Amazing return!! I could not wait for this sequel and was totally well worth it!!! Now I cant wait for the whole version!!
Full of excitement, adventure, betrayal, romance, and just everything you want and need for an amazing storyline!! And amazing characters that draw you in with unique arcs!!!

Loved it! Love Daud’s writing and world building! I loved Mirage and this book complimented it perfectly. I just have a few questions about the ending!!

This sequel was EVERYTHING I NEEDED!!!
It gave me THE BEST ROMANCE IVE EVER WANTED!
I was afraid that maram won’t get any love interests or something but oh god<3
I read mirage last month and i really regretted not doing that sooner because THIS BOOK DESERVES ALL THE HYPE!! Everyone should read it NOW!!!

Just like the first book in the series, this book is absolutely amazing. It is somehow, in many ways, even better than the first book and I thought that was really not possible. I love it so much and I definitely recommend this to all fans of SFF.

ALL THE STARS!!!!!!! GIVE THIS TITLE ALL THE STARS😍😍😭😭😭😭

I am overjoyed with how this duology ended that I could cry (which is rare & a huge no-no for me lol)

My heart cannot take the pureness and satisfaction I am left with.

For those who have read the first book, Mirage, I don't want to give spoilers... just know that justice will be served & the ending will make your heart dance with joy💜

I’ve been waiting for this book for years and it did not disappoint.

Court of Lions is a fabulous sequel and so amazingly written. I love Somaiya’s writing style and Mirage became an instant favorite. Court of Lions was the same.

I really loved Maram’s point of view throughout the book. Getting into her head was so much fun, and a nice glimpse into what she does when Amani is out pretending to be her.

I was thrown off by the switch in POV style but soon it didn’t matter. I was thoroughly enthralled and I didn’t want to put Court of Lions down. This was one of the best books I’d read all year.

I have a singular gripe and that’s that I felt the ending was a little rushed. Honestly, I just wanted to spend more time with them. With Maram and Amani and everyone. I love them all to bits and I wish there was a third book, or at maybe that Court of Lions was longer, just so I could read it more.

I loved Maram’s relationship with Aghraas. Honestly. WLW in a science fantasy setting is just *heart eyes*. Getting to explore Maram’s feelings about her heritage and her mother was a delight too.

Get Court of Lions. Read Mirage too. Add Somaiya to your Auto Buy list (she’s already on mine). And listen to us geek out with her on the Booked All Night podcast!

Overall, this series ended up meaning so much to me. Books written by Muslims are making their way into our lives more frequently and I’m so so happy about that. The stories are always so rich and end up meaning a lot to so many readers. As much as I’m sad to see Amani and Maram’s story end, I’m also really thankful that I got to read this series. I loved so much of this and I know it will be on my list of recommendations from now on. If you haven’t read Mirage I urge you to. The story is unlike anything you’ve read before and you won’t regret it.

As Mirage fans go, I'm lucky - I just read it for the first time this summer, so I didn't have to wait forever to find out how that cliffhanger resolves, and what happens to Amani, her family, Idris, Maram, and, you know, this entire planet-and-two-moons full of people. But if you've been on tenterhooks for a couple of years waiting for the end of this space operatic duology, you're in luck, because Court of Lions is even better than Mirage.

Many of the things I loved about Mirage remain true in this second volume. The story sounds familiar when stripped down to its bones - a tale of princesses and peasants, of conquering empires and brave rebels, of forbidden love and political alliances. But those bones, as satisfyingly familiar as a fairy tale, are fleshed out with a gloriously sweeping, romantic richness.

Amani is a wonderful protagonist, resilient and brave and scared and searching for who she is, while trying to survive and do right by her loved ones and her world. And I won't deny that her starcrossed romance with Idris is the stuff epic poetry is made of. But I'm more interested in Maram, whose role is expanded in Court of Lions, and the conflict raging within her heart - not just between her duty and her growing feelings for someone she shouldn't love, but between her two worlds, her two heritages. Conflicting pairs, doubleness in opposition, is at the heart of this duology; after all, the plot starts with Amani being pressed into service as the body double for a princess she happens to look exactly like. And Maram's inner battle and her insecurity about being of two worlds, of being essentially biracial, is one of the most engaging elements of the first book, so I'm grateful it gets even more page time in Court of Lions, along with the complicated, burgeoning sisterhood between Maram and Amani.

