Ritu Nair
The sequel/finale to Flame in the Mist was as unexpected in its storyline as the first - though I don't know why I expected familiar tropes to play out in the book. It takes the story in a different direction than I had assumed, with more depth to the characters in this installment, with some backstories, and continues the theme of duty and honor. Mariko is in the palace, trying to get Okami out, while also trying to be a backup for the Black Clan over there. Meanwhile, Raiden's mother has put in motion plans that would help her son take the throne; plans which not many people know about and in which Kenshin is trapped. As for Raiden, who seemed to be brute, there is another side of him coming to light in this book, as he starts to see Roku for who he really is. There were some plot points that I thought were going to be significant but didn't turn out to be (like that enchanted sword) and I did feel that the ending was a bit too rushed, even if it ended well. Overall, it is a satisfactory sequel and good conclusion to the duology.
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