From the Bookshelf of 2020 Retellings Reading Challenge…

Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1)

Renée Ahdieh

Start date: December 1, 2020

Finish date: December 31, 2020

Discussion: Monthly Group Read Discussions

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December 2020: Flame in the Mist
By Tracy · 4 posts · 7 views

last updated Dec 19, 2020 08:09PM

November 2020: Lobizona
By Tracy · 3 posts · 4 views

last updated Nov 17, 2020 04:04PM

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What Members Thought

Oct 08, 2017 Tracy rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, romance, fantasy, read-2017, historical-fiction

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

Flame In the Mist immediately caught my attention with its gorgeous cover and promises of a Mulan retelling. I read The Wrath and the Dawn a little over a year ago and really enjoyed it (even though I still haven't read the sequel), so I knew I would have to pick this up when I got the chance! Unfortunately, it didn't end up wowing me like I'd hoped it would.

The story begins with Mariko being shipped off to an arranged marriage with the Emperor's son, a Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

Flame In the Mist immediately caught my attention with its gorgeous cover and promises of a Mulan retelling. I read The Wrath and the Dawn a little over a year ago and really enjoyed it (even though I still haven't read the sequel), so I knew I would have to pick this up when I got the chance! Unfortunately, it didn't end up wowing me like I'd hoped it would.

The story begins with Mariko being shipped off to an arranged marriage with the Emperor's son, a marriage that will help her family. On the way to meet her betrothed, however, her convoy is attacked by the Black Clan and no one but Mariko survives. With revenge in mind, Mariko decides to infiltrate their group, which sounds great, but everything really goes downhill from there. I have several feelings about Flame in the Mist, but I'll start with Mariko.

Over and over, even in the synopsis, the reader is told what a genius Mariko is. Throughout the book she invents things, but we're always told about the inventions and never shown. Mariko has an idea and *poof* a throwing star! Several characters comment on how intelligent and cunning Mariko is, but we never see it and I really wish we had been able to. I didn't dislike Mariko necessarily, I just didn't feel like she was anything special.

Okami is the other main character, the love interest. He was by far my favorite character in this book! In Okami's case we were actually able to see the qualities we're told about. I really enjoyed watching him prove Mariko's assumptions wrong. What I didn't like was how the romance came about.

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Several secondary characters round out the cast and I really did enjoy most of them! The one I wish had gotten a bit more focus was Mariko's twin. There were a few hints at the relationship between them, but we never got to see any of it.

I thought that (most of) the world building was really well done, at least in my uneducated opinion. Of course, I don't know much about the history of Japan, but I certainly felt like I could picture the forest where the Black Clan hung out. I also really enjoyed the different settings visited, especially the tea house. But there was a major part of the world that was extremely lacking, and that was the magic. What even is it? Random magical things happen and they barely get any acknowledgment. Is magic something that's just accepted in this world? Who has it and who doesn't? Why is absolutely nothing about this magical system brought up in the entire book?

The story was also a bit underwhelming for me. I was expecting a Mulan retelling and this is not that at all. The only similarity between Flame in the Mist and Mulan is that Mariko and Mulan both dressed as men to hide amongst a group of men and kind of learn to fight (kind of). Mariko is not part of an army, there is no war, but I guess she can throw some stars? That being said, the actual story was decent. I feel like if this hadn't been marketed as a Mulan retelling I may have enjoyed it a little more.

Overall, I didn't hate Flame in the Mist, but I wanted a lot more from it. More answers and more fleshed out characters, mostly. I did really like Okami and I enjoyed the world. Unfortunately, there just weren't enough positives to make this a good read and I can't imagine I'll read the sequel, despite it ending on a cliffhanger. I think that if you were to go into this book without any expectations of a retelling and understanding that there will be many unanswered questions, you might have better luck! ...more

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Feb 20, 2018 Amie rated it did not like it

Shelves: abandoned, taking-forever-because-i-am-so-unin, would-only-recommend-to-enemies, i-don-t-even-know, adults-read-ya-too

Man, this book started with such a bang. And that was about it. Womp womp.

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Jun 09, 2017 Kate (Feathered Turtle Press Reviews) rated it liked it

Shelves: sff-asia, ya-sff

There's a good story trapped in Flame in the Mist, but it's a story beyond what the author was capable of executing.

Mariko lives in a man's world. As a sharp-minded inventor, she struggles with a curiosity frowned upon in women and her duty as a daughter to marry a man of her parents choosing.

When the Black Clan, a notorious band of thieves, slaughters her entire convoy, she manages to escape. Dressed as a boy, Mariko seizes the opportunity to infiltrate their ranks to uncover the assailants and ...more

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Aug 25, 2017 Tânia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-releases-wishlist, 2017-favourites

4.5*

Every page of Flame in the Mist is filled with mystery and magic. I enjoyed how Mariko grew so much throughout the story, learning women can be strong in different ways (such a powerful message). However, I must confess it took me a bit to get into it. Don't get me wrong, I did find the story beautifully written -the description of the Jukai Forest and of a magical feudal Japan is captivating-, but I struggled to follow the prose a few times. ...more

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