Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Disclaimer: I received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
'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.'
Amani lives on a moon in a star system dominated by the vicious and brutal Vathek empire. Amani dreams of what life was like before the Vathek, she dreams of writing poetry, and she dreams of adventure away from the moon she is stranded on. However, her way off her moon doesn’t come how she expects. She is kidnapped by the regime to be a body double for the hated Princess Maram. Amani must do her best to be the spitting image of the Princess because if she fails to be anything but perfect it could lead to her death.
Mirage is an impressive Morrocan inspired fantasy/science-fiction debut. It is full of culture, mythology, faith, poetry, and romance. I went into this not really expecting the blend of both sci-fi and fantasy so I was pleasantly surprised and it was done well. It is a science fiction novel but reads like a high fantasy one. So, Mirage is a book that will appeal to fans of either sci-fi or fantasy.
At its core, Mirage is mainly a book about the devastating effects that colonization has on culture, identity, and language. The writing is lovely and the world building is expertly and richly done – it is well thought out, imaginative, and had some lovely imagery. The beginning had a little bit of a rocky start in terms of plot but the book does definitely drag you in.
One of the strongest parts of Mirage is the character building and the dynamics between the characters. I enjoyed the romance, but it wasn’t my favourite aspect of the book. What I did love was the relationship between Amani and Maram. I loved how complex our ‘cruel’ and ‘villainous’ princess was and I loved how they had an intense but fragile friendship and how we saw how Maram really felt and how well she put that wall up around her. She was an excellent villain of the book as she was extremely multi-dimensional and complex. If you are also a fan of poetry then Mirage is definitely a book you should pick up.
Overall, Mirage is an impressive debut that I do highly recommend. I will definitely be looking out for more works by Somaiya Daud.
'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.'
Amani lives on a moon in a star system dominated by the vicious and brutal Vathek empire. Amani dreams of what life was like before the Vathek, she dreams of writing poetry, and she dreams of adventure away from the moon she is stranded on. However, her way off her moon doesn’t come how she expects. She is kidnapped by the regime to be a body double for the hated Princess Maram. Amani must do her best to be the spitting image of the Princess because if she fails to be anything but perfect it could lead to her death.
Mirage is an impressive Morrocan inspired fantasy/science-fiction debut. It is full of culture, mythology, faith, poetry, and romance. I went into this not really expecting the blend of both sci-fi and fantasy so I was pleasantly surprised and it was done well. It is a science fiction novel but reads like a high fantasy one. So, Mirage is a book that will appeal to fans of either sci-fi or fantasy.
At its core, Mirage is mainly a book about the devastating effects that colonization has on culture, identity, and language. The writing is lovely and the world building is expertly and richly done – it is well thought out, imaginative, and had some lovely imagery. The beginning had a little bit of a rocky start in terms of plot but the book does definitely drag you in.
One of the strongest parts of Mirage is the character building and the dynamics between the characters. I enjoyed the romance, but it wasn’t my favourite aspect of the book. What I did love was the relationship between Amani and Maram. I loved how complex our ‘cruel’ and ‘villainous’ princess was and I loved how they had an intense but fragile friendship and how we saw how Maram really felt and how well she put that wall up around her. She was an excellent villain of the book as she was extremely multi-dimensional and complex. If you are also a fan of poetry then Mirage is definitely a book you should pick up.
Overall, Mirage is an impressive debut that I do highly recommend. I will definitely be looking out for more works by Somaiya Daud.
Do I really have to say much about this cover!? It's stunningly beautiful, I absolutely love it! I love the colour of my copy (I got the purple version) and I adore the all-up look of it. It's a total eye-catcher.
'Mirage' by Somaiya Daud is something completely new and different from everything I read before. The author has a very detailed writing style, which is perfect to print an image in the reader's mind. The story is also full of action and unsuspected twists in the plot.
