The Book of the Flame

Samurai Girl #5

by Carrie Asai

When I was six months old, I dropped from the sky -- the lone survivor of a deadly Japanese plane crash. The newspapers named me Heaven. I was adopted by a wealthy family in Tokyo, pampered, and protected. For nineteen years, I thought I was lucky.
I'm learning how wrong I was.
I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE ALERT.
AND I'VE NEVER FELT LESS SAFE.
L.A. IS FILLED WITH NEW AND OLD FRIENDS.
BUT WHICH ONES CAN I TRUST?
I ONLY KNOW THAT I MUST GO ON WITHOUT THE ONE I LOVE.
FRIENDS AND BOYFRIENDS WILL GET ME NOWHERE.
I'LL HAVE TO FIGHT TO FIND MY WAY HOME.
I AM SAMURAI GIRL.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Teen, Action, Contemporary, Thriller, Fantasy

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

CARRIE ASAI is a pseudonym.

Reviews

[James Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hiro and Heaven have been kidnapped, and end up in a car wreck. They escape, and decide to stop running and look for answers. Cheryl betrays them and they are attacked yet again. Teddy makes another appearance, and there are still more attacks on Heaven.

Finally, she ends up with the police and realizes she needs to decide if she wants to return to Japan and try and find out what's at the bottom of everything that's going on, or stay in the U.S. Also, the question of who has been trying to kill her gets muddied up some.

The series is getting to be rather repetitive and, therefore, rather boring. A chapter or two of buildup, another attack, more buildup, another attack, etc. It's getting to be like “who cares?”

[Stefanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

So Cheryl shows up and tells Heaven that she lied the entire time about not having money, and then on the FACING PAGE Heaven is mad at Hiro and thinks to herself that Cheryl has never lied to her? Excuse me? These books are so unbelievably bad.

[Mande Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a bit of action, little bit of romance and trying to solve who was behind sending thugs to attack and hurting Heaven. Wish of known this series existed before now I would've read them before now. Definetly recommend.

[William Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough action for me; too much relationship stuff.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmmm...this series is almost getting annoying having many twists and turns that sadly don't seem to lead to any answers. Heaven's relationship with Hiro has ended (maybe) as a dissapointing roller-coaster of ups and downs and highs and lows, where it seems like when Hiro's family secret, his father has yakuza ties with the possible enemy, is found out, Heaven takes it as a betrayal instead of something that could bring them closer together. After all, her ex-fience Teddy is part of that same family, and she may be entertaining feelings for him. This is yet ANOTHER relationship roller-coaster, since she leads him on/uses him when it suits her, then turns him in or gets him shot, and yet he still claims to love her! The biggest dissapointment is the re-apprearance of Heaven's friend Cheryl who was seriously scarred by the house-fire that made Heaven run away to Vegas, but not killed. At first this is a relief, since she seemed to be the one level-headed friend she had on her side since the beginning, but then it's found out she's been persuaded by Heaven's enemies (& possibly ex-girlfriend Karen to destroy Hiro.) to take revenge and she is also hooked on crack to dull the physical and mental pain in her life. Bitterness/anger + drugs + yakuza gangsters = one messy sceniero! In the end Heaven is finally tired of running and gets arrested. She is actually grateful to tell the police everything and they have her uncle Masato come to pick her up and offer to take her back to Japan. You can tell at this point that series is coming to a head, but it's frustrating that still nobody knows the idenity of the masked ninga(s) who killed Heaven's brother and put her father in a coma...

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

plot: the plot of the book is heaven kogo is turning a new leaf after hiro started dating her and she found out his families past

characterization: heaven kogo is a young 19 year old girl living in a world of thugs and yakuza or Japanese mafia she is just trying to figure out why her family is not helping her but trying to kill her

personal response: i think that the book is a great book i enjoyed it it is something i think everyone should read and just enjoy

reading age /level: i think that this book is a great book for young girls that are into a good but kicking and are interested in a good romance

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book from the library's Discard section. The blurb caught my attention, but I later realized this is book 5 of a serial. I was able to pick up the story easily, but it had a cartoonish/ anime/ comic feel to it (which may appeal to others, it was simply too outlandish for my reading pleasure). Storyline is simple, yet well written. A quick read.

[FreakPrincess · Rating 5 out of 5]

About this girl that people are after (i forgot why) and she has to be really tough and kick peoples asses

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the best in the series!

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books was better then then last one...but infortunately I am counting down to finishing this series....as the progression is slow and terrible.