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A review by ithiliens
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
5.0
Where do I begin? I loved this from start to finish— and that’s saying something because I have been in a pretty huge reading slump lately. I think this may have pulled me out of it! TLDR: if you love gorgeous shimmering prose, seamless worldbuilding, and well drawn characters...this is the book for you!
It has been a *long* time since I’ve read a book that steeps the reader in its world so thoroughly from he beginning. I love when you can open a new book but feel that the world is as lived in, which IMO comes from really careful worldbuilding. It’s so clear that the world of MIRAGE is one that was crafted with love and thoughtfulness. Also, and this is just a personal pet peeve of mine, but I was SO HAPPY to see that the Kushaila phrases were never italicized (iirc) in the text. It always gets my hackles up when I see that done elsewhere and I think it’s a very good choice given the subject matter of the book, too.
On that note, I hope, somewhere, this book will be taught alongside lessons about colonization and imperialism. There was so much here presented in (though it sounds weird to say) a very accessible way that I think could help illuminate both the macro and personal side of colonial violence.
Without spoiling too much I really really loved the relationship between Amani and Maram...I loved them both so much as individuals too, but the way their relationship changed really avoided a lot of pitfalls for me and was something that felt pretty unique. I loved how Maram’s personal struggle with her family and heritage was portrayed...And I loved how present Amani’s family always felt for her. Sob...
ALSO: the poetry!!!! I was so delighted to find how seamlessly it was woven into not just the prose of the book but the plot too!
At the risk of babbling on for too long I’ll end here, but in summary: this was a gorgeous book that will stay with me for some time, and I can’t wait for the sequel.
It has been a *long* time since I’ve read a book that steeps the reader in its world so thoroughly from he beginning. I love when you can open a new book but feel that the world is as lived in, which IMO comes from really careful worldbuilding. It’s so clear that the world of MIRAGE is one that was crafted with love and thoughtfulness. Also, and this is just a personal pet peeve of mine, but I was SO HAPPY to see that the Kushaila phrases were never italicized (iirc) in the text. It always gets my hackles up when I see that done elsewhere and I think it’s a very good choice given the subject matter of the book, too.
On that note, I hope, somewhere, this book will be taught alongside lessons about colonization and imperialism. There was so much here presented in (though it sounds weird to say) a very accessible way that I think could help illuminate both the macro and personal side of colonial violence.
Without spoiling too much I really really loved the relationship between Amani and Maram...I loved them both so much as individuals too, but the way their relationship changed really avoided a lot of pitfalls for me and was something that felt pretty unique. I loved how Maram’s personal struggle with her family and heritage was portrayed...And I loved how present Amani’s family always felt for her. Sob...
ALSO: the poetry!!!! I was so delighted to find how seamlessly it was woven into not just the prose of the book but the plot too!
At the risk of babbling on for too long I’ll end here, but in summary: this was a gorgeous book that will stay with me for some time, and I can’t wait for the sequel.