I didn't realise this book was missing from my life, but it really was. It is exactly to my tastes as well as being so beautifully written and with some really real and very mysterious characters. There was so much going on, so many lies told, so many secrets hidden and I cannot wait to find out more. I'm so happy that there are going to be other books. I can't wait to find more what will happen.

It's all about ninjas and feminism, what could be better? This is a book that really looks at a women's place in the world, a place where Mariko's only option is to be married or bring dishonour to her family. It's about how women can take power in whatever way they can.

I loved how much the way of Bushido was compared with the way the ninja operate. I always love the comparisons with Samurai and Ninja because they are so routed in the same code but they differ so much in a lot of ways. It's fascinating.

I think I could read this series forever. It's definitely a new favourite. I can't wait for the next book!

Summary

Flame in the Mist is the story of Mariko, a girl who wants more than the role society has given her, who wants to do things on her own terms while still being honourable. She is also a girl who, in order to defend her family’s honour, goes running into deep, magical forest in search of the people who tried to kill her. Her path is one of confusion, both of the heart and mind, as well as one of magic, warriors and identity.

Plot

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It bares many similarities to Mulan, with its own twist on the tale (predictably so, since it’s set in Japan). The plot is one of surprises and, while there was the odd twist I could guess, there were plenty that left me surprised and ready for more. While the prologue was amazing and really drew me in, I found Mariko’s story-line slow to start off with. That being said, once it got going, it really got going. The only part which didn’t work for me was the big romance scene – this just came out of nowhere and felt like it was only in the book for the sake of being in the book.

Characters

Mariko is a phenomenal lead in this novel – she is cleaver, stubborn, conflicted and endearing. She makes plenty of mistakes and, no matter whose side you happen to be on at various points in the novel, above all, you want her to come out on top. Unfortunately, the other characters did not have quite the same impact. We’re only introduced to a small number of other characters, which does fit with the tones of the novel nicely. However, of them only Okami and Kenshin makes any real impact, and that’s only towards the end. This does work in the sense of them slowly developing as characters and becoming more complex than Mariko’s initial opinions of them, however it did make them difficult to connect to at the beginning of the novel.

I also feel like, as interesting as the other characters are, I did not get to see enough of them for them to make a lingering impression. This was particularly so with Ranmaru – we got hints of a fun, intriguing character, but not enough to make him feel real. I also wish we could have seen more of the Black Clan members as, aside from Okami, we only really get to know three of the others which reduced the idea of the clan being akin to a family for me.

World/Setting

Characters aside, this world is amazing. Set in feudal Japan, it incorporates Japanese history and custom with fantasy elements, creating a world that completely draws you in. Some of my favourite parts where when we really get to see the magical elements in action and Ahdieh describes these all beautifully. My only wish was to have seen more of it towards the beginning of the novel as, when we do start seeing the magic later on, it does feel a little out of nowhere.

Final Thoughts

While there were parts of the novel that did not quite work for me, the rest of it more than made up for any issues I did have. The book was simply an incredibly enjoyable read – it required no effort on my part and I was just drawn into the story. Ahdieh has a writing style that is perfect for weaving images in your head and getting to read a novel with strong feminist themes and a brilliant female lead just made me enjoy the book more. I cannot wait for the second book in this duology – Flame in the Mist¬ has raised a few questions which I would really like answered and ended on a couple of cliff-hangers. I would really recommend this book, especially if you’re a fan of Mulan, or just want a stunning cover on your book case.

This book was marketed as a mulan retelling which it is not... at all... If you do want to call this a mulan retelling let me tell you the book is 1% "reflection," 95% "I'll make a man out of you," and 3% sort of? Maybe? Battles or fights or whatever and the other 1% is the CRAZIEST romance I have EVER EVER EVER read (and I've read sjm books)

There is SO much repetition in this book, she repeats herself all the time, all the repetition everywhere, this book could have actually have been 100 pages, so much shorter, if she didn't literally repeat herself all the time and use so... many... ellipses and paragraph breaks. Did she have a word limit she had to hit or something????

There is literally no plot here. Girl decides to join the black clan disguised as a boy. New recruit is "trained" for the rest of the book. One day, she is revealed as a girl to the boy she hates. They kiss (ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.) The two sides have - NOT EVEN A BATTLE - an interaction, which results in Mariko pretending she was taken against her will and taken to her enemy - sound familiar?

I felt like I didn't know Mariko at all, you have her brother going "ahhhh Mariko is the cleverest girl I know" but we never see any evidence of it? Considering Mariko was the main character, you can imagine how the minor characters were treated as well.

Sorry for the super negative review, this just didn't work for me at all & I'm just so disappointed. I loved the whimsical romance in The Wrath and the Dawn (but mostly I loved Shazi and Khalid!!!) but this was just bizarre.

// Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review //

I knew absolutely nothing about this book when I went into it. The only thing I knew was that I really, really wanted to read Renee Ahdieh's previous series The Wrath and the Dawn, and so I hoped Flame in the Mist would grab my attention in the same way. Renee's writing is really wonderful, and I liked the characters and the setting of this novel, but some aspects of the story and the fantasy system fell flat to me and didn't feel properly brought to life.

Flame in the Mist is about Mariko, the daughter of a prominent samurai, who is attacked by the mysterious bandits the Black Clan as she travels to marry a man she has never met in the imperial city. Furious and determined to prove her worth to her family as more than a pawn to be sold in marriage, Mariko sets out on a mission to find the Black Clan, infiltrate them, and find out who paid them to kill her. She dons the disguise of a boy and does just that, and delves into a world of secrets, lies, intrigue and war.

I enjoyed Mariko's character and the Black Clan as a group. At first, I thought that Mariko might be a typical feisty strong female lead, but she is more than that. I appreciated that her strength lay more in her mind than in her physical abilities - she is not a fighter, although she tries. I also liked that we see her grapple with doubts and questions, as well as with a desire to be brave even though she cannot escape the fact that she is terrified. Okami and Ranmaru are the other two central characters in the Black Clan, and Mariko's brother, who we follow as he tries to track his missing sister. I enjoyed reading about the connections between these characters, and especially that there were different types of relationships. The romance does not overpower the story at all, but instead there is just the right amount of love for me, and there are also great friendships in the novel. My main issue was that the book swaps perspectives between these characters quite a bit, as well as some other minor characters, and sometimes the way this was done felt disjointed and confusing, and I felt like Renee Ahdieh spread the narration too thinly among too many characters.
I have tried to pick apart exactly why I couldn't connect to this story fully, and I couldn't find a single reason. The opening half of the story felt very flat to me, principally because I couldn't really understand why Mariko was doing what she was doing. I understood that she resented being married off, and I understood that she wanted to prove that she was more than just a weak girl, but I couldn't understand how she made the link from that to infiltrating the Black Clan to discover why they had tried to kill her. After the initial section of Mariko trying to find the Clan, we then have to sit through a large chunk which consists of her being treated as a sort of servant, and read as Okami and Ranmaru question whether they trust her. I think that because I was bored in this first section, I missed some vital details about the characters Okami and Ranmaru that made the second part harder to understand and get excited about, even though I felt like the story was picking up. I couldn't remember the details about the pair's history, and I'm still not sure I understand it.

The fantasy was also a bit vague. I found it so intriguing - there were trees that suck the blood out of people, and foxes made of smoke, and characters that could fly. But I had no idea where any of this came from and how it worked. I felt like the magical aspects of the book were quite randomly dropped into the book and for quite a large chunk of the book I wasn't sure if this was a fantasy novel or a sort of historical novel. When magic did turn up, it was merely shown for a passage, then it vanished again. It felt so random that I felt like it could have been taken out of the novel altogether and the story would have still functioned equally well without it.

Overall, there were parts of this book that I liked a lot and others that, although I didn't dislike, I just didn't really get. I would have loved for the story to have picked up quicker and for aspects of the novel to have been a bit clearer, specifically the magic system and the characters' pasts and goals. Although I didn't love this book, I think that I will read the second instalment of this duology when it is released just to see where the characters end up and where the story goes.

I've heard lots about Renee Ahdieh's The Wrath and the Dawn series so I had high expectations for this novel! Flame in the Mist is essentially a Mulan retelling but definitely holds it's own as a unique and creative story. Although this book wasn't perfect, it was a lot of fun to read and I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of Japanese culture and a capable and kick-ass heroine.

