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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
“Even your happiness is rebellion."
It’s been a bit since the last YA book I read and I’m happy to say that Mirage was a pleasant return to the genre. I’ve been trying to read as much as I can about colonialism lately and I’m especially itching for speculative stories of colonialism, so Mirage was a great fit. At the same time, there are a couple of weaknesses to the book that left me a little lukewarm.
I think the book’s absolute greatest strength lies with the character of Maram, the princess whom Amani is abducted to impersonate. She is a really complex character and her position in the Vath empire is a fascinating one that belies the complexities of biracial identity in a colonized world. We see her internalized hatred for being part Andalaan and the way that she is a tool of the Vath regime, a puppet to be paraded around, a manipulator who is manipulated in turn. She is too Vath for the Andalaan and too Andalaan for the Vath and so she exists in a liminal space made possible only by empire, truly belonging to neither group.
She does horrible things to Amani over the course of the book and these things are never excused, but at the same time I think Daud does a great job of showing her inner vulnerability and how she was shaped to be the way she is now. The relationship between the two girls is a complex and uncomfortable dynamic to be sure - Amani says clearly that she is a slave in all but name and nonetheless takes it upon herself to try to change Maram because, while she is oppressing Amani, Amani sees that she in turn is being used by the empire. She tries to make use of this commonality, attempting to turn Maram into an ally to the rebellion. There is genuine sisterhood and affection in their relationship, to be sure, but how do we make sense of that given Maram’s power and Amani’s powerlessness? At first I was worried that the book would argue that it’s the responsibility of the oppressed to humanize themselves to the oppressor but I definitely don’t think that’s what Daud is saying. Rather, I think the point is to understand that it is possible to be oppressed and marginalized at the same time, and that it is important to find commonality in shared aspects of disenfranchisement if possible.
It’s a really rich and thought-provoking dynamic, clearly, and my favorite part of my story overall. I also appreciated some of the things we see through Amani’s story as well as Idris’s. We see how Amani is forced to become like Maram, assimilating herself to the empire’s standards of behavior while struggling against its claim on her autonomy and core identity. It’s also very interesting that Idris discusses how he and the other child survivors of murdered elite families all came to distrust each other as the Vath pitted them against each other so that they wouldn’t rise against the Vath together - divide and conquer. I think Mirage just absolutely nails the complexity of survival/existence and relationships under empire - the betrayals and compromises, the desperation to cling to what is yours and the way that identity and loyalty can be eroded away but nonetheless remain possible and more vital than ever.
With that being said about Amani and Idris, however, I think the book’s greatest weakness lies in their characterization for me. Though I appreciated the points I just mentioned, I did not find either of them to be especially complex or interesting characters. Put together I cared even less for their romance. It moves quite quickly and hits all the familiar beats of YA romances. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with it but I do feel that it detracts from the much more interesting aspects of the book such as Amani’s relationship with Maram and the rebellion.
The book’s writing is smooth and lyrical and I loved the inclusion of poetry as well as all of the descriptions of North African-inspired culture. While I’m on this point I’ll mention that some reviews I saw complained about the world-building not making sense because it’s such a combination of sci-fi high tech and North African tradition but...eh. I think the emphasis on a culture that’s overlooked in spec fic is more meaningful to me than a complex explanation of how high tech and traditional ways exist together. It just isn’t the hardest thing for me to accept, thought it’s clear that others feel differently.
Finally, I’ll just mention that I love that Daud is clearly a massive BioWare fan - there is a character named Corypheus in Mirage, and her author profile picture on her shows her wearing an N7 jacket. :)
It’s been a bit since the last YA book I read and I’m happy to say that Mirage was a pleasant return to the genre. I’ve been trying to read as much as I can about colonialism lately and I’m especially itching for speculative stories of colonialism, so Mirage was a great fit. At the same time, there are a couple of weaknesses to the book that left me a little lukewarm.