Then there's the setting. Oh, the sumptuous loveliness of the setting! I'm a total sucker for fancy costumes in a novel, and Court of Lions doesn't let me down - the description of the tea-golden wedding attire alone is worth the price of admission. Not to mention the palaces and cities visited, the foods and teas consumed, the poetry recited... 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 ornate clothing and jewelry, the mouthwatering variety of food - shine through like the snow-cooled mountain breezes Amani misses from her home village. And that setting matters at a level beyond the merely decorative (not that "decorative" is nothing - did I mention how much I love reading gorgeous descriptions of clothing in books? Because I do). The plot of both Court of Lions and the earlier Mirage hinge on elements that you might not find in a run-of-the-mill, "medieval Europe is the only reference point we know" sff, whether it's Maram's biracial insecurity, or the important and relevance of poetry. (A poetry competition at one point in the story reminded me of the Iranian drinking game of poetry recitation; my mother loves to describe her "kitchenful of Iranian men," the night before her wedding, doing shots and declaiming love poems.)

If you've already read Mirage, I doubt I have to say much more to convince you that Court of Lions will be the gorgeous, romantic, satisfying conclusion you've probably been waiting for. But if you haven't read it yet, you're in luck, because Court of Lions is out NOW, so you get to read both with no wait!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

YES PLEASE!!! This book was everything I wanted it to be and that cover is stunning! I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Love, love, loved this sequel to Mirage! I already adore Amani, but Maram's character development was definitely my favorite part of this story. This was exactly the space opera I needed to escape the dumpster fire that is 2020. Full of adventure, twists, and revolution, I enjoyed every minute of Court of Lions!

I was so excited to be sent an e-galley of COURT OF LIONS.

But COURT OF LIONS, unfortunately, does not stand up to the adventure that was MIRAGE.

I was thrilled to see more of Maram's personal journey and to learn more about her. She deserves, more than anything, to be happy, and I was glad to see that Amani started to trust her and tell her about the rebellion, and that plot wasn't created by withholding information from Maram.

Unfortunately, it really dragged in the middle, and the court politics didn't feel very high stakes 90% of the time. I also felt like some plot points were throwaways, like the cousin of Idris who was arrested and just disappeared. While I understood that to be a breaking point for Maram, it was thrown away after it made its impact, and was never brought up again. Maybe he did disappear and was killed, but to not bring it up again for the rest of the book? Strange.

By the time we got to the end, I was fairly exhausted, keeping up with so many people and names. But I was happy to see it neatly ended, on a good note for Amani and Maram.

In all, this was a solid read – just not as great as its predecessor.

Review posted across all platforms in my bio, including Edelweiss on 8/10

Thank you to Flatiron for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Mirage Duology And Court Of Lions By Somaiya Daud

As always, I warn you if spoilers are coming. There will be spoilers for the first book in the Mirage duology, aptly titled Mirage! There will not be spoilers for the conclusion to Somaiya Daud's Mirage duology, Court of Lions. So, if you have read Mirage, you have nothing to fear. If you have not and don't want to be spoiled? Step away from the review. Again, as far as Court of Lions goes, I will not spoil anything regarding the ending. Somaiya Daud has put two years of work into Court of Lions, and we have put two years of patience that readers are not known for, in waiting for it.

As I have mentioned a million and one times, Mirage holds a nostalgic place in my heart. It was my very first NetGalley approval.

I decided to reread (audiobook) Mirage and then go straight into Court of Lions, which was perfect. I remember loving Mirage, but so many little details are forgotten in two years. We were swept right back in the world, characters, and Somaiya Daud's writing style, which is on-point with the tone of each scene.

It is beautiful, heart-wrenching, cut-throat, exhilarating, and delicate because of Daud's precision and intent. It never loses focus nor your attention.

Court Of Lions By Somaiya Daud
Somaiya Daud takes Court of Lions and picks up exactly where Mirage leaves off in both content and style. One significant change that might even make Court of Lions a step above Mirage (impossible as that might seem) is having chapters from Maram's point of view. These chapters provide a level of depth not only to Maram's inner thoughts but to the plot as a whole. Without these chapters, we wouldn't have heard Maram's inner-dialogue, observe the course of actions that she is taking, on her own.

Having this opened up to readers provides the groundwork for Maram's character arc in the book, which is essential. While that arc could indeed exist without this point of view, it wouldn't have been nearly as powerful. I don't believe I would have cared nearly as much about it, or the course of events in the book, period.