This book is set in Japan and follows Mariko, daughter of a famous samurai who's being pushed into a political marriage. However, she's attacked whilst traveling to see her soon-to-be husband. Surviving this attack, Mariko sets out to find out why the evil, infamous Black Clan tried to kill her by disguising herself as a boy and infiltrating their camp. The plot itself started slow, and it took me a while to get into, but in the second half of this book the action picked up and I found myself more invested in the events that occurred. The fight scenes in this book were intense and I especially enjoyed the parts of this novel which highlighted the closeness between the members of the Black Clan.

There was some romance later on in this story between Mariko and a member of the Black Clan and it was clear from the beginning that it was going to happen. And although it was predictable, it was really cute to read about and I loved how easy it became for the two characters to be around each other.

Mariko is a headstrong character and, despite living a sheltered life, she's able to blend in with the Black Clan well. She's resourceful and more than capable of protecting herself even when surrounded by so much danger. I loved Mariko's confidence, how she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself, even with being a female in a very male dominated society. Her relationship with her brother, Kenshin, was well-written as well. The two characters were different yet they knew each other well. I loved the faith they had in each other and I would've loved to have seen more interactions between the two of them.

The members of the Black Clan were also intriguing and I found myself feeling really invested in all of them. However, it would've been great to explore their motives and how their reputation came about because it wasn't obvious to me why they were perceived as being so dangerous.

I enjoyed Renee Ahdieh's writing for the most part, especially when it came to portraying locations and characters and making the world come to life. However the descriptive style didn't feel appropriate in the fast-paced moments, it had the effect of slowing the scenes down and dragging them out when all I wanted to know was what happened next (but that could've just been me being impatient). I felt the heavy description could've been condensed to help the story flow more smoothly.

Another small issue, is that the magic system in this book was unclear, it appeared at one point and then wasn't really mentioned again and I'm not sure it was even all that necessary to the plot. But the ending of this book left me completely on edge and wanting more! The conclusion felt too soon and I can't believe I'm going to have to wait a year to find out how the rest of the story unfolds.

This book did have a few issues, but most of them were minor to me and I feel like they're things that will be expanded on in the second book, so it didn't subtract from my overall enjoyment. The characters and setting in this book won me over from the start and I'm really glad I had the chance to read it!

Behind a gorgeous cover, Flame in the Mist is a well written historical fantasy with some serious Mulan vibes and a beautiful Japanese setting steeped in culture and gorgeous scenery.

This book does not hold back on the darkness. The opening chapter threw us straight into the middle of things, setting the scene for the rest of this complex, dark and bloody tale. When Mariko is the lone survivor of an ambush she decides to take things into her own hands and find out why she was under attack. Breaking her way into the confidence of the Black Clan, Mariko uncovers a list of forbidden truths and discovers more about herself than she thought was possible.

I have to say that I found this book a little difficult to follow at times and the first half of the book was a bit too slow for my liking. However, the final 25% really picked up the pace and I couldn’t get enough of this novel. There were certainly plenty of surprises’ along the way and I wasn’t able to predict how this book would end. I loved the culture and the use of Japanese vocabulary throughout the book. It was helpful to have a handy glossary at the back for any moments where I was unsure but it wasn’t often that I needed to check it as Renee Ahdieh’s writing is so beautiful and detailed that my mind was able to take in the Japanese words with an understanding I didn’t know I possessed.

My favourite thing about this book is how much it breaks all those feminist stereotypes. Mariko is a girl therefore she shouldn’t be a warrior, she shouldn’t carry a weapon, she shouldn’t be learning to fight with a sword but Mariko does all of these things and so much more. There are some seriously excellent moments for feminism in this book and I loved that!

On the whole I enjoyed this story but thought that at times it was a little wordy (if that makes sense??) and it confused me a little. The ending has been really intrigued though and there were certainly plenty of loose ends that were nowhere near being tied up so I’ll definitely be back for book two!

Gorgeous writing. Fantastic setting. Flame in the Mist is absolutely delectable. The story is fast-paced and will have you at the edge of your seat the entire time. There is plenty of action and adventure. There is a complex dynamic of the royal court adding in political intrigue. The characters are near impossible not to get invested in. The feministic issues will fire you up and have you cheering for Mariko every step of the way. This is one standout novel! There is even a glossary to quickly refer to for translation of Japanese words Ahdieh uses throughout. I cannot rave enough about the use of Japanese culture throughout the story. Highly recommended to readers of fantasy novels - not only YA because there is strong crossover appeal. Make sure you check out today!

