Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
The end of Mirage left our main character, Amani, in a bad situation after Maram discovered her connection to the rebellion. Their blossoming friendship blew to pieces, and Amani’s family is now more than ever in danger if she doesn’t do what she’s told. All the while, the wave of rebellion is slowly but surely growing across Andala.
The first book was a pleasant surprise. I tend to not read YA anymore because I’m tired of reading the same stories over and over again. But Mirage really stood out with its commentary on conquest and its beautiful Moroccan-inspired setting. The main reason I decided to continue this series was to see how the rebellion would evolve and how the people would fight to regain their freedom.
Unfortunately, we have very little of that in Court of Lions. Where I expected to see people fight back their invaders and tension growing with each page, I only had boring court intrigues and countless paragraphs of descriptions of clothing and surroundings. It was great for setting a good atmosphere, but it made the book slow and frustrating!
If we put aside the terrible pacing, I still had a good time with the characters and enjoyed seeing them grow. The addition of a f/f romance was perfect and adds a lot to the plot while pushing it forward.
Overall, it was an entertaining and refreshing duology in a world where all the YA books seem to be the same. It delivered its message despite some pacing mistakes and turned out to be a strong debut!
The first book was a pleasant surprise. I tend to not read YA anymore because I’m tired of reading the same stories over and over again. But Mirage really stood out with its commentary on conquest and its beautiful Moroccan-inspired setting. The main reason I decided to continue this series was to see how the rebellion would evolve and how the people would fight to regain their freedom.
Unfortunately, we have very little of that in Court of Lions. Where I expected to see people fight back their invaders and tension growing with each page, I only had boring court intrigues and countless paragraphs of descriptions of clothing and surroundings. It was great for setting a good atmosphere, but it made the book slow and frustrating!
If we put aside the terrible pacing, I still had a good time with the characters and enjoyed seeing them grow. The addition of a f/f romance was perfect and adds a lot to the plot while pushing it forward.
Overall, it was an entertaining and refreshing duology in a world where all the YA books seem to be the same. It delivered its message despite some pacing mistakes and turned out to be a strong debut!
3/5 - A bit longer than Mirage and characters still felt 2D.
My mind wandered many times while reading this book. Some plot elements I did not understand. More character interactions, but way more new characters and not enough to make each character stand out, so 2D characters.
The romance got more prominence in this book, but I still barely cared for them. Glad there’s a LGBTQ+ relationship though.
Would not read again.
My mind wandered many times while reading this book. Some plot elements I did not understand. More character interactions, but way more new characters and not enough to make each character stand out, so 2D characters.
The romance got more prominence in this book, but I still barely cared for them. Glad there’s a LGBTQ+ relationship though.
Would not read again.
BIRD LESBIANS BIRD LESBIANS BIRD LESBIANS BIRD LESBIANS
OH EXCELLENCE. this delivered exactly what i wanted from this book. but the real jewel of this book was definitely maram. i loved to see her grow and getting to read from her perspective every now and then. she's come so far. and dont even get me started on maram and amani, my sisters, they're everything to me.
also i love when lesbians win.
also i love when lesbians win.
I vaguely remember remarking to myself about the pacing of this book (I read it 1.5 months ago), but I also remember really really liking it.
This book was everything I wanted in the sequel and conclusion to the story!
Amani is a queenmaker. Whenever someone called her that in disgust, and Amani was like "no," I was like "uh, yes you ARE. credit where credit is due!" Amani gave major 'The system must be really fragile if I can be taken down with a few berries,' energy. Amani and Katniss are different sides of the same coin...actually, Amani and Peeta might be more similar. Except in this case, the system was really fragile because one 'village girl' had the courage to tell the princess how it is and the compassion to see how she was more frightened than anything, so she nurtured a friendship with her and helped Maram become the ruler she knew she could be.
I was pleased with how quickly Maram and Amani made amends because Maram FINALLY realized that Amani cares about her and wants to protect her. From there they were sisters, and it made me so damn happy.
Maram being a lesbian was not in my guesses for this book, which is silly, since she acts like a textbook mean girl lesbian in the first novel. Anyways, as soon as she started interacting with Aghraas, I had a really good feeling that she was Maram's love interest. Also, I'm glad Amani finally put together that Aghraas is a tesleet shifter, but I guess it's not really that important. Aghraas did her thing and inspired Amani, and now she can love Maram.
ALSO, I had the thought early in the first book and again multiple times throughout the first and second books that someone in Amani's family had to be important to the rebellion or royalty of some kind. Maram and Amani could not just look alike for no fucking reason. So for her mother to reunite with her just before Amani and Idris's wedding, and him be like 'holy shit, this is your mom,' and she's like 'yeah????' Then Amani's mom is like, yeah I'm Moulouda al-Farisiya, and I conquered half the world in my father's name, and I'm the dowager's niece, so you and Maram really are cousins, was SUCH an iconic final plot twist drop. I didn't guess who exactly Moulouda was, but I was suspcious, so I'm giving myself half credit for figuring that one out.
I liked the whole 'we can't be together' romance line between Amani and Idris, it added some flavor to the book, heightening the tension and the yearning and angst. However, I felt a little crazy at times because I felt like I missed them falling in love. Like, I vaguely remember them saying 'I love you' in the first book, but I don't remember them falling in love. It didn't seem like enough for me to believe it. I think that's why I was chill with the second book storyline because it gave time for them to year and test the relationship, and Idris did test it.
It was kind of awesome how in one moment I lost most of my respect for Idris, and my respect for Amani multipled like tenfold. Idris being like 'please give up the rebellion, so you stay alive,' and Amani's like 'i can't do that babe. i love you, but freedom is more important.'
I was yelling at my book being like, 'don't FUCKING give in, tell him off!!' and I was so pleasantly surprised to see Amani tell Idris off. I've seen one too many characters and hell people fold in this sort of scenario, so it makes me feel incredible when a someone doesn't!
The throne room scene! Amani being in Nadine's grip and she distracts her and escapes, so Idris can shoot her. BALLER. Maram and Aghraas both shoot and kill Maram's father at same time. EPIC.
I really came to love Maram during this book. Her overhearing that one conversation between Amani and Nadine, where Nadine admits to manipulating her, and Maram IMMEDIATELY turns on her. UGH! So good!
My respect of Marm rose immensely when, in the aftermath of the assassination, she made sure Amani was guarded, both literally and figurately. Maram named Amani a cousin and raised her to Ziyadi status in court, and as a wedding gift, giving her M'Gaadir because she wanted Amani to have something that is hers entirely. AND Maram wants Amani and Idris's kids to inherit the throne. Maram's playing the long game, and I respect the hell out of her for it!
Amani is a queenmaker. Whenever someone called her that in disgust, and Amani was like "no," I was like "uh, yes you ARE. credit where credit is due!" Amani gave major 'The system must be really fragile if I can be taken down with a few berries,' energy. Amani and Katniss are different sides of the same coin...actually, Amani and Peeta might be more similar. Except in this case, the system was really fragile because one 'village girl' had the courage to tell the princess how it is and the compassion to see how she was more frightened than anything, so she nurtured a friendship with her and helped Maram become the ruler she knew she could be.
I was pleased with how quickly Maram and Amani made amends because Maram FINALLY realized that Amani cares about her and wants to protect her. From there they were sisters, and it made me so damn happy.
Maram being a lesbian was not in my guesses for this book, which is silly, since she acts like a textbook mean girl lesbian in the first novel. Anyways, as soon as she started interacting with Aghraas, I had a really good feeling that she was Maram's love interest. Also, I'm glad Amani finally put together that Aghraas is a tesleet shifter, but I guess it's not really that important. Aghraas did her thing and inspired Amani, and now she can love Maram.
ALSO, I had the thought early in the first book and again multiple times throughout the first and second books that someone in Amani's family had to be important to the rebellion or royalty of some kind. Maram and Amani could not just look alike for no fucking reason. So for her mother to reunite with her just before Amani and Idris's wedding, and him be like 'holy shit, this is your mom,' and she's like 'yeah????' Then Amani's mom is like, yeah I'm Moulouda al-Farisiya, and I conquered half the world in my father's name, and I'm the dowager's niece, so you and Maram really are cousins, was SUCH an iconic final plot twist drop. I didn't guess who exactly Moulouda was, but I was suspcious, so I'm giving myself half credit for figuring that one out.
I liked the whole 'we can't be together' romance line between Amani and Idris, it added some flavor to the book, heightening the tension and the yearning and angst. However, I felt a little crazy at times because I felt like I missed them falling in love. Like, I vaguely remember them saying 'I love you' in the first book, but I don't remember them falling in love. It didn't seem like enough for me to believe it. I think that's why I was chill with the second book storyline because it gave time for them to year and test the relationship, and Idris did test it.
It was kind of awesome how in one moment I lost most of my respect for Idris, and my respect for Amani multipled like tenfold. Idris being like 'please give up the rebellion, so you stay alive,' and Amani's like 'i can't do that babe. i love you, but freedom is more important.'
I was yelling at my book being like, 'don't FUCKING give in, tell him off!!' and I was so pleasantly surprised to see Amani tell Idris off. I've seen one too many characters and hell people fold in this sort of scenario, so it makes me feel incredible when a someone doesn't!
The throne room scene! Amani being in Nadine's grip and she distracts her and escapes, so Idris can shoot her. BALLER. Maram and Aghraas both shoot and kill Maram's father at same time. EPIC.
I really came to love Maram during this book. Her overhearing that one conversation between Amani and Nadine, where Nadine admits to manipulating her, and Maram IMMEDIATELY turns on her. UGH! So good!
My respect of Marm rose immensely when, in the aftermath of the assassination, she made sure Amani was guarded, both literally and figurately. Maram named Amani a cousin and raised her to Ziyadi status in court, and as a wedding gift, giving her M'Gaadir because she wanted Amani to have something that is hers entirely. AND Maram wants Amani and Idris's kids to inherit the throne. Maram's playing the long game, and I respect the hell out of her for it!
ROMANCE
LESBIANS
A PLOT TO OVERTHROW IMPERIAL INTERGALACTIC COLONIZERS
HAPPY ENDINGS FOR ALL
it has it all
LESBIANS
A PLOT TO OVERTHROW IMPERIAL INTERGALACTIC COLONIZERS
HAPPY ENDINGS FOR ALL
it has it all