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.

Okay, so Mirage ended on a pretty terrifying note, but Court of Lions did not waste a minute and jumps right into the good parts.

I love the first chapter! I cannot say much without giving out spoilers, but DAMN. The sheer amounts of yearning in this duology though 🔥🔥🔥

Amani was and is my favorite character, with Maram being a close second. Maram’s had a FINE redemption arc, and I really love that we got to see her POV in this book. I adore the bond that develops between Amani and her! And honestly, all of the new characters that were introduced were SO GOOD. Aghraas though! I wanted to know more about her throughout the novel, and genuinely did. not. expect. her arc! Maram’s romance was incredibly soft, and kind of more interesting than Amani’s 🙈

I’ve seen a lot of reviews complaining that there’s not a lot of action in this book, and well, that is true. However, I’m not complaining in the slightest! Most of the book focuses on Amani and Maram making political alliances with the young leaders of other tribes, and it was not even remotely boring! I loved the friendships they developed, and all the new characters were a lot of fun, especially Rabi’a. MIGHT I JUST SAY, IT’S LOVELY THAT ALL THE CHARACTERS IN POWER ARE FEMALE! 😤♥️🙌

The only problem I did have with this book is that the only ‘action’ was done and dusted in a moment. I would’ve liked a bit more.. action, for the lack of a better word xD, and some more damage, maybe! And the revelations in the end, about Amani’s family, also felt quite unnecessary? But, all in all, this was a solid conclusion to a wonderful duology, and I’d definitely recommend picking these books up!

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 😀

Content Warnings: violence, death, physical abuse, grief, themes of colonialism

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Court of Lions was a stunning sequel to Mirage that concluded the duology perfectly. I loved how much more Moroccan culture was incorporated into it. More delicious food descriptions (this book made me crave sfenj so badly), clothes, language references, henna, haggling in the souk, small cultural details that made my heart swell with joy and even Moroccan marriage traditions (including the all important wardrobe changes!) which made me wish someone would invite me to a Moroccan wedding (although that’s impossible with the current situation). And the cover of the book is so gorgeous! I never thought I’d see a book cover with two Moroccan girls resplendent in qaftans and selhams!

This book had a much slower pace than the first, with more of an emphasis on politics and forging alliances and I thought it worked really well and seemed realistic. All the choices the characters made sense and came together at the end nicely.

HOPE was given to a person who might reshape the WORLD (1)

Amani shone through in this book even more than she did in the first. She was brave, smart and versatile in a way Maram, for all her strengths, was not. I was already impressed with her growth in Mirage but in this book she grew even more. Although she hadn’t been raised to navigate courts she was smart, she knew how to influence people and understood the importance of symbolism. I admired the way Amani held to her hope of a better world and never, ever stopped fighting for it. I also loved how her relationship with Idris developed and how they dealt with the bumps on the road.

Maram also had her time to shine, quite literally, because she gets her own 3rd person POV chapters! Although they were few and far between they gave so much insight into her and her character development in this book was top-tier. I loved her journey of accepting and loving her Kushaila heritage and working through her father’s conditioning. Seeing the grief, fear and anguish beneath her icy exterior, seeing the soft parts of her that were always there but pushed down by the Vath, seeing her take the time to explore herself and come into her own was so emotive and touching. If Mirage was where Amani found her strength and resilience to act, Court of Lions was the same for Maram.

In Kushaila there were degrees of love_



I loved her romance with Aghraas. The way they saw and accepted each other immediately and the slow burn of their relationship was exquisitely done. For someone who was taught that emotions were weakness and was used to constantly being on the defensive it was amazing to see Maram examine her emotions and lower her defenses completely around someone. Daud really does write romance well!

Amani and Maram’s friendship was so well fleshed out. The way they slowly regained each others’ trust and rebuilt a strong, sisterly relationship based on trust was beautiful to behold. Furthermore, the side characters and the complex web of relationships between them, Amani and Maram were also extremely well fleshed out and engrossing. And I loved how many strong, brave women were introduced into the story!

The Vath who governed us were concerned with policing and surveillance, not growth and prosperity

Court of Lions dealt with rebellion, liberation and the trials that come with them. How do you dismantle an imperial structure built to break you when it has become so interwoven with society? How do you convince people that rebellion is worth the risk? It also explored trauma and how the characters each dealt differently with their own.