Renee Ahdieh has become one of my favourite authors. I loved her previous books and this was just as good.

It took me a couple of chapters to get into but after that I couldn't stop reading it! I think the main appeal is a combination of beautiful, lyrical writing, a high stakes plot that builds tension and characters that you really care about.

I can't wait for the next book!

I'm going to be briefer than normal in this review because my lack of connection with this book and its characters may just have been a case of its-me-not-you. That said, I have read a large amount of fiction set in a historic, Japanese context and this book just didn't reach the measure of what I know is out there. The fantasy was light, sometimes hidden and mysterious.

There was a dual POV narrative to this book, told from twin brother and sister perspectives. I did like the dual POV narrative but unfortunately I stayed in a constant position of disconnect with both Mariko and Kenshin. With regards to Ōkami, he was utterly intruiging but I never got to the bottom of who he was and I was left wanting more. I found the description in this book to be heavy and it further hindered my connection with the characters. The black clan was the best thing about FLAME IN THE MIST for me and I enjoyed camp dynamics and hazing.

I am a fan of this author but I don't think this series is ultimately for me.

A copy of this book was provided by the author through netgalley in return for an honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

You would think, after the ending of The Wrath and the Dawn, I would have learned that the only way to read Renee Ahdieh's duologies is to read the first the day before the second comes out, so that I'm not left suffering over a cliffhanger for an entire year.

I didn't learn.

Flame in the Mist is a retelling of Mulan set in Feudal Japan. On her way to marry the emperor's second son, Mariko's convoy is ambushed and Mariko is left to die. Believing the ambush to have been the work of the Black Clan, she decides to infiltrate their ranks and find out why they tried to kill her.

Once again, Renee Ahdieh manages to weave a captivating story, full of twists and turns (and cliffhangers) that you would never expect. (Though you should probably expect the cliffhanger.) I saw none of the twists coming, and each had me a little more excited than the last. The characters are, as per usual, wonderful, and I loved each and every one of them.

So, really, the only complaint I have is that I now have to suffer an unknown amount of time until I can see this conflict resolved.

Flame in the Mist is such a wonderful read, from start to finish. Set in feudal Japan it breathes a breath of fresh air into YA fiction.

I kept seeing this being labelled a 'Mulan retelling' but the only way they can be linked is because Mariko dresses as a boy. However, that's not a bad thing! It's still such an epic tale without the Mulan storyline, and it means that you can't anticipate what will happen...

Be prepared to fall easily in love with Renee's writing. It's so addictive. I often find myself rereading parts just to experience her words again. If you've read Renee Ahdieh's first duology, The Wrath and the Dawn and The Rose and the Dagger, i'm certain you'll love Flame just as much. It focuses less on romance and more on Mariko's infiltration of the Black Clan and her life with them. But that doesn't mean there isn't any romance. I freely admit that I swooned multiple times.

The Japanese mythology element really intrigued me, I loved the mysteries of the forest. It gave me major Studio Ghibli vibes. The whole setting was a joy to read, Renee is great at capturing the setting with her words. I haven't read many books set in Japan, but I really want to. Japan is such a beautiful country and YA needs more Japan-based novels.

Mariko is a fantastic heroine. She's intelligent and resourceful, but not without her flaws. Every character interested me. They all had stories and secrets. They were all complex, real people. Complicated characters keeps things exciting.

The ending has me desperate for book 2. But first, I'm going to enjoy rereading this a couple of times.

4 Stars!

I absolutely loved Flame in the Mist, I'm definitely putting it in my favourite books of the year category and I'm already desperately awaiting the sequel. Renee Ahdieh's writing is so beautiful and she completely pulled me into her world from the first page. This story has obviously taken some inspiration from Mulan but it's set in Feudal Japan rather than in China and the story doesn't follow exactly the same path as the original. There is enough to remind you of Mulan but it equally holds up as a story in its own right.

Mariko has spent her whole life knowing that her only real task in life is to marry whoever her parents deem to be the best match for her. No matter how much she loves studying and no matter how skilled she is at alchemy her future has already been mapped out for her, especially now her parents have agreed to a political marriage to the Emperor's illegitimate son. She is on her way to the city to prepare for her marriage when her party is ambushed by The Black Clan, a notorious group of rebels who are considered a dangerous threat. When Mariko is left alone in the woods with no way back home and no idea who she can trust she decides to disguise herself as a boy and infiltrate The Black Clan to try and find out who paid them to kill her. When she finally manages to find the rebels she's in for quite a shock though, nothing is what it first seemed and the more she learns about them the more she starts to question everything she's ever been told.

