I so wanted to love this one! I found the story to be dry - it's very political with layered intrigue. While I enjoyed that aspect of the novel, the rest of the story fell flat in comparison. The world is rich, though, and full thought out.

Great for those seeking politically focused fantasies.

I didn't include a star rating on goodreads

Mirage had me at that gorgeous 1001 Nights-esque cover art, and it was a delightful surprise as I went into reading it blind. I'm not a huge sci-fi gal, but I think Somaiya Daud blends the sci-fi and fantasy elements together so well, the book would feel incomplete if you took either away. I also loved the whole "captured/coerced body double" element because I haven't really read anything else with that plot line so it felt really fun and original to me. Overall, great debut, and I can't wait to read more from Daud in the future!

A lush and trilling sci-fi fantasy adventure. Amani is taken from her home and thrust into a world of riches, but also danger. A captivating read that i couldnt put down!

Alright. I think it's finally time to admit this to myself. I am never going to finish this book. I own the audiobook and 2 hardbacks and I read 25% from here and have tried the hardback and audio and I just feel like the story is dragging in for such a short book.

I tried so hard to get into this book because it sounded so good but it just wasn’t for me. The cover is absolutely beautiful though and the writing was great, It just wasn’t a me book.

Strong characters, a world you can see and sense, and excellent prose. I am looking forward to more from Somaiya Daud.

I received a copy of this for an interview I conducted with the author.

MIRAGE follows Amani, the daughter of Kushaila farmers from a small village on Cadiz, a moon. She is out for her majority night when the android militia arrives. Their arrival never marks anything good, as their moon is part of the kingdom that was conquered by the Vathek empire before Amani was born, but still recent enough that the wounds are fresh, and the android militia often meets out deadly consequences at the whim of the ruler. However, this time, they do something different and ask for all the girls of a certain age to line up.

When they scan Amani's face, she is whisked away to the palace where she learns that she is nearly identical the princess, Maram, whose father is the Vathek emperor and who had wed Maram's mother as part of the treaty to give him reign of these planets. As someone who is half-Vathak and half-Kushaila, Maram does not fit it anywhere, and many sides are threatening her life. Amani is forced to be the princesses double and attend events where her life may be in danger. Her "training" is brutal, enacted by physical punishment when she does not perform well.

To save her own life, she finds a way to mimic the princess and is sent out to take her place. She must convince everyone, even the princess's Kushaila fiance, who has known her since birth and her father, who is brutally distant. As Amani struggles to find a place in her new life, she must question the risks she is willing to take, what side of history she would like herself to be on and what future she wants to see.

What I loved: This is a really lush fantasy with a world that really comes to life. The politics here are really interesting throughout about Amani, the world, and even Maram. It is easy to get wrapped up in the writing of this book, as it is highly engrossing. I really enjoyed learning about this other world, its religion, peoples, and cultures. Amani is a great main character who has empathy and intelligence that allows her to navigate her life and role really well, and I loved reading her story. This is definitely one that I am eager to continue.

What left me wanting more: As a really small point, the romance seemed pretty fast, but it did build, so I would be curious to see how it matures.

Final verdict: MIRAGE is an engaging and lush YA fantasy that begins a series I am eager to continue. With great characters and strong world-building, this book starts a journey that is worth following. Highly recommend for fans of THE DIABOLIC, THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION, and SORCERY OF THORNS.

This is the type of fantasy book that I absolutely love when I can gush about it to patrons. This has a relatable fantasy element, strong female leads, an interesting romance that is only an element and not the whole book. This is definitely one I recommend.

I really enjoyed the world-building in Mirage and think this is definitely one of the author's strong suits. But, I did not really want to proceed with the series once I was done. I think it was because I did not like the characters enough.

Thoroughly enjoyed this cross-genre YA fantasy after falling disillusioned with YA books recently. The dynamics between the doppelgangers and the stakes of each relationship were compelling and led me to immediately pick up the sequel and give it a listen via audiobook.

I ended up enjoying this book way more than I originally expected I would! I thoroughly enjoyed the character dynamics throughout the book as well as Daud’s writing style, both of which did a beautiful job of weaving together such a lush and enrapturing world you don't ever want to leave.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to finish this book, and cannot provide substantial feedback. I really liked what I have read, and hope to finish it when I have the chance!

What a lush, breathtaking and vivid fantasy... It was so full of adventure, and action, and gorgeous writing, and gave me butterflies in my stomach. I can't wait to re-read it!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

If you are interested in Young adult fantasy with elements of science fiction, this book is perfect for you. It is about a girl named Amani who is taken from her family and sent to the royal palace. She finds out that she looks identical to the princess of