The story itself is heartbreaking with stunning characters and a great world building. I love the world - or better said the moons - the story is set out on. I have to say it was quite refreshing to read something completely unknown to me. I got pulled straight into the story and absolutely fell in love with it's characters.
You most certainly need to meet all the stunning characters from this book.
First, there is the beautiful, strong, and courageous Amani. She is the protagonist of this story and might seem and feel quite alone for a very long time. She is caught in an impossible situation but you'll be surprised by her and her way.
You will also get to meet Idris, who is just as alone as Amani. Just in a different way. I would describe his character as secretive, charming, and handsome. Though he never reveals anything and takes a long time to open up to others.
Well, and then there is Maram. In the first moment, I rightout hated her. She is a cruel and spoiled princess. But the further I read on the more I noticed, that she is unsure, lonely, and scared.
And of course there are Mathis and Nadine. The villains in this story. And believe me, when I say they're not your usual kind of villain. The ones you get to like after a while. Oh no. They are pure evil and are subject of people's nightmares.
In my opinion, Somaiya Daud got quite the talent as a writer. With 'Mirage' she published an amazing debut and I for sure hope to read more from her and of course from the world around Amani and all the others.
I can absolutely recommend this stunning work to everyone who enjoys a well thought-threw sci-fi book combined with a heartbreaking background story. You shouldn't miss it and let you get carried away by this thrilling piece of art.
'Mirage' by Somaiya Daud is something completely new and different from everything I read before. The author has a very detailed writing style, which is perfect to print an image in the reader's mind. The story is also full of action and unsuspected twists in the plot.
The story itself is heartbreaking with stunning characters and a great world building. I love the world - or better said the moons - the story is set out on. I have to say it was quite refreshing to read something completely unknown to me. I got pulled straight into the story and absolutely fell in love with it's characters.
You most certainly need to meet all the stunning characters from this book.
First, there is the beautiful, strong, and courageous Amani. She is the protagonist of this story and might seem and feel quite alone for a very long time. She is caught in an impossible situation but you'll be surprised by her and her way.
You will also get to meet Idris, who is just as alone as Amani. Just in a different way. I would describe his character as secretive, charming, and handsome. Though he never reveals anything and takes a long time to open up to others.
Well, and then there is Maram. In the first moment, I rightout hated her. She is a cruel and spoiled princess. But the further I read on the more I noticed, that she is unsure, lonely, and scared.
And of course there are Mathis and Nadine. The villains in this story. And believe me, when I say they're not your usual kind of villain. The ones you get to like after a while. Oh no. They are pure evil and are subject of people's nightmares.
In my opinion, Somaiya Daud got quite the talent as a writer. With 'Mirage' she published an amazing debut and I for sure hope to read more from her and of course from the world around Amani and all the others.
I can absolutely recommend this stunning work to everyone who enjoys a well thought-threw sci-fi book combined with a heartbreaking background story. You shouldn't miss it and let you get carried away by this thrilling piece of art.
Mirage was easily one of the most beautifully written YA Fantasy novel to sweep the online book community by storm. With a world rich in detail, deception, politics and body doubles, it was a concept that had many of us immediately intrigued. Somaiya Daud crafted a story that felt very much Cinderella-esque, while completely absorbing us into an entirely new tale.
The novel had the potential to go either way - a totally bad ass story, or a lack-luster flop that wasted my time. Considering the reviews and buzz around the novel, I was not at all surprised when the narrative blew me away. I gave this novel a solid 4.5/5 stars!
With a morrocan fantasy fusion, Daud has transported us to a world that we rarely see. The culture, both Vathek and Kushalia, are so richly described that it's easy to reach out and feel the world around you. Instantly we are immersed into a world of culture, love, loyalty. We meet a family that is incredibly tight knit; a people who -despite being conquered- hold on to the joy in their lives, the special things that connect them to a culture that was stripped from them during the invasion. This is what kept me turning the pages in the first few chapters.
