Content Warnings: violence, physical abuse, torture, themes of colonialism

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Mirage was a Moroccan and Amazigh (who are the indigenous people of North Africa) inspired sci-fi (with the feel of a fantasy) and it was quite literally the book of my dreams. I don’t think words can convey how much this book means to me but I’ll give it a go!

I’m half Moroccan Amazigh and reading a book so interwoven with Moroccan and Amazighi culture and history meant the world. From aspects like the food (all the food descriptions made me so hungry!), language, clothes and traditions to more subtle cultural nuances, I’ve never read a book where I felt so seen! There was a specific scene, where one character taught another to cook miloui (a type of Moroccan flatbread), which I could directly relate to because I remembered when my mum taught me to cook it myself!

Mirage explored colonialism, cultural appropriation and erasure, themes that are relevant today and have been throughout history not just in Morocco but all over the world. I loved how poetry was an important motif as a method of resistance and rebellion. Also, there was a religion (that felt slightly reminiscent of Islam) in the book that revolved around a deity called Dihya and historically, Dihya was an Amazigh warrior queen who for many symbolises anti-colonialism and feminism.

“Even your happiness is rebellion.”

The book is set on a planet called Andala (and its two terraformed moons called Cadiz and Gibra) which had been conquered by an empire from another planet called the Vathek, at the time the book is set Andalans had been suffering under their brutal rule for years. Amani was an eighteen-year-old Kushaila girl (Kushaila were the oldest tribe group on Andala) kidnapped from her village on Cadiz to be Princess Maram’s body double at public events as they looked pretty much exactly the same. She was thrust into a completely unfamiliar world that was dazzling on the surface but sinister beneath where she had to navigate court intrigue and politics and weather violence and slavery.

“Change takes bravery, yabnati.”

I loved Amani as she was so strong in the face of adversity. Her identity, agency and future dreams were stolen from her but she survived, she adapted to her situation and made a place for herself. Gradually, she built up the courage and resilience to channel her anger at the injustices her people endured into action. I also loved how she was smart, soft and kind with immense loyalty for her loved ones and her people and a passion for poetry, throughout the book I was rooting for her. I also adored her forbidden romance with Idris. I don’t usually like insta-love romances but theirs was so emotive and poignant without becoming the main focus of the book.

Maram was one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever read about. Her father, the king, was Vathek and her mother was Kushaila. All her life she had been taught to hate her mother’s legacy and people while also being disdained by the Vath for her Kushaila blood. There was nowhere she truly belonged and was accepted as she was. She channeled the turmoil inside her through being cruel so no one would think her weak or see her pain. Gradually, as Amani befriends her and starts to understand her the reader does too. We see her vulnerability, grief and helplessness and instead of a cruel princess we see a boat lost at sea in need of a lighthouse to guide its way home. Maram and Amani’s sisterly friendship was beautifully done.

“It was a cruel person that judged a child by their parent’s legacy.”

The sci-fi aspect of the book was a bit confusing as the boundaries of their technology weren’t established and at times it felt more like a fantasy novel. But this is a very minor observation as it had no impact on my enjoyment or love for the book.

Mirage was a brilliant novel with powerful, uncompromising writing and strong female characters that I love with all my heart. If you haven’t read it yet… what are you waiting for?

“All may see the stars, but few will see their forebears.”

Mirage is a fast-paced, fiery and emotionally charged space fantasy very much in the tradition of Star Wars set in a North African proxy world, specifically Moroccan. Amani, who lives with her family in a farm on a moon of planet Andalan, is forcibly taken away after royal droids discover that she is the spitting image of the princess, Maram. She is to be the body double of Maram, essentially putting her own life in the line so that the princess, who hasn’t gained much favor in the eyes of the people, is safe until her reign is certain.

Lost culture is a huge theme in Mirage, Andala has a rich indigenous history that Amani is fighting to protect. Much of its culture is reflected through poetry, which is the main form of literature for Amani’s people. On the other hand, Maram, Vathek on her father’s side and Kushalia on her mother’s, is not embraced by either side of her ancestry, which poses a danger for her life each time she has to make a public appearance. Through her we are introduced to a lush world of galactic politics as Amani is turned into Maram and a tentative allyship is formed between them.

This unlikely bond between Maram and Amani was fascinating to read and my favorite part of the book, because even if the trust between them is a flighty and tenuous thing, they both glean so much from each other and in an unexpected turn, Amani is the one who has advantage over Maram in the end. As a result of this relationship being the driving force of the book, I really liked that the emotional core of the story centered female characters and their journeys. And it features women in so many key roles, whether as prophetesses or princesses, so it’s safe to say that it’s a feminist fantasy and does the title justice.

Another thing to love about this book is how it engages in colonial history in a nuanced manner. The author sets out for Mirage to be “a post-colonial response to the racism of the science fiction works of 40s, 60s, and 70s”, which were concerned with colonizing space after conquering all there is on Earth. What do societies which are untampared with, Mirage asks, look like when they get to evolve to achieve space travel, terraforming etc? Because, while yes, there is conquest, much of it is drawn from a recent period of political unrest in Morocco.

All in all, this was a very atmospheric and rewarding read for me. With the way things were wrapped up in the first book, I’m really excited to dive into the sequel.

A gorgeously descriptive, surprisingly addictive story that I didn't expect to love nearly as much as I did. The tale of a farmer's daughter kidnapped by the ruling family of an occupying race of invaders because she happens to look just like their princess, Amani is forced to serve as an unwilling body double for Maram. Her only thought is survival, until she begins to question whether her presence can help the rebels attempting to wrest her homeland back.

"Mirage" is fast-passed, exciting story with tremendous depth and world-building. I couldn't put it down and I can't wait to read the sequel.

This book was a little bit of a slow start for me but really picked up towards the middle. I loved the characters and the storyline was so well-thought-out and well-executed. The book had overall really good vibes(is that weird to say??). I don't want to elaborate too much but just know that if you are reading this. YES, YOU!!! You better be adding this to your tbr right now. YES RIGHT NOW!

In some ways, Somaiya Daud's Mirage doesn't seem to be a particularly original novel. It's a story of princesses and peasants, of empires and rebellions, of forbidden love and blossoming friendship. But in other ways, I've read almost nothing like Mirage, and I'm eager to get my hands on even more.

For one thing, there still aren't enough truly feminist sci fi books like this out there, even now. (And it is indeed sci fi, though a jargon-free, soft sci fi, droids notwithstanding.) More than that, can I just say how genuinely refreshing it is to not have the same old Europe-themed styles and atmosphere in a totally secondary world sff book? I'm not Moroccan, but I'm of Middle Eastern (Iranian) heritage, and Somaiya Daud's gloriously rich atmosphere and descriptive details - the scents of rose water and fresh mountain air, the decorative tiles of the palace floors, the sumptuous clothing, the mouthwatering variety of food - shine through like the snow-cooled mountain breezes her protagonist, Amani, misses from her home. So too do more plot-focused elements that you might not find in a run-of-the-mill, "medieval Europe is the only reference point we know" sff - like the importance and relevance of poetry, or Maram's complex, authentic inner turmoil regarding her biracial status, feeling torn between two worlds, but not really a part of either, hated by each for her connection to the other. Similarly, the book's approach is wholly from the point of view of the richly, thoroughly real, conquered peoples, giving these varied cultures a strong sense of ancient, powerful civilizations that have been colonized, rather than, as is too often the case in empire-centric sff, rendering them as a monolithic planet-wide cultural mishmash and/or as some kind of noble savage stereotype with their imperial conquerors presented as technologically and culturally more advanced. Having seen both tropes too often, reading Mirage is, again, like a breath of fresh air.

It's a fast read, an easy and entertaining read, with engaging and richly drawn characters at its core, and one that ends on a note that left me just glad I first read it only a few weeks before the sequel, so I don't have to wait as long as earlier readers to find out what happens next!

rating 3.5/ 5 stars

I don't usually pick up Sci-Fi books but I just had to read Mirage for it's representation. Being middle eastern myself, I was so happy to finally see some of my culture being represented on page. It brought me so much joy whenever an Arab name showed up or mentions of specific foods were brought up. But aside from that, Mirage was a really good read overall.

One of the tropes that I love seeing in books/ movies is the swap trope. And I just loved it so much when Amani finally saw Maram face to face and realized that they were practically twins and what was about to go down because of it.

Also, despite this book not being too action packed, it was still interesting and kept me flipping through the eBook slides. I really think that was because of how amazing the writing was. Somaiya Daud is a brilliant author and whom I'd be looking foreword to reading more from in the future.

The world-building in this book was also done really well and I ( someone that rarely reads Sci-fi) didn't have much problem understanding it.

I really do recommend reading this book even if it's for the beautiful Moroccan representation alone !

MIRAGE follows Amani, the daughter of Kushaila farmers from a small village on Cadiz, a moon. She is out for her majority night when the android militia arrives. Their arrival never marks anything good, as their moon is part of the kingdom that was conquered by the Vathek empire before Amani was born, but still recent enough that the wounds are fresh, and the android militia often meets out deadly consequences at the whim of the ruler. However, this time, they do something different and ask for all the girls of a certain age to line up.

When they scan Amani's face, she is whisked away to the palace where she learns that she is nearly identical the princess, Maram, whose father is the Vathek emperor and who had wed Maram's mother as part of the treaty to give him reign of these planets. As someone who is half-Vathak and half-Kushaila, Maram does not fit it anywhere, and many sides are threatening her life. Amani is forced to be the princesses double and attend events where her life may be in danger. Her "training" is brutal, enacted by physical punishment when she does not perform well.

To save her own life, she finds a way to mimic the princess and is sent out to take her place. She must convince everyone, even the princess's Kushaila fiance, who has known her since birth and her father, who is brutally distant. As Amani struggles to find a place in her new life, she must question the risks she is willing to take, what side of history she would like herself to be on and what future she wants to see.

What I loved: This is a really lush fantasy with a world that really comes to life. The politics here are really interesting throughout about Amani, the world, and even Maram. It is easy to get wrapped up in the writing of this book, as it is highly engrossing. I really enjoyed learning about this other world, its religion, peoples, and cultures. Amani is a great main character who has empathy and intelligence that allows her to navigate her life and role really well, and I loved reading her story. This is definitely one that I am eager to continue.

What left me wanting more: As a really small point, the romance seemed pretty fast, but it did build, so I would be curious to see how it matures.

Final verdict: MIRAGE is an engaging and lush YA fantasy that begins a series I am eager to continue. With great characters and strong world-building, this book starts a journey that is worth following. Highly recommend for fans of THE DIABOLIC, THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION, and SORCERY OF THORNS.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was SO MUCH FUN!

Mirage follows the story of Amani, an Andalaan girl who is forcibly taken away from her home to impersonate the princess of the people who conquered her planetary system.

There. That is, perhaps, the least interesting description of this book, ever.

Seriously, guys. I went in with like, no expectations, but WAS I IN FOR A PLEASANT SURPRISE!

First off, I’d like to say that all the characters in this book are developed so well ❤ I particularly adore Amani, and Maram. This is one of the neatest redemption arcs (if we can call it that) I’ve read. The secondary characters, like Nadine, Amani’s family, and the King also are quite distinctly developed. Idris is a cutiepie!

But what I adored the most about this book was the SPECTACULAR world-building. The sci-fi part was a pleasant surprise! I did not look up the description before I started the book, and I was shocked when they started mentioning space-crafts and some such. I LOOOVE how Daud wove in parts of Moroccan culture, it was incredibly done, and I could feel the myths she mentioned in the book as though I’ve always known them.

I’m highly impressed with the way Amani’s faith remains a huge part of who she is, and how we see it reflect in her thinking process. Also the title Mirage is PERFECTION! Maybe I’m easy to impress, but I really like how it is a wonderful metaphor for parts of the story.

I deducted .5 stars only and only because of the insta-love that sprung up between Amani and Idris, but ultimately I fell in love with the world Daud created and can’t wait to read more of it. I am gonna dive into the sequel right away!

I thought that this book was written very well. Being a body double is hard, but a body double to a hated princess? I couldn’t imagine. Amani is not going to give up easily though, and I think that as a reader we can follow why she makes the decisions she does and cheer her on in pursuit of her choices. Can’t wait to read the next one!

Cruel princesses, amazing worldbuilding and a fresh take on a classic tale that left me eager for this author’s next book! I can’t wait for the sequel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mirage was one of my top reads for 2018, and I fully fell in love with the characters and world. It's a fast paced, richly written novel that had me frantically turning the pages, and I finished it up all in one sitting. There were so many brilliant elements to this story, from the world, to the characters, all down to the writing, it's such a compelling read. The tension was so strained from years of oppression and tyrannical rule, and while Amani's home and culture are celebrated by her people, it makes her a target at the court. Her devotion to her ties to her culture and family really made this book for me! From exploring Amani's culture to the court intrigue and secrets, this book was so heartfelt and really had it all. Absolutely recommending this one!

I feel Mirage is a breath of fresh air in the Science Fiction genre. It was enlightening to read a diverse book that takes place on a different planet, in a different system, with POC characters. The writing is vivid and engrossing. The environment the main protagonist is in is hostile, lethal, and cunning, and watching her grow to successfully become as a body-double is riveting. It's like reading <i>The Diabolic</i>, but with a rich, Middle Eastern inspired culture.

I'm excited to see that this is a first installment to a trilogy, and wish to see where the twist and turns take these characters.

Technically, Netgalley gave me an ARC to review before this book was released, but I listened to it on audio. (Which, incidentally, is excellent; the narrator is WONDERFUL.)

I devoured this in a day.

