Flame in the Mist
Flame in the Mist
By Renee Ahdieh
The
stars could fall - the moon could crash from the heavens - and Mariko could not
care.
God bless my little, tiny
heart…I’m completely on fire. I can feel my blood burning while reading the
book. And even though I read the first half of it about a half month ago and
finished it just now…I can still feel the flame burning right through me. I need
the Smoke in the Sun now!!!!!!!!! 
The only daughter of a prominent samurai,
Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only:
to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother,
Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born
a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.
So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is
sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose,
for the very first time. But the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is
viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been
hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.
The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to
the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out
to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on
her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first
time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself
falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever
known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.
Be as
swift as the wind. As silent as the forest. As fierce as the fire. As
unshakable as the mountain. And you can do anything.
I hate behaving like an idiot…but
you know what??? I behave like an idiot whenever I read Renee’s books!!!!
Damn!!!! How can the book be so affective to me??? 
I love how Renee creates
strong female characters and still balance the striving plot with great great
great romance. Oh gosh…I’m not swooning. I’m not smiling like an idiot…SOMEBODY
STOP ME!!!!!
There is
such strength in being a woman. But it is a strength you must choose for
yourself. No one can choose it for you. We can bend the wind to our ear if we
would only try.
As a female author, Renee
Ahdieh really creates great model over the protagonists inside her books. I won’t
say they’re flawless or perfect in every way (But they’re all incredibly awesome.)
As you might know, I’m a crazy fan of Shahrzad
in TWATD (I need to reread that book…) She is smart, brave, and a great
feminist. (I know recently…at least I know, a lot of people are complaining
about feminist…but I promise, Shahrzad is really a great one.) I love her in
everywhere. However, or reckless Mariko…I must say she’s slightly a bit
reckless than Shahrzad. But I love the fire in her blood, her curiousness, her smartness,
her bravery. Although she might be a little bit of hatred to the world…at least
from where I see, she still has possess great spirit and being so positive for
most of the time.
She’d
fought off her assailant. And in doing so, she’d displayed one of the seven
virtues of bushidō: Courage. The way of the warrior.
She isn’t the smartest character I’ve ever seen…and sometime, she so naïve
that I want to punch her into her face…but, I love her. It’s her spirit that
stand her out. As every female characters in Renee Ahdieh’s books. They can be
girly, strong, courageous, boyish…and in different forms. But they all got one
thing in common—their unbreakable spirit. 
In certain twist, their
actions will make you…make your heart hits your chests so heart that you might
faint in worry, excitement, and so on. If I must choose a character that will
never bored me? Find in Renee’s books.
You are
first and foremost a person. A reckless, foolish person, but a person
nonetheless. If I ever say you are not permitted to do something, rest assured
that the last reason I would ever say so would be because you are a girl.
As for the male characters…oh
my gosh. 
Never mind…but although I didn’t swoon that
much on Okami as I did when I read Khalid…(He is still my beloved, don’t fight
with me. He is mine!!!!) He is still a remarkable character…although I expected
to see more of him in the next book. Instead of being…mysterious, saying those…you
know…stuff.
Beautiful
words were beautiful words, even to the most practical of minds.
I
must say…instead of Okami, I’m really anticipated to see what will happen to Kenshin.
As Mariko’s brother, he doesn’t get the chance to see through his father’s perfect
illusion, yet when things are about to turn, he was driven by hatred. It’s sort
of like a comparison with Mariko…one escape, one remain prison. I’m really looking
forward to it. And besides, I must say I’m also excited to see what will turn
out between Raiden, Mariko and Khalid. Since…apparently, there is a bigger plot
behind everything!!!! And I love it!!!! So…although I’m slightly disappointed
with Okami…(I still love him, don’t get me wrong.) I’m really glad to see an
entire different setting from other YA book. Oh right, I didn’t say, Flame in
the Mist is probably set in the Japanese culture. (Wait…why aren’t there any
Chinese fantasy???) As an Asian…with all due respect…I’m not that kind of fond
of Japanese culture in some way…just in some way. But Renee really change my
thought on it. Although…I’m not sure whether this is a western idea or not…since
to me, Japanese culture isn’t the most female respected culture of all. (But at
least here in Flame in the Mist…the setting isn’t bad. On the contrary, I long
to read more.)
I’ve
never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I’ve been
angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must
fight. Like being born under a stormy sky. Some people are lucky enough to be
born on a bright summer’s day. Maybe we were born under clouds. No wind. No
rain. Just a mountain of clouds we must climb each morning so that we may see
the sun.
Now…like I’ve always said…go and read the
book!!!!!!! Renee Ahdieh is one of the authors that you can’t miss!!!!!! Whether
you like it or not, give it a try, Flame in the Mist will give you a different kind
of views among the YA industry. Try it, read it, and most important of all,
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! And ONE LAST THING…OKAMI IS MINE!!!!!!! MAWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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