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Title | Flame in the Mist
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Author | Renee Ahdieh
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Cover Art | Francesca Resta
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Publisher | Penguin - 2017
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First Printing | Penguin - 2017
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Title | Okami
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Author | Renee Ahdieh
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | ---
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Title | Yumi
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Author | Renee Ahdieh
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | ---
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Title | Smoke in the Sun
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Author | Renee Ahdieh
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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Category | Young Adult
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Warnings | None
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Main Characters | Mariko, Kenshin, Okami, Ranmaru
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Main Elements | Wizards, shapeshifters
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Website | reneeahdieh.com
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 Flame in the Mist
There wasw only ever one expectation for Mariko, a prominent samurai's daughter: that she would marry. Her twin brother was the one trained in the way of the warrior while Mariko was left to nuture her love of science and invention in secret. But on her way to the imperial city, where she was to meet her betrothed for the very first time, her convoy is attacked and everything changes. The assassin's kill everyone - or so they think. Despite almost being burned alive, Mariko escapes.
Driven by vengeance, she flees the forest and seeks out her would-be assassins, the Black Clan, joining their ranks disguised as a peasant boy. She's determined to discover who ordered her death and why - and to make them pay. Little does she expect to find a place for herself among the Black Clan. A place where her talents and intellect are appreciated. Little does she expect to fall in love. And never did she expect to have to choose between them and everything she's ever known. But when the secrets of the imperial city, the Black Clan, and her family converge, choose is exactly what she must do.
There's something about the culture of feudal Japan that forces an author to write something beautiful, magical and poetic and this book is no different. Filled with honour and deception, love and hate, beauty and death, I was drawn into the tale immediately. There's magic, but it's subtle, just as it was in the beliefs of the people of the time.
Mariko is a strong female lead and I enjoyed her character immensely. No "special snowflake" here, in fact there isn't all that special about her other than her noble birthright (often more a hindrance than a benefit) and a tendency to fight the restrictions her culture places on the role of women. The Black Clan also consists of a group of interesting and complex group of Ronin, each with their own backgrounds and motivations. And even Mariko's brother, Kenshin the Dragon of Kai, a Samurai through and through, has to grow and test his deep-seated beliefs as he attempts to unravel the plot that led to the attempt on his sister's life.
There is a romance, but I wouldn't categorize this book as a romance. There's no insta-love, there's no "oh he's too good for me" (in fact maybe there's a lot of the opposite), two things that will kill a book for me and is so prevalent in YA literature these days.
Instead, there are mysteries, secrets and lies to unravel. Twists abound and I didn't see many of them coming either. Many answers are revealed by the end of the book, but others remain to be explained in future books and I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment and to find out what happens to Mariko, her brother, and the Black Clan.
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