1.49k reviews for:

Mirage

Somaiya Daud

3.71 AVERAGE

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
adventurous dark medium-paced
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: Yes

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was slow in the beginning and took some time for me to get into, but once it picked up I enjoyed the story and characters. I plan to read the next book in the series.
adventurous medium-paced

Romance seemed to appear out of nowhere. I would have liked more build up.  Loved the relationship between Maram and Amani.
adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I received an advance reader copy while attending ALA. I am loving the non-European based fantasy that is being released. Mirage is Moroccan inspired fantasy, with a light scifi touch. It deals with colonialism, appropriation, and more. There is, of course, your pretty standard YA fantasy romance, but the other relationships--specifically the one between Amani and Maram--offer much more. Not much is tied up by the end of this novel so be ready to wait impatiently for book two! Another option, in addition to [b:Children of Blood and Bone|34728667|Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, #1)|Tomi Adeyemi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1516127989s/34728667.jpg|55911580], to offer readers looking for something different!

Publication Date: August 28, 2018

4.5*

Actual rating: 3,5 stars

Set in a world between Fantasy and Sci-fi and with a beautiful Moroccan-inspired setting, Mirage follows Amani as she is taken from her family by the oppressive regime that conquered her planet 20 years ago. The reason for her abduction? Her uncanny resemblance to the princess. From there, she is trained to be the princess’ body double and die in her place if need be.

As a YA book I have to admit I didn’t expect such a heavy depiction of the oppression of conquest, and I loved it! Daud emphasized how the colonisation of their planet changed the people of Andala and how their culture slowly but surely faded on their own land. The description of it was wonderful and told in a very eye-opening way. Definitely my favourite part of this book.

The world building had a lot of potential. The Moroccan-inspired setting was very atmospheric, but I wish the sci-fi elements were brought into the story in a different way. I don't feel like they added much to the story, and I often forgot about them until a drone suddenly entered the room.

The first few pages were really addicting! The setting and world are set up quickly and efficiently without forgetting the inciting incident, it was perfect to quickly draw the reader into the story. However, the rest of the book was quite slow and often predictable, the only thing that kept me going was the constant hum of rebellion that echoed beneath every scene. This is the main reason why I will continue the series with the sequel.