(Flame in the Mist #1)
by Renee Ahdieh
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Publication Date: May 16th 2017
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 392
ISBN: 9780399171635
Genre: Young Adult | Retelling | Fantasy
Source: Own
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The only daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only: to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother, Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.
So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. But the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.
The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt 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. (Goodreads)
I've had a copy of Flame in the Mist sitting on my shelf for the longest, but I unfortunately hadn't had the chance to pick it up until recently. I've read a few books by Renee Ahdieh in the past, and really enjoyed them, and I was super curious to finally read this one as well. Retellings are some of my favorite books, and I just knew I would enjoy Flame in the Mist. With the second book in the series coming out next month, I figured it was time to finally read the book, and I'm really glad I decided to do so!
The storyline for Flame in the Mist was really interesting, and I love that it was a Mulan retelling. I love Mulan, and I couldn't wait to finally read her story. The story starts off with a bang, then gets a little slow in the middle, but picks back up as the story goes along. I was definitely entertained throughout, and didn't see many of the twists throughout the story coming. The book ends with quite a cliffhanger ending, and I'm actually glad that I waited until to read this, as now I don't have to wait so long before starting the next book. I really want to know what happens next!
There were a lot of characters to like in Flame in the Mist. I love the main character, Mariko's, strength and determination. She proves time and time again throughout the story that though she's a girl, she's quite fierce, and she was definitely able to take care of herself. I really like Mariko's brother, Kenshin, as well, and I definitely appreciated the strong bond between these two twins. There are a lot of other secondary characters in the story to like as well, but I don't want to give anything away about them, so read the book and meet them for yourself!
Overall; Flame in the Mist was not at all what I expected, but I really enjoyed the story! This is the third book that I've read by Renee Ahdieh, and I find myself enjoying her stories more and more. I am super excited to get my hands on Smoke in the Sun as soon as it is released, as I'm super curious to know what's going to happen next, especially after that cliffhanger ending in Flame in the Mist! If you're a fan of retellings, especially Mulan retellings, do check out this book!
Glad to see you enjoyed this one! I was really excited for this novel but I put it down when I hit that slow part in the middle. I've been wanting to give it another shot, and especially now that you said it pucks back up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!
~Lefty @ The Left-Handed Book Lover