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.
My Review
Renee Ahdieh has fast become one of my favourite young adult authors. Her ability to transport the reader to an entirely different place and time in history is masterful. Flame in the Mist is no exception.
We are taken on a journey with Mariko through feudal Japan. As a girl and the daughter of an ambitious samurai, Marika’s place is set for her. She will marry a royal son. Even before her convoy is attacked, the reader is aware of Marika’s frustration with the lack of choice in her life. When she is given the gift of escaping the attack with her life, she seizes the opportunity to start a new life. But being raised with a samurai brother and father, Mariko’s sense of honour run deeps. Instead of running away and claiming a life of her own, she using the opportunity to track the band of thieves who attack her and take revenge upon them.
What follows is a tale filled with courage, magic, adventure, and romance. This is the start of a new series by Ahdieh. One I will be reading for sure!
Buylink: https://www.amazon.ca/Flame-Mist-Ren%C3%A9e-Ahdieh/dp/0399171630/