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Mirage: the captivating Sunday Times bestseller Hardcover – 28 Aug. 2018
The crown of Dihya had been stripped from me, my face changed, my body broken.
But I was not a slave and I was not a spare.
I was my mother's daughter, and I would survive and endure. I would find my way back home.
****************
The instant Sunday Times bestseller!
'Prepare yourself for a story that's enriching, thrilling, and captivating' - BuzzFeed
'Somaiya Daud is a rare talent. A smart, romantic, exciting debut.' - Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent
'By turns thrilling and ruminative, sexy and heartbreaking' - Sabaa Tahir, author of an Ember in the Ashes
****************
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 and receiving a sign that one day, she, too, will have adventures, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects. She is kidnapped by the government and taken in secret to the royal palace. There, 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 to appear in public, 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, and she soon realises that one wrong move could lead to her death...
- Reading age12 - 18 years
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions15.9 x 3.1 x 22.3 cm
- PublisherHodderscape
- Publication date28 Aug. 2018
- ISBN-101473672627
- ISBN-13978-1473672628
Product description
Review
Mirage is full of characters who feel like they existed long before the story began, and a rich world that is as beautiful as it is cruel.A smart, romantic, exciting debut from a rare talent
Prepare yourself for a story that's enriching, thrilling, and captivating ― BuzzFeed
Mirage is by turns thrilling and ruminative, sexy and heartbreaking. Somaiya Daud has written a moving and unforgettable debut ― Sabaa Tahir, author of An Ember in the Ashes
Superb . . . a beautiful and necessary meditation on finding strength in one's culture ― Entertainment Weekly
Lush and dangerous,Mirage had me entranced. Amani's journey-from rural innocent to calculating young woman, from village girl to royal impersonator-is galactic. I was here for all of it, and I desperately need to know what happens next
Riveting . . . Readers who love clever, independent young women, protagonists of colour, cultures we don't normally get to see positively represented in fiction, lite-SF, space opera, royal court intrigue, and delectable insta-love will inhale Mirage ― Tor.com
A masterful, stunning read that brings Somaiya onto the scene as a major talent and voice and force to be reckoned with
Beautifully detailed, with enchanting poetry and characters you'll come to care for, Mirage is an exciting introduction to what is sure to be a thrilling series ― CultureFly
Mirage is smart, sexy, and devilishly clever. Somaiya Daud has penned a tale worthy of all the stars in the sky
Mirage is a fantastic book. It's full of my favourite things: secrets, intrigue, gorgeous mythology, and complicated characters. It will break your heart and fill you with hope
Daud is a masterful storyteller. Mirage gives readers an exquisitely wrought world with deft characters, death-defying stakes, and an aching romance. Bound to linger in your dreams
Mirage had me enthralled from its first page to its last. It's a a heart-wrenching, romantic, and exhilarating page-turner. Somaiya Daud is a brilliant writer and she has written a brilliant book
This is a book that will blow you away from the moment you start ― Escapades of a Book Worm
Book Description
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Hodderscape (28 Aug. 2018)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1473672627
- ISBN-13 : 978-1473672628
- Reading age : 12 - 18 years
- Dimensions : 15.9 x 3.1 x 22.3 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 1,234,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Somaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master's degree she doubled as a bookseller at Politics and Prose in their children's department. Determined to remain in school for as long as possible, she packed her bags in 2014 and moved to the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she's writing a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the premise and worldbuilding amazing, intriguing, and original. They describe the story as diverse, sci-fi fantasy with Moroccan culture inspiration. Readers praise the writing quality as wonderful and easy to read. They also appreciate the Arabic poetry incorporated into the story.
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Customers find the worldbuilding amazing and original. They appreciate the diverse cultures and Moroccan heritage. The story is well-rounded with a full arc.
"...The characters are also so well written and fleshed out. They are complex and interesting to read about and have great character development...." Read more
"...Mirage has the potential to be a very good political intrigue book, but our POV character simply knows too much about what is going on for that,..." Read more
"I loved this book. It was intriguing to see how cultures deal with an empire trying to wipe out everything they are...." Read more
Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and engaging, with a fantasy-like feel that is easy to read. The Arabic poetry incorporated into the story is appreciated.
