Review: Flame in the Mist (#1) by Renee Ahdieh

Summary from Goodreads:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling 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 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 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, which will force her to question everything she's ever known.

My Review:



What I Liked:

Characters. Mariko is a bad ass and one of my new favorite main characters. I liked how the novel spent the majoirty of the time with her instead of focusing on the other points of few. However, I did like the other POVS, Okami, a member of the Black Clan, and Mariko's brother were done really well. As always, Ahdieh does a great job of crafting main and side characters that you come to care for by the end of the series. I cannot wait to see what happens with them in the next book. 

Plot/Setting. It was easy to get immersed in Ahdieh's well-crafted world. I loved how detailed it was and all the elements of Japan the reader is exposed to throughout it. The pacing was really well done and it seemed like the plot flowed well that I had a hard time putting it down. It was full of action but also focused on Mariko's training in a way the kept you invested. I was left wanting more by the cliff-hanger and I cannot wait to jump into this world again. 

Romance. I've seen some complaints about the romance but for me it worked. I believe the text conveyed the attraction between the characters before the came together near the end of the novel. I tend to dislike romance in young adult fantasy but I adored this one. 

What I Did Not Like:

Magic System. I would have liked a more detailed look at the magic mentioned in the novel. I felt that it could have been expanded on and utilized more in the story. I'm hoping the sequel will do that. I would also like to know more about the dark magic throughout the novel, I had a hard time understanding those sections. 

I recommend checking out this new well-written and intense YA fantasy retelling. I'm now going to go and rewatch Mulan. 

Rating:

4.5 Stars Out of 5 Stars