Amani grew the most as a character in Mirage. That led the foundation for her to accomplish anything she might need to in Court of Lions. At the end of Mirage, despite Maram's supposed growth, as she and Amani grew closer. It was surface, and she was still easily swayed, manipulated, and couldn't think deeper.

When evaluating the events at the end of Mirage, in the end, she chose to follow Nadine's hissing that Amani was a rebel rather than her saving Maram's life. That is where Court of Lions picks up.

Daud risks that t thought process becoming tired, fast if we are not let inside of Maram's mind. The only way to garner any buy-in, sympathy, or concern for Maram's plight is to let us in. She isn't letting anyone characters past her steely facade. So, Somaiya Daud wrote the hell out of Maram by letting readers inside.

Sometimes you feel like a cheerleader. Then, you feel heartbroken, FRUSTRATED AS HELL, joyous, and disappointed. Then wash, rinse, and repeat the feelings all over again. Readers will not be willing to go through that rollercoaster with a character if they don't care. And I don't think we would care if we didn't see it from her side because it would have dragged on too long. Daud's decision to let readers in, with Maram's chapters, was a brilliant change.

Respect Vs. Fear

People will do a lot of things when they fear you. But even fear will only get you so far. Respect will get you much further. Part of Maram's character arc is figuring that out. The foundation Amani built through her character's growth in Mirage helps goes a long way in teaching Maram this lesson.
Amani is already shocked to take Maram's place at the wedding ceremony to Idris, but she does so reluctantly. Amani is already warning Maram that she must realize that she has to take up her duties as queen, at some point. Maram than summons Amani to her chambers and demands Amani take her place at the ceremonial wedding night, in bed with Idris. That was enough.

Except...
She might be sentencing her family to death by refusing a royal command. But now she has to draw a line. Being prostituted to the future king was not part of the plan. It would not become part of the plan. Fear would not sink Amani so low, until Amani realized something, deep down. At that moment, Somaiya Daud did a fearless, unthinkable thing that kept Amani in the core principals she'd built throughout Mirage. Amani realized the tables were the opposite of what she thought.

But whatever Maram thought of me, I was her friend, and loyal to her besides. And I knew something she would never admit: I was the stronger of the two of us. I could bear up under this single night. I was not brittle like she was. And I knew, soon enough, she would come to understand that. To understand why she had come to me first and not Idris with this fear.

It was Maram who was terrified and who, deep down, came to Amani because she respected Amani. Although she would not admit it, it was Amani she came to with her fears and asked for help. It was not Nadine or Idris because she didn't respect or trust them enough. It was Amani and Amani was strong enough to handle it, for the greater good.

The Greater Good

Amani knows one other thing that Maram still has yet to realize. One other thing that she still doesn't believe. Amani genuinely sees a great, powerful, just, and unifying queen in Maram. This is not pretense, a trick, or a trap. It is a truth that Amani believes in her bones, and she will risk her life, the life of her family more times than can be counted throughout Court of Lions.

In Mirage, this did not end well for Amani, and it made everything horrifically worse. In Court of Lions, Somaiya Daud keeps horrifically worse going and then doubles down on it. Make no doubt. There are perils hanging over everyone's head. On the good and bad sides of this fight, high-stakes risks are being taken, and who makes it out, who prevails, is never a given or to be taken for granted.

Who I had concerns about making it out of Court of Lions flip-flopped throughout the reading. So I wouldn't settle on any one thought too quickly. Daud is going to keep you guessing.

Non- Spoiler Hot Takes/Wrap-Up/Summary

1. For me, there is a lot of war. I won't get into the specifics, (there is a specific reason) I felt that there should be at least one more major death or at least nameless deaths? Like a town wiped out. There are a lot of battles, and that equates to death. That is not what I mean by specific. That is just a general idea.
2. I did see a few concealed identities or character nuances that were revealed by the end of the book. However, I was yelling, what the devil in the blue dress was going on quite a bit. My jaw was on the ground throughout most of the last 100 pages or so.
3. The last thing I wanted to mention is that I can see where Somaiya Daud was heading into a trilogy. I would love to see a third Mirage book someday <hint>! If Somaiya Daud ever wants to write a third book in the Mirage series, the door was left open for one.