I think the book’s absolute greatest strength lies with the character of Maram, the princess whom Amani is abducted to impersonate. She is a really complex character and her position in the Vath empire is a fascinating one that belies the complexities of biracial identity in a colonized world. We see her internalized hatred for being part Andalaan and the way that she is a tool of the Vath regime, a puppet to be paraded around, a manipulator who is manipulated in turn. She is too Vath for the Andalaan and too Andalaan for the Vath and so she exists in a liminal space made possible only by empire, truly belonging to neither group.
She does horrible things to Amani over the course of the book and these things are never excused, but at the same time I think Daud does a great job of showing her inner vulnerability and how she was shaped to be the way she is now. The relationship between the two girls is a complex and uncomfortable dynamic to be sure - Amani says clearly that she is a slave in all but name and nonetheless takes it upon herself to try to change Maram because, while she is oppressing Amani, Amani sees that she in turn is being used by the empire. She tries to make use of this commonality, attempting to turn Maram into an ally to the rebellion. There is genuine sisterhood and affection in their relationship, to be sure, but how do we make sense of that given Maram’s power and Amani’s powerlessness? At first I was worried that the book would argue that it’s the responsibility of the oppressed to humanize themselves to the oppressor but I definitely don’t think that’s what Daud is saying. Rather, I think the point is to understand that it is possible to be oppressed and marginalized at the same time, and that it is important to find commonality in shared aspects of disenfranchisement if possible.
It’s a really rich and thought-provoking dynamic, clearly, and my favorite part of my story overall. I also appreciated some of the things we see through Amani’s story as well as Idris’s. We see how Amani is forced to become like Maram, assimilating herself to the empire’s standards of behavior while struggling against its claim on her autonomy and core identity. It’s also very interesting that Idris discusses how he and the other child survivors of murdered elite families all came to distrust each other as the Vath pitted them against each other so that they wouldn’t rise against the Vath together - divide and conquer. I think Mirage just absolutely nails the complexity of survival/existence and relationships under empire - the betrayals and compromises, the desperation to cling to what is yours and the way that identity and loyalty can be eroded away but nonetheless remain possible and more vital than ever.
With that being said about Amani and Idris, however, I think the book’s greatest weakness lies in their characterization for me. Though I appreciated the points I just mentioned, I did not find either of them to be especially complex or interesting characters. Put together I cared even less for their romance. It moves quite quickly and hits all the familiar beats of YA romances. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with it but I do feel that it detracts from the much more interesting aspects of the book such as Amani’s relationship with Maram and the rebellion.
The book’s writing is smooth and lyrical and I loved the inclusion of poetry as well as all of the descriptions of North African-inspired culture. While I’m on this point I’ll mention that some reviews I saw complained about the world-building not making sense because it’s such a combination of sci-fi high tech and North African tradition but...eh. I think the emphasis on a culture that’s overlooked in spec fic is more meaningful to me than a complex explanation of how high tech and traditional ways exist together. It just isn’t the hardest thing for me to accept, thought it’s clear that others feel differently.
Finally, I’ll just mention that I love that Daud is clearly a massive BioWare fan - there is a character named Corypheus in Mirage, and her author profile picture on her shows her wearing an N7 jacket. :)
I received ARC in exchange for an honest review,
Full review posted
I just arrived back home after a long trip and I have the feeling that I have already forgotten how to write a decent review, so please don’t hate me if this review ends up being a mess. (I have only one free week left before college starts and I’m not feeling ready enough).
................................................................................................
Mirage is one of those books that since the first time you heard of it, you are almost a 100% sure you will enjoy it. Fortunately, I will talk about exactly about the amazing journey that it was having the chance to read this book.
The book follows the story of Amani, a girl who lives in a galactic system under the rule of the Vathek empire, an empire famous for its ruthlessness and brutality. This eighteen-year-old girl has always dreamed of a world in which everyone is again free and able to live and experience their culture through art, especially poetry. However, everything is taken away from her the day she is kidnapped by the empire and taken away from her family with not apparently explanation.
It is until she is taken to the royal palace when she discovers she has been kidnapped to be used as a replacement for the half-Vathek princess Maram. What she never expected, was to look the same as the princess.
