn’t grab me quite as much, but it’s still a good read. Mariko is set to marry the illegitimate son of the Emperor when her caravan is set upon by bandits. She escapes and dresses as a boy, hoping to find out why they wanted to kill her.It’s a complex political story of court intrigues interwoven with magic and romance. Ms. Ahdieh is so good at painting every detail of her world that the reader becomes fully immersed in the story and characters. There’s a lot going on here as the story focuses on Mariko, then her twin brother’s search for her or the goings-on at court. She grows up a lot over the course of the story, makes mistakes, but always evolving. The secondary characters are interesting.This is a duology, so there’s a lot left open at the end of the book. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

⭐ The last book that I read that had a feudal Japan setting was a mess. It was clearly written with the research of Japanese anime.Flame in the Mist was no where near a mess, it was perfection. It is obvious that Adieh did her research based on history and not on anime.Flame in the Mist is about Mariko — the daughter of a powerful daimyo — being sent away to marry one of the son’s of the Emperor. On her way the carriage she was in gets destroyed and her entire escort gets murdered by the Black Clan. Soon everyone believes her dead, but Mariko escaped and pulls a Mulan. She infiltrates the Black Clan as she seeks revenge on the people who tried to kill her.The entire story was set in feudal Japan, the Heain period to be exact. It was filled with mythology, samurai, geiko, sharp weapons, and tea ceremonies. Adieh weaves Japanese vocabulary into the story to give the reader a more Japanese feel. I think that readers that have no prior knowledge of Japan might be very confused with the terminology.Unlike other YA fantasy novels Flame in the Mist is not all action, and the romance takes a somewhat back seat in the story. It is a subtle romance with no “You are my everything” intensity. The romance in this story was less of a big deal than your typical YA, breaking the story from its stereotypical YA mold. Flame in the Mist focuses more on gender expectations and how society expects each gender to act.The plot itself was very character driven and amazing. The story was mostly told in Mariko’s POV and it always had me trying to search for answers along side Mariko. We were both in the dark and we both learned together.My all time favorite thing about the story was the character development Mariko goes through. I cannot go into too much detail because it is a key part of the story and spoilers.Then my least favorite part was the ending. It left too many questions, about character motives and the magic in the world. I understand this is the first book in the series but it is things being left in major climaxes and cliff hangers stress me out…a lot.

⭐ I am not sure why it took me so long to read this.Oh, wait… I know: my TBR is the size of a mountain! “In order to hate, one must first love.”I read The Wrath and the Dawn two months ago and fell in love, as soon as I was finished with that amazing duology I decided I needed to read Flame in the Mist. I think I still prefer The Wrath and the Dawn, but I did love this book as well. Renee Ahdieh is most certainly a must buy writer for me now. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.For the blurb go hereThe book as a whole was really well written. The world Renee created was fascinating and there were just enough descriptions and details to leave you wanting more. The characters, both main and secondary were really well thought out. I couldn’t help but fall in love with every single one of them.Mariko was a fun main character. She is very smart, albeit slightly naive at times due to her privileged background.Her desire for freedom from the expectations put on her by her family and society are the main motivators behind everything she does. Meeting the Black Clan changes her, shows her that there is more to the world than what she grew up knowing. Her character grows as the story progresses and it is fun to take part of that journey with her. She is also very relatable, she may be clever but she is not unafraid and she knows she can’t do everything. She isn’t a fearless heroine, she is just a girl.I loved Okami! He is guarded but not enough that we don’t fall for him instantly. His past is marked by tragedy and he carries that pain deep inside, ignoring it rather than dealing with it.He knows all the while that there is something off about the clan’s new recruit but he can’t figure out what it is. He is always watching ‘him’, waiting for ‘him’ to make a mistake. And the more he watches, the more protective he feels towards ‘him’. The moment he figured out what was off about the new recruit was fun to read. It wasn’t sweet or full of anger, it was just a ‘well, so that happened’ moment that left me a little baffled for a few minutes (in a good way).The other members of the Black Clan were all lovable characters too. The clan leader Ronamru is actually my favorite! He is not the main character, but I can’t help but love him. He is clever and intuitive and always watching.The romance was done beautifully. It built slowly into something intense and real.This has to be one of my favorite things in Renee Ahdieh’s writing- her romances feel real. After so much lie and deceit most writers would write chapters and chapters full of angst between the main characters. Renee didn’t do that in The Wrath and the Dawn and she didn’t do that here either. I appreciate that more than I can put into words.Although this is a 5/5 for me I confess it is not perfect.First, there are big massive plot holes. Hopefully they will get explain on the next book, but the story would have to backtrack quite a bit to explain them, so I don’t know… we will see. In this, I am reserving judgment.Second, be prepared for a feeling of deja vu! You might end up feeling like you read The Wrath and Dawn in a different world setting. The writing style is the same, the pace is the same, the magic is just as low key (and beautiful), the romance builds up similarly… It is not the same story but it is not completely different either… I don’t mind, those are all things I have now come to love in Renee Ahdieh’s books, but it is something worthy of being noted.

