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.
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Book Review
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.
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2019
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.
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 August 2020
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2020
Top reviews from other countries
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Laura MachadoReviewed in Brazil on 18 January 2022
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.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?
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