While Mariko is infiltrating The Black Clan we also follow her twin brother Kenshin as he searches for his sister. Kenshin is a fierce samurai warrior who puts honour and decency above all else but he will do whatever it takes to find Mariko and bring her home safely, even if it means crossing lines he never would have considered before. I loved how multifaceted all of these characters were, nothing is black and white and they each have complicated motivations for their actions. Alongside Mariko and Kenshin there are some fabulous side characters who add lots of depth to the story, and Renee Ahdieh's descriptive writing will have you smelling the cherry blossoms as you read.

This is a story full of secrets and betrayal, everyone is hiding something and there are so many different plots going on it can be hard to keep track of them. There is just a hint of romance which I'm pretty hopeful will be expanded upon in the second book, I'm not going to say too much but there are several potential couples I'm already rooting for and there wasn't a single case of insta-love in sight. As much as I enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn I think Renee Ahdieh has stepped things up a gear here and I can't wait to see how the story ends.

Renee Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn duology was one of the fantasy debuts that I most enjoyed in the last two years. She has a deft touch with words and is great at creating the atmosphere of each world. She’s definitely a fantasy author to look out for over the next few years. There are definite parallels to Mulan in The Flame and the Mist, but very loosely. The Flame in the Mist is set in feudal Japan, as opposed to feudal China, but an obvious parallel is lead character, Hattori Mariko, adopting the guise of a boy in order to infiltrate the mysterious Black Clan. By doing this, she seizes control of her own future for the first time in a life that had thus far been sheltered and her destiny (marriage) decided for her.

The pivotal moment, after she has apparently been attacked by the Black Clan and is threatened by a stranger, comes with this line:

‘I will not be bandied about by men any longer. I am not a prize to be bought or sold.’

With that, and the actions she follows it with, she reclaims her agency and sets the events of the story in motion. Ahdieh’s novel explores gender roles, and class, in feudal Japan (with definite relevance to the modern day too) and Mariko comes to stand out to the reader as a feminist mouthpiece within the culture of the book. When it seems sudden and forced, it is because there is not so much insight into her internal life (and can come across as being ‘told’ rather than ‘shown’ – this also goes for a few of Mariko’s other traits, such as her ingenuity) before the pivotal moment of her seizing control, but it becomes an invaluable part of who she is and will definitely be of value to readers, especially teen girls and boys who are reading fantasy for the first time.

The feudal setting of Japan is rich and detailed and was a joy to read about. It is a slow-burner and definitely a world that you grow into, but it’s very much worth it and is rich, vibrant and elaborate. My main reading experience of Japan has come through Haruki Murakami – which is obviously very different – so this was a new experience for me and Ahdieh drew me in masterfully. There’s definitely still a lot to be revealed about the characters’ pasts so I’m looking forward to that. Nothing about the book was predictable so I was genuinely riveted and eager to unravel the mysteries while reading. I am not a big fan of the romance angle that seems obligatory in YA fantasy, but the romance in The Flame in the Mist is very much secondary, a slow-burn and the element of disguise and mystery between the characters is very compelling. They are certainly interesting characters in their own right, with their own paths to follow – and very much equals, though I felt the male character did suffer from the brooding anti-hero trope.

The magical/fantastical elements are used sparingly in this book, and a little vaguely, but perhaps they will have a bigger role to play in the sequel. Mariko’s brother, Kenshin, also has some POV chapters and this provides a good foil – though we don’t get so much insight into his internal life. It will be interesting to learn more about Mariko’s family and their goals, and whether they’re all as honourable as she believes. I want to keep reading already.


I would recommend this to anyone even loosely intrigued by the premise. I think there’s much more to come from Ahdieh and I will certainly read on with interest. I really admire how she’s willing to dive into a variety of cultures and create such rich stories with many layers of mystery and intrigue that need time to be unpacked fully.

Quotes:

“We are so much more than what we do!” Mariko drew closer, as if nearness could invoke a sense of truth. “We are …” she searched her mind for the right things to say. “Our thoughts, our memories, our beliefs!” her eyes dropped to the dying boy. To the evil tree, slowly draining him of life. “This tree is not the forest,” she said softly. “It is but one part.”
I don’t want you to be a hero. And I don’t need anyone to save me.’
'Mariko nudged the handle of her spoon with a bound fingertip. “Are you ever angry you were born a woman?” Yumi sat back on her heels and studied Mariko for a spell. “I’ve never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I’ve been angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must fight. Like being born under a stormy sky. Some people are lucky enough to be born on a bright summer’s day. Maybe we were born under clouds. No wind. No rain. Just a mountain of clouds we must climb each morning so that we may see the sun.’
'Mariko supposed it was possible all women and men were forced to wear their own kind of masks’

*Thank you to Hodder and NetGalley for a chance to read an eARC of the book.

I definitely was not expecting to like this book as much as I did but oh my goodness did I enjoy every single second of it! Even when I first started it I wasn't completely sure about it, but it just hit me all of a sudden about half way through that I absolutely adored these characters. The beginning is a little bit slow and hard to get into but I feel as though if I were to re-read the first chapter now I would understand it a lot better having already read about these characters and what happens if that makes sense at all.

This book follows Mariko the daughter of a prominent samurai. 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. Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. But she's quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets and betrayal, which force her to question everything she's ever known.

“Sometimes we must fall forward to keep moving. Remain motionless—remain unyielding—and you are as good as dead.
Death follows indecision, like a twisted shadow. Fall forward. Keep moving. Even if you must pick yourself up first.”

There were some things that were very heavily Mulan inspired but there were some things that caught me so off guard and surprised the hell out of me. Thinking about the plot twists now, I have no idea how I didn't see some of them coming but they were just so good. Some really brilliant things happened that I did not expect and this book really kept me on my toes. The whole book was much more mysterious and magical that I first expected, and most definitely in a good way.

Some of the characters are very unreliable however I found that very interesting and it really added to the banter between the characters and there were moments I just couldn't believe what was being said, it was hilarious. Very important morals are weaved throughout the plot and I am extremely excited to see how those things progress in the next book and that cliffhanger had me screaming at the pages, because I literally need to know what happens next right now.

“I believe the stars align so souls can find one another. Whether they are meant to be souls in love or souls in life remains to be seen.” 

There is a very swoon-worthy slow burning romance that I enjoyed and I feel was done right in my opinion and certainly didn't take up the plot or become too overpowering which I am really glad about. Not to mention amazing friendships that start to develop that are very cute and I am intrigued to see how all of these relationships fare in the next book.

Some of the scenes between Mariko and Okami were just hilarious! For starters Okami reminds me a little bit of Rhysand from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. Whether thats because of recently reading A Court of Wings and Ruin or not I don't know but he has some of the same characteristics and I couldn't help but thinking after reading of some of the things that Okami's character says that it was such a Rhys thing to say. I think that is partly why I fell in love with his character. Especially when he says:

“You are first and foremost a person. A reckless, foolish person, but a person nonetheless. If I ever say you are not permitted to do something, rest assured that the last reason I would ever say so would be because you are a girl.” 

Renée Ahdieh's writing style was beautiful to read, this is the first book that I have read by her but I will be picking up other books of hers soon because I really really enjoyed this, probably one of my favourite reads of the year so far! The plot was really fast paced and full of exciting twists and I flew through it. I really recommend!

5/5 Stars!

Flame in the Mist had an interesting premise. A girl who longs to invent things and be of more use to her family than the standard role of being a nobleman's daughter allows, bandits who are more than they appear, and a dash of fantasy for good measure. Unfortunately, although entertaining enough to read, Flame in the Mist falls just below the mark on more than one of these counts.

Mariko is a great idea for a character. She is very smart, with a mind for inventions, and a desire to be and do more than her family allow. Unfortunately the reader is simply told these facts over and over, with very little in the way of actually being shown these aspects of Mariko's personality. Mariko does invent things, such as throwing stars and smoke bombs, but her motivations often seem muddy at best. What is clearer is Mariko's motivation to infiltrate the Black Clan in the first place. Mariko's desire to end her life's pattern of being ordered around by men is a constant thread throughout the story and something I, for one, never fail to enjoy seeing in YA fiction.

If there is one strength here it is in Mariko's need to align herself within her growing relationships with the Black Clan and her lasting allegiance to her family and her brother, who will not rest until he finds her. It is only a shame that these relationships are let down at times by an inability to really see who Mariko is as a person, rather than simply being told what she is.