"...Kushaila (oppressed) and their power dynamics are so intriguing and well written. The characters are also so well written and fleshed out...." Read more
"...are getting back into reading after a long absence, Mirage is an easy book to read which doesn’t demand too much of you as a reader...." Read more
"sci fi that reads like fantasy, with the blood and bones of a culture i love, with women who are strong... genuinely strong, not male-gaze assassin..." Read more
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Book Review
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2019Ever since I heard about Mirage I knew I had to read it and that I would love it. And it’s safe to say it did not disappoint! I devoured this book in two evenings and I was up late into the night because I had to read just one more chapter. I am already dying in anticipation of book two.
Mirage is a diverse sci-fi fantasy story which is inspired by Moroccan culture. I found this world so original and fresh and I loved the worldbuilding so much! It was so nice to the Moroccan heritage and culture incorporated into the story. The worldbuilding is so intricate and done so well. It was so nice to see a world which is original especially in a sci-fi setting, the cultures of both the Vathek (oppressors) and Kushaila (oppressed) and their power dynamics are so intriguing and well written.
The characters are also so well written and fleshed out. They are complex and interesting to read about and have great character development. Amani is smart and sassy but she learns to be diplomatic and manage tense political alliances. She is brave but also shows vulnerability and admits she is afraid. I loved that we are shown that she is afraid but still persists in her goal.
Maram is initially shown as cold, abrasive and arrogant but we soon learn that there is more than meets the eye. I loved how she develops and we get a deeper look at what she is truly like and we see that she has grown up in a difficult situation and she is more vulnerable than she allows to be seen.
Idris is my new book boyfriend! I adore him even though we don’t get to see a lot of him what we do see is a young man who despite having to live among those who murdered his family is still kind and compassionate. He is very diplomatic and smart and knows how to play the long. He is also fun and charming and shows a different side to him when he learns who Amani is.
I loved seeing the relationships develop between Amani and Idris and Amani and Maram. They were complex and realistic and I am looking forward to seeing more of them and how their relationships develop in the next book. The side characters who we see for short periods are also well written and are all interesting to read about.
I also loved the Arabic poetry incorporated into the story and that it was not only an important part of Amani’s and Idris’ culture but also important to the story. It also gave us a glimpse of how the Kushaila culture was before the Vathek came and destroyed most of it in the war.
One of the aspects of the story that I found really interesting was how prejudice against a group of people can lead to the oppression of them. But also that by actually learning about the culture and way of life can help to overcome the prejudice. This was something I saw as Amani’s and Maram’s relationship developed and they started to become friends.
The story itself was well rounded and had a full arc as well as setting up a larger plot to continue in the next book. I really liked this as normally we are left on a cliffhanger just as the plot starts to develop in the first book.
I highly recommend reading this book! It was wonderfully written and left me wanting more! It was also so wonderful to see diverse cultures and the Moroccan heritage, as it’s not something we usually see in books. I am really looking forward to continuing the story.
Ever since I heard about Mirage I knew I had to read it and that I would love it. And it’s safe to say it did not disappoint! I devoured this book in two evenings and I was up late into the night because I had to read just one more chapter. I am already dying in anticipation of book two.
Mirage is a diverse sci-fi fantasy story which is inspired by Moroccan culture. I found this world so original and fresh and I loved the worldbuilding so much! It was so nice to the Moroccan heritage and culture incorporated into the story. The worldbuilding is so intricate and done so well. It was so nice to see a world which is original especially in a sci-fi setting, the cultures of both the Vathek (oppressors) and Kushaila (oppressed) and their power dynamics are so intriguing and well written.
The characters are also so well written and fleshed out. They are complex and interesting to read about and have great character development. Amani is smart and sassy but she learns to be diplomatic and manage tense political alliances. She is brave but also shows vulnerability and admits she is afraid. I loved that we are shown that she is afraid but still persists in her goal.
Maram is initially shown as cold, abrasive and arrogant but we soon learn that there is more than meets the eye. I loved how she develops and we get a deeper look at what she is truly like and we see that she has grown up in a difficult situation and she is more vulnerable than she allows to be seen.
Idris is my new book boyfriend! I adore him even though we don’t get to see a lot of him what we do see is a young man who despite having to live among those who murdered his family is still kind and compassionate. He is very diplomatic and smart and knows how to play the long. He is also fun and charming and shows a different side to him when he learns who Amani is.
I loved seeing the relationships develop between Amani and Idris and Amani and Maram. They were complex and realistic and I am looking forward to seeing more of them and how their relationships develop in the next book. The side characters who we see for short periods are also well written and are all interesting to read about.
I also loved the Arabic poetry incorporated into the story and that it was not only an important part of Amani’s and Idris’ culture but also important to the story. It also gave us a glimpse of how the Kushaila culture was before the Vathek came and destroyed most of it in the war.
One of the aspects of the story that I found really interesting was how prejudice against a group of people can lead to the oppression of them. But also that by actually learning about the culture and way of life can help to overcome the prejudice. This was something I saw as Amani’s and Maram’s relationship developed and they started to become friends.
The story itself was well rounded and had a full arc as well as setting up a larger plot to continue in the next book. I really liked this as normally we are left on a cliffhanger just as the plot starts to develop in the first book.
I highly recommend reading this book! It was wonderfully written and left me wanting more! It was also so wonderful to see diverse cultures and the Moroccan heritage, as it’s not something we usually see in books. I am really looking forward to continuing the story.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2021Especially if you don’t read a lot or if you are getting back into reading after a long absence, Mirage is an easy book to read which doesn’t demand too much of you as a reader. The premise and world building are amazing and it is easily one of my favourite books that I’ve read this year.
However, it’s easiness is also why I don’t give it 5 stars. Mirage has the potential to be a very good political intrigue book, but our POV character simply knows too much about what is going on for that, meaning that you get spoon-fed information that it would have been more satisfying to have to work out for yourself. This makes the story hard to engage with on any deeper level than casual light reading, which is a shame because the premise holds so much potential for this book to be more than it ended up being. Either way, it’s still a good book.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 August 2020sci fi that reads like fantasy, with the blood and bones of a culture i love, with women who are strong... genuinely strong, not male-gaze assassin sl*ts, you know?
this is beautifully written, the characters are genuine and real like... i feel like i should text Maram spoilers so she can do stuff and aaaargh! i had to stop part way through because i loved it so much and was scared of it ending!
De Bodard, Harte, Daud... the divine three deities of scifi...
anyway, i'd say how much you need to buy and read this but i have a sequel to read so take the hyperbole and understand that it is nothing but fact...
this book is amazing! it will make your life better!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2020I thought this one was an interesting read. I couldn't help but think of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and it similarities. One is taken to the palace to become a body double sort for the princess with a hint of a forbidden romance. I gave this one 3⭐️
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2021I loved this book. It was intriguing to see how cultures deal with an empire trying to wipe out everything they are. It was meant to be based on other planets and half the time I forgot that you could go to another planet which is a bit of a shame
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2020Mirage is a beautifully written, character driven Science Fantasy debut about identity, colonialism and rebellion. Set in a star system which has been invaded and is now ruled by an alien race, it follows a village girl who gets kidnapped by those in power, and is forced to step in as the body double of the Princess.
There's a dash of politics, a sprinkle of poetry and some really interesting character dynamics and relationships. But what stands out the most in this book is the world-building. Intricately detailed and rooted in Morrocan culture and history, it's phenomenal!
It does not have as much action as I expected from a sci-fi/fantasy mashup story though, and one being about a Princess’s life being under threat at that. Either way I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2020'There is no escape from what they want. Only survival.'
Loved it! This was such a great read. I was so interested in the characters, their pull, the way they were and why, just everything! I am literally kicking myself for not reading this when I first got it at release!
Amani is taken from her family and world because she looks uncannily like the hated Vathek, Princess Maram who is being targeted by a rebel group and the cruel Vathek want to use Amani to impersonate Maram.
The writing was a joy to read, I really enjoyed the world, it sort of reminded me of the world in the Lunar Chronicles, so good.
