It was a night for magic. A night swirling with mystery, an unknowable energy pulsing in its depths. Okay, I'm going to be honest about something: I remember enjoying the arc I read of Flame in the Mist last year but, before reading this book, I couldn't remember anything that happened. In fact, I wasn't sure I was going to continue with the duology. When I was lucky enough to get an arc of this sequel, I figured I'd just give it a shot.And it all came flooding back to me in a stream of drama

i– why doesn't this series have better reviews?! what am i missing? WHY IS IT OVER?!i'm in spain and the s is silent. honestly, i understand this series is not without faults. but somehow it's been able to make me look past its misgivings and fall in love with the story and characters. i've recently been disappointed with retellings, almost to the point where i steer clear of them entirely. they usually fall flat, in my opinion. but i decided to reread book 1 so i could finish the series and fou...

THE REVIEW IS POSTEDFlame in the Mist : ★★★★ my reviewSmoke in the Sun : ★★★½3,7 STARS "I would rather die for love than stand by and watch my love perish." My Opinion Time!To be honest, I still can't believe that I have finished reading this book because I remember reading the first book months ago and I loved it and after I finished reading the first book, I felt like there was something missing inside of me and the sequel would fill this missing piece in me. So I was really excit...

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. A wonderful conclusion to a duology that’s built upon its predecessor to create a magical world with colourful characters set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan. The story follows almost immediately after the conclusion of Flame in the Mist, with little time to catch your breath before the action begins. We find Mariko being transported to the Emperors palace to meet her future husband, the emperor’s eldest illegitimate son Raide...

“Respect is not a thing granted. It is a thing earned.” A fitting conclusion to the duology. Mariko is no longer in the woods, dressed as a boy and playing outlaw. It’s time for her to learn diplomacy and how to survive at court. The world becomes bigger, and we get glimpses into more characters and the magic system—something I sorely missed in the first book.My biggest problem with the first book was that the characters’ morality was too simplistic, either pure good or cartoonishly e

I love this cover, and I love the fact that it's got this gorgeous woman of color on it, and I love that Renee herself had a hand in ensuring that the color scheme still complimented the US hardback of the first book just so people wouldn't feel like their covers mismatched. <3 Precious.

renee ahdieh is the queen of duologies. she has mastered the art of giving just enough of the story to satisfy the reader - not too much, and not too little; just the right amount. it felt like this was the yin to the ‘flame in the mist’ yang. where the first book was very fast paced and daring, this was more calm and calculating. so neat how one whole story can come together with two completely different halves. and whilst i am more than satisfied with the conclusion of this story, i cant help

I do wish this series was a trilogy though.

Thank you to NetGally for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.4 Stars!“She would not turn her back on what defined her, even if others perceived it as a weakness."I originally didn’t know what to think going into this, I thought Flame in the Mist was okay, and had no idea where the journey would take us, but this was SO good! I have to admit I had hit a bit of a reading slump part way through this for a number of reasons, I wasn’t as engaged as what I would of liked. There’s a lot

"This was what it meant to be truly free. To be herself and no one else.To be loved as she was."1) Flame in the mist ★★★★★4.5Why didn't I five Smoke in the sun five full stars?Well, there's only one thing Renee Ahdieh needs to work on: how to write endings. Seriously, she has written two amazing duologues but both of them had incredibly rushed endings. Plus, the epilogues are always too short. For example, here we don't know what happened to Yumi or Kenshin, two very important characters. Yes, w...

Actual review: 4.5““Everything in life began with an idea.”What an idea this book was. Smoke in the Sun is the second and final book in the Flame in the Mist duology, a tale inspired by the story of Mulan. I found this book to be an entertaining, somewhat complex, and a feminist portrayal of character study that surpassed my expectations. I can’t help but state the one compliment that is hard to bestow onto YA books in general: I did not see this coming.The story surprised me. The characters, th...

Real Rating: 2.75Last year I read the first book in this duology, Flame in the Mist. I liked it. It was alright. I gave it three stars. I also had so many questions in terms of worldbuilding and the magic system. I also had some problems with the oh, so intelligent main character, Mariko. Still, I was interested enough to read this book and see how it all ended.Now, I must say, I'm only slightly more a fan of Mariko, and I still have so many questions about worldbuilding and the magic system. He...

Star Rating: —> 5 StarsUm. If the first book had me SHOOK, this rendered me GD SHOOKETH .RTCbuddy read with Darce my OTP BUDDY READING BESTIE! 🤗

Actual rating 3.75/5 stars.Smoke in the Sun is the second book in the Flame in the Mist duology. This final instalment continues to follow Mariko, fiercely independent in a world that expects its females to be anything but. This fantasy, inspired by Feudal Japan, focuses on both the shifting allegiances and political intrigue of the Emperor's court, as well as the wider tribulations, troubling the kingdom.Before beginning this book I only had the vaguest recollection of the first one. I could re...

5 Words: Family, loyalty, attraction, betrayal, power.THIS is how you write a second book. It was wonderful and I enjoyed it so much more than the first.As I started this book I was like "help, what happened in the first one?" and I searched for recaps. Because you have to have read the first book to read this one, it picks back up only days after the first and there is very little reflection on what happened previously.I really feel that Mariko grew and changed so much in this book, even more t...