You may have seen Flame in the Mist described online as 'Disney's Mulan set in Feudal Japan' but, aside from Mariko's time spent disguised as a boy in a camp of men, the two stories really have very little in common, which is likely a good thing. Mariko's story is interesting in its own right. However, this entire novel almost feels like a set up for the real story, the true beginning of which is revealed in the last few pages.

With the elements revealed to the story in the last few pages of this book, there is every chance that the next in the series may be full of a lot more excitement and, hopefully, a lot more character but I, unfortunately, will probably not be picking it up to find out.

Although I have given this book 4 stars and I did enjoy reading this book, it was a bit disappointing. I read both of Ahdieh's other books and loved them (5 Stars all around) so i had high expectations of this book from my experience of her previous books, as well as i read somewhere that it had been inspired by Mulan. So I thought 'great author, amazing inspiration, what could go wrong?' but it just wasn't as wow as either her other books or what I was expecting. However, it wasn't all bad to here is my - mixed - thoughts:

This book starts by following Mariko on her way to marry the emperor's son when her escorts are killed and she flees for her life. In many ways in these first scenes Mariko comes across as quite a feeble and scared character as she is thrust into this difficult situation, however she is also a determined character who has awareness of the impacts of her situation.

As well as Mariko's point of view (POV) some of the book is also told from her twin brothers POV as he searches for her. The first few chapters from his POV made me love him and his relationship with his sister. He had a way of being worried for her while also having faith in her cleverness and holding onto hope while everyone else had lost theirs. It's a shame that this worry, loss and protectiveness in his character seem to twist him into a completely different person though this book.

There was a -what i would call a - "character dump" where a large number of characters are suddenly introduced. I found this a bit confusing at the point in which all these guys were suddenly playing a vital part in the plot, however after a scene or two I finally cottoned onto who was who. Once i had got over this it was interesting to see the different personalities of the Black Clan members and loved the verbal sparing between our main character and Okami (AKA The Wolf). We also got a good old fashioned love-hate romantic relationship in this book which i can't flaw Ahdieh for putting in because I love this trope.

I (as well as the slightly less informed) main character spent this book trying to uncover who the "villain" is who ordered Mariko's death, something I thought I had sussed out but after a twist late in the book I am now not sure. This book leaves us what feels a lot like a cliffhanger with a world in upheaval and unknown consequences which i look forward to reading about in the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a mix between Mulan and Robin Hood. It just didn't have anything amazing about it to make it stand out for me.

The first of a new trilogy by The Wrath and the Dawn author, Renée Ahdieh, A Flame In The Mist is an exciting mash-up of Mulan and 47 Ronin. It isn't a retelling of The Ballad Of Mulan, but rather a faint echo of Mulan's spirit (and, you know, the passing oneself as a boy, thing), giving us Mariko, a girl who is bright and brave and unafraid to enter into a world reserved almost exclusively for men. We switch out the concept of a girl replacing her father in the army (with her family's blessing, unlike in the Disney retelling of the Ballad) for a girl bound for an arranged marriage, who finds herself cast out into the world with little reason to head for her betrothed and all the reason in the world to choose her own path. But what begins as a quest for answers and for revenge, turns into a complex series of events that will change Markio's life--and her heart--forever.

When Hattori Mariko is told she must marry into the Imperial family, she accepts this duty as any good daughter might: she wishes to honour her family and do what is best for their reputation, in spite of marriage being the last thing from her mind. Especially since she has far better things to do than play at being a doll in which to dress prettily in silks. Things such as continue tinkering with her many inventions, however small. She has a bright mind and wants nothing more than to prove her worth beyond her station and gender. Yet things are as they must be, and Mariko accepts her fate with grace and honour.

Except that inside she is slowly dying at the notion of what her life will become. Hattori Mariko was never meant for the dull security of marriage. She was always meant for more.

When tragedy strikes on her way to the Imperial palace and she is betrayed, Mariko seizes her chance and flees into the night; it's that, or die. Though she could make herself and the fact that she survived known, she has no idea who it was who betrayed her and if, should she finish her journey to meet her betrothed, she would be again only travelling to meet her doom. With only the knowledge that the infamous Black Clan is responsible for the attempt on her life and the blood spilled in the Jukai forest that night, Mariko takes on the appearance of a boy and thrusts herself into the hidden world of mercenaries and dark power. Soon she finds herself in the midst of the very people she believes tried to murder her, taken into their fold and privy to their secrets.

