You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by thehaileybirdie
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
5.0
There’s no way for me with my limited ability to describe my feelings on paper to accurately describe how this book changed me. I’m not the best at writing reviews but I will do my damndest because this is one of the most stunning pieces of work I’ve read in a long time. I’m going to try to break it down as best I can.
The world:
The history of this section of space felt so rich. The native cultures of the Kushaila felt so real and nuanced I could tell there was A LOT of thought put into it. The strong relationship Amani has to her religion and to her people gives you such a feeling of grief and loss to know what’s become of it. You hear about their mythology and their past of colonization and the conquest of their villages and it makes you sick to your stomach. This is not just a story of a broken people though, it shows how they have fought through the years to hold on to what they love to the point of dying for it. It’s also really cool knowing that Daud translated Arabic poetry that had been lost to the world because white German historians thought that Arabic poetry was just nonsense words and phrases when really it was stunning epic poems. I thought it was incredible that she used the resources around her like her family and her college databases/colleagues to give the readers a piece of herself and her culture. She stayed true to herself and her own personal experience and I can’t applaud her enough for that.
The relationships:
My favorite relationship by the end of the book was Amani and Maram by far. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the romance with Idris and it showed a man with power who was also taken from his family and his home to play politics and be engaged to a princess of the people who slaughter his people daily. He was complex and soft and kind even after all of the tragedy has befallen him. But I loved the dynamic between Amani and Maram the most. At the start it was a cruel princess who believed this village girl was scum only meant to be used as a meat shield. It was a story of an oppressor and the oppressed. As the story progressed, the different shades of the truth come out, and you can see how torn Maram is by her mixed heritage and what she wants to do with it when she ascends the throne. By the end she shows so much vulnerability and strength and how much she has come to rely on Amani. She is as close to a sister as she will ever get and her longing for trust in SOMEONE makes my heart hurt for her. That certain event at the end only made it more heart wrenching. I cried for Amani and Maram and I hope their future holds some kind of middle ground.
The court intrigue:
The use of wardrobe and subtle court politics was beautiful and incredibly fascinating. Daud uses fashion to make statements in whatever scene she is writing and sets the tone and the impression she is trying to make in every scene. The use of a certain necklace to infuriate a challenger for the right to be named heir was very clever. Not only were the choices poignant, they were incredibly stunning to read. I could see the gowns and the military armor and the veils and even the simplest garments felt like they were made for a purpose. I could definitely see how it was inspired by the Star Wars prequels trilogy because those were also incredibly stunning. The subtle tilt of a head or sitting a certain way also left a message to the people around you which I thought was fascinating. Usually I’m not a fan of court politics and find them boring but I was so drawn in by every interaction. Everything was so under the radar it’s so interesting to see how a lot of little things can make such a huge impact.
Overall, I have no complaints about this book. Everything has its purpose and this book wracked me to my core. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
The world:
The history of this section of space felt so rich. The native cultures of the Kushaila felt so real and nuanced I could tell there was A LOT of thought put into it. The strong relationship Amani has to her religion and to her people gives you such a feeling of grief and loss to know what’s become of it. You hear about their mythology and their past of colonization and the conquest of their villages and it makes you sick to your stomach. This is not just a story of a broken people though, it shows how they have fought through the years to hold on to what they love to the point of dying for it. It’s also really cool knowing that Daud translated Arabic poetry that had been lost to the world because white German historians thought that Arabic poetry was just nonsense words and phrases when really it was stunning epic poems. I thought it was incredible that she used the resources around her like her family and her college databases/colleagues to give the readers a piece of herself and her culture. She stayed true to herself and her own personal experience and I can’t applaud her enough for that.
The relationships:
My favorite relationship by the end of the book was Amani and Maram by far. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the romance with Idris and it showed a man with power who was also taken from his family and his home to play politics and be engaged to a princess of the people who slaughter his people daily. He was complex and soft and kind even after all of the tragedy has befallen him. But I loved the dynamic between Amani and Maram the most. At the start it was a cruel princess who believed this village girl was scum only meant to be used as a meat shield. It was a story of an oppressor and the oppressed. As the story progressed, the different shades of the truth come out, and you can see how torn Maram is by her mixed heritage and what she wants to do with it when she ascends the throne. By the end she shows so much vulnerability and strength and how much she has come to rely on Amani. She is as close to a sister as she will ever get and her longing for trust in SOMEONE makes my heart hurt for her. That certain event at the end only made it more heart wrenching. I cried for Amani and Maram and I hope their future holds some kind of middle ground.
The court intrigue:
The use of wardrobe and subtle court politics was beautiful and incredibly fascinating. Daud uses fashion to make statements in whatever scene she is writing and sets the tone and the impression she is trying to make in every scene. The use of a certain necklace to infuriate a challenger for the right to be named heir was very clever. Not only were the choices poignant, they were incredibly stunning to read. I could see the gowns and the military armor and the veils and even the simplest garments felt like they were made for a purpose. I could definitely see how it was inspired by the Star Wars prequels trilogy because those were also incredibly stunning. The subtle tilt of a head or sitting a certain way also left a message to the people around you which I thought was fascinating. Usually I’m not a fan of court politics and find them boring but I was so drawn in by every interaction. Everything was so under the radar it’s so interesting to see how a lot of little things can make such a huge impact.
Overall, I have no complaints about this book. Everything has its purpose and this book wracked me to my core. I cannot wait to see what comes next!