books_over_everything's review against another edition
5.0
Title Yumi
Author Reneé Ahdieh
Description from Amazon
When Yumi receives word of the battle led against her brother and the Black Clan by Prince Raiden and the Dragon of Kai, and of Ōkami’s sacrifice, she resents the bars of her gilded cage all the more. She’s tired of being a sheltered bird, protected in the Hanami. What Yumi really wants is to strike a blow against all the forces that control her life. The time has come.
Mini Review
Since this is a novella and a super short one, I wanted to do a smaller version of my usual review. I really enjoyed this story. Yumi is an interesting character that I wish we saw more of in Flame in the Mist and Smoke in the Sun. I would read a full length spin-off novel about her.
I would recommend reading this after Flame in the Mist and before Smoke in the Sun as there are spoilers for the first book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Defy by Sara B. Larson – if you liked the concept of a girl disguising herself as a boy to survive, check out this series by Sara B. Larson. Alex is much more capable than Mariko from the jump, but the stories are very similar.
The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas – if you are looking for an action packed Mulan retelling – give this book a try.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim – again, if you want Mulan vibes with an alternate setting and other cultures mixed in, do yourself a favor and read Spin the Dawn.
Author Reneé Ahdieh
Description from Amazon
When Yumi receives word of the battle led against her brother and the Black Clan by Prince Raiden and the Dragon of Kai, and of Ōkami’s sacrifice, she resents the bars of her gilded cage all the more. She’s tired of being a sheltered bird, protected in the Hanami. What Yumi really wants is to strike a blow against all the forces that control her life. The time has come.
Mini Review
Since this is a novella and a super short one, I wanted to do a smaller version of my usual review. I really enjoyed this story. Yumi is an interesting character that I wish we saw more of in Flame in the Mist and Smoke in the Sun. I would read a full length spin-off novel about her.
I would recommend reading this after Flame in the Mist and before Smoke in the Sun as there are spoilers for the first book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Defy by Sara B. Larson – if you liked the concept of a girl disguising herself as a boy to survive, check out this series by Sara B. Larson. Alex is much more capable than Mariko from the jump, but the stories are very similar.
The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas – if you are looking for an action packed Mulan retelling – give this book a try.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim – again, if you want Mulan vibes with an alternate setting and other cultures mixed in, do yourself a favor and read Spin the Dawn.
healingtothemax's review against another edition
3.0
Another deleted scene listed as a short story bridging gap between duology; do read its companion Okami before this, both require first reading book 1, Flame in the Mist, before book 2, Smoke in the Sun.
bethjkdixon's review against another edition
3.0
"The time Yumi had left was what mattered most. She was tired of being Tsuneoki's messenger. Tired of being nothing more than a pretty face."
Again Yumi is a character exercise but I enjoyed this one much more than Ōkami. We didn't get to see much of Yumi in Flame in the Mist, or hear from her POV, so this novella gives us an insight into someone who is sure to be a bigger player in Smoke in the Sun. Like her brother Yumi is tired of the way things are, and she's determined to do whatever she can to change things for her family.
Full review available on my blog Reading Every Night.
jennhillmeow's review against another edition
3.0
Pathetically short, but it gave a little insight into Yumi's character.
bookishbuddies's review against another edition
4.0
3,5 stars!
I don't really connect to Yumi, but to have this story is a nice expansion of the original duology. You get to know Yumi a little better in this story, and you especially get to know about how she feels about certain things and what motivates her. In that sense, this really gives some unique insight from a perspective you might not consider otherwise.
I don't really connect to Yumi, but to have this story is a nice expansion of the original duology. You get to know Yumi a little better in this story, and you especially get to know about how she feels about certain things and what motivates her. In that sense, this really gives some unique insight from a perspective you might not consider otherwise.
jordannedunn's review against another edition
3.0
A good time-filler before the release of the sequel
Another nice short, though it doesn't really add anything to the series much like Okami's, though as I prefer his character I liked that one more.
Another nice short, though it doesn't really add anything to the series much like Okami's, though as I prefer his character I liked that one more.
belladistef's review against another edition
3.0
this was a chapter that bridged the gap between book #1 and books #2 and it was good - can't wait to see more of Yumi!
ejpass's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: novellas, character stories, between-story stories
I liked seeing the change Yumi underwent in her novella, especially since we get to see peeks of her that Mariko is not privy to. That fire we see in Flame proves to be a spark that sets her running across rooftops in her free time and deciding to help her brother and the Black Clan, previously in sending messages and, in the future, more directly. It's definitely a great introduction to her actions in the next book.
Recommended for people who like: novellas, character stories, between-story stories
I liked seeing the change Yumi underwent in her novella, especially since we get to see peeks of her that Mariko is not privy to. That fire we see in Flame proves to be a spark that sets her running across rooftops in her free time and deciding to help her brother and the Black Clan, previously in sending messages and, in the future, more directly. It's definitely a great introduction to her actions in the next book.
itratali's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5