Only nothing is ever as it seems, and soon Mariko learns that the Black Clan is not what they appear. As she grows closer to the members of the clan, Mariko realises that the world has never been black and white, but is cast in infinite shades of grey. The only constants are power and honour and she begins to rethink everything she ever thought she knew about both.

Meanwhile, Mariko's twin brother, Hattori Kenshin, refuses to believe that Mariko is dead. He is a skilled tracker and he finds evidence that leads him to believe that she escaped the slaughter that befell her party in the forest. He can't fathom where she went, but he trusts that his cunning sister has a reason for having vanished. But with the betrothal to the prince being such an important step in their family's ascension, Kenshin knows he must tread carefully so as not to draw suspicion and shame. Mariko is now by herself in the wild and with unknown persons possibly still eager for her death--the last thing he can do is draw attention to the fact that she survived at the same time as not wishing to jeopardise the marriage by news of his sister's death. Kenshin, the Dragon of Kai (the moniker bestowed for his prowess in battle and his skill as a samurai), must navigate carefully if he is to bring Mariko home and keep her both safe and leave their family's honour--and his own--intact.

But a force moves in the shadows, with its own agenda and with eyes where those it watches least expect. The only question is when it will move.

During all this, two boys are bound together by more than blood and through a bond that runs deeper than the honour their parents chose to throw to the wayside before them. One has designs on revenge and reclaiming his rightful title and position, whilst the other wishes only to quell the anger and shame at their pasts and live in anonymity. Yet when all these paths finally converge and become entangled with one another, everything is set to change.

A Flame In The Mist is the first of what is set to be a trilogy that is equal parts political intrigue and adventure, with a lost legacy to reclaim, a powerful betrothal at stake and the true meaning of both honour and friendship on full display within the vivid and exciting world that Adieh has presented. Easily one of the best books I've read so far in 2017, A Flame In The Mist blends an rebellion against gender roles and conformity seamlessly with an exhilarating story of exiled warriors and old magic, all whilst delivering a page-turner of a book that left me eagerly awaiting the next.

The single disappointing aspect is that there is absolutely no suggestion whatsoever of queer rep, and, given the echoed time period and setting, this is thoughtless on the part of Adieh. Literally: she just didn't think. Sure, we have some ~vague~ suggestion that maybe (if the planets align and the waxing and waning of the moon is juuuust right) Mariko's love interest wouldn't have minded entirely if she'd been a boy [we have some vague implications that he'd started having feelings even for Boy Mariko and made him 'question things about himself' which is, okay, I guess...]. It's not difficult to research the acceptance and even celebration of queer relationships between samurai (yes, specifically samurai) and, given the Black Clan? Yeah. We needed queer rep, man. No excuse imo.

(Not sure whether this next applies more to the writer or the publisher, since italicising foreign words is a Thing in publishing, or if it was an inconsistency of the eArc I received from NetGalley by the publisher, but there seemed to be little to no reason or rhyme regarding which Japanese words were typed in italics and which weren't. Arguably the words that are more "familiar" and less "foreign" were left un-italicised (e.g. kimono, samurai, sake, etc), and yet words such as 'tabi', 'hakama', 'tantō' and 'rōnin' were presented in italics, even though it's also arguable that these words are just as familiar. To further illustrate the seemingly random choices regarding italics, words such as 'kata' were left without italics, when in fact this is a word related specifically to martial arts and form and therefore would be less familiar than perhaps 'rōnin'. Generally the italics seemed a little confusing regarding where they were used, with little consistency. But then I'm of the opinion that no italics to designate foreign words is better.

Further, it would have been amazing for, in the glossary of terms, perhaps, for the kanji used to write all of the character's names to be included. As someone studying Japanese (including kanji), it would have been a nice little touch and also I am a nerd so there's that, too.)

Having read The Wrath and the Dawn, I expected a lot from Flame in the Mist and it delivered. Mariko was a great heroine, strong and intelligent but she does at times make stupid decisions which for me, lent an air of believability. The side characters were all interesting and I can't wait to see more of them fleshed out in the sequel.

Although not as romantic as a The Wrath and the Dawn, it was regardless a thoroughly enjoyable read.