Admittedly, the beginning was slow for me. The first 5 chapters really seemed to be like pulling teeth to get to the meat of the story. However, that was the only part of the book that felt like it was dragging. The rest of the book FLEW by!
As I mentioned before, the novel began slow, aside from the initial event that propelled the story forward. There were several info dumps, but they worked for the most part - not retracting from the story as info dumps often do. The world building in this novel is exeptional. It's hard to find a world so well detailed that it leaps off of the page and into reality for me. As some one who does not see or think in images, it really takes a talent to immerse me into a world that I otherwise would not be able to image.
I found it interesting to see how Maram and Amani's relationship grew and changed, and even her relationship with the stewart and those that could do her the most harm.
I was especially impressed with her use of culture and language in her world. Vathek, which is the name of the people who conquered their worlds, comes from a story about barbarianism. It's very appropriate considering the people are barbarians. Evil and uncaring, even about their own people. King Mathis is a man who values loyalty and power over love and compassion. He built his empire (solar system) on the idea of fear ruling this people. Those that were nobility and on his side were bathed in riches, those that were not - they didn't live long enough to let that spread. The clash of the two cultures, and the mix of them in Maram is so skillfully done that it is like a song on each page, the two halves fighting for control.
I've heard some complaints about the insta love in this book, but I feel like that's a bit misplaced. The novel takes place over a matter of several months. I believe Amani says several times that it was many weeks between seeing Idris, so they both had time to dwell and yearn for each other. Though it may have been slightly escalated, I don't feel like it was truly "instalove".
Through out the book, there was a theme of hope. The one item that Amani holds so dear is a constant reminder that she could be more, wants to be more. Both the beginning and ending sparked a note of hope for me, and I was pleased to see it continue through out, no matter the trials that Amani faced.
Over all, Mirage was a great novel. The entire story is a roller coaster of emotions. I was truly invested, searching out any clues of how the story would progress. It was heartwrenching, heartwarming and cunning. Daud created characters that instantly stole the show, many of them showing up Amani in most scenes, and forced us to see into a parallel for the worlds that we currently live in. I wish I had seen more of Maram, with the connection that she formed with Amani I felt like too much was held back - a disservice to the characters. I loved that we got to see a #ownvoices story in a way that so many people can relate to! I would have loved to see a queer character, but that's simply because I always wish for a queer girl some where in there. ;)
I'm almost certain that there is an entire sub story that lies within Maram, and I am desperately hoping that it will be revealed in the coming books. The relationship that Amani and Maram have is so complex that there can only be more surprises to come!
The novel had the potential to go either way - a totally bad ass story, or a lack-luster flop that wasted my time. Considering the reviews and buzz around the novel, I was not at all surprised when the narrative blew me away. I gave this novel a solid 4.5/5 stars!
With a morrocan fantasy fusion, Daud has transported us to a world that we rarely see. The culture, both Vathek and Kushalia, are so richly described that it's easy to reach out and feel the world around you. Instantly we are immersed into a world of culture, love, loyalty. We meet a family that is incredibly tight knit; a people who -despite being conquered- hold on to the joy in their lives, the special things that connect them to a culture that was stripped from them during the invasion. This is what kept me turning the pages in the first few chapters.
Admittedly, the beginning was slow for me. The first 5 chapters really seemed to be like pulling teeth to get to the meat of the story. However, that was the only part of the book that felt like it was dragging. The rest of the book FLEW by!
As I mentioned before, the novel began slow, aside from the initial event that propelled the story forward. There were several info dumps, but they worked for the most part - not retracting from the story as info dumps often do. The world building in this novel is exeptional. It's hard to find a world so well detailed that it leaps off of the page and into reality for me. As some one who does not see or think in images, it really takes a talent to immerse me into a world that I otherwise would not be able to image.
I found it interesting to see how Maram and Amani's relationship grew and changed, and even her relationship with the stewart and those that could do her the most harm.
I was especially impressed with her use of culture and language in her world. Vathek, which is the name of the people who conquered their worlds, comes from a story about barbarianism. It's very appropriate considering the people are barbarians. Evil and uncaring, even about their own people. King Mathis is a man who values loyalty and power over love and compassion. He built his empire (solar system) on the idea of fear ruling this people. Those that were nobility and on his side were bathed in riches, those that were not - they didn't live long enough to let that spread. The clash of the two cultures, and the mix of them in Maram is so skillfully done that it is like a song on each page, the two halves fighting for control.
I've heard some complaints about the insta love in this book, but I feel like that's a bit misplaced. The novel takes place over a matter of several months. I believe Amani says several times that it was many weeks between seeing Idris, so they both had time to dwell and yearn for each other. Though it may have been slightly escalated, I don't feel like it was truly "instalove".
Through out the book, there was a theme of hope. The one item that Amani holds so dear is a constant reminder that she could be more, wants to be more. Both the beginning and ending sparked a note of hope for me, and I was pleased to see it continue through out, no matter the trials that Amani faced.
Over all, Mirage was a great novel. The entire story is a roller coaster of emotions. I was truly invested, searching out any clues of how the story would progress. It was heartwrenching, heartwarming and cunning. Daud created characters that instantly stole the show, many of them showing up Amani in most scenes, and forced us to see into a parallel for the worlds that we currently live in. I wish I had seen more of Maram, with the connection that she formed with Amani I felt like too much was held back - a disservice to the characters. I loved that we got to see a #ownvoices story in a way that so many people can relate to! I would have loved to see a queer character, but that's simply because I always wish for a queer girl some where in there. ;)
I'm almost certain that there is an entire sub story that lies within Maram, and I am desperately hoping that it will be revealed in the coming books. The relationship that Amani and Maram have is so complex that there can only be more surprises to come!
Mirage is an Arabic inspired sci-fi set in a star system where the Vathek alien race have invaded and oppressed the Kushaila population. Our protagonist Amani is abducted by Vathek forces and transported to the royal palace, where she’s coerced into serving as a body double for the notoriously hated half-Kushaila half-Vathek princess.
I really wanted to like this. We have a body double trope featuring a WOC protagonist in an Arabic sci-fi world with white invasion discourse…..this had me written all over it!
And yet it fell flat for me.
Half the problem is that I really need to read the synopses of books more closely. I went into this expecting an explosive YA sci-fi body double story with explosions and space fights. In reality, it’s a far more character-driven storyline that luxuriates in its Arabic-inspired setting, focusing instead on romance rather than revolution.
The other problem is that the world-building and description were lacking. I really enjoyed the concept of this universe and the way in which it juxtaposed aliens and mythology, but there just wasn’t enough groundwork laid to truly immerse me in the world. I can barely recall anything about the Vathek race other than they’re white/silver in colour, and I struggled to keep track of all the locations and planets in relation to each other. I needed a stronger foundation outlining the solar system, the Vathek invasion, the tech, and the Kushaila history.
The individual scenes were also lacking in description. All too often the author drops in a Kushaila word without explaining what it is - whether it be an item of clothing, food, or beverage. Consequently I had to a) pull myself away from the story to Google the term on my phone, or b) just fill in the gaps using my imagination; both of which are super disruptive to the reading experience. If you’re going to namedrop five Kushaila foods in a row, please go to the effort of explaining this tasty AF food to the reader!
I also didn’t really dig the romance. I’m a total trash for the trope Somaiya Daud employed but even the the more emotional scenes left me totally dry-eyed - and I cry during almost every book I read!
And while the story clearly reads as a white invasion metaphor, the author only superficially touched on this. The author talks a little about the but I felt there was a lot more discourse to be engaged in here. The marginalised/oppressed population are Arabic-inspired while the invading alien race are literally white as hell, so it was a shame to see this skimmed over.
