Flying Monkey’s Comments (group member since Feb 01, 2017)

Flying Monkey’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Mariko's eyes are opened when she sees how the people in the town under his protection live and how little they have to eat. Do you think her father is evil or is he following instructions from the emperor? How about her brother, is he evil? What do you think of him?

The father is evil. Kenshin has made some very poor decisions and could be on the path to becoming evil like his father if he doesn't right the ship.

17. Did you expect Mariko became a member of the Black Clan or did this surprise you? Why do you think the Clan and especially Okami accept her back so easily? When Okami left her he told her he would kill her if he saw her again. Do you think it was all a test?

Her life and perspective had changed much in a short period of time, so I figured she would try to join. I'm honestly not sure why Okami told her he would kill her. Another lie. Or it could have been in the heat of the moment.

18. Why did Tsunekio take Okami's place? Okami says there is more going on that Tsunekio told him.

The sword and Mariko. Mariko's truth begets his truth.

19. What do you think is the goal of Kanako? She seems to have captured Asano Naganori and is using him. Why do you think she captured him? Do you think Asano can turn himself in a fox, the one that leads Mariko's brother to the camp of the Black Clan?
Kanako wants to make her son Raiden the Emperor instead of the Shogun. She wants to control Takeda Shingen's son (Okami, The Wolf" who is the rightful Shogun. I believe she plans to restore him to Shogun but will make him do all her bidding

20. Kanako is looking through the bark of the tree and sees a woman with a half burned face. Who is it and where is she? Is she someone else who Kanako captured?

Kanako has somehow captured Kenshin's love (Muramusa Amaya) and will use this to control Kenshin.

21. Why do you think Okami and Mariko let themselves be captured by Mariko's brother? Was it a thing Okami and Mariko decided to do in the spur of the moment or was it the plan all along?

For Mariko, it was to save the Black Clan and Okami.
For Okami, it was to save the Black Clan and Mariko.

22. Genmei must have had the opportunity to kill the emperor before, why do you think she choose to kill him now? Do you think she is aware of what her rival Kanako is planning?

She needed to kill the emperor in order to have her son ascend quickly. This would have given her the chance to get rid of Kanako and her son Raiden (if she would have acted quicker.) Excited to see this power struggle unfold.

23. What did you think of this book? Will you be reading the next book in the series?
Yes, I will read the next. It was very enjoyable with much room for growth and many questions to be answered. I did have issues with 1. magic (no magic system). 2. 16 year olds (that are amazingly advanced in intellect and physical skills) 3. Mariko (cuts her hair and puts boys clothes on and everybody believes she is a boy except for "ranmuru). She survives and excels at everything she does, yet she has never done any manual labor, physical activities or lived outside.)

Despite this I enjoyed the book.

This is my first group read. I've been looking forward to reading Flame in the Mist.