But what I really loved were the relationships. The author did a top job here. The relationship between Amani and Maram fascinated me and tore at my heart. Then there was Tala. And then Idris. Oh Idris, how I loved thee! Now I'm not a cutsey, warm girl but Idris and Amani together were so cute together I thought I might combust!
It was perfect. So good. I really need book 2!
Top reviews from other countries
- Jennifer C.Reviewed in the United States on 6 September 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
What a great story! Amani lives with her family and has a great love of poetry. Though her planet has been taken over by a brutal empire that oppresses all the cultures they conquer, Amani and her family have largely been unaffected by the Vathek rule and despite many aspects of her culture being made illegal, she hopes to someday write poetry of her own. However, her life takes a very unexpected turn when she is suddenly kidnapped by the Vathek regime because she is a near double of the half-Vathek princess.
After going through weeks of training that could also be called torture, Amina begins taking the place of Princess Maram in public. This also has her spending time with Idris, the princess' fiance, and also has her crossing paths with the growing rebellion to the Vathek empire.
The action in this book starts off almost immediately, and it rarely slows down at any point. There are certainly ups and downs in the level of tension with the action, but it seemed like something was always going on, and I really came to both like and admire Amina for the way she was still trying to be true to her heritage while playing the role of the princess.
While it was not really surprising to see feelings develop between Amina and Idris, as they are spending a lot of time together and Amina's natural personality and friendliness does come through at times, but it was still nice to see it grow. I think the ending was amazing in this book, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading/listening to the next book.
For this book, I listened to the audiobook, with Rasha Zamamiri as the narrator. She did an absolutely fabulous job and really pulled me into the story. If I can listen to her narrate the next book, I absolutely will, and if you listen to audiobooks, I definitely recommend listening to this one.
-
Laura MachadoReviewed in Brazil on 18 January 2022
3.0 out of 5 stars Deixou bastante a desejar
Depois de ter lido todos os outros livros da Editora Literalize e visto que todos eram ótimos, esperava que esse fosse no mesmo nível. Não li a edição deles, li a em inglês, mas eles tiveram uma curadoria perfeita, na minha opinião, até chegar nesse. Esse livro deixou a desejar em tantas questões, que tive que me organizar para explicar melhor.
Antes de mais nada, queria dizer que o livro em si provavelmente só vale duas estrelas, mas tem alguns detalhes nele que são tão bons, que mereciam umas quatro. Foi por isso mesmo que cheguei à minha nota de três.
A coisa que mais me incomodou no livro foi a tentativa da autora de misturar fantasia com ficção científica. Essa é uma mistura que funciona em muitas histórias, mas aqui parece demais que foi introduzida depois do livro estar pronto, como uma tentativa de diferenciá-lo de outros de fantasia YA. Nenhuma parte que fosse 'ficção científica' fez sentido. Nenhuma. Nem a colonização por um povo que parece ter só umas vinte pessoas, nem as viagens entre luas e planetas, nem mesmo a tecnologia presente nesse universo.
Quando um livro se passa em um planeta diferente ou pelo menos em mais de um, como aconteceu aqui (três, dois deles eram luas), o mínimo esperado é que eles sejam diferentes em questões científicas também. Atmosfera, gravidade, tempo de duração do dia, duração do sol ou qualquer coisa assim. Mas nesse livro, era tudo igual e a única diferença eram climas. Ou seja, fiquei com a impressão de que tinha sido escrito sobre países diferentes em um mesmo mundo, mas mudaram para dizer que era ficção científica também.
Realmente, a parte de viagens entre planetas e tudo mais é completamente dispensável. É capaz de tirarem e ninguém perceber que teve diferença. Mas o que mais me incomodou nessa questão científica foi sim a tecnologia, que só existia quando convinha. Não faz o menor sentido existir um método de transmissão de informações de um planeta a outro e isso não ser algo comum nem entre pessoas que moram na mesma cidade. Como é possível ter tanta tecnologia para viajar entre planetas, mas ainda não terem um telefone? Porque a Amani em nenhum momento pensou em ligar para os seus pais ou até para o Idris.