⭐ After reading Renee Ahdieh’s first duology, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her newest book. She quickly became one of my favorite YA authors. The premise sounded so thrilling, the cover is gorgeous and the book was advertised as a Mulan retelling. What could go wrong?Well, sadly, a lot. Unfortunately, this book took me a long time to get into. I initially didn’t feel invested in the characters, world building or plot line. I was anxious to get to the end of the book and move on to a different book, because I was just so…bored.Mariko was a difficult protagonist for me to like – she was whiny, self-centered and reminded me of a less-interesting knock-off of Shahrzad (the main character from the authors previous book). If I had a nickle for every time Mariko mentioned “discovering the truth of why the Black Clan been sent to kill her,” I would be rich….she literally mentions it every other page!There was also way too much inner turmoil and angst and not enough actually happening. It felt like I kept waiting for something to happen as the book slowly continued. I think that’s why it was so difficult to keep reading. There were pages and pages filled with Mariko’s inner thoughts and concerns and plans, but she didn’t really accomplish anything. We are told numerous times how clever and inventive she is, but there are only a couple instances where we are actually shown this. And then it’s never shown again.In fact, this happens quite frequently. Something exciting or terrifying would happen, and it would peak my interest, but then it’s never explained in detail or gone over again anywhere else in the book. There were frightening, blood-sucking trees and an incident with Kenshin (Mariko’s brother) that was a huge plot twist, but then the book quickly moves on to something and I’m left wondering what the point was of even mentioning these things. The stakes never felt high enough throughout the novel and I wasn’t particularly worried about any of the characters (but that’s probably because I never really cared for them).Also, I didn’t understand the magic element to the story. It was never explained, anywhere. I felt so confused each time it was brought up, and couldn’t understand the point. How did it affect the story? Why was it relevant?I will say that the author’s writing is beautiful – Renee is truly the queen of similes. She came up with so many similes that impressed me. Her writing flows well and is easy to follow. I enjoyed the history and she obviously did a lot of research prior to writing this story. That’s why I was so disappointed that I was bored and struggling to finish this book. It could have been great – but it sadly fell short.

⭐ This story, set in medieval Japan, centers primarily on Mariko, daughter of a noble family who has been promised as a bride to the Emperor’s second son. This is a great honor to her family but one that Mariko, who longs for independence and a role beyond that of a marital bargaining chip, resents. Her wish for escape is granted in the roughest of ways when the convoy escorting her to her wedding in the capital city is attacked by the Black Clan, a group of notorious bandits who live in the forest that the convoy is passing through. Mariko survives—and finds evidence that the aim of the attack was not mere robbery but her own death. This puzzles her, since the Black Clan usually does not harm women and children. Rather than trying to return to her family, she decides to infiltrate the bandit group, disguised as a boy, to find out who ordered them to murder her and why. Her success brings her both unexpected allies and unexpected threats. Throughout, Mariko relishes the chance to use her wits and skills, even as she faces one life-threatening challenge after another. Meanwhile, her twin brother, warrior Kenshin, is searching for her, refusing to believe that she is dead.Mariko, the leaders of the Black Clan, and Kenshin are interesting and complex characters, and the background of a time and culture very different from our own adds to their appeal. The story moved right along, and the writing was quite good, so I always wanted to see what would happen next. I liked Mariko’s intelligence and (as one other reviewer mentioned) watching her think through her problems, though I didn’t find myself really becoming emotionally involved with the characters until fairly late in the book. I enjoyed the fact that the romance in the story developed slowly and subtly.One thing that puzzled me is that the main description of this book on Amazon referred to Mariko as “an accomplished alchemist”—but there’s nothing in the book about that at all, though it provides evidence that Mariko likely would become quite good at alchemy if she had a chance to learn it. In general, the fantasy elements in the book are few and, for the most part, not important, though they may become more so in the sequel.My only serious complaint is that the book has a cliffhanger ending, preparing readers for said sequel. I don’t mind leaving some threads of a backstory hanging loose for further development, but I like each book in a series to come to a more definite ending than this one does. Still, I wanted badly enough to know what happened to Mariko and the other characters to preorder the sequel as soon as I finished the first volume.

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