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A review by kylareda
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
4.0
*Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*
I was not expecting to enjoy Mirage as much as I did, but it surprised me in so many ways!
What I immediately loved about Mirage was the atmosphere. It is so culturally diverse, both in characters and in setting, and is crafted so well that I truly felt transported while reading. The author uses vivid detail in describing the buildings and landscape, which gave me serious Arabian vibes. She also depicts Amani’s culture so well, with descriptions of their traditions as well as popular dishes and poetry. I was completely in love.
Another favourite of the story was Maram, the cruel princess Amani is brought in as a double for. Maram has so many layers and her inner struggle behind her villainy is so realistic and well-representing. A child of political intent between the respective rulers of the colonizers and the colonized, her struggle with identity and belonging is so important and I have so much respect for her as a villain figure. It made me very happy to watch the relationship between Amani and Maram develop.
As much as I enjoyed this story and highly anticipate the sequel, there were two small things that I had problems with. First, for a story that centres around the necessity of a body double for a princess whose life is threatened, it seemed to be lacking the amount of action that description suggests. While the citizens’ hate for Maram was evident, there was only really one instance where it seemed necessary that Amani be present as a body double.
Secondly, the romance in the story felt a little bit like an insta-love to me. While I enjoyed the pairing and the realistic base it was formed on, I felt as though the sparks were flying a little bit quicker than they should have been.
All in all, I highly recommend Mirage if you’re looking for a unique story in a complex and diverse world!
I was not expecting to enjoy Mirage as much as I did, but it surprised me in so many ways!
What I immediately loved about Mirage was the atmosphere. It is so culturally diverse, both in characters and in setting, and is crafted so well that I truly felt transported while reading. The author uses vivid detail in describing the buildings and landscape, which gave me serious Arabian vibes. She also depicts Amani’s culture so well, with descriptions of their traditions as well as popular dishes and poetry. I was completely in love.
Another favourite of the story was Maram, the cruel princess Amani is brought in as a double for. Maram has so many layers and her inner struggle behind her villainy is so realistic and well-representing. A child of political intent between the respective rulers of the colonizers and the colonized, her struggle with identity and belonging is so important and I have so much respect for her as a villain figure. It made me very happy to watch the relationship between Amani and Maram develop.
As much as I enjoyed this story and highly anticipate the sequel, there were two small things that I had problems with. First, for a story that centres around the necessity of a body double for a princess whose life is threatened, it seemed to be lacking the amount of action that description suggests. While the citizens’ hate for Maram was evident, there was only really one instance where it seemed necessary that Amani be present as a body double.
Secondly, the romance in the story felt a little bit like an insta-love to me. While I enjoyed the pairing and the realistic base it was formed on, I felt as though the sparks were flying a little bit quicker than they should have been.
All in all, I highly recommend Mirage if you’re looking for a unique story in a complex and diverse world!