Mirage is a book that I would have so desperately needed as a teen, if only because of the representation—the names I grew up alongside, the language so similar to my own. I'm not Arab, but I am Persian, and the adjacencies to my own culture shone through in the author's inspiration from her own.

There were so, so many things to love about this book—in parts wonderfully lyrical (sometimes it repeats itself in close proximity—for example, we learn early on that high Vathek nobles have silver hair, and then that information is repeated almost immediately after; this, however, didn't happen too many times), great character development, a complex and thought-out world, a love story you root for. I love the role of religion/faith, poetry, and storytelling. Amani is a fantastic protagonist, growing into her own strength and complicated feelings for Maram. Maram opens as a cruel, spoiled princess but reveals herself to be more complex than that. I loved how their relationship developed, although (ending spoiler) (view spoiler) Note, this is not a plot-heavy book—(view spoiler)—but the focus on character and development was so, so good and interesting (and I read for character more than anything anyway) that I didn't feel as if, at any point, I no longer character.

A few, overall minor quibbles—I would have liked to see Amani's friendship with her best friend back home expounded upon a bit, if only in her memories. Regarding the coming-of-age ceremony at the beginning of the book, (view spoiler) In general, I would have liked to have some more about Amani's relationship with her family—it's not that we don't get that, but she doesn't mention them for long chunks of the narrative in a way that felt as if she was forgetting them. Of course, it's obvious she *never* forgets them, but I would have liked to have had more of that peppered throughout more consistently and not in bits and spurts.

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this book and can't wait for the sequel!

Captivating page turner that will leave you on the edge of your seat! Extra points for a strong female lead!!

<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

I'll admit a middle-eastern dystopian in space? I was interested but skeptical. This is definitely a genre-blender, a mix of both fantasy and sci-fi. I loved the world-building, the lush settings, the descriptions of the heritage and culture. The characters were well thought out and the anti-hero made it hard to decide who to root for. This will be a great one to book talk.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.




Book: Mirage




Author: Somaiya Daud




Book Series: Mirage Book 1




Rating: 3.5/5




Publication Date: August 28, 2018




Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling




Recommended Age: 14+ (kidnapping, some violence, swapping places, trading names)




Publisher: Flatiron Books




Pages: 320




Amazon Link




Synopsis: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek 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.




Review: This book was a decent read. The book had a very intriguing premise and storyline. The world building was amazingly well done and the writing was gorgeous. I loved the space opera esque book and I could devour more of these in the future.




However, I do think that the book has bad character development. It’s really lacking and it could be better for a lot of the characters, the mains especially. I couldn’t really connect with them and that made this a hard read.




Verdict: Overall, a good read!

Fantastic book - especially in the era of fake news and deepfakes. When you can't even believe that the person in front of you is who you think they are, what CAN you believe?
Great dystopian lit.

This was a very slow paced read, but it picked up in the last 10-15 chapters. I enjoyed the rich setting of the story. I felt like I was experiencing a different culture with the clothing, language and beliefs. Really intriguing.

Amani is a strong girl. Having been kidnapped from home the day of her adulthood ceremony she now lives among the Vathek and has to be a double to the princess. Amani is a strong willed character with so much heart. She loves doing the right thing and has strong family morals. I loved her.

Maram is the princess, but also twisted. I hated her at first, but with her being disliked by the Vathek and the Andalaan she feels unloved and unwanted. She doesn't know her place and so she treats every one harshly. I loved seeing her become vulnerable because it showed that she had heart. I really hope she doesn't keep going with her twisted ways in the sequel.

Idris is Maram's fiance. He was a kind guy. I enjoyed his loving ways and how sweet he was. He knew how to play his role, but he also had his own hopes and dreams. I hope to see more growth in him.

The romance was rather interesting and almost slow-burn. I enjoyed Idris and Amani together. They were able to be their true selves without a mask on. Unfortunately they both played a role concerning the princess and were bound to never be together, but their moments together warmed my heart. I am hopeful for them to have a future in the sequel.

The war between the Andalaan and the Vathek seems so stupid. Almost like a family feud. I don't get why everyone hates each other so much. It's rather annoying honestly with all these political schemes and family secrets.

I will continue on with the series because that ending made me hopefully and excited for more with Amani.

I found Mirage to be lacking. The descriptions are lush. The characters and the setting are described so beautifully. I felt like it was really easy to fall into this world. Something was lacking for me. I felt like the plot was just so underwhelming. I thought that maybe the plot would get better but it never did.

Unfortunately, this novel was a huge let down for me. I had heard really great things, but it just didn't live up to the hype. I thought the characters were forgettable and I couldn't really imagine the setting. The world building felt a bit off and I just couldn't picture where the story was taking place. All in all, it was a miss for me. Thank you to netgalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 2/5