Flames in the Mist was a wonderful journey from the very first page to the very last. It was full of Japanese mythology and culture, samurai, secrets, intrigue, magic, a badass female heroine, and the perfect amount of romance. It’s set in feudal Japan, and the world is painted beautifully.
Mariko is at the center of the story, the daughter of a samurai who has been betrothed to the Emperor’s eldest, but illegitimate, son. But as she is journeying to the city to her betrothed, her caravan is attacked. She is the only survivor, although no one yet knows that. And she is determined to find out who and why she and her people were attacked.
There is so much to enjoy about this book. The mythology of it is beautiful and mysterious, with forest spirits and trees that live off the blood of those around them. And the characters… every single one of them is incredibly interesting. They all add something to the overall story in their own ways. Each character has their own story, their own secrets, their own motivations, making them all very complex and nuanced.
What I loved best is Mariko’s character and the emphasis put upon her intelligence rather than her looks or physical strength. Her ability to think critically, to solve problems… these were the things of importance. To see her succeed by using her brain was lovely.
And then the romance. It wasn’t the main thrust of the story, which I appreciated. But it was perfection, completely swoon-worthy, which is not something I usually feel. Two strong people who appreciated and supported each other without trying to change one another. Loved it!
This book, and its sequel Smoke in the Sun are often touted as a Mulan retelling. In truth, even if you ignore the fact that this book is set in feudal Japan rather than China, that’s probably a biit of a stretch. At no point does Mariko battle in the way the Mulan did. Her battles are much more subtle. For me, the stronger connection between the two is found in the fact that both girls masquerade for a time as boys.
This was a beautifully written book with a strong female protagonist. In other words, a WIN!