Overall: The story just lacked lacked pizzazz and failed to go that extra mile for me. I could deal with the character-driven storyline and lack of ~*space explosions*~ if the world-building and mythology were richer. Instead, I was left with this superficial look at characters in a world that had so much more potential. I will scream about and promote diverse SFF until the cows come home but I was left unsatisfied by the storytelling in this one.
I really wanted to like this. We have a body double trope featuring a WOC protagonist in an Arabic sci-fi world with white invasion discourse…..this had me written all over it!
And yet it fell flat for me.
Half the problem is that I really need to read the synopses of books more closely. I went into this expecting an explosive YA sci-fi body double story with explosions and space fights. In reality, it’s a far more character-driven storyline that luxuriates in its Arabic-inspired setting, focusing instead on romance rather than revolution.
The other problem is that the world-building and description were lacking. I really enjoyed the concept of this universe and the way in which it juxtaposed aliens and mythology, but there just wasn’t enough groundwork laid to truly immerse me in the world. I can barely recall anything about the Vathek race other than they’re white/silver in colour, and I struggled to keep track of all the locations and planets in relation to each other. I needed a stronger foundation outlining the solar system, the Vathek invasion, the tech, and the Kushaila history.
The individual scenes were also lacking in description. All too often the author drops in a Kushaila word without explaining what it is - whether it be an item of clothing, food, or beverage. Consequently I had to a) pull myself away from the story to Google the term on my phone, or b) just fill in the gaps using my imagination; both of which are super disruptive to the reading experience. If you’re going to namedrop five Kushaila foods in a row, please go to the effort of explaining this tasty AF food to the reader!
I also didn’t really dig the romance. I’m a total trash for the trope Somaiya Daud employed but even the the more emotional scenes left me totally dry-eyed - and I cry during almost every book I read!
And while the story clearly reads as a white invasion metaphor, the author only superficially touched on this. The author talks a little about the
Spoiler
Vathek removing ritual markings/tattoos and stifling native dialects,Overall: The story just lacked lacked pizzazz and failed to go that extra mile for me. I could deal with the character-driven storyline and lack of ~*space explosions*~ if the world-building and mythology were richer. Instead, I was left with this superficial look at characters in a world that had so much more potential. I will scream about and promote diverse SFF until the cows come home but I was left unsatisfied by the storytelling in this one.
Although I fell in love with the universe the author was able to create, the novel struck me as hastily written rendering unable to make sense of any of the climaxes or even connecting with any of the characters.
Very engaging read that kept me entertained the whole way through.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Originally reviewed on Midnight Blue Book Review: https://midnightbluebookreview.com/2018/10/18/mirage-mirage-1-somaiya-daud/
Mirage is the debut novel by Somaiya Daud. It’s a fast read, with an interesting premise and a lot of potential. It certainly has its flaws and one of it is what I generally dislike about this kind of Young Adult books: the romance. This is probably a very personal thing, but I just wish there wasn’t this urge of always slotting in some kind of romance. In my opinion, it isn’t needed to make a book enjoyable. That being said, it did have a lot of redeeming qualities that in the end made me enjoy this book.
Amani’s world is one of occupation. Her solar system has been invaded by the Vathek, who have now made her planet their home base. Amani and her family live on one of the moons, trying to avoid poverty under the cruel rule of the Vathek and clinging to forbidden traditions. On her Majority Night, some sort of coming-of-age ceremony, Amani gets kidnapped by the Vathek and taken to the Royal Palace, the Ziyaana. She soon discovers that she looks almost exactly like the Vathek Princess, Maram, and that this is the exact reason she was taken. Maram, half Kushaila and half Vathek, born from a forced union between the conquered Kushaila Princess and the Vathek ruler, is hated by both. All the conquered see is their conquerer and all the conqeurers see is the weaker blood of the people they’ve crushed. This means she is in constant danger and needs a body double to appear in public.