Court of Lions is the second and final installment in author Somaiya Daud's Mirage duology. The plot, politics, and setting were all inspired by Morocco where the authors family is from. Court of Lions, like Mirage, primarily lives in the world of fantasy, but also has both historical and science fiction influences. This story picks up where Mirage left off. There are two key characters to this series: Amani bin Tariq who was kidnapped from her family and forced into becoming Maram vak Mathis body double. Maram is the daughter of King Mathis and the former Queen Najat which makes her 1/2 Kushaila and 1/2 Vath.

After revealing her rebel connections and choosing to save Maram's life rather than allowing her to die, Amani is kept isolated, only to be brought back into Maram’s life for her wedding to Idris. High Stewardess Nadine once again proves that women really can be deceitful, angry, destructive, and perfectly evil as villains. She returns Amani to her duties as Maram’s body double, but with a caveat that if she steps out of line again, her family will pay the ultimate price. Amani begins plotting ways to keep Maram on the throne as the rightful ruler of Andala.

Then the twists come. Amani is unexpectedly told she is to play Maram during her parlay to marriage with Idris who is a political shield which could last as long as several months. For Amani, it's all about payback. Payback on the Vath. Payback on King Mathis who sent his Imperial Garda to bury her town by destroying its only source of food. Since then, she's been kidnapped, watch her friend shot dead, she's been beaten, isolated, and attacked by a raptor. But, Amani is strong-willed and resilient. Especially with her friend Tala and Idris standing for her.

She really does believe Maram will be a good queen, and she rebuilds her sister-like relationship with her which opens Maram up into believing she could actually become the Queen her people need. She also puts together a stunning alliance with various factions from the rebellion to families who stood with King Mathis and his Vath invasion forces who destroyed Cadiz and other worlds. Meanwhile, Maram faces her fears of being queen and of being married when she forms a relationship with her mysterious new falconer, Aghraes. We learn that Maram's heart doesn't lie with Idris, but with Aghraes.

It's fair to say that Maram's chapters are really interesting. Here is a girl who just wants to be loved. She's lost her mother. Her father is itching to replace Maram with his full blooded Vath daughter. She doesn't want to marry Idris, but he's as much of a political pawn as she is. There weren’t many chapters from Maram's point of view, but it definitely gave a much better understanding about her character and why she allowed Amani back into her life after believing Amani wanted her dead. Both Amani and Maram grow so much in this story. Amani's and Idris's relationship goes the distance, while Maram is becoming comfortable in her own skin with the help of Aghraes.

The political intrigue in this one was very prominent. The stakes were also much higher. One wrong move by Amani would turn a hopeful future into an unmitigated disaster for everyone involved. This book has a better vibe than Mirage had. There is a distinct story plot that weaves its way to a pretty decent ending for both characters. I was surprised by the revelation as to who Amani's mother is and her very real connection to Maram's. No spoilers! Read the book!

The first words that come to mind after reading Court of Lions are “what a book!” I really enjoyed Mirage, but this sequel was even better, in my opinion.

To start off, I’d just like to praise the writing. It was so lush and poetic and really brought the world of Andala and its characters to life. It wasn’t hard for me to picture the characters and setting at all. Though the book is technically science fiction, it read more like epic fantasy to me because of the atmosphere. For those who may not particularly care for “hard” science fiction that emphasizes flashy technology, I’d recommend giving this series a try.

I really loved the worldbuilding and the intricate politics of this book. The richly realized cultures of Andala and the incisive commentary on colonialism gave the story the thematic resonance of the best science fiction. Amani has her work cut out for her trying to bring together a bunch of people to oppose the Vathek empire, maneuvering a bunch of moving parts to create a working machine, but she does so quite skillfully.

This story is extremely character-driven, and the story balances the characters’ conflicting, complex motivations quite well. Amani, Maram, and Idris all exhibit immense character growth over the course of the story. The tension between their personal desires and their duties and the external pressures they faced was palpable throughout the story. Maram’s arc in particular was quite compelling and satisfying as she starts to shake off the colonized mindset from her Vathek upbringing, embrace her Andalaan/Ziyadi heritage, and assert her agency as an individual and a royal heir.

Last but not least, there were two major romantic arcs in this book, and they were just *chef’s kiss*. Both Amani and Maram are caught up in forbidden relationships, and the intensity of their yearning for what they desperately crave but cannot freely indulge had my heart aching for them. Maram falls for a woman, and I had so many moments during her passages where I was screaming in gay. This book is a gift to the queer readers who love mutual pining.

In Mirage, Amani was taken from her village to the royal palace and forced to train to become the body double for the princess, Maram. As time goes on, she built a friendship with the complicated princess, and she fell in love with Idris, Maram’s fiancé. Amani also aligned herself with the rebels, which not only put her in more danger but was sure to cause a rift between her and Maram and Idris.

At the start of this second book, which I was pleasantly surprised to find was the conclusion to the story rather than the second in a trilogy, Maram is angry with Amani because of Amani’s interactions with the rebels at the end of Mirage, though Amani is still loyal to Maram as well. As Amani mourns this loss of their friendship and worries about Maram, the princess then delivers news that pains her to her core: in just days, Maram will be marrying Idris — and Amani is going to stand in Maram’s place for the ceremony and public celebrations.

In Court of Lions, Amani has to find a way to draw Maram back out of her anger and silence and must decide if (and how) she will continue working with the rebels. She chafes at the cruel rule of the Vathek over her planet and people and is angry about her own situation, where she has no life of her own. But her unique position and access could allow her to make a real difference in helping the rebels — and perhaps, even, ridding their planet of the Vathek and being free again.

The story here in these two books is not original in basic components: girl from a simple background is put into a situation where she has potential for power but she needs to find that strength and courage within herself; a land/world/culture has been conquered by brutal outsiders and needs to be overthrown. But it’s no matter; most stories really aren’t and can’t be “original.” This story’s characters are compelling and their growth and experiences are what matter; in addition, the setting does a lot to make these books come alive. It’s a lush, Moroccan-inspired setting, replete with delicious-sounding foods, art, poetry, opulent and ornate clothing, lush locations and a proud cultural tradition. I enjoyed the books and was pleased with the conclusion.

I loved this book! It was just as good as the first book (if not better)!

I love the author's writing, and I love the Moroccan influences. I have been trying to read more books by POC, and this was a GREAT one!

Although I am not a fan of poetry, anyone that likes poetry (or even just respects it as an artform) will appreciate the role that poetry plays in this story.

The only issue I have is that there isn't more to this story, but I believe this is only a duology. I would love to see what happens with the characters after this book ends!

Thank you to the publishers for giving me a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you for giving me a copy to give away!

I am so devastated right now. I went into this book excited to read the conclusion to this series only to be bored out of my mind. I was loving the new POV of Maram and learning more about their world and the dangers that both girls was facing. But around 150 pages the story just felt stagnant and it also felt like it lost its luster and spark.

This one for the characters I loved how the extra POV was added but it just felt off. I am not sure how to really explain it. But pacing and placement of this extra POV just made the story feel choppy. The romance was pretty good but I wished that Maram's would have been done better. It felt like a missed opportunity.

The twist at the end was pretty great but felt lost in the overall ending. But it felt like it took me a year to get there. The story overall was so bogged down by extra people that I don't remember and slow story telling in a choppy format.

Overall, to me it felt like the author lost the love of the story and just didn't know what to do.

This book is best described as “Poetry and politics and passion,” and I loved every moment of it.

Picking up soon after the end of Mirage, Court of Lions follows Amani, body double to Princess Maram, as she marries Idris in Maram’s place and a planet-wide tour to celebrate that marriage takes place. Amani had already helped the rebels once, but after foiling an attempt to assassinate Maram and being found out, she’s been afraid to create waves, especially as her parents and brothers are being watched by the Vathik. But as she rebuilds her friendship with Maram after the perceived betrayal, Amani helps Maram and the rebels see that she’s the best choice for the future of Andaala and makes moves to ensure Maram’s ascension to the throne.

Daud has created an incredible story and world full of political intrigue and nuanced interpersonal relationships. There is fear and strife as the Vathik subjugate the Andaalans and Amani’s family is used as leverage to keep her compliant, but there’s also love and joy in Idris, Aghraas, and the relationships built over the course of the book.

I love how the tension of the politics and war is balanced with romance and friendship, and I love how the story is paced. I feel like Court of Lions shows so much growth as a storyteller since Mirage and I truly loved every moment of this book. I highly recommend picking this series up if you enjoy political SFF, complicated friendships, and nuanced characters.