Despite the punishments and the insufferable pain induced by Maram as an attempt “mend” her, Amani is convinced that good things will come from this and fights against it in the hope to see her family once again. What she doesn’t know is that this will be the beginning of a destiny long ago written, of an impossible love and of learning to let things go by their own way.
🍂Worldbuilding:
This is without any doubt the thing I love the most about this book. As far as I know, and I could inform me, this is a Moroccan inspired story, set in a not so distant events that actually happened in Morocco around the 1960s (when I read something I’m not familiarized with, I had to do my own research and that is something I absolutely love in books).
Everything is so well described and the historical parts match perfectly with the sci-fi style the author created into this book, that it feels you are actually experiencing and intergalactic historical adventure. Full of myths, subtle magic, fantasy, culture and advanced technology.
If you read this book (which you should do), I truly recommend you enrich your knowledge by reading some information about Moroccan history and culture. It will make the experience even better.
🍂Writing style:
It is almost as good as its worldbuilding.
With such amazing narrative, Somaya Daud has created an unforgettable, compelling and magical book. She has weaved the exact amount of anxiety, intrigue, and heroism to create the perfect story. Each emotion thought and action is so well described that it becomes impossible not to get immersed in each character’s life.
Despite the above mentioned, do not expect it to be a fast-paced book. Daud takes her time to create each scenario that sometimes you may even lose the interest, but do not worry, it’d be worth your time and patience at the end.
🍂Characters:
The weakest aspect of the book.
The book goes mainly around 3 characters, and that’s the only thing we get to see and know. (Of course, there are some others, but for me, they were partially mentioned, so they don’t truly count). Such a rich story and world, lacking more character development, I don’t know, I think we have a problem right here, honey.
🍃Maram: she is without any doubt my favorite character. I did like how the author created such an amazing changing personality in her, how she made her look and feel like something real and palpable, something truly human.
In her, you will be able to find a great evil and a cute girl, but it will be only throughout the reading, that you will learn more about who she truly is and the course of all her actions.
🍃Amani: she is a very good and well-developed female character. I feel honored and happy to finally have the chance to read a book with a strong female character who decisions are not only based on pride and pretense but on reason and common sense.
It was quite a journey to see how much she grows and how her passion never dies. The hope of finding her purpose gives birth to a new personality in her that makes her become a memorable character with a memorable story. I only wish she hadn’t fallen prey to the wretchedness of love.
🍃Idris: not my cup of tea. Like seriously, there hadn’t been a more boring and useless character in the story of YA novels.
If he hadn’t existed there wouldn’t have been a typical love interest and maybe, just maybe, there would have been something beautiful and amazing between Amani and Maram (I actually thought the author was going that way).
I didn’t get to know him pretty well; his personality was merely sketched and not well established. I do hope I get to know more about him in the next book.
That’s where my concern with the author resides; maybe Daud focused too much into the worldbuilding that she forgot to pay attention to the second most important part of a book and what gives it its essence.
Overall, despite my not so great experience with the characters in the book, I truly recommend you to read this book and I you are completely allowed to hit me if you don’t like it.(Of course, I’d like to know first why you didn’t like it).
Full review posted
I just arrived back home after a long trip and I have the feeling that I have already forgotten how to write a decent review, so please don’t hate me if this review ends up being a mess. (I have only one free week left before college starts and I’m not feeling ready enough).
................................................................................................
Mirage is one of those books that since the first time you heard of it, you are almost a 100% sure you will enjoy it. Fortunately, I will talk about exactly about the amazing journey that it was having the chance to read this book.
The book follows the story of Amani, a girl who lives in a galactic system under the rule of the Vathek empire, an empire famous for its ruthlessness and brutality. This eighteen-year-old girl has always dreamed of a world in which everyone is again free and able to live and experience their culture through art, especially poetry. However, everything is taken away from her the day she is kidnapped by the empire and taken away from her family with not apparently explanation.
