Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled to be part of the Canadian blog tour for Mirage by Somaiya Daud! I really enjoyed this debut novel and I can’t wait for more people to learn about it.
About the Book
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
Release Date: August 28th 2018 Flatiron Books
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“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. Somaiya Daud is a rare talent. A smart, romantic, exciting debut.” ―Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent and Carve the Mark
In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, sixteen-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, and one wrong move could lead to her death…
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 the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she’s preparing to write a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment. Mirage is her debut, and is due from Flatiron Books and Hodder and Stoughton in August 28, 2018.
Review
I’ll admit that the cover is what initially drew me into Mirage but it was the synopsis that made me decide to read it. I’ve read a lot of sci-fi novels but I always love the element of royalty in it too.
Amani lives on a planet that’s long been isolated from the rest of the Vathek empire, an empire that brutally gained control of the star system that Amani lives in. Amani often dreams of another world, one where her and her village would be able to practice their traditions in peace. At her birthday party, she’s kidnapped and captured. She soon learns that she looks identical to the rarely-seen princess and that it’ll be her job to be the princess’ double. What follows is a romantic and exciting novel full of court intrigue and great character building.
I have to say that I’m not usually a fan of court intrigue but I really liked that aspect in Mirage. For a novel that’s only 300 pages, Daud did a really great job introducing the world building and other aspects. I really did enjoy reading about all of the intricacies of Amani’s world.
Another aspect of the novel worth mentioning is the romance. The main love interest of this novel is Idris, the crown princess’ fiancé. I felt that their connection was a bit too quick and usually would have me screaming insta love, but I actually did not feel that way about Idris and Amani. I really liked their connection and I was rooting for them, despite the obvious forbidden love aspect.
I think overall that Mirage is a short but wonderful novel that’s perfect for someone looking to get into a well-written series with amazing world building and characters you can really root for.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the tour!