Claro que existem tablets e hologramas, mas só quando precisam ameaçá-la ou filmá-la para toda a população ver. Em qualquer outra situação dos meses dessa história, é como se essa tecnologia não existisse. E como é possível existirem câmeras sendo que uma prisioneira que se passa pela princesa nunca é filmada nem mesmo pela própria inteligência da princesa? Como podem confiar nela com tanto poder e alcance como se não fosse nada? Nem guardas ela tinha! Além de que eles viajam de naves especiais para todo lugar, mas de repente eles usam carruagens entre lugares do mesmo país! Nem para inventarem algo menor, quem sabe poderiam ter chamado de carso, carto, carro?
Parando um pouco aqui para respirar fundo, mas é que isso me incomodou demais mesmo. Eu nem odiei o livro, tem coisas nele que eu gostei demais, mas a história tem mais furos do qualquer outra coisa!
Outra coisa que não foi tão legal, na minha opinião, foi a ambientação. Faltou descrição de coisas menores, de diferenças mesmo. Não tenho a menor ideia de como é a lua onde ela morava. Sei como é o castelo, ela adorava explicar esse tipo de coisa, mas algumas descrições logo no começo deixaram bastante a desejar. Eu relevei, mas logo comecei a ficar confusa com a criação desse universo e dos povos de lá. Acho que faltou um pequeno glossário bem organizado no começo que teria poupado os inúmeros infodumps desconfortáveis nos primeiros capítulos.
De fato, a prosa da autora está bem travada no comecinho por causa dessas coisas e, admito, cheguei ao final do livro ainda bem incerta sobre os povos, suas culturas e costumes. Lembro de alguns, mas a maioria era informação demais, lição demais no meio de uma narrativa, então acabavam passando batido. Acho que o livro inteiro teria se beneficiado de trechos fictícios de canções, lendas e até literatura desses povos como epígrafes em cada capítulo. Acho que poderia aumentar a sensação de que existe de verdade.
Não, ainda não terminei de comentar tudo que me desagradou. Juro que ainda vou falar de coisas boas, mas agora é melhor eu já dizer que o enredo é fraquíssimo! A ideia começa forte, a garota que é forçada por uma princesa cruel a se passar por ela, a arriscar sua vida por ela. Mas aí ela finalmente começa a se passar pela Maram e nenhum evento, nenhum momento é realmente um risco. Para que todo o treinamento se ela não ia mesmo se arriscar com nada? Foi só um capricho da princesa? Isso tirou bastante da força dessa premissa, infelizmente. Faltaram alguns atentados, suspeitas, tiros, desespero, tropeços, algo que movimentasse a história e que também justificasse sua existência.
Confesso que eu continuei lendo só por duas coisas, as duas coisas que eu amei no livro, mas vou mencionar elas depois.
Antes, quero deixar claro que a leitura é bem devagar, fácil de acabar, porque é um livro pequeno e os acontecimentos são vagos e corridos. Ou seja, o pouco que acontece é meio superficial e as ideias nem amadurecem antes de já mudarem ou acontecerem de cara. É uma história pouco imersiva, quando poderia ter sido sensorial e emocionante. O maior problema do enredo, na minha opinião, é que o único momento de grande emoção ou dúvida é um que você já sabe que vai vir pelo prólogo. Não há nenhuma reviravolta inesperada, nenhuma revelação incrível, nada desse tipo. E as conclusões que os próprios personagens tomam no final não fizeram nenhum sentido. Confesso que fiquei esperando um momento de lógica ou algo surpreendente, que me fizesse ficar curiosa com a continuação, mas nunca veio.
Existe ainda uma pequena chance de eu ler o próximo livro, mas seria só pelas duas coisas que amei nesse. A primeira foi a relação da Amani com a princesa, Maram. Foi muito legal ver as duas "se enfrentando", ver como elas iam se conhecendo melhor e quebrando uma a outra. Me surpreendi com a complexidade de Maram, mas tenho que admitir que tinha muito mais potencial do que foi aproveitado. Se eu parar para pensar em quantas cenas elas tiveram, por exemplo, foram poucas, mas todas eram interessantes! Acho que o livro teria se beneficiado demais de mais aprofundamento nessas partes. Ele poderia ter sido um pouco maior também e menos corrido.
Outra coisa que gostei bastante foi do crescimento da Amani. Ela amadurece tanto, que foi legal de ver! Mas não é algo que amei.
Amei de verdade foi o romance! O Idris é maravilhoso e ver os dois se aproximando foi lindo! A autora, quando parece mais confortável com a narrativa e não se preocupa em ficar incluindo explicações sobre o universo no qual a história se passa, escreve muito bem! É um livro cheio de passagens bonitas e tocantes, de momentos especiais! Foi um romance devagar e delicado que me deixou vidrada às vezes enquanto lia. É verdade, se tiver um romance interessante, eu leio qualquer coisa. É uma pena que essas passagens maravilhosas não fossem intercaladas com acontecimentos relevantes.
Não sei se posso dizer que recomendo o livro, mas não des-recomendo também. É uma história fraca com personagens interessantes. Quem sabe um dia eu não leia o segundo mesmo assim?
Laura MachadoDeixou bastante a desejar
Reviewed in Brazil on 18 January 2022
Antes de mais nada, queria dizer que o livro em si provavelmente só vale duas estrelas, mas tem alguns detalhes nele que são tão bons, que mereciam umas quatro. Foi por isso mesmo que cheguei à minha nota de três.
A coisa que mais me incomodou no livro foi a tentativa da autora de misturar fantasia com ficção científica. Essa é uma mistura que funciona em muitas histórias, mas aqui parece demais que foi introduzida depois do livro estar pronto, como uma tentativa de diferenciá-lo de outros de fantasia YA. Nenhuma parte que fosse 'ficção científica' fez sentido. Nenhuma. Nem a colonização por um povo que parece ter só umas vinte pessoas, nem as viagens entre luas e planetas, nem mesmo a tecnologia presente nesse universo.
Quando um livro se passa em um planeta diferente ou pelo menos em mais de um, como aconteceu aqui (três, dois deles eram luas), o mínimo esperado é que eles sejam diferentes em questões científicas também. Atmosfera, gravidade, tempo de duração do dia, duração do sol ou qualquer coisa assim. Mas nesse livro, era tudo igual e a única diferença eram climas. Ou seja, fiquei com a impressão de que tinha sido escrito sobre países diferentes em um mesmo mundo, mas mudaram para dizer que era ficção científica também.
Realmente, a parte de viagens entre planetas e tudo mais é completamente dispensável. É capaz de tirarem e ninguém perceber que teve diferença. Mas o que mais me incomodou nessa questão científica foi sim a tecnologia, que só existia quando convinha. Não faz o menor sentido existir um método de transmissão de informações de um planeta a outro e isso não ser algo comum nem entre pessoas que moram na mesma cidade. Como é possível ter tanta tecnologia para viajar entre planetas, mas ainda não terem um telefone? Porque a Amani em nenhum momento pensou em ligar para os seus pais ou até para o Idris.
Claro que existem tablets e hologramas, mas só quando precisam ameaçá-la ou filmá-la para toda a população ver. Em qualquer outra situação dos meses dessa história, é como se essa tecnologia não existisse. E como é possível existirem câmeras sendo que uma prisioneira que se passa pela princesa nunca é filmada nem mesmo pela própria inteligência da princesa? Como podem confiar nela com tanto poder e alcance como se não fosse nada? Nem guardas ela tinha! Além de que eles viajam de naves especiais para todo lugar, mas de repente eles usam carruagens entre lugares do mesmo país! Nem para inventarem algo menor, quem sabe poderiam ter chamado de carso, carto, carro?
Parando um pouco aqui para respirar fundo, mas é que isso me incomodou demais mesmo. Eu nem odiei o livro, tem coisas nele que eu gostei demais, mas a história tem mais furos do qualquer outra coisa!
Outra coisa que não foi tão legal, na minha opinião, foi a ambientação. Faltou descrição de coisas menores, de diferenças mesmo. Não tenho a menor ideia de como é a lua onde ela morava. Sei como é o castelo, ela adorava explicar esse tipo de coisa, mas algumas descrições logo no começo deixaram bastante a desejar. Eu relevei, mas logo comecei a ficar confusa com a criação desse universo e dos povos de lá. Acho que faltou um pequeno glossário bem organizado no começo que teria poupado os inúmeros infodumps desconfortáveis nos primeiros capítulos.