It is until she is taken to the royal palace when she discovers she has been kidnapped to be used as a replacement for the half-Vathek princess Maram. What she never expected, was to look the same as the princess.
Despite the punishments and the insufferable pain induced by Maram as an attempt “mend” her, Amani is convinced that good things will come from this and fights against it in the hope to see her family once again. What she doesn’t know is that this will be the beginning of a destiny long ago written, of an impossible love and of learning to let things go by their own way.
🍂Worldbuilding:
This is without any doubt the thing I love the most about this book. As far as I know, and I could inform me, this is a Moroccan inspired story, set in a not so distant events that actually happened in Morocco around the 1960s (when I read something I’m not familiarized with, I had to do my own research and that is something I absolutely love in books).
Everything is so well described and the historical parts match perfectly with the sci-fi style the author created into this book, that it feels you are actually experiencing and intergalactic historical adventure. Full of myths, subtle magic, fantasy, culture and advanced technology.
If you read this book (which you should do), I truly recommend you enrich your knowledge by reading some information about Moroccan history and culture. It will make the experience even better.
🍂Writing style:
It is almost as good as its worldbuilding.
With such amazing narrative, Somaya Daud has created an unforgettable, compelling and magical book. She has weaved the exact amount of anxiety, intrigue, and heroism to create the perfect story. Each emotion thought and action is so well described that it becomes impossible not to get immersed in each character’s life.
Despite the above mentioned, do not expect it to be a fast-paced book. Daud takes her time to create each scenario that sometimes you may even lose the interest, but do not worry, it’d be worth your time and patience at the end.
🍂Characters:
The weakest aspect of the book.
The book goes mainly around 3 characters, and that’s the only thing we get to see and know. (Of course, there are some others, but for me, they were partially mentioned, so they don’t truly count). Such a rich story and world, lacking more character development, I don’t know, I think we have a problem right here, honey.
🍃Maram: she is without any doubt my favorite character. I did like how the author created such an amazing changing personality in her, how she made her look and feel like something real and palpable, something truly human.
In her, you will be able to find a great evil and a cute girl, but it will be only throughout the reading, that you will learn more about who she truly is and the course of all her actions.
🍃Amani: she is a very good and well-developed female character. I feel honored and happy to finally have the chance to read a book with a strong female character who decisions are not only based on pride and pretense but on reason and common sense.
It was quite a journey to see how much she grows and how her passion never dies. The hope of finding her purpose gives birth to a new personality in her that makes her become a memorable character with a memorable story. I only wish she hadn’t fallen prey to the wretchedness of love.
🍃Idris: not my cup of tea. Like seriously, there hadn’t been a more boring and useless character in the story of YA novels.
If he hadn’t existed there wouldn’t have been a typical love interest and maybe, just maybe, there would have been something beautiful and amazing between Amani and Maram (I actually thought the author was going that way).
I didn’t get to know him pretty well; his personality was merely sketched and not well established. I do hope I get to know more about him in the next book.
That’s where my concern with the author resides; maybe Daud focused too much into the worldbuilding that she forgot to pay attention to the second most important part of a book and what gives it its essence.
Overall, despite my not so great experience with the characters in the book, I truly recommend you to read this book and I you are completely allowed to hit me if you don’t like it.
Solid start to this weird policital drama. Rebellion, deaths, torture, body doubles, love, food... Everything you'll need.
This is North African Sci-fi, that sounds to amazing, I had to pick it up. Everyone had Muslim names and I could recognise a lot of my culture in their culture <3.
The world building is so unique and the map is so detailed.
The poetry aspects were so interesting and I loved the illustrations of the castles. The old cover was so pretty too but the new cover is gorgeous
At some parts the writing seemed a bit clumsy/repetitive but it’s a debut and I see the potential but I don’t think I’ll be continuing on in this duology.
I hated that redemption arc because some things are unforgivable. Not everyone can have an redemption arc like Zuko. Also , I didn’t care for the romance.
The world building is so unique and the map is so detailed.