I loved how much more world building we got in this sequel. We get to explore so many more places in Andala through the characters eyes as well as learning more about the world’s history and lore. The emphasis on the different tribes and their cultures was lovely to see especially as it reflected the diversity among the Amazigh tribes in the real world. It saddened me how the Vath dismissed them as all the same and sought to erase their cultures but unfortunately that also reflects our world too. However, I wish we got to see more of the universe the book is set in and understand Andala and the Vath’s position in it. There are multiple references to a galactic law but we never know who enforces it and why it matters so much.

We never used to give a thought To separation, and now, for us To be together again Is beyond our dreams...

All in all, Court of Lions was a brilliant conclusion and I’d highly recommend this duology to everyone as I love it with all my half Moroccan heart!

Concluding the Mirage duology, Court of Lions emphasizes court intrigue, lavish outfits, and lush settings- all inspired by Morroccan history, mythology, and culture. We continue to follow Amani (the common body double of the princess) and Maram (princess and heir to the planet). Thematically this deals with colonization and the complications of a biracial identity. It does a good job of tying up loose ends and we get love stories including one that is f/f, though they are decidedly not steamy with everything being implied. This is science-fiction, but the sci-fi elements are very light and it definitely reads more like a fantasy.

I liked but didn't love this. The pacing felt fairly slow, even when the tension should have been ramping up. We get a lot of time spent on descriptions of places and clothing, which I don't mind, but sometimes it got to be too much especially when it was getting in the way of significant action. The climax of the book should have felt exciting and it didn't. This especially stands out in a YA book. The plot was pretty predictable as well. On the other hand, I found the world to be richly described, loved the relationships that are explored here, and appreciated how the author wove her Morroccan heritage into the book. I found Mirage to be a very strong debut and while this had definite high points, it didn't quite match my expectations. That said, if you liked the first book it's probably worth finishing out the story. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

~>Sisterhood<~
One of the things I loved most about Mirage was the build up of Amani and Maram's friendship. It was so interesting to see how that one relationship was changing Maram for the better until Amani's betrayal. In Court of Lions, they slowly repair their relationship and this time the bond that forms between them is unbreakable. It is Amani's unwavering belief in Maram that helps her take the steps necessary to stage a rebellion against her father. 

~>Maram's POV<~
Getting to read a little bit from Maram's perspective was a welcome surprise in Court of Lions. I really missed not getting to know her better in Mirage, so this was a real treat. While the story is still predominantly told in Amani's voice, even the brief glimpse into Maram's internal struggle with her identity, desires, and destiny was incredibly illuminating. I finally feel like I understand her character and motivations better, and found myself sympathizing with her. 

~>Forbidden Romance<~
Things between Amani and Idris are further complicated by his marriage to Maram. It's a bittersweet torture to be near the one you love but not be with them. Add in pretending to be their wife and that's a whole new level of torment. Daud fills their scenes with intense yearning and desire that just left me crying for this ship. In a surprise twist, Maram gets her own forbidden love interest that rounds out her story arc. 

~>Female Empowerment<~
This duology is chock full of fierce females blazing a path to a better world. I love how they took center stage in this duology and were celebrated for their strength and ambition. From Amani and Maram's respective mothers to important political allies and leaders of a rebel army, Daud didn't hold back to placing women at the heart of this story. 

~>Overall feeling upon finishing the book<~
I'm quite satisfied with the ending. Daud neatly wraps up the main plot as well as the individual character arcs. The Mirage duology is a powerful exploration of colonization, oppression, sisterhood, fighting for a better world, and embracing your true self.

Court of Lions takes up not long after Mirage, when Amani’s tense situation with the Vathek crown is at its height. She is devastated by the prospect of being conduit to Maram’s marriage to Idris, whom she loves in spite of herself. The closeness she had carefully nurtured with Maram has all but shattered, and she has no way to prove her innocence to her. On top of it all, the Vathek is keeping her family hostage, dangling them by a thread to make sure she keeps lenient. Yet the fateful signs are on her side and the fire inside her still burns, her steel conviction and sharp eye giving her the edge she needs to survive.

There is much to love about this stunning conclusion to the duology. When I say I wished I could bottle the feeling of wonder but also, strangely, comfort and hope, this book gave me, I mean it. The language is lyrical as ever, glowing bright with lavish descriptions of clothes, places and people amidst the tragic undertones of the story, like how the tale of Houwa and her shadow mirrors Amani and Maram’s arrangement.

As a translator, the poetry translation aspect of Mirage wasn’t lost on me, though I somehow left it out of my review. That aspect of the plot continues in Court of Lions, Amani can’t help but see poetry everywhere. She needs to go through a healing process before finding comfort in poetry again, though, and what better way to do that but with a poetry competition? I really enjoyed the inclusion of poetry competitions and how they relate to politics as a tool to rise in the ranks of society. The threads of galactic politics seemed to tighten. With a revolution brewing against the Vathek, against Maram, more seemed to be at stake with Amani left to walk the line between two impossible choices.

I have been highly anticipating this book since I read Mirage, the first book back in 2018. Maram was still a bitch at the beginning of the book especially since she makes Amani act as her proxy to her marriage to Idris, the prince that Amani is in love with. Amani ends up pretending to be Maram for the first two months or so of Maram and Idris' marriage all the while fighting her feelings while Maram is fighting her feelings for her female royal falconer on her mother's estate. All this fighting of feelings is happening while both Maram and Amani are trying to place Maram on the throne sooner rather than later. Maram is very angry that she was forced into marriage with a man.

A good portion of this book built up to Mathis being taken off the throne and ultimately his death is how it is decided that he will be removed. The thing is though that when we get to his death it really doesn't take that long to accomplish. Also, Nadine is killed by a shoot through the head on Maram's orders and I couldn't be happier for her death. I love how everybody got to be happy at the end and I didn't see that twist with Amani's mother coming at the end.

I want to talk about the cover for a minute. The covers for this duology are gorgeous especially the new one for Mirage. It matches the cover for Court of Lions so well.

So I really recommend adding this duology to your TBR list if you love intrigue, adventure, and forbidden romance.

If you want to know what I thought about Mirage then check out my review on Goodreads by clicking HERE! 

Oh my goodness this was a wild ride. I love the dynamic between Amani and Maram. Amani is forced into being Maram's body double and if she gets caught her family will be the price she'll pay. 

Amani is such a strong character given her circumstances. Maram is always seen as cold but it's not in Amani's nature to be that way so by pretending to be her she starts to build relationships Maram never would have made because of her personality. Amani never forgets who she is even in the  moments she fully embraces the coldness of Maram to get what she needs. 

Maram is afraid of any potential threat to her life and starts to give control over to Amani more and more. I think that in her isolation she realizes that being the cold person she portrays to everyone is not going to get her what she needs. She starts to really lean on Amani and I think in the end they both learn from each other. Maram sees that you can be a good ruler and still be mindful of the feelings of those around you and within your people. 

This is a story about friendship and love. Amani finds love with Idris who is so sweet and wants everything for Amani even if he doesn't understand that she'd take death over slavery. Amani and Maram build a friendship close to sisters by the end of this final installment and I really enjoyed their journey.

This has been my most highly anticipated book ever since I read Mirage back in 2018! So two years later, I still remember that book, which goes to show how amazing this author is. Somaiya Daud created a world that was memorable, characters who captured my heart, and an adventure I wished I could witness on the big screen. The sequel just continued that magic, and I hope this duology will eventually be optioned for a movie. It has so much potential and positive themes, and I wish more books exhibited such strength and perseverance. While there is a romance in the book, which made my heart melt and gave me tingles, the overarching storyline was about two very strong women. Almost every character who had a major impact on the story was female, and that was an absolute delight.

As the double of Princess Maram, Amani continues to struggle for her own freedom and that of her family. Upon discovering that Amani has been working with the rebels, Maram feels betrayed and with her impending wedding to a man she doesn't love, she feels trapped and unsure of who to trust. Amani is also faced with the heartwrenching truth that Idris will be be marrying Maram, meaning that her torment may never end - being close to the man she loves yet never truly being with him. As Idris and Amani fight for their relationship, in spite of the odds, Maram does the same in a way that is sure to sent shock throughout the kingdom if she is discovered. Soon the rebellion is gaining strength, and Amani and Maram must decide what they want their futures to look like. Are they willing to play a part, or will they sacrifice all to find happiness for themselves and their people?

I read through this book so fast, I'm surprised I got any sleep last night! I thought it would be difficult for this book to meet expectations, since those expectations had been building for two years. However, Somaiya Daud produced a book that captured my attention just as the first did, and now I want to share this series with my family and friends. I loved how she developed the characters of Amani and Maram, although I would have definitely liked more development with Idris as well. He was a strong character, and so I had a hard time accepting his reactions mid-way through the book, when he learns of Amani's connection with the rebellion. I think more time spent on Idris would have been beneficial, similar to how we got more insight into Maram's character with chapters from her point-of-view. It would have rounded out the triad of main characters a bit better. However, that being said, it was still very enjoyable, and I loved the direction the author took with Maram's character. She showed so much strength on the outside, and we got to see her more vulnerable, which is when we meet her love interest. You'll never guess who it is, and my heart melted as their relationship grew.

Somaiya Daud is surely an author to watch, and I need more from her soon! She is most assuredly on my auto-buy list going forward.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

Somaiya Daud’s first novel, Mirage, mixed science fiction and fantasy with a dash of real-life Moroccan culture to create a story that felt like a breath of fresh air in the world of YA fantasy. Its sequel, Court of Lions takes things to the next level, raising the stakes to encompass the future of an entire people.

In Mirage, Amani found herself a prisoner of the seemingly cruel Vath princess Maram, forced to serve as an unwilling body double for the heir of the invading army that conquered her planet, Andala. Yet, as she spends more time with the princess, who has roots among her people and the potential to become a good queen, Amani spearheads a rebellion with the potential to change all their lives.

Court of Lions picks up shortly after the events of Mirage. Maram has discovered Amani’s connection to the rebels and no longer trusts her. Things seem bleaker than ever before. But are they? Amani is still desperate to fight for her people, and Maram isn’t entirely closed off to the possibility of change. Nothing is impossible. (More at the full link: https://culturess.com/2020/08/04/court-of-lions-review-somaiya-daud/)

I fell in love with the way Somaiya Daud weaves words to tell a beautiful story that highlights various relationships, the tribulations, turmoil and triumphs. Mirage left me wanting and in anticipation of its sequel and I'm thrilled to announce the long wait was worth every single second and Court of Lions is that book, a wonderful end to a beautiful story.

I will start by saying if you've not read Mirage, please don't go any further as this review is for its sequel, even though it doesn't contain spoilers, it may still give insight into Mirage.

Once I started reading I was captivated, I wondered and was curious about the fate of Amani, how she would escape her predicament and how she would turn Maram around and earn her trust. I wasn't disappointed, this story is a story full of wonderful stories, love, poetry, hope and faith.

In the wonderful tale that ends the Mirage duology, we are introduced to new characters, unforgettable bonds, slaying of demons, the outcomes of war and revealing of secrets that perfectly ties all questions the stories bring forth. We get to not only follow the story from the point of view of, the farmer's daughter, turned body double of the heir to the kingdom, Amani. But also follow Maram's thoughts, her life and perspectives as she is the heir to the kingdom and her story is equally as important and because of this, we get to know her truly.

The story stays true to its political course, eradicating colonial rule from an invading species set to demolish and make the rightful inhabitants of a planet extinct. This, of course, means what the characters have to accomplish wasn't going to be an easy feat and the way Somaiya shows us this in her writing is amazing, because she doesn't gloss over it.

I shed tears because of our main protagonists, Amani & Maram, their relationship in this books evolved more than anything, the growth, the trust, the whole revamp of Maram, when she began to let her guards down. This is the kind of redeeming arc I have been craving in books, one that turns you over so completely, you won't second guess the believability of the character's change of heart as you get to know and understand the antagonist of any book.

The emotions in this book are written so well, you feel every single hardship and joy the characters go through. I love romance and the romantic interests of Maram and Amani are so beautiful, it makes my heartthrob with happiness and glee, I loved every single scene Amani and Idris had together, the way their relationship evolved and his growth. Nothing was as pure as Maram and Aghraas relationship and how it was portrayed, plus I am certain of Aghraas origin, because of the conversation she had with Amani and the opening chapter of the story.

The character development and arcs really came through in Court of Lions and I will always treasure the female friendships and bonds between women in this book.