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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This is one of the books that is the problem with the tendancy toward trilogies. There is clearly so much interesting in this world, and yet there is no tension. Well, not until the end--when the author demonstrated that she can create tension, but just wasn't bothering because this book is mostly just set up for the rest of the trilogy.
this was great. i love the world and the plot of this story, and i really enjoy the relationship between maram and amani and i cannot wait to see where things go from here. the only critique i have for this book is that the romance felt a bit too insta-lovey and i would have liked for it to have developed more and deeper, but its not bad. i still like it, but it couldve been better. anyway. cant wait to pick up the next book!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
I'm not really sure how to start this review. I was provided and advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, so here goes. MIRAGE was one of my most anticipate books of the year. I am a huge fan of YA sci-fi and fantasy books and the synopsis to this one immediately grabbed my attention. For some reason this one did not live up to the hype for me.
The books is kind of a mash up of [b:Rebel of the Sands|24934065|Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands #1)|Alwyn Hamilton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446829335s/24934065.jpg|44589645], [b:The Diabolic|26836910|The Diabolic (The Diabolic, #1)|S.J. Kincaid|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459485169s/26836910.jpg|46870277] and something else that I just can't quite put my finger on. The story is full of lush descriptions, of both the scenery and characters. The writing was great and it was easy to get absorbed in the world. It was an entertaining read that I think a lot of people are going to thoroughly enjoy.
I'm not quite sure what it was about it or why it didn't work for me. I enjoyed it enough that I am looking forward to continuing the story when the next book releases. It's possible that I just wasn't in the right mood for this kind of read. It wasn't even that I found myself bored with the story, just that I expected more from it and was somehow left feeling underwhelmed.
I'm not really sure how to start this review. I was provided and advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, so here goes. MIRAGE was one of my most anticipate books of the year. I am a huge fan of YA sci-fi and fantasy books and the synopsis to this one immediately grabbed my attention. For some reason this one did not live up to the hype for me.
The books is kind of a mash up of [b:Rebel of the Sands|24934065|Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands #1)|Alwyn Hamilton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1446829335s/24934065.jpg|44589645], [b:The Diabolic|26836910|The Diabolic (The Diabolic, #1)|S.J. Kincaid|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459485169s/26836910.jpg|46870277] and something else that I just can't quite put my finger on. The story is full of lush descriptions, of both the scenery and characters. The writing was great and it was easy to get absorbed in the world. It was an entertaining read that I think a lot of people are going to thoroughly enjoy.
I'm not quite sure what it was about it or why it didn't work for me. I enjoyed it enough that I am looking forward to continuing the story when the next book releases. It's possible that I just wasn't in the right mood for this kind of read. It wasn't even that I found myself bored with the story, just that I expected more from it and was somehow left feeling underwhelmed.
Fast pace yet boring, cliche & predictable
Review to be updated soonish!
Watch out for more rants to come
UPDATE!
First of all I would like to admit that I truly fell in love with the book cover design of this book.
Also I would like to remind y’all that “Don’t Judge the Book by Its Cover”
So where do I begin? This book was totally promising; it has a beautiful writing filled with detailed descriptions of its world building.It has some interesting and gripping political aspects and the characters of the book has the potential, they’re flawed yet striving for character development throughout the story.
What did I noticed first when I was reading this book was that this book is kinda mix of Red Queen & The Diabolic. So this was supposed to be a Sci-Fi book but it’s more like 10% Scifi & 90% Romance. If you’ve been following me for a long time now you’ve probably knew that I was an avid YA Sci-Fi book reader. I’m not a pro tho but in my opinion this book lacks of sci-fi elements on it, even tho droids and space craft were mentioned it’s still not enough. It feels like I’m reading Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth again, it was labeled a sci-fi book yet it didn’t feel like a sci-fi book at all. It also lacks action on it, I was hoping it would be more action like but what I got was a ‘supposed to be swoon-worthy romance’
About the characters, I really did like Amani at first; I thought she was this strong minded and the-never-giving-up kind of girl. But then when the love interest started to invade her mind she was this easy-to-get and swooning all over the dude. Her character suddenly went bland and boring for me. Then we have the love interest Idris, also at first I did like him I was hoping that he is going to be cunning and smart ass dude yet his character fell off. He’s so persuasive and a bit controlling towards Amani, I didn’t like it *SPOILER ALERT!* So there’s this scene where he wants Amani to do this and that and he did it three times to her, which is so annoying and Amani being head over heels with Idris did what the dude wants. All I can say is that Idris is your typical handsome and romantic prince kind of fictional love interest. I really didn’t connect to the main characters, it felt bland and cliché for me. Then we have Maram, for me she’s one of the interesting characters in the book she’s cruel and full of hatred towards her people (from her mother’s side). I really did like her but she became predictable throughout the story.
