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amybraunauthor 's review for:
Mirage
by Somaiya Daud
Actual rating 4.5! This is a beautifully written book with a strong story that focuses entirely on its characters. I loved the blend of sci fi and fantasy, as well as the representations of culture and tradition. The entire book is a slow burn, though it manages to keep the stakes and romance at high levels.
Amani is very interesting. She has the side that is used to being commanded and controlled by the empire, yet she comes to find her own fire and struggles to differentiate it from her and Maram, the cold hearted princess she is meant to act as a double for. Nothing in Amani's life is simple, but she does her best to balance every side she finds herself on.
Maram is complicated for me. It's so easy to dislike her, but like Amani I slowly came to understand her and hope for a redemption arc in her future. Idris is as romantic as they come, though I did think his relationship with Amani moved a little too fast. Still, they had some tender moments and the kind of love you would find in a fairytale.
The world is rich in lore and really blends into its mix of sci fi and fantasy. It has legends and creatures and a complex history. It blended well with the slower pace, since most of this book focused on political drama, characters and the romance.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautifully written, romantic, politically charged, sci fi fantasy tale.
Amani is very interesting. She has the side that is used to being commanded and controlled by the empire, yet she comes to find her own fire and struggles to differentiate it from her and Maram, the cold hearted princess she is meant to act as a double for. Nothing in Amani's life is simple, but she does her best to balance every side she finds herself on.
Maram is complicated for me. It's so easy to dislike her, but like Amani I slowly came to understand her and hope for a redemption arc in her future. Idris is as romantic as they come, though I did think his relationship with Amani moved a little too fast. Still, they had some tender moments and the kind of love you would find in a fairytale.
The world is rich in lore and really blends into its mix of sci fi and fantasy. It has legends and creatures and a complex history. It blended well with the slower pace, since most of this book focused on political drama, characters and the romance.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautifully written, romantic, politically charged, sci fi fantasy tale.