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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
3.5* the first 120 pages were slow for me. Just too much descriptions... For a first in a series it was pretty solid and I will definitely continue.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Mirage is totally unlike anything that I've read in YA before - that's a good thing. The simplest way to put it is that it's like a science fiction/fantasy novel set in an alternate universe that seems vaguely inspired by Morocco, involves dopplegangers, a royal family and an uprising that threatens the cruel rule of a colonialist empire. At its heart, of course, it's about eighteen year old Amani. Amani lives in a quiet part of the Vathek Empire and she's a dreamer, who dreams of the day where her prayers may be answered and she may be sent a sign from Dihya that she will have a purpose bigger than herself and that she may have an adventure. However, her dreams do not go according to plan.
Instead, on her birthday celebrations and on the day where she is recognised to have become an adult, Amani is stolen from her family and from everyone that she knows. Amani has been brought to the seat of the Vathek Empire, to serve as Princess Maram's body double. Amani destests the Vathek Empire and how they have conquered her people, erasing their history, looking down upon their cultural practices and always reminding them that they are no better than slaves. Yet, Maram is half-Vathek and half-Kushaila, which explains Amani's striking resemblance to Maram. One would've thought that this would mean that she would be kinder to those that they have colonialised. However, her heritage does not make Maram look any more kindly upon her mother's people. Instead, the rumors are that she is every bit as cruel and ruthless as her conquerer father. When Amani is stolen from her family to learn to become Maram, she learns that the rumors may not have captured Maram's personality entirely accurately. There's cruelty in the young princess but there's also a loss of loss and uncertainty about her place in the world, as being half-Vathek and half-Kushaila means that she never really seems like she is entire one totally.
There are actually two things that sold the book to me: (1) growing understanding between Maram and Amani and (2) Amani's self-growth. At the start of the novel, Amani is devout and a dreamer who hopes for a bigger mission in life. Yet, she's worried that she is untested and weak. And when she is first kidnapped, her faith in herself is shaken but she endures and becomes someone inspirational, who doesn't waver from her own internal moral compass even though it puts her in the royal family's crossfire. And she also learns to look beyond her initial impressions of Maram, to find the girl who stands behind the facade and that Maram, too, in some ways has been a victim of her father's rule. And of course, I've never read a YA book that's been inspired by Morocco before so the setting was pretty unique and unforgettable.
The book could've easily been a four-star read except for the romance between Amani and Idris. While I can kinda understand why the two of them might've formed a connection, given Idris's own experiences of the cruelty of the Vathek Empire, but I thought that the speed at which they fell for each other and the sudden depth of their feelings for each other seemed kinda like insta-love. Not every YA sci-fi/fantasy novel needs a romance element and I thought that the book might've been stronger without this one.
"The king," Nadine began, unconcerned with the pair of us,"values his daughter's life. And too often, of late, she has come under threat. She can rarely leave the Ziyaana for fear of rebel attacks." I held my tongue, though it seemed little wonder to me that she'd inspired such ire. "The advent of her eighteenth birthday and the confirmation of her inheritance will necessitate more public appearances. Our king has commanded that you will risk your life where she cannot. You will train, and you will become Her Royal Highness. You will speak like her, walk like her. You will even breathe as she does."
"If I do not?" I asked, trying to keep hold of my disgust.
"You will," Nadine said.
"Your very life depends on it," Maram added with a chilling smile.
Mirage is totally unlike anything that I've read in YA before - that's a good thing. The simplest way to put it is that it's like a science fiction/fantasy novel set in an alternate universe that seems vaguely inspired by Morocco, involves dopplegangers, a royal family and an uprising that threatens the cruel rule of a colonialist empire. At its heart, of course, it's about eighteen year old Amani. Amani lives in a quiet part of the Vathek Empire and she's a dreamer, who dreams of the day where her prayers may be answered and she may be sent a sign from Dihya that she will have a purpose bigger than herself and that she may have an adventure. However, her dreams do not go according to plan.
Instead, on her birthday celebrations and on the day where she is recognised to have become an adult, Amani is stolen from her family and from everyone that she knows. Amani has been brought to the seat of the Vathek Empire, to serve as Princess Maram's body double. Amani destests the Vathek Empire and how they have conquered her people, erasing their history, looking down upon their cultural practices and always reminding them that they are no better than slaves. Yet, Maram is half-Vathek and half-Kushaila, which explains Amani's striking resemblance to Maram. One would've thought that this would mean that she would be kinder to those that they have colonialised. However, her heritage does not make Maram look any more kindly upon her mother's people. Instead, the rumors are that she is every bit as cruel and ruthless as her conquerer father. When Amani is stolen from her family to learn to become Maram, she learns that the rumors may not have captured Maram's personality entirely accurately. There's cruelty in the young princess but there's also a loss of loss and uncertainty about her place in the world, as being half-Vathek and half-Kushaila means that she never really seems like she is entire one totally.
There are actually two things that sold the book to me: (1) growing understanding between Maram and Amani and (2) Amani's self-growth. At the start of the novel, Amani is devout and a dreamer who hopes for a bigger mission in life. Yet, she's worried that she is untested and weak. And when she is first kidnapped, her faith in herself is shaken but she endures and becomes someone inspirational, who doesn't waver from her own internal moral compass even though it puts her in the royal family's crossfire. And she also learns to look beyond her initial impressions of Maram, to find the girl who stands behind the facade and that Maram, too, in some ways has been a victim of her father's rule. And of course, I've never read a YA book that's been inspired by Morocco before so the setting was pretty unique and unforgettable.
The book could've easily been a four-star read except for the romance between Amani and Idris. While I can kinda understand why the two of them might've formed a connection, given Idris's own experiences of the cruelty of the Vathek Empire, but I thought that the speed at which they fell for each other and the sudden depth of their feelings for each other seemed kinda like insta-love. Not every YA sci-fi/fantasy novel needs a romance element and I thought that the book might've been stronger without this one.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was slow in the beginning and took some time for me to get into, but once it picked up I enjoyed the story and characters. I plan to read the next book in the series.
adventurous
medium-paced
Romance seemed to appear out of nowhere. I would have liked more build up. Loved the relationship between Maram and Amani.
adventurous
inspiring
tense
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:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated