Flame in the Mist

Mariko has always known she'd been raised for one purpose: to marry. Never mind her cunning or her skills as an accomplished alchemist, she's a samurai's daughter first. But on the way to meet her betrothed, Mariko's convoy is attacked by the Black Clan, a group of bandits hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace. Somehow, Mariko manages to escape and reemerges disguised as a peasant boy, ready to infiltrate the Black Clan and seek her revenge. Once within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time, she's appreciated for her intellect and abilities. Not only that, she's 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.