Flame in the Mist

By: Renée Ahdieh

Narrated by: Nancy Wu

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Wrath and the Dawn comes a sweeping, action-packed YA adventure set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan, where Mulan meets Tamora Pierce.

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 17 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, whom she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.

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, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, his best friend, Okami. Still believing her to be a boy, Ranmaru and Okami eventually warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets, of betrayal and murder, that will force her to question everything she's ever known.

©2017 Renée Ahdieh (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

New York Times Best Seller
A Spring 2017 Amazon Pick - Spring’s Best Young Adult Fiction
A 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)

A good, enjoyable story

This story can be added nicely to a collection of girl in boys clothes stories. It bit more of a stretch, though, due to the age of Mariko and her lack of real-world experience. This is my first book written by Ahdieh and look forward to reading more. But, as soon as we hit Mariko's first encounter with the Black Clan, the Robin Hood twist and eventual love-plot seemed obvious. Typical "oh, we were the bad guys" revelation. As we listen in on Mariko's inner dialog, I wondered if it wasn't a bit Westernized and modernized. Kind of like finding a "convini" 7-11 in the village market.

Enchanting

Renee Ahdeih has a knack of showing a new world filled with magic, mystery, love and action all rolled into one!

It has potential!

I got about 4 hours in and I want to love it but the writer keeps reminding the reader of how bad the black clan is how much she hates it again and again so that in one chapter it's repeated 5 times. Yes we got it the first time!

Magic, Adventure, History and Romance!

Would you listen to Flame in the Mist again? Why?

Yes, it was wonderful and I listened to it so quickly the first time I now want to go back and pay attention to all the details.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mariko. I'm a sucker for a strong and rebellious female protagonist.

What does Nancy Wu bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Yes, she did a wonderful job narrating.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were too many to count!

I was enthralled.

What made the experience of listening to Flame in the Mist the most enjoyable?

It is a wonderful and fresh rendition of a beloved classic, made more remarkable by the author’s stunning prose and imaginative story telling.

What about Nancy Wu’s performance did you like?

The performance was a part of the story. At no point was I aware of Nancy Wu, just the prose, and the plot, and setting.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Strike when they least expect it.

Any additional comments?

“Mariko was the daughter of a samurai. The sister of the Dragon of Kai. But more than that, she still held power over her decisions. For at least this one last day. She would face her enemy. And die with honor.”

Flame begins with Mariko, a girl in feudal Japan, on a journey to meet her betrothed, the emperor’s bastard son. Her father arranged her marriage to gain some political power, and maddeningly, Mariko can do nothing but go along with this play. On the way, her norimono is attacked (by bandits, magical monsters, who knows?) and everyone dies except her. Mariko suspects the Black Clan, and sets out on a dangerous journey to find the truth. Also, this is Mariko’s opportunity to do something on her own, and escape from the oppressive and inflexible life she’s made to lead simply because she’s a girl.

“Family can entitle you to many things. It can also feel entitled to much from you in return.”

If you’re a girl-power enthusiast, and if you like being fully entrenched in a world of the past, then Flame in the Mist is definitely for you. Renée Ahdieh’s skill at world-building is uniquely beautiful, and even more enchanting since she brings to life worlds and cultures that don’t get showcased enough in this genre. With "The Wrath and the Dawn," readers fall in love with the rich, vibrant and romantic Persian and Middle Eastern culture. And, with "Flame in the Mist," Ahdieh elicits all the senses with her writing, and creates an enchanting world filled with intrigue, danger, romance, and magic.

“Control is an illusion.”

As mentioned, and as should be known if you’ve read this author before, the prose is superb. The plot is engaging, though it might take some a while to become entrenched. Ahdieh doesn’t skimp when representing this culture (mostly through Mariko’s eyes), and she richly incorporates language, food, dress, and technology to build her world of characters.

It took me about 20% to settle into this novel. I had to get used to the rhythm and language before I could feel like I was a part of Mariko’s world–a feeling that was shaky and unsure at first, and sometimes uncomfortable because of what I didn’t understand. Once I was settled, I was engaged and curious.

“Without risk, life is far too predictable.”

Flame in the Mist is told from multiple perspectives. Mariko gets the bulk of the narrative, and the intrigue is built around her, her twin brother, Kenshin, plus a few more (brief) points of view, which I won’t expand on since that’ll ruin the fun. Each perspective is compelling and elevates this novel from a simple Mulan fanfic featuring a girl in a man’s world training to be a warrior (though those scenes in the Black Clan’s lair are fun) to one featuring political intrigue, murder, betrayal, class struggles, and other thought-provoking themes.

“Strike when they least expect it.”

This novel impressed me, especially considering I was hesitant to pick it up since "The Rose and the Dagger disappointed me." I might even like this one more than "The Wrath and the Dawn." Because, while "Wrath" is a love story of the epic kind; "Flame" is more. It’s layered, it’s relevant, it’s intense. I love the mood, it’s sinister thread and the dark turn it takes at the end. I can’t wait for the next book!

“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.”

Of course, my favorite aspect of Flame is the love story that unfolds, because I will always be here for the romance, but it’s not a large portion of the story, since Mariko holds her secret for the majority of the book. This might disappoint readers who fell for the sweeping romance of "Wrath," but I don’t mind it, and I’m embracing all the secondary characters and the mysteries they hold.

I dreamed about this book, and if I dream about a book, then it’s left its mark. There’s something about Mariko that draws me, and definitely something about Black Clan leaders Ōkami and Ranmaru. Their secrets, in particular, are fascinating and I am dying to know more about them and their pasts.

“To me, you are magic.”

I think this series is billed as a duet, and that makes me nervous, especially after my reaction to The Rose and the Dagger. I need all the characters to get their dues, their stories to develop as they deserve, and I’m not sure that can happen in one book, unless it’s much longer than this one. Regardless, I’m going to judge Flame on its own merits and appreciate it for the gem it is, but keep my fingers crossed that this tale will keep getting better.

This book is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

4/5

Well-written, good world building, action-packed. Mariko has always been strong-willed so when her father promised her to a neighboring Prince, she was anything but happy about it. On the way to the Prince's, her caravan was attacked, and by some miracle she was able to survive. She poses as a boy in order to infiltrate the Black Clan, the group she thinks is responsible for the murder attempt on her life. The more time she spends with them, the more she realizes they are not as they seem. Characters were interesting, but there were just so many of them. Multiple POV. Ends in a good spot for the sequel.

Great!

I really liked this book! The narrator did a graet job, I do however wish that there were multiple narrators but that is just personal preference.

Moments of Poetry

This was both surprising and entertaining. Well read and so looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Yes, there’s a cliffhanger, so that’ll have you wanting more. This is the 3rd book I’ve listened to from this author.

Really great!!!!

It's my first time reading anything by Renée Ahdieh. And what a book!
I must say that I do love retelings, but until I knew about this book I never had seen Mulan, so I went to see it and I loved, of course!
This book delivered and I'm really excited to know what happens next.
In the beginning it was kinda difficult to read the names of people and things, so I bought the audiobook and began to read and listen at the same time. Much better! (Eventually I dumped the book, because I was practicing brush lettering 😂).
Anyway, I totally recommend this book. One of the best reads of this year! I'm on a good streak, thank God! 😃

loved it

I think I found one of my new favorites. normally dont go for things with romance in them but this story flowed so well