A fantasy set in a world of rebellion and distrust, Amani is isolated as punishment for her rebel activity. Torn from the boy she loves, having angered her princess, Amani is unsure if she’ll survive another day. She’s surprised when the princess Maram asks her to stand in as proctor during her wedding ceremony to Amani’s love, Idris. This sets in motion a chain of events that gives Amani hope that she may have a future, her rebels could take back their planet, and she could be joined with the boy she loves. Court of Lions is the sequel to Mirage an epic fantasy that has hints of Middle Eastern flavor that colors this world in a vibrant brocade of texture and life.

After Amani’s political schemes almost cause her end in Mirage, we see a more subtle Amani in Court of Lions. When standing in as Maram, Amani developed relationships for her princess that Maram did not have the skills to do herself. At the same time she skillfully gave Maram courage to lead with strength and empathy, something her people hadn’t seen since being almost demolished by the conquering Vath. I liked the strength of these two characters. These were women who held power with empathy, not with threat. It was an interesting dichotomy as they were also preparing to go to war.

Once again, I felt the love story between Amani and Idris was underwhelming. She was such an interesting character and Idris? He was just a nice guy. More interestingly, In Court of Lions, Maram is given her own love interest in the mysterious Aghraas ( I hope I spelled that correctly!). Aghraas, another strong woman, this time in warrior form, brought out a softer side of the kind of haughty princess. I thought their relationship more interesting than Amani and Idris’ and looked forward to their scenes because they gave Maram the depth her character needed to finally shine.

Even though Court of Lions had some great characters, this world they lived in was even more fascinating. You can tell by the cover of this novel, but the author definitely gave this story an Arabian Nights flare with bejeweled clothing, bright colors, and the transport on horseback. I loved it. The contrast between a conquering people who were technologically advanced in spaceships and a people who got around via horseback was kind of cool. I tried not to get caught up in a thought of ‘could this really happen’ because that would’ve spoiled the mood. Instead I let the tea steep, laid back on my silken pillows and read this fun novel and, well, enjoyed the ride. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

I read Mirage way back in 2018. It had been more than two years since I was waiting for the sequel, and I can say it didn't disappoint. This story of rebellion and colonialism felt even more interesting and refreshing.

Court of Lions begins a few weeks after the end of the previous book, Mirage. The rift and distance between Amani and Maram is still fresh. Amani has been kept in isolation after her rebel connections were revealed. Then when it was time for Maram’s wedding to Idris, Amani was brought back to her duties as Maram’s body double. But Amani also starts plotting to keep Maram on the throne as she believed Maram was the rightful ruler of Andala. On the other hand, Maram tries to fight her own fears of becoming queen and getting married while she is forming a relationship with her mysterious new falconer (uhmm this I didn’t expect 😉).

I was back to loving Maram and Amani from the beginning itself. In the first book, we only had single POV of Amani. But in this book we got a couple of Maram’s POV chapters too. And I think this addition really helped us to understand the different focus of two characters. One is navigating the ramifications of colonial occupation while the other is dealing with the questions of legacy and survival.

While Mirage was mainly character oriented, Court of Lions was both character driven and action oriented. The balance between high stakes and character arcs really made me more invested in the story. The characters shows bravery and fierceness but at the same time they are fighting for their identity and are yearning for love.

I had no idea before starting this book that Maram is queer. Seeing her struggling with her identity, erasing pieces of herself while coming to terms with her identity, broke my heart. But that sapphic romance between Maram and Aghraas was so amazing and had me grinning most of the time 🙂 It was also amazing to see how the relationship of Amani and Idris evolved and I loved every single scene of theirs.

But the friendship that Amani and Maram shared was definitely my favourite. Their relationship evolved more than anything. The redeeming arc of Maram has been executed wonderfully and the way she let her guards down to accept Amani was great to see. I will always cherish this female friendship and the women bond.

Somaiya Daud’s words and prose is amazing and she has highlighted various relationships, tensions and triumphs beautifully. There are new characters, war, strong bonds, demons, secrets and fights, but everything has been tied beautifully. The political intrigue in this book is definitely strong.

The main theme is eradicating colonial rule from an invading species who are trying to demolish the inhabitants of a planet. And I am glad Daud doesn’t gloss over this tough and important subject. I loved how in the end everything was wrapped up nicely.

I think this series is criminally under hyped and deserves so much love and attention. If you are one of those who are still to start this series, then I would definitely recommend to start this sooner than later 😀