De fato, a prosa da autora está bem travada no comecinho por causa dessas coisas e, admito, cheguei ao final do livro ainda bem incerta sobre os povos, suas culturas e costumes. Lembro de alguns, mas a maioria era informação demais, lição demais no meio de uma narrativa, então acabavam passando batido. Acho que o livro inteiro teria se beneficiado de trechos fictícios de canções, lendas e até literatura desses povos como epígrafes em cada capítulo. Acho que poderia aumentar a sensação de que existe de verdade.
Não, ainda não terminei de comentar tudo que me desagradou. Juro que ainda vou falar de coisas boas, mas agora é melhor eu já dizer que o enredo é fraquíssimo! A ideia começa forte, a garota que é forçada por uma princesa cruel a se passar por ela, a arriscar sua vida por ela. Mas aí ela finalmente começa a se passar pela Maram e nenhum evento, nenhum momento é realmente um risco. Para que todo o treinamento se ela não ia mesmo se arriscar com nada? Foi só um capricho da princesa? Isso tirou bastante da força dessa premissa, infelizmente. Faltaram alguns atentados, suspeitas, tiros, desespero, tropeços, algo que movimentasse a história e que também justificasse sua existência.
Confesso que eu continuei lendo só por duas coisas, as duas coisas que eu amei no livro, mas vou mencionar elas depois.
Antes, quero deixar claro que a leitura é bem devagar, fácil de acabar, porque é um livro pequeno e os acontecimentos são vagos e corridos. Ou seja, o pouco que acontece é meio superficial e as ideias nem amadurecem antes de já mudarem ou acontecerem de cara. É uma história pouco imersiva, quando poderia ter sido sensorial e emocionante. O maior problema do enredo, na minha opinião, é que o único momento de grande emoção ou dúvida é um que você já sabe que vai vir pelo prólogo. Não há nenhuma reviravolta inesperada, nenhuma revelação incrível, nada desse tipo. E as conclusões que os próprios personagens tomam no final não fizeram nenhum sentido. Confesso que fiquei esperando um momento de lógica ou algo surpreendente, que me fizesse ficar curiosa com a continuação, mas nunca veio.
Existe ainda uma pequena chance de eu ler o próximo livro, mas seria só pelas duas coisas que amei nesse. A primeira foi a relação da Amani com a princesa, Maram. Foi muito legal ver as duas "se enfrentando", ver como elas iam se conhecendo melhor e quebrando uma a outra. Me surpreendi com a complexidade de Maram, mas tenho que admitir que tinha muito mais potencial do que foi aproveitado. Se eu parar para pensar em quantas cenas elas tiveram, por exemplo, foram poucas, mas todas eram interessantes! Acho que o livro teria se beneficiado demais de mais aprofundamento nessas partes. Ele poderia ter sido um pouco maior também e menos corrido.
Outra coisa que gostei bastante foi do crescimento da Amani. Ela amadurece tanto, que foi legal de ver! Mas não é algo que amei.
Amei de verdade foi o romance! O Idris é maravilhoso e ver os dois se aproximando foi lindo! A autora, quando parece mais confortável com a narrativa e não se preocupa em ficar incluindo explicações sobre o universo no qual a história se passa, escreve muito bem! É um livro cheio de passagens bonitas e tocantes, de momentos especiais! Foi um romance devagar e delicado que me deixou vidrada às vezes enquanto lia. É verdade, se tiver um romance interessante, eu leio qualquer coisa. É uma pena que essas passagens maravilhosas não fossem intercaladas com acontecimentos relevantes.
Não sei se posso dizer que recomendo o livro, mas não des-recomendo também. É uma história fraca com personagens interessantes. Quem sabe um dia eu não leia o segundo mesmo assim?
Images in this review
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LéaReviewed in France on 31 December 2020
3.0 out of 5 stars bon livre
un bon livre mais pas très mémorable (pour moi). très bonne représentation et super personnages.