The poetry aspects were so interesting and I loved the illustrations of the castles. The old cover was so pretty too but the new cover is gorgeous
At some parts the writing seemed a bit clumsy/repetitive but it’s a debut and I see the potential but I don’t think I’ll be continuing on in this duology.
I hated that redemption arc because some things are unforgivable. Not everyone can have an redemption arc like Zuko. Also , I didn’t care for the romance.
Firstly did you know this was not fantasy? It has a very fantasy cover and I didn't realize hah. It's sci fi but imo missed opportunity for a cool sci fi world bc literally you know it's sci fi bc of brief mentions of "planet" and holograms. It could've been any colonizing people and their conquerers in any place and any time.
This one really disappointed me bc I had been really excited about it and it was just sub par. More on that in full review to come.
This one really disappointed me bc I had been really excited about it and it was just sub par. More on that in full review to come.
2.5
‘twas alright, nothing too exceptional in the end. some nice writing!
‘twas alright, nothing too exceptional in the end. some nice writing!
I liked the idea of the book. A village girl being a double for a princess but I didn't like how this book turned out. Not to say the book wasn't a little interesting it was just really slow for me. During the last 100 pages, I started to skim it. I think it was mostly due to the fact that nothing was really happening at least to me. Most of the book was just about Amani filling in for the princess and her falling in love with Idris which I think was too fast, by the way, even if the book was over a few months time period. Again wasn't a terrible read it just dragged for me.
I highly recommend the audiobook. Rasha Zamamiri did a wonderful job narrating. She really brought the story to life.
This book might be the definition of meh. I don't really have a lot to say on it, so this review will be short.
Characters: 6/10 stars
The characters aren't ever boring, but they're also not interesting enough to care about. Most of them just... get along. And the main character is almost weirdly forgiving and aware of people around her. They're just eh.
Plot/pacing: 5/10 stars
The pacing's a little weird in this one. The author just sort of... skips a lot of long, character-development months. Like at the very beginning, when
Writing/structure: 7/10 stars
The writing is above average in my opinion. It's not insanely, jaw-dropping, amazing, but it's pretty, and it's nice.
Enjoyability: 5/10 stars
Eh? This book was really short, but it took me a long time to read because I just wasn't interested in anything that was happening.
Sci-fi: 2/10 stars
I... don't understand why Daud made this a sci-fi book. You know that tired old criticism of genre fiction... how does it go... "Every story's the same, just told with a filter of >insert genre here
Note: upon reading some of the reviews, I see that this book is heavily inspired by Moroccan culture. That's very interesting, and I appreciate that! If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, then Mirage could be for you. To me, it just felt like an aggressively average book.
(6+5+7+5+1)/50 =
2.4 stars, rounded down
Characters: 6/10 stars
The characters aren't ever boring, but they're also not interesting enough to care about. Most of them just... get along. And the main character is almost weirdly forgiving and aware of people around her. They're just eh.
Plot/pacing: 5/10 stars
The pacing's a little weird in this one. The author just sort of... skips a lot of long, character-development months. Like at the very beginning, when
Spoiler
Amani is training to be a body double, it's just like, "Oh, this is happening," and then it's like "Well, it's done." It's just like... did nothing happen then? Like I'd enjoy a chance to get to know the characters a little better, pleaseWriting/structure: 7/10 stars
The writing is above average in my opinion. It's not insanely, jaw-dropping, amazing, but it's pretty, and it's nice.
Enjoyability: 5/10 stars
Eh? This book was really short, but it took me a long time to read because I just wasn't interested in anything that was happening.
Sci-fi: 2/10 stars
I... don't understand why Daud made this a sci-fi book. You know that tired old criticism of genre fiction... how does it go... "Every story's the same, just told with a filter of >insert genre here
Note: upon reading some of the reviews, I see that this book is heavily inspired by Moroccan culture. That's very interesting, and I appreciate that! If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, then Mirage could be for you. To me, it just felt like an aggressively average book.
(6+5+7+5+1)/50 =
2.4 stars, rounded down