As for the romance, once again dear friends it’s an INSTA-LOVE and super cliché for me. I have nothing to say more but it would be more interesting for me even tho it’s an insta-love if the characters were more unique and likeable.
All in all, this book has the potential but it was too cliché. It was like a mixed of some Hyped Scifi/Fantasy Books or should I say recycled? I really love the world building tho even if it didn’t felt like they’re on a planet or something. All I can say is that my 2015 self would have like this book. I’m so over with the same cliché premise of stories and characters. Also the ending wasn’t that interesting and promising that you would want to read the sequel. I guess I’m not going to continue this series anymore.
Review to be updated soonish!
Watch out for more rants to come
UPDATE!
First of all I would like to admit that I truly fell in love with the book cover design of this book.
Also I would like to remind y’all that “Don’t Judge the Book by Its Cover”
So where do I begin? This book was totally promising; it has a beautiful writing filled with detailed descriptions of its world building.It has some interesting and gripping political aspects and the characters of the book has the potential, they’re flawed yet striving for character development throughout the story.
What did I noticed first when I was reading this book was that this book is kinda mix of Red Queen & The Diabolic. So this was supposed to be a Sci-Fi book but it’s more like 10% Scifi & 90% Romance. If you’ve been following me for a long time now you’ve probably knew that I was an avid YA Sci-Fi book reader. I’m not a pro tho but in my opinion this book lacks of sci-fi elements on it, even tho droids and space craft were mentioned it’s still not enough. It feels like I’m reading Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth again, it was labeled a sci-fi book yet it didn’t feel like a sci-fi book at all. It also lacks action on it, I was hoping it would be more action like but what I got was a ‘supposed to be swoon-worthy romance’
About the characters, I really did like Amani at first; I thought she was this strong minded and the-never-giving-up kind of girl. But then when the love interest started to invade her mind she was this easy-to-get and swooning all over the dude. Her character suddenly went bland and boring for me. Then we have the love interest Idris, also at first I did like him I was hoping that he is going to be cunning and smart ass dude yet his character fell off. He’s so persuasive and a bit controlling towards Amani, I didn’t like it *SPOILER ALERT!* So there’s this scene where he wants Amani to do this and that and he did it three times to her, which is so annoying and Amani being head over heels with Idris did what the dude wants. All I can say is that Idris is your typical handsome and romantic prince kind of fictional love interest. I really didn’t connect to the main characters, it felt bland and cliché for me. Then we have Maram, for me she’s one of the interesting characters in the book she’s cruel and full of hatred towards her people (from her mother’s side). I really did like her but she became predictable throughout the story.
As for the romance, once again dear friends it’s an INSTA-LOVE and super cliché for me. I have nothing to say more but it would be more interesting for me even tho it’s an insta-love if the characters were more unique and likeable.
All in all, this book has the potential but it was too cliché. It was like a mixed of some Hyped Scifi/Fantasy Books or should I say recycled? I really love the world building tho even if it didn’t felt like they’re on a planet or something. All I can say is that my 2015 self would have like this book. I’m so over with the same cliché premise of stories and characters. Also the ending wasn’t that interesting and promising that you would want to read the sequel. I guess I’m not going to continue this series anymore.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
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:
No
this is a reread and I can’t remember how I felt about this book the first time around but this time I absolutely LOVED it. Heartbreaking and with the added level of what’s going on in the world right now, it was even more heartbreaking. I can’t wait to start the second one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, War
3.75⭐️
The princess switch but make it
- arab
- political
-full of racist characters
I was pleasantly surprised but there are some character development issues also this did not need to be sci-fi bc it had no impact on the story
Also I am obsessed with the fact that the narrator is arab and can actually pronounce the words (bare minimum I know but I’ll take what I can get)
The princess switch but make it
- arab
- political
-full of racist characters
I was pleasantly surprised but there are some character development issues also this did not need to be sci-fi bc it had no impact on the story
Also I am obsessed with the fact that the narrator is arab and can actually pronounce the words (bare minimum I know but I’ll take what I can get)
fast-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes