lostintomes 's review for:

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

4.0

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Synopsis:
"Amani is kidnapped at her coming of age party and taken to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place. As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death."

3.75 Stars -Just barely missed the mark for 4!

A lovely blend of desert fantasy and science fiction.

I really liked all the rich Moroccan inspired world building, and thought the premise and political aspects were intriguing. It was romantic and the characters kept me coming back for more. This was a fun and fast read! However I don't think it quite reached its potential. The pacing was problematic, there were a few details that weren't very well addressed and the plot didn't feel as substantial as I would have liked. It dragged in several spots and as I reflect back there just wasn't a whole lot that actually happened in this book.

I did still enjoy it overall, I think it was memorable enough and the ending sets up a lot of potential for the rest of the series having a much more solid plot so I look forward to continuing and seeing where the story takes us next.

Content Notes:
- Mild Swears
- Sexual Content - kissing
- LGBTQ Representation