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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really, really enjoyed this one! The romance was handled much better in this one, and I looooved Maram’s romance so much. This world was so lush, and the political intrigue really took center stage, which I adored. Excellent duology, excellent ending!!
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m so thankful I got an ARC for this book! It was an incredible finale for an incredible duology. The fashion was on point as always, the yearning was top notch in BOTH romances (yes I said both), and the commentary of colonialism is just amazing. This was truthfully the best book I’ve read in a long time.
The Characters:
Amani and Maram are my absolute favorite relationship in both Mirage and Court of Lions. Their differences and similarities are so interesting to watch as they unfold. As a doppelgänger, the lines can become blurred between what is YOU and what is the person you’re portraying. Those lines in Mirage were explored for Amani...in Court of Lions we get to see how those lines have blurred for Maram. We also get her POV in this book so we get to see what is going on behind her cold and calculated mask. The supporting cast of characters was also important with some new and welcome members. One in particular is very intriguing and I’m not sure if my reading comprehension is all that great but she gets some very interesting backstory that I was not prepared for. Amani and Maram’s pasts are brought to closer inspection and I really love their ties to their families and their lineage. I admire Amani for her overflowing love for those who are close to her and Maram’s fierce protection of the ones who gain her trust.
The World:
The fashion is ALWAYS an important character in the story and I absolutely adore that about Somaiya’s writing. There is no detail too small when it comes to the color, fabric, threads, buttons, veils, jewelry, etc when describing the STUNNING “armor” that is Amani and Maram’s wardrobes. Every color choice or embroidered motif has a very specific intention when worn, and I am always floored by those details.
The setting is very different this time around and I don’t want to go into too much detail but they have a very specific feel to them based on how each character interacts with that setting.
The POLITICS, oh Dihya the politics. Mirage was very focused on what goes on in the Vath empire and Court of Lions shifts to the Andaalan politics and its a very stark contrast to what we’ve seen before. Again, I don’t want to give too much away it there is very much still an element of subtle guidance from underneath that we got from Mirage happening here as well.
The Romance:
I literally let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding MULTIPLE TIMES while reading the romance scenes in this book. It isn’t too much because Amani and Maram have real things to do but boy was there tension! I was breathless reading the romance in this book and I guarantee you will be too. There is an LGBTQ+ romance in this book and it was written so well I felt my heart squeeze when they were together.
Overall:
The plot was great, the lead up was well paced, the ending was very chaotic but in the best of ways, and I really enjoyed this read. It asks some really important questions about identity, justice, and what you want to bring to the world. The commentary on colonization and the affect it has on the oppressed culture was handled with so much thought and care. There were so many different facets that were explored and so much complexity to the conversation with both Mirage and Court of Lions. I loved every second of this book and I hope you all feel the same way too by the end.
The Characters:
Amani and Maram are my absolute favorite relationship in both Mirage and Court of Lions. Their differences and similarities are so interesting to watch as they unfold. As a doppelgänger, the lines can become blurred between what is YOU and what is the person you’re portraying. Those lines in Mirage were explored for Amani...in Court of Lions we get to see how those lines have blurred for Maram. We also get her POV in this book so we get to see what is going on behind her cold and calculated mask. The supporting cast of characters was also important with some new and welcome members. One in particular is very intriguing and I’m not sure if my reading comprehension is all that great but she gets some very interesting backstory that I was not prepared for. Amani and Maram’s pasts are brought to closer inspection and I really love their ties to their families and their lineage. I admire Amani for her overflowing love for those who are close to her and Maram’s fierce protection of the ones who gain her trust.
The World:
The fashion is ALWAYS an important character in the story and I absolutely adore that about Somaiya’s writing. There is no detail too small when it comes to the color, fabric, threads, buttons, veils, jewelry, etc when describing the STUNNING “armor” that is Amani and Maram’s wardrobes. Every color choice or embroidered motif has a very specific intention when worn, and I am always floored by those details.
The setting is very different this time around and I don’t want to go into too much detail but they have a very specific feel to them based on how each character interacts with that setting.
The POLITICS, oh Dihya the politics. Mirage was very focused on what goes on in the Vath empire and Court of Lions shifts to the Andaalan politics and its a very stark contrast to what we’ve seen before. Again, I don’t want to give too much away it there is very much still an element of subtle guidance from underneath that we got from Mirage happening here as well.
The Romance:
I literally let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding MULTIPLE TIMES while reading the romance scenes in this book. It isn’t too much because Amani and Maram have real things to do but boy was there tension! I was breathless reading the romance in this book and I guarantee you will be too. There is an LGBTQ+ romance in this book and it was written so well I felt my heart squeeze when they were together.
Overall:
The plot was great, the lead up was well paced, the ending was very chaotic but in the best of ways, and I really enjoyed this read. It asks some really important questions about identity, justice, and what you want to bring to the world. The commentary on colonization and the affect it has on the oppressed culture was handled with so much thought and care. There were so many different facets that were explored and so much complexity to the conversation with both Mirage and Court of Lions. I loved every second of this book and I hope you all feel the same way too by the end.
adventurous
dark
tense
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No