#BookReview: Mirage (Mirage, #1) by @somiayadaud #Mirage #NetGalley

Reviewed By: Jessica P. 

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Recommended Age: Young Adult 

Genre: Science Fiction (Dystopian) 

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Book:

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.






About the Author: Somaiya Daud is a twenty-something writer and PhD candidate at the University of Washington. A former bookseller in the children's department at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC, Somaiya is passionate about Arabic poetry, the stars, and the Gothic novel. Mirage is her debut novel.

   

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: I really thought I was going to DNF this one because to start out it reminded me of another book called Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter.  But the only thing that was the same was that the princess and the main character looked alike. That was it. So after I got done with that the story took off and I couldn't put it down. 

Do I Recommend this book? YES, this book has it all forbidden romance, danger, action, suspense, heartbreak, and so much more. 

Notes and Opinions:  In short this book was beautifully written the style in which the author told this story worked so well to make it flow like poetry.  This has become one of my favorites of the year for sure! It was a knock out debut and I can not wait to see what the author does with the next title.  The author with this one did a wonderful job giving us a heartbreaking story of a girl stolen from her family one night to serve those who rule over them.  This is one book about strength and never giving up even when things look their darkest. It is full of myth, religion, sacrifice, and tradition of the Moroccan people which this book is inspired from. 

The world building in this one was really good. It was light in some places and very descriptive in others and it worked so well.  This setting really reminded me of other space books such as The Diabolic (The Diabolic, 1) by S.J. Kincaid.  That although this book is set in space in some parts it's on another planet and for this one moons, along with all the future tech you could ask for.  I wish we would have gotten more looks at the droids but hopefully, that will come in the books that we will see going forward.  The author did a great job giving us bits of the traditions and poetry of the people.  I really loved that this was Moroccan-inspired.  It gave the book a real authentic and fresh feel that the young adult community really needs. 

The story for this one gave me the gasps and the tears and just really ripped out my heart in places. Yet we also get a well-rounded view of how this world works and how the people of this world are being oppressed as well as seeing through the eyes of the oppressors. It was another step to make this title stand out from the rest.  The characters in this one were also so alive.  We got to see so many people in this world from the lowest people to the highest.  I don't want to give anything away but each character was thought out in full and you just can't help but feel for each and every one of them. This also includes the princess.  You can just tell when people are full of fear or happiness however small.  Each character leaps off the page and into your heart.  

When this book came to a close I was screaming no that I wanted more. So now I am in a bookhole of the deepest kind and I can't even wallow in it because I have other books to read. 

Go Into This One Knowing: Forbidden Romance, Danger, Space, No Cliffhanger, No Love Triangle 

 

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Posted in: 5 Stars, Flatiron Books, Jessica P., Netgalley, Review, Young Adult