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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Full review on Stellar Kitten Book Reviews:
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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!
What first caught my attention for this book was obviously the cover. The design and symmetry just look so sleek and elegant, plus, the colors work so well together. It’s a very well designed cover. Of course, once the cover did its job I found myself looking at the description and felt some connections to Red Queen and An Ember in the Ashes. With Red Queen, it was the way the main characters were both pretending to be someone else and living among royalty. It was also kind of similar in terms of the (forbidden) romance.
For An Ember in the Ashes, it was more of the similarities in world building. Both series were about a conquered people who lived in constant fear and oppression, and both had rebellions attempting to overthrow the current state. Later on, there’s also the added element of the main character, Amani, deciding to work with the rebels and be a spy. Although, Amani does considerably less spying and consorting with the rebels than Laia did.
That being said, this book felt like it was still its own. It didn’t feel like it was trying to be something else and I appreciated that since I’ve read some books lately that very obviously try to emulate popular series and it ends up being a very poor imitation. Honestly, this book did miss on some of the points I was hoping to see. With Amani being a body double, I was really expecting more action in the book where her life was in danger but that honestly didn’t happen until the very end of the book. I think the book felt kind of slow for that reason because I kept anticipating something that never came along.
However, despite there not being the action that I wanted, I found that I really enjoyed the relationships built between Amani and our two other main characters. First, there was the relationship between Amani and Idris. I liked the easygoing friendship that they forged because of their situation. I liked that Idris could make Amani feel seen and that he helped her remember the best parts of herself that were numbed after she started imitating Maram. And I also liked that while there was some attraction the romance still developed naturally throughout the book instead of going the insta-love route.
The other relationship that I really enjoyed and that surprised me was the one between Amani and Maram. This was arguably my favorite of the two. Amani and Maram, predictably, had a very tense relationship at first. Maram was cruel and lashed out at people as a means to protect her image and to survive in a world were weakness was not an option. Of course, there was also the fact that Amani was taken against her will from her home and forced to risk her life as Maram’s body double. So it wasn’t friendly by any means at first. But, as the story progressed it felt like Maram let her down her guard more and more. Amani became somewhat of a confidant to Maram and I liked the moments where we see that tenuous friendship being forged.
Amani was also both Maram and Idris’s connection to Andalaan culture. She is almost a refuge to them both because she is the one person who they can be themselves around. Amani is a great resource for both of them because she can answer questions they have about their heritage that they can’t trust anyone else to ask. I think Amani was very kind to be able to think about things from Maram’s perspective and to have the patience to slowly get her to open her mind to ruling in a different way.
Before I talk about the ending I’d like to add in a note about another element of the book that I didn’t exactly enjoy. I know that I talked about the lack of action being somewhat of an issue, but the other thing that contributed to my decision to settle on a 4-star review was the strange blend of sci-fi and medieval/tribal/middle eastern type of setting. It felt like we had royalty with handmaidens, these middle eastern kinds of cultural references (the building styles, seating styles, etc)–and then we had droids and tablets, and space-ships. It just felt a little odd to read about these kinds of medieval and middle eastern aspects but then have the sci-fi elements make appearances every now and then.
The ending was certainly fast-paced. Things happened very quickly and everything that Amani had built was suddenly at stake. I think it was a bittersweet moment because Amani risked so much and lost so much on both sides (from Maram and the rebellion) but she came out much stronger from it; she had a purpose and felt alive. I liked the way that things left off for Amani and Idris romantically because it just felt like things weren’t entirely over.
I’m very curious how things will continue in the next book between Amani and Maram. I’d like to see the relationship repaired and hopefully they can get something of that trust back, but honestly, it’s all up in the air at this point. This book may not have given me what I expected, but it was well written and I’m looking forward to continuing the series in the future.
Mirage was released on August 28th, it’s a book that’s worth checking out!
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❝ I wanted answers, but no one here would be able to give them to me. My family, my fate, my home–they were all out of my grasp for now. Perhaps forever. ❞
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!
What first caught my attention for this book was obviously the cover. The design and symmetry just look so sleek and elegant, plus, the colors work so well together. It’s a very well designed cover. Of course, once the cover did its job I found myself looking at the description and felt some connections to Red Queen and An Ember in the Ashes. With Red Queen, it was the way the main characters were both pretending to be someone else and living among royalty. It was also kind of similar in terms of the (forbidden) romance.
For An Ember in the Ashes, it was more of the similarities in world building. Both series were about a conquered people who lived in constant fear and oppression, and both had rebellions attempting to overthrow the current state. Later on, there’s also the added element of the main character, Amani, deciding to work with the rebels and be a spy. Although, Amani does considerably less spying and consorting with the rebels than Laia did.
That being said, this book felt like it was still its own. It didn’t feel like it was trying to be something else and I appreciated that since I’ve read some books lately that very obviously try to emulate popular series and it ends up being a very poor imitation. Honestly, this book did miss on some of the points I was hoping to see. With Amani being a body double, I was really expecting more action in the book where her life was in danger but that honestly didn’t happen until the very end of the book. I think the book felt kind of slow for that reason because I kept anticipating something that never came along.
However, despite there not being the action that I wanted, I found that I really enjoyed the relationships built between Amani and our two other main characters. First, there was the relationship between Amani and Idris. I liked the easygoing friendship that they forged because of their situation. I liked that Idris could make Amani feel seen and that he helped her remember the best parts of herself that were numbed after she started imitating Maram. And I also liked that while there was some attraction the romance still developed naturally throughout the book instead of going the insta-love route.
The other relationship that I really enjoyed and that surprised me was the one between Amani and Maram. This was arguably my favorite of the two. Amani and Maram, predictably, had a very tense relationship at first. Maram was cruel and lashed out at people as a means to protect her image and to survive in a world were weakness was not an option. Of course, there was also the fact that Amani was taken against her will from her home and forced to risk her life as Maram’s body double. So it wasn’t friendly by any means at first. But, as the story progressed it felt like Maram let her down her guard more and more. Amani became somewhat of a confidant to Maram and I liked the moments where we see that tenuous friendship being forged.
❝ She had a fire in here, an unquenchable flame that would devour all that stood in her path. ❞
Amani was also both Maram and Idris’s connection to Andalaan culture. She is almost a refuge to them both because she is the one person who they can be themselves around. Amani is a great resource for both of them because she can answer questions they have about their heritage that they can’t trust anyone else to ask. I think Amani was very kind to be able to think about things from Maram’s perspective and to have the patience to slowly get her to open her mind to ruling in a different way.
Before I talk about the ending I’d like to add in a note about another element of the book that I didn’t exactly enjoy. I know that I talked about the lack of action being somewhat of an issue, but the other thing that contributed to my decision to settle on a 4-star review was the strange blend of sci-fi and medieval/tribal/middle eastern type of setting. It felt like we had royalty with handmaidens, these middle eastern kinds of cultural references (the building styles, seating styles, etc)–and then we had droids and tablets, and space-ships. It just felt a little odd to read about these kinds of medieval and middle eastern aspects but then have the sci-fi elements make appearances every now and then.
The ending was certainly fast-paced. Things happened very quickly and everything that Amani had built was suddenly at stake. I think it was a bittersweet moment because Amani risked so much and lost so much on both sides (from Maram and the rebellion) but she came out much stronger from it; she had a purpose and felt alive. I liked the way that things left off for Amani and Idris romantically because it just felt like things weren’t entirely over.
I’m very curious how things will continue in the next book between Amani and Maram. I’d like to see the relationship repaired and hopefully they can get something of that trust back, but honestly, it’s all up in the air at this point. This book may not have given me what I expected, but it was well written and I’m looking forward to continuing the series in the future.
Mirage was released on August 28th, it’s a book that’s worth checking out!
Here’s another book I’d classify as a true YA. It was beautifully written and while I’m definitely much older I still really enjoyed it.
I loved seeing names that I am personally familiar with. Hearing phrases or words that I grew accustomed to hearing growing up was very refreshing.
Amani, the main character, to put it simply, is good down to her core. She reflects strength, honour and friendship. I loved the strong bonds represented in this book, showing Amani’s bond with her family, her growing bond with Idris, Tala, Maram and everyone she comes in contact with she is able to relate to or sympathize with.
The world building was a bit confusing at first and it took my awhile to get into the book because I couldn’t wrap my head around the different planets and then the places on the worlds. I was just being silly and eventually got it once I kept referring back to the map. Thankful for maps, truly they are a savour. I wish their was a pronunciation guide though, because although I’m familiar with many of the terms and names, your girl was struggling and I’d only imagine someone a lot younger would find it difficult too. Before you say “google”, we do not use Google. Google is bad and results in spoilers. We only Google once the series or book is over.
A great, quick read for anyone looking for a book propelled by character interactions.
I loved seeing names that I am personally familiar with. Hearing phrases or words that I grew accustomed to hearing growing up was very refreshing.
Amani, the main character, to put it simply, is good down to her core. She reflects strength, honour and friendship. I loved the strong bonds represented in this book, showing Amani’s bond with her family, her growing bond with Idris, Tala, Maram and everyone she comes in contact with she is able to relate to or sympathize with.
The world building was a bit confusing at first and it took my awhile to get into the book because I couldn’t wrap my head around the different planets and then the places on the worlds. I was just being silly and eventually got it once I kept referring back to the map. Thankful for maps, truly they are a savour. I wish their was a pronunciation guide though, because although I’m familiar with many of the terms and names, your girl was struggling and I’d only imagine someone a lot younger would find it difficult too. Before you say “google”, we do not use Google. Google is bad and results in spoilers. We only Google once the series or book is over.
A great, quick read for anyone looking for a book propelled by character interactions.
A lot of Star Wars vibes, which I LOVED. The world was so unique that we rarely see in a fantasy take and heavily inspired by Moroccan culture, which was beautiful and rich. It lost me with the romance and I felt like there was a lot of lost potential when it came to the dynamic between Amani and Maram.
So it took me like 2 months and change to finish this. Not because it was long but because I was highly underwhelmed by Mirage. I wanted to like it so much but I honestly...hated it. The more I read, the more annoyed I got.
I can't tell how much time is passing by but everything seems to have happened quite fast. Amani meets and falls in love with the Princess's betrothed Idris almost as soon as she meets him and at that point, I was over it. I put it down for a month and came back thinking that I would get a new take from it but I literally dreaded coming back. Not only that, I was...bored. I couldn't wait to get down to the last few pages and say that I was finished reading it.
You know how when you're reading a good book and you can finish and kind of relax with a nice squeal knowing that you just read something that you loved? I feel the opposite of that. I'm annoyed that I read the whole book and I kind of feel like I wasted my time. I don't feel like I accomplished a thing.
The character that I feel for the most is maybe Maram. I feel no connection with Amani or Idris. I feel like there were a multitude of characters that were irrelevant to the story and I hate how naive Amani is.
I could have done without the romance between Amani and Idris period. I think that actually made the story that much worse for me.
I have to say that I was a fan of the poetry and the cultural tidbits but that's really about it.
As a muslim, I also felt kind of uncomfortable because certain passages of poetry distinctly reminded me of Quran. Not that they were but that it kind of seems like they were meant to be identical and sound as if they were taken from a religious text. Example: "For We have sent unto you a sign. See it and take heed."
Despite my dislike of Mirage, I did have a favorite quote: "You are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful. You lived before them and you shall live after them. You can't let them determine your path."
I would not read it again but I probably would read the next book in the series to see if things pick up. Despite my heavy boredom while reading this, I do think that I would recommend it to someone who liked character driven fantasies.
I can't tell how much time is passing by but everything seems to have happened quite fast. Amani meets and falls in love with the Princess's betrothed Idris almost as soon as she meets him and at that point, I was over it. I put it down for a month and came back thinking that I would get a new take from it but I literally dreaded coming back. Not only that, I was...bored. I couldn't wait to get down to the last few pages and say that I was finished reading it.
You know how when you're reading a good book and you can finish and kind of relax with a nice squeal knowing that you just read something that you loved? I feel the opposite of that. I'm annoyed that I read the whole book and I kind of feel like I wasted my time. I don't feel like I accomplished a thing.
The character that I feel for the most is maybe Maram. I feel no connection with Amani or Idris. I feel like there were a multitude of characters that were irrelevant to the story and I hate how naive Amani is.
I could have done without the romance between Amani and Idris period. I think that actually made the story that much worse for me.
I have to say that I was a fan of the poetry and the cultural tidbits but that's really about it.
As a muslim, I also felt kind of uncomfortable because certain passages of poetry distinctly reminded me of Quran. Not that they were but that it kind of seems like they were meant to be identical and sound as if they were taken from a religious text. Example: "For We have sent unto you a sign. See it and take heed."
Despite my dislike of Mirage, I did have a favorite quote: "You are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful. You lived before them and you shall live after them. You can't let them determine your path."
I would not read it again but I probably would read the next book in the series to see if things pick up. Despite my heavy boredom while reading this, I do think that I would recommend it to someone who liked character driven fantasies.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had high hopes for this novel when I began listening to it, but I was soon disappointed. Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series has all the virtues of this novel - and then some - and none of the shortcomings. I found Mirage too transparent and predictable and too much moving in parallel with the real world for a fantasy book (I wouldn't call it a science fiction). There is an ambush of underdeveloped details on the one hand and a regular repetition of already established ones on the other. All the same, this seems to be Ms. Daud's debut novel, and I think it is promising enough to hope that she'll get much better in the future.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Likeable main characters, and an interesting setting.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have been waiting for so long for this book I was afraid I had set my expectations too high but there's no such thing with this author. I read the whole book once through to find out what would happen next, but I need to read it again just to properly appreciate the wonderful language used throughout. I loved how a lot of stuff happened in this but it was still very much about character development and interactions. I liked how this was science fiction but it felt like fantasy. I loved how the culture infused every bit of it and I also really loved all the descriptions of dresses. Also, shallow, but the cover is gorgeous and I didn't realize there'd be little illustrations before each section too. They're great this book is great, read it love it, wait with me excitedly for Mirage 2!