Amani and Maram are both very interesting characters and I really enjoyed reading their interactions and seeing their relationship blossom throughout the book. Maram is clearly the villain in the beginning of the book, a cruel girl without any empathy, entitled and Vathek to the bone. However, as Amani and Maram spend more and more time together it becomes clear that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Forced into a position she didn’t choose, unable to please either side of her family and people, she is struggling to find her place in this world. Amani is as a beacon to her because she allows her to explore her Kushaila side, something she hasn’t been able to do since the death of her mother. Maram stands out in this book as a complex and multifaceted character and for her alone I’d keep reading this series.
Being the body double for the Vathek Princess also means spending time with her fiancée, Kushaila royalty and dreamboat Idris. It was extremely predictable that some sort of romance would blossom from this and I’m not a fan. I think this book would have been better served with Idris and Amani becoming allies and connecting over their Kushaila heritage without the romance. A strong friendship would have made everything far more believable then this whirlwind hidden romance.
The events at the end of the book feel a bit rushed, but apart from that it’s a very good ending and it certainly made me curious about the next book. As is the case with many debuts Mirage is not without it’s faults, but it was definitely an interesting read. Its science fiction background is very minor and will therefore also be quite enjoyable for people prefering Fantasy over SciFi. I’m interested to read the next book to see where this story goes.
Mirage is the debut novel by Somaiya Daud. It’s a fast read, with an interesting premise and a lot of potential. It certainly has its flaws and one of it is what I generally dislike about this kind of Young Adult books: the romance. This is probably a very personal thing, but I just wish there wasn’t this urge of always slotting in some kind of romance. In my opinion, it isn’t needed to make a book enjoyable. That being said, it did have a lot of redeeming qualities that in the end made me enjoy this book.
Amani’s world is one of occupation. Her solar system has been invaded by the Vathek, who have now made her planet their home base. Amani and her family live on one of the moons, trying to avoid poverty under the cruel rule of the Vathek and clinging to forbidden traditions. On her Majority Night, some sort of coming-of-age ceremony, Amani gets kidnapped by the Vathek and taken to the Royal Palace, the Ziyaana. She soon discovers that she looks almost exactly like the Vathek Princess, Maram, and that this is the exact reason she was taken. Maram, half Kushaila and half Vathek, born from a forced union between the conquered Kushaila Princess and the Vathek ruler, is hated by both. All the conquered see is their conquerer and all the conqeurers see is the weaker blood of the people they’ve crushed. This means she is in constant danger and needs a body double to appear in public.
Amani and Maram are both very interesting characters and I really enjoyed reading their interactions and seeing their relationship blossom throughout the book. Maram is clearly the villain in the beginning of the book, a cruel girl without any empathy, entitled and Vathek to the bone. However, as Amani and Maram spend more and more time together it becomes clear that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Forced into a position she didn’t choose, unable to please either side of her family and people, she is struggling to find her place in this world. Amani is as a beacon to her because she allows her to explore her Kushaila side, something she hasn’t been able to do since the death of her mother. Maram stands out in this book as a complex and multifaceted character and for her alone I’d keep reading this series.
Being the body double for the Vathek Princess also means spending time with her fiancée, Kushaila royalty and dreamboat Idris. It was extremely predictable that some sort of romance would blossom from this and I’m not a fan. I think this book would have been better served with Idris and Amani becoming allies and connecting over their Kushaila heritage without the romance. A strong friendship would have made everything far more believable then this whirlwind hidden romance.
The events at the end of the book feel a bit rushed, but apart from that it’s a very good ending and it certainly made me curious about the next book. As is the case with many debuts Mirage is not without it’s faults, but it was definitely an interesting read. Its science fiction background is very minor and will therefore also be quite enjoyable for people prefering Fantasy over SciFi. I’m interested to read the next book to see where this story goes.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes