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Fantasy. Romance. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: "Mirage is full of characters who feel like they existed long before the story began, and a rich world that is as beautiful as it is cruel. Somaiya Daud is a rare talent. A smart, romantic, exciting debut." �??Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent and Carve the Mark A stunning epic fantasy audiobook inspired by the author's Moroccan heritage about a poor girl who must become the body double of a princess of a ruthless empire hailed as "a rich, dazzling, powerful debut" by Tahereh Mafi, the New York Times author of the Shatter Me series In a world dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated home. But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place. As Amani is forced into her new role, she can't help but enjoy the palace's beauty�??and her time with the princess' fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death. More praise for Mirage: "Daud is a masterful storyteller. Mirage gives readers an exquisitely wrought world with deft characters, death-defying stakes, and an aching romance. Bound to linger in your dreams." �?? Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen "MIRAGE reads as an impossible trick of the light, a feather that carves words into stone, a banquet of longing and loss. Every page comes roaring to life in a way that overwhelms and transforms you. This isn't a debut novel so much as an heirloom, and the work of a master storyteller." �?? Margaret Stohl, #1 New York Times bestselling author Beautiful Creatures & Black Widow: Forever Red "With its breathtaking worldbuilding and characters who grabbed me from the first page, Mirage is by turns thrilling and ruminative, sexy and heartbreaking. Somaiya Daud has written a moving and unforgettable debut." �?? Sabaa Tahir, New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in t… (more)
User reviews
We've all read so many palace intrigue/rebellion against cruel overlords/secret identity stories. The trope is popular because there are so many different ways to explore it, so many plots to be fashioned. And Somaiya Daud puts such an amazingly unique and effective
Amani's faith is an important aspect throughout the story, and it's handled with beauty, respect, and care. Her understanding not only of the rebels plotting against the imperial monarch but of the princess who, in her own way, is also trapped by the cruelties of colonization, is so deeply and wonderfully explored. Amani's decisions and choices all make so much sense even if they are heartbreaking, or come with devastating consequences. Her inner conflicts, her self-doubt and her self-affirmation, her defense of her people, her culture, her heritage, her language is all so poignant and courageous. She is such a well-written character I found myself lost in her world and sad to leave her point of view once the story ended.
All the characters are well-written, even minor ones. The worldbuilding is layered and fascinating and the bits of history and culture are beautifully given. The world feels real and solid, not just a backdrop for the main character. It feels lived in. And I have to admit, I fell instantly in love when I read Amani's home moon is called Cadiz because I live in the province of Cadiz in Spain, and so much of this story brought to mind al-Andalus, the Moorish/Arabic kingdom that held much of Spain during the middle ages.
This is a wonderfully diverse story written by an author who understands imperialism, marginalization, political subjugation, and the impact of empire on local cultures and systems. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, sci fi, or just great character work
The main heroine, Amani, is
The world building is interesting. The whole book is set in a sci-fi world, however it's not built out very well beyond the immediate world where Amani lives. The story itself has a very typical YA fantasy feel to it. Lots of intrigue, rebellion, and romance.
I wasn’t all that pleased with the ending. The book ends on a cliffhanger and doesn't really resolve anything. Again, I expected this but was a bit disappointed that my expectations were met here.
Overall this was a beautifully written book and I enjoyed the writing style, but the predictability of the story offset that some for me. I probably won't continue with the series because my main reaction at the end was; "Huh, I thought that was what was going to happen...on to the next book." This book is a YA novel that is very much focused on intrigue and romance in a setting that is lightly science fiction.
Whether you like this story will depend a lot on how you feel about that central romance, but it is a good one (even if it is a bit insta-lovey, for those who don't like that trope). The author also delves into the evils of colonization, with the story being told from the point of view of the conquered. By necessity, there's a lot of court politics here, and rebellions and spies, including our protagonist, Amani. She has been kidnapped to serve as the body double of Princess Maram, the hated daughter of the conquerer, and because of this she is dragged into a frothing stew of scheming and manipulation as she struggles to survive.
The author does a fairly successful job of humanizing the spoiled, nasty Princess Maram, revealing her to be a sad, lonely girl caught between her Vathek father and Andalaan mother, reviled as a half-breed. This book is shot through with the grief of the conquered, and the determination not to let their culture and way of life fade away. The first-novel syndrome is the reason I'm not rating this higher, but I certainly hope the author works through those kinks. Once she is more in command of her craft, I think this will be an excellent story.
I feel like I have maybe read a similar book before, but I am digging the strong, multi-layered