This little story is not what you would expect, and it certainly kept me guessing. While a prequel to a romance novel, this, in of itself, is not a romance. It is a very complicated look at imprisonment, abuse, and the negotiations we humans make to gain our freedoms. It was a little slow to start, but once I realized what to expect, it was a very enjoyable ride.

The protagonists in this story are the very young Leighton Atwood and the even younger Ying-ying. Thomas follows Atwood's journey from his home of Starling Manor to the moors of his horrible uncle Sir Curtis and then on the continent once he makes his escape. The friends he makes are memorable and layered, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them.

Meanwhile, Ying-ying is raised by her Amah after her mother, a famed courtesan, dies young. Then, she is relocated to her step-father's home where she must content with snobby servants, a lascivious heir, a disinterested step-father, and a curious but friendly English teacher all while she learns the tricks of the trade. It's very reminiscent of Ziyi Zhang's character's storyline in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Before these two disparate characters can collide with one another, the story ends. An epic battle ensues between Ying-ying and a fellow servant in her step-father's household. It carried me through swells of emotion, which is just how it should be. Having not read the sequel, My Beautiful Enemy, I didn't know who to root for, or who would be the leads in the next story, so the ending could've gone any which way.

I do highly recommend this story, but I also want to temper your expectations that this is a brutal story, and not a sweet love tale between children. ( )

Awesome read, especially for a book I didn't think I was going to like that much. It kept me interested and I did not want to put the book down. The only negative for me was that the ending was more like a "to be continued...". ( )

*SLIGHT SPOILERS*

For those of you who have been a fan of Sherry Thomas's historical romances and for those of you who love her for her YA fantasy this is the best of both worlds.

The Hidden Blade is a YA historical adventure spread across England and China, and it's gorgeous! On one side there is a quiet British boy, Leighton Atwood, whose dad commits suicide shamed and blackmailed for his love of another man, Herb. Leighton is suddenly taken away from a loving, carefree family and put into care of his unbending, fanatical, sadistic, horrid uncle and he has to struggle for every ounce of freedom until finally he runs away in search of Herb.

On another side of the world there is Ying-Ying, a young girl who grows up in the shadow of her beautiful mother, - a long-standing, beloved concubine of Da-ren, a powerful government official of China. Ying-Ying is a half-breed, and doesn't feel like she belongs, so when her mom dies, she is taken into care of her Amah (nanny) and discovers that the woman is not who she seems. Amah is a part of ancient military order, and Ying-Ying becomes her new recruit.

Ironically the only thing that connects Leighton and Ying-Ying - two such different characters, is Herb. Among all the heartbreak and adventure, he is the one Leighton seeks, and the one who ends up teaching Ying-Ying English. Read for yourself about their dramatic journeys in between...

This was a fantastic, absorbing, heartbreaking read, and I wholly recommend it. My Beautiful Enemy finishes Leighton and Ying-Ying's story years later, and I recommend you to grab it and read it straight away after The Hidden Blade. ( )

The Hidden Blade is a coming of age tale of two children, Leighton Atwood and Catherine Blade (Ying-Ying). While Leighton struggles to overcome tragedy and the cruelty of his austere uncle, who attempts to imprison him on his estate, Ying-Ying trains to become a martial artist to defend herself in Peking China and a be worthy of her austere step-father. The story flips between the two characters, with their connection being Leighton's friend, and his father's lover, the teacher Herbert Gordon, who teaches Ying-Ying English.

It takes place in the late 1800s and is a prequel to the romance novel, My Beautiful Enemy.

In some respects the Hidden Blade is the better novel, not quite as many plot contrivances. Yet, it does feel unfinished, and definitely a prequel. You should read both books, each would, I think be incomplete without the other.

( )