- IndiraReviewed in the United States on 20 May 2019
4.0 out of 5 stars Seeing DOuble
*no spoilers were harmed in the making of this review*Tha
"blood never dies, blood never forgets"
Hey guys, so I finally finished Mirage (Mirage, #1) by Somaiya Daud. I damn the semester for not allowing me to finish it sooner. If it had, maybe my thoughts and feelings would be different. SO basically, the beginning was really amazing, event he middle of it, but once it started to end, it kind of...just flatlined. BUT, that might be my bias talking for I may hav been impatient to just finish it. But honestly though, I kept waiting for all the bird poop to hit the fan in some big way, or to have some big horror come from their actions and...well. I did not really get what I was expecting, so that kind of soured me a bit. Truly, with the way the book had gone, I was expecting a lot more danger, real, action danger. Like, near death experiences constantly. Instead, the danger was more implied. It was more the threat of danger than actual, danger. Like there was always that "oh no, am going to get caught" looming over her head, but it felt more like a gloomy grey cloud than an electric stormy one about to blow any moment. Seriously, the danger aspect could have been upped tremendously, with everything considered. AND do not even get me started on the way that ended. Everything basically goes to hell for like, no possible reason. Kay??? I was like, wtf, why is this happening. wtf, what you doing, what is happening. it just left me very disorganized. That being said, this book was really cool and I really enjoyed it, for the most part. It had a lot of court intrigue. Talk about a den of vipers. And the whole plot (until the end) was really cool. Seriously, I just loved the whole ordeal of the body double thing. (no, not a spoiler cause it says that in the bookjacket). Amani is just an amazing character, really. She doesnt let her situaitond efine her no matter how much it tries. She is steel, baby. She is steel. I admire her so much. She was so strong in the face of adversity. She would not break, she would not let them break her, no matter how hard they tried. She stuck to her guns and did everything she could to survive. So, I just loved her as a character. Maram on the other hand, gods I have a love hate relation with that woman. At first she is a total beach, a jerk, every bad word and phrase one could say. she is the embodiment of it all, all the cruelty and violence and just ughhh! But....she is just a product of her environment. if she had had a different childhood, maybe things would have turned out differently. She acts the way she does because of how she was raised. But she has emotions, just like everyone else, fear, hope, joy, need for love, trust, and the thing she fears and feels the msot, betrayal. OKAY, now onto the real shining star of this whole goddamt book. IDRIS. OH MY SWEET BABY BOY. LET ME HUG YOU AND TELL YOU EVERYHTING WILL BE ALRIGHT. Gods I love idris so much. He suffered so horribly and continually and ohhhhhhhh, IDRIS. He was so charming and funny and seductive and smart and hot and so,...so sexy. I LOVE HIM. I LOVED the romance in this book. I so shipped it. Even if I sometime wondered whethe the was gonna betray or if something bad would happen. Still, I loved it. The romance was just, so necessary, truly. It added so much richness to the plot, and to the characters. The plot by itself was pretty good, but the romance made it even better. The plot, gods I really liked when Amani had to do her body double thing, it was so fine. And just, it was great. Save for the last bit of the book, that, was not so great
- doc petersonReviewed in the United States on 15 September 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun YA sci-fi
Somaya Daud's _Mirage_ is part sci-fi, part YA romance, but wholly entertaining. As with all good science fiction, Daud
subtly draws parallels between western imperialism in the Islamic world with the experiences of her heroine. And as with all good fiction, the difference between "good" and "evil" is complicated.
The protagonist in _Mirage_, Amani, unwillingly is pulled from her family and rural village in a remote part of a solar system into the palace intrigue of the brutal imperial powers that have conquered her home. Living in the halls of power, Amani befriends the young heir, the two young women both in places they would rather not be, both forced to keep their emotions and thoughts to themselves. As the plot progresses, matters for Amani become more complicated - the details of which I am reluctant to share, lest i spoil a well-crafted narrative.
One of the issues I have with YA literature is its failure to pass the Bechtel test for female characters, and its general lack of diversity. Daud has not only written a book rich in cultural parallels to the Maghrib, but has also created complicated, compelling characters that happen to be female. For these factors, I add a star to a fun YA novel.