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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
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:
No
Mirage was nothing like what I expected. This book kept me glued to the pages and kept me wanting more. Daud's writing style was refreshing and captivating. I couldn't put the book down and read half of it in one sitting.
*Spoilers*
I am invested in Amani's life and what has become of her and what is to become of her. The story of a people coming in and conquering your homeland, like what happened to Amani's people, is relevant to events happening in today's world. Amani is a strong main character, which we can see developing her strength and hope throughout the story. Her adaptation and courage helps her overcome obstacles and form alliances with people she never would have expected. From slavery in all but name, to forbidden love, to losing that love, Amani never gives up home and she is constantly reminded that she has a purpose in life.
Overall, great story and message to all who read. I 10/10 recommend this fabulous book!
*Spoilers*
I am invested in Amani's life and what has become of her and what is to become of her. The story of a people coming in and conquering your homeland, like what happened to Amani's people, is relevant to events happening in today's world. Amani is a strong main character, which we can see developing her strength and hope throughout the story. Her adaptation and courage helps her overcome obstacles and form alliances with people she never would have expected. From slavery in all but name, to forbidden love, to losing that love, Amani never gives up home and she is constantly reminded that she has a purpose in life.
Overall, great story and message to all who read. I 10/10 recommend this fabulous book!
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I am so lucky to have been chosen to be apart of the Mirage Tour! This is an amazing space fantasy about surviving and rebelling against colonizing oppressors. Ever wonder what Princess Leia would be like as an Anti-villain? Desire a dystopian world that isn't white washed? Check out Mirage below with an excerpt, my review, and a giveaway!
Content Warning: Torture, Physical Violence, Kidnapping, Racism, Colonization, Genocide, Cultural Cleansing, Biracial Hatred, Internalized Self-hatred,
Mirage is such an intense ride. Character driven loaded with character progression and twisting relationships. Day to day survival and self care teetering against the resistance and greater good. Even the down times have forbidden love and attraction.
It doesn't sugar coat colonization so fellow white people, be prepared to take several seats. The council meeting was particularly chilling.
I love the world building, the descriptions, and the details. Everything just *popped* off the page and was so vivid.
I get the romance, but as a demi I need more time and involvement before I personally feel it. The prince is smart and cute and funny. He's damaged so you just want to hug him and make him feel better. It doesn't steal focus from the bigger picture of the occupation and rebellion. But it is still important. Loving each other against the rules, sharing their culture to keep it alive is an act of rebellion in itself.
There's so much I didn't see coming. The only thing I really called was the romance with the prince. Everything else was a surprise.
I'm convinced there's more going with the Princess. I have a ~theory~ I hope is correct. Maram and Amani's relationship is EVERYTHING. So unique and fascinating with so many different aspects and full of empathy. I normally don't get anti villains but I think people are going to appreciate Maram like they do Killmonger.
Sidenote: The lack of any queerness is disappointing but that's a general complaint of mine. This did not affect my rating at all.
IMHO: Mirage
Content Warning: Torture, Physical Violence, Kidnapping, Racism, Colonization, Genocide, Cultural Cleansing, Biracial Hatred, Internalized Self-hatred,
Mirage is such an intense ride. Character driven loaded with character progression and twisting relationships. Day to day survival and self care teetering against the resistance and greater good. Even the down times have forbidden love and attraction.
It doesn't sugar coat colonization so fellow white people, be prepared to take several seats. The council meeting was particularly chilling.
I love the world building, the descriptions, and the details. Everything just *popped* off the page and was so vivid.
I get the romance, but as a demi I need more time and involvement before I personally feel it. The prince is smart and cute and funny. He's damaged so you just want to hug him and make him feel better. It doesn't steal focus from the bigger picture of the occupation and rebellion. But it is still important. Loving each other against the rules, sharing their culture to keep it alive is an act of rebellion in itself.
There's so much I didn't see coming. The only thing I really called was the romance with the prince. Everything else was a surprise.
I'm convinced there's more going with the Princess. I have a ~theory~ I hope is correct. Maram and Amani's relationship is EVERYTHING. So unique and fascinating with so many different aspects and full of empathy. I normally don't get anti villains but I think people are going to appreciate Maram like they do Killmonger.
Sidenote: The lack of any queerness is disappointing but that's a general complaint of mine. This did not affect my rating at all.
I cannot wait for the next installment of the Mirage series!!
Some Favorite Quotes:
"Save your pity for the young and the dead, girl," she said. "It won't help me."
"The ties they forges have broken and Fate has led our feet to freedom."
"It was a cruel person that judged a child by their parent's legacy."
"You are not responsible for the cruelty of your masters."
GIVEAWAY
Prize: One finished copy of Mirage by Somaiya Daud
(USA only)
Starts: 8/22/18 Ends: 8/30/18
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour!This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon
2.5 Stars!
This book was confusing for me. The writing was well done, for a debut novel I’m impressed with that aspect. However, there was no action until the end of the book and even then it ends really abruptly (just realizing now it’s a series and not a standalone, so this makes sense).
It wasn’t bad by any means, it just felt pointless and could have had some more action considering she’s filling in for the princess who supposedly should be in danger from others (but goes months without a single threat).
I would read from this author again since her writing has a lot of potential, she just has to work on her execution.
This book was confusing for me. The writing was well done, for a debut novel I’m impressed with that aspect. However, there was no action until the end of the book and even then it ends really abruptly (just realizing now it’s a series and not a standalone, so this makes sense).
It wasn’t bad by any means, it just felt pointless and could have had some more action considering she’s filling in for the princess who supposedly should be in danger from others (but goes months without a single threat).
I would read from this author again since her writing has a lot of potential, she just has to work on her execution.
adventurous
reflective
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
3.25 stars
mirage is a YA fantasy (with sci fi elements) and a debut novel. personally I enjoyed the book while reading, but I don't think I won't think about this book ever again. I felt like the stakes were very low, even though the story keeps describing how high they should be. I also missed a lot of world building and felt like it there was some backstory lacking. what I really liked was the cultural aspect of the story, the way poetry and history were woven into the story was beautiful. the romance was... okay? it felt very insta lovey to me but it was not bad and I think it'll develop further in the second book in this duology. overall a pretty solid YA fantasy.
mirage is a YA fantasy (with sci fi elements) and a debut novel. personally I enjoyed the book while reading, but I don't think I won't think about this book ever again. I felt like the stakes were very low, even though the story keeps describing how high they should be. I also missed a lot of world building and felt like it there was some backstory lacking. what I really liked was the cultural aspect of the story, the way poetry and history were woven into the story was beautiful. the romance was... okay? it felt very insta lovey to me but it was not bad and I think it'll develop further in the second book in this duology. overall a pretty solid YA fantasy.
This is great YA. Not a home run for me personally only because I didn't realize my interest in the genre was waning, and now I'm guilt-reading through the books I acquired before that revelation occurred.
I seldom read scifi but I've grown an interest in this because of the diverse rep and it did execute well. I love how palpable the fear and violence inflicted in the initial parts of the book; it also really fleshed out how colonialism works. Alongside this, I was fascinated by the tradition of leaving tattoos on their cheeks and forehead that depicts their lineage. I don't know if this is actually practiced but I really find the gravity of this particular tradition in the narrative. Consequently, I love how their religion is interspersed in their poetry. I find Mirage quite culturally rich in a sense.
What I don't like about Mirage is how sparingly the technology is explained; like the mechanics of their transportation and especially how the spyware works. I love the fact that the architecture is given ample research but as a scifi novel, this didn't execute well in the technicalities that should've been predominant. Moreover, I didn't find the romance convincing at all and even the "antagonist" wasn't well fleshed out for me. Maram doesn't have a lot of agency and this may be debateable but I didn't like how Amina suddenly fit so well in her role.
I do love the attempt to create a sisterly bond between them and the conflicting narrative made it more appealing (I also just really love this kind of dynamics!). Lastly, I really like that the value of family is highlighted in this book. Overall I think this would be a great introduction for a younger audience on YA.
What I don't like about Mirage is how sparingly the technology is explained; like the mechanics of their transportation and especially how the spyware works. I love the fact that the architecture is given ample research but as a scifi novel, this didn't execute well in the technicalities that should've been predominant. Moreover, I didn't find the romance convincing at all and even the "antagonist" wasn't well fleshed out for me. Maram doesn't have a lot of agency and this may be debateable but I didn't like how Amina suddenly fit so well in her role.
I do love the attempt to create a sisterly bond between them and the conflicting narrative made it more appealing (I also just really love this kind of dynamics!). Lastly, I really like that the value of family is highlighted in this book. Overall I think this would be a great introduction for a younger audience on YA.
↠ Mirage: ★★★★★
The love I have for this book is so, so much. The poetry makes this book, but also the emphasis on family. There are so many emotions surrounding this book and yes, the intrigue could be better.
However, what makes this book a five star rating for me is the human connection. It permeates everything and I’m going to be thinking about Idris and Amani for a long while.
The love I have for this book is so, so much. The poetry makes this book, but also the emphasis on family. There are so many emotions surrounding this book and yes, the intrigue could be better.
However, what makes this book a five star rating for me is the human connection. It permeates everything and I’m going to be thinking about Idris and Amani for a long while.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
MIRAGE is a story of a girl forced to be the body double for the princess assumed to be the next monarch of her colonized planet. As Amani adjusts to the strict requirements of her new role, she starts connecting with others who are trying to end the occupation.
I love the worldbuilding in MIRAGE. It’s concerned with language, culture, and class dynamics reinforced through colonization. Its suffuses everything from Amani's life with her family to the Vathek court and everything in between. It was obvious to me that many parts of the language are based on Arabic, and the interview with the author which is included in the audiobook clarified for me that it was specifically influenced by Moroccan culture. Even before I knew which specific country's history had contributed to the worldbuilding, there were so many wonderfully detailed moments which filled this picture of a people who went to space and have been living on this moon for so long that their culture references a long history on that moon and not their arrival from somewhere else.
This deals heavily with the cruelty of colonizers, and the difficulty of Amani trying to stay alive when everything she does to preserve her life also helps her oppressors. The Vathek colonizers are quasi-European, culturally and aesthetically different from those they’re subjugating. Long stretches in the middle are a bit more hopeful, as every time Amani is sent somewhere instead of the princess it’s more time that she can interact without a harsh gaze upon her. One complication is that the princess is engaged to be married, so Amani interacts with her fiancé, Idris, who isn't supposed to know about the body double. I like Idris, his dynamic with Amani is really sweet. I especially love the way that they slowly begin discussing more of their history and shared culture together, since Idris was made to forget his first language years ago but Amani still can read and speak it.
As the first book of a trilogy, this establishes Amani's transformation away from who she was before she was kidnapped. There's more of a focus on Vathek culture because Amani has to become familiar with the Vathek court to survive. The ending was a dramatic shift and I'm excited for how the next book handles things.
I love the worldbuilding in MIRAGE. It’s concerned with language, culture, and class dynamics reinforced through colonization. Its suffuses everything from Amani's life with her family to the Vathek court and everything in between. It was obvious to me that many parts of the language are based on Arabic, and the interview with the author which is included in the audiobook clarified for me that it was specifically influenced by Moroccan culture. Even before I knew which specific country's history had contributed to the worldbuilding, there were so many wonderfully detailed moments which filled this picture of a people who went to space and have been living on this moon for so long that their culture references a long history on that moon and not their arrival from somewhere else.
This deals heavily with the cruelty of colonizers, and the difficulty of Amani trying to stay alive when everything she does to preserve her life also helps her oppressors. The Vathek colonizers are quasi-European, culturally and aesthetically different from those they’re subjugating. Long stretches in the middle are a bit more hopeful, as every time Amani is sent somewhere instead of the princess it’s more time that she can interact without a harsh gaze upon her. One complication is that the princess is engaged to be married, so Amani interacts with her fiancé, Idris, who isn't supposed to know about the body double. I like Idris, his dynamic with Amani is really sweet. I especially love the way that they slowly begin discussing more of their history and shared culture together, since Idris was made to forget his first language years ago but Amani still can read and speak it.
As the first book of a trilogy, this establishes Amani's transformation away from who she was before she was kidnapped. There's more of a focus on Vathek culture because Amani has to become familiar with the Vathek court to survive. The ending was a dramatic shift and I'm excited for how the next book handles things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy