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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
"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."
Mirage tells the story of a farmer's daughter, Amani who is forced to be the decoy of the cruel and ruthless Varthek Princess Maram. She learns the mannerisms and customs of the princess, and soon finds herself attending events and proceedings in order to save Maram's life. Captivating, engaging and filled with beautiful prose, this story would be a perfect fit for those who enjoys Sabaa Tahir's Ember quartet series. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kushaila poetry in this book, and how it is woven into different aspects of Amani's journey.
Mirage tells the story of a farmer's daughter, Amani who is forced to be the decoy of the cruel and ruthless Varthek Princess Maram. She learns the mannerisms and customs of the princess, and soon finds herself attending events and proceedings in order to save Maram's life. Captivating, engaging and filled with beautiful prose, this story would be a perfect fit for those who enjoys Sabaa Tahir's Ember quartet series. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kushaila poetry in this book, and how it is woven into different aspects of Amani's journey.
This book was so good. I was captivated from the beginning and could not put it down, ended up reading it in a day! I loved the main character ands was such a well developed character. You can check out my full review here: https://afictionreality.wordpress.com/2018/10/09/mirage/
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked the main story. The romance however, detracted from that story and didn't need to be included.
Audiobook by Rasha Zamamiri, 9hrs; Audience: YA Fantasy, Romance, YA Fiction Literature
Enjoyed this story for the worldbuilding and the fast pace. Willing to try the next book in the series, but I have a problematic relationship with YA.
Enjoyed this story for the worldbuilding and the fast pace. Willing to try the next book in the series, but I have a problematic relationship with YA.
Here's what I loved about this book: it's a YA science fiction novel that is incredibly easy to get into and read. You'll find yourself flipping pages at a high speed simply because it's a captivating and atmospheric read. And YA sci-fi with PoC characters that is also #ownvoices? Yes!!
It has a lot of aspects I love in SFF: body doubles, court settings, intergalactic war, rebels... Sounds amazing, right? It also discusses oppression, having your culture become illegal and how it alters the lives of the people who remember life before the oppression as well as their children - who don't.
What I loved most? The Arabian setting. I'm so glad to read a sci-fi novel that is diverse, well-written and atmospheric! I sometimes struggle with the settings and atmosphere of sci-fi books, especially those set in space. It combined my favorite elements of fantasy novels (world building) with science fiction.
Here's my biggest issue with this novel: it doesn't make any sense. Amani is abducted and brought to the Princess of the Vath - the people who conquered her people and are ruling over them/oppressing them. She's pretty much the princess' body double, and will be trained so she can take the princess' place in high risk situations after attempts on her life have been discovered.
Okay, that I can understand. Here's where it starts making zero sense:
- you don't actually see anything of Amani's training, but she's supposedly become good enough to take the princess' place at a ball
- while Amani studied everyone who would be present at the ball, she doesn't know anything about the relationship between the princess and her fiancé
- so she has to pretend to the person who knows the princess best/spends the most time with her, without knowing anything about their relationship, the way they talk to one another, etc
- how can she possibly be convincing???
- at no point did she actually seem like a convincing version of the princess
- at no point were attacks on her life actually made??
It has a lot of aspects I love in SFF: body doubles, court settings, intergalactic war, rebels... Sounds amazing, right? It also discusses oppression, having your culture become illegal and how it alters the lives of the people who remember life before the oppression as well as their children - who don't.
What I loved most? The Arabian setting. I'm so glad to read a sci-fi novel that is diverse, well-written and atmospheric! I sometimes struggle with the settings and atmosphere of sci-fi books, especially those set in space. It combined my favorite elements of fantasy novels (world building) with science fiction.
Here's my biggest issue with this novel: it doesn't make any sense. Amani is abducted and brought to the Princess of the Vath - the people who conquered her people and are ruling over them/oppressing them. She's pretty much the princess' body double, and will be trained so she can take the princess' place in high risk situations after attempts on her life have been discovered.
Okay, that I can understand. Here's where it starts making zero sense:
- you don't actually see anything of Amani's training, but she's supposedly become good enough to take the princess' place at a ball
- while Amani studied everyone who would be present at the ball, she doesn't know anything about the relationship between the princess and her fiancé
- so she has to pretend to the person who knows the princess best/spends the most time with her, without knowing anything about their relationship, the way they talk to one another, etc
- how can she possibly be convincing???
- at no point did she actually seem like a convincing version of the princess
- at no point were attacks on her life actually made??
Eh. This book was just okay to me. A highlight was definitely the setting, a blend of middle eastern culture and high tech sci-fi. But the plot was a little lack luster and the romance quick and insta-Love for sure. But I’d definitely be interested in the sequel. Curious to see how Mara turns out in all honesty.
adventurous
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:
Yes