Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
this was SOOOO good. my goodness. it's rare to find such quality YA
sci-fi that's inspired by arab cultures with a plot centered on the rebellion against colonization and appropriation of said cultures? a lovable and charming MC who has compassion for other victims of the system even after they deeply hurt her, and who loves writing and poetry? chef kiss
sci-fi that's inspired by arab cultures with a plot centered on the rebellion against colonization and appropriation of said cultures? a lovable and charming MC who has compassion for other victims of the system even after they deeply hurt her, and who loves writing and poetry? chef kiss
hmm not sure what to think it started out great and i liked the characters but i didn’t really like where the story was going like nothing major really happened? it felt a bit random i kept waiting for something to happen but the story was just dragging even though this was a 300 page book
I was lucky enough to read a digital ARC (thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!) and I was NOT disappointed!
This book is such a unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi! I love the world that the author created, with complex technology and space travel set in a more cultural and agricultural setting. The author really took the time to build the culture and religious beliefs of her characters while also incorporating futuristic technology and fantasy/sci-fi elements. The writing was well-done and I enjoyed the character development. It took a few chapters for me to really get into the book, but once I was in, I was hooked. I'm really looking forward to the second book!
Full review: https://picturethisliteraturecom.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/mirage/
This book is such a unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi! I love the world that the author created, with complex technology and space travel set in a more cultural and agricultural setting. The author really took the time to build the culture and religious beliefs of her characters while also incorporating futuristic technology and fantasy/sci-fi elements. The writing was well-done and I enjoyed the character development. It took a few chapters for me to really get into the book, but once I was in, I was hooked. I'm really looking forward to the second book!
Full review: https://picturethisliteraturecom.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/mirage/
Very well-written and atmospheric, but I feel the pacing is a bit off.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Full blog tour to come on 25/8 on *Milky Way of Books*
Amani lives in a world conquered, stripped of its heritage and thrown into famine and tyranny. She tries to survive along with her family, but when her village is attacked in her majority night and she is taken to the capital, she will learn that her life is more at stake than she thinks.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's rich, blending in Moroccan culture and sci-fi with a cast of characters who are all scarred, fear for their lives and have lots at stake to lose. I liked that Amani tried to come to terms with her circumstances in order to survive and escape, how despite her fear she slowly becomes braver and realizes that not all around her are evil.
I also loved Idris. That boy deserves lots of hugs! And the ending? It gutted me, made me cry and anticipating to read the next book eagerly!
Amani lives in a world conquered, stripped of its heritage and thrown into famine and tyranny. She tries to survive along with her family, but when her village is attacked in her majority night and she is taken to the capital, she will learn that her life is more at stake than she thinks.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's rich, blending in Moroccan culture and sci-fi with a cast of characters who are all scarred, fear for their lives and have lots at stake to lose. I liked that Amani tried to come to terms with her circumstances in order to survive and escape, how despite her fear she slowly becomes braver and realizes that not all around her are evil.
I also loved Idris. That boy deserves lots of hugs! And the ending? It gutted me, made me cry and anticipating to read the next book eagerly!
adventurous
hopeful
Lots of good concepts and world-building, but I just didn't buy the friendship between the protagonist and the princess.
Character-driven political drama. Don't expect action! Amani is a likable and realistic feminist protagonist, and as everyone else mentioned, the most engaging relationship is between Maram and Amani.
I liked the unique aspect of having the empire originating from another planet/moon to take over and expand upon others, however wish it would have explained more about the differing cultures, etc.
Padmé and her decoys were my favourite part of the Star Wars prequels by a long shot. I always felt for Cordé, the handmaiden who dies on Coruscant, and wanted to know more about the choices that led her to sacrifice herself for Padmé. I wanted detail about the relationship between the ‘original’ and their double.
Mirage is the book I’ve been looking for without realising ever since. It offers all that detail and more. This is the tale of a young woman who finds herself risking life and limb for a person whose life is considered infinitely more valuable than hers – except instead of the loyalty Cordé seemed to have to Padmé, the relationship between Amani and Princess Maram begins with hatred and mistrust. Not only does Mirage have this great concept at its core, but the Morocco-inspired world [a:Somaiya Daud|15179415|Somaiya Daud|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1516594116p2/15179415.jpg] builds is vivid and layered, threaded with glittering details. I loved Amani as a narrator, and Maram took me by surprise – Daud slowly humanises and complicates her as the story unfolds.
My favourite aspect of the book, however, was the role of language and poetry in rebellion and keeping hope alive. It's so well-done. The stories of Massinia and the Massinite poetry were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the world. Waiting with baited breath for the sequel.
Mirage is the book I’ve been looking for without realising ever since. It offers all that detail and more. This is the tale of a young woman who finds herself risking life and limb for a person whose life is considered infinitely more valuable than hers – except instead of the loyalty Cordé seemed to have to Padmé, the relationship between Amani and Princess Maram begins with hatred and mistrust. Not only does Mirage have this great concept at its core, but the Morocco-inspired world [a:Somaiya Daud|15179415|Somaiya Daud|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1516594116p2/15179415.jpg] builds is vivid and layered, threaded with glittering details. I loved Amani as a narrator, and Maram took me by surprise – Daud slowly humanises and complicates her as the story unfolds.
My favourite aspect of the book, however, was the role of language and poetry in rebellion and keeping hope alive. It's so well-done. The stories of Massinia and the Massinite poetry were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the world. Waiting with baited breath for the sequel.
I feel Mirage is a breath of fresh air in the Science Fiction genre. It was enlightening to read a diverse book that takes place on a different planet, in a different system, with POC characters. The writing is vivid and engrossing. The environment the main protagonist is in is hostile, lethal, and cunning, and watching her grow to successfully become as a body-double is riveting. It's like reading The Diabolic, but with a rich, Middle Eastern inspired culture.
I'm excited to see that this is a first installment to a trilogy, and wish to see where the twist and turns take these characters.
I'm excited to see that this is a first installment to a trilogy, and wish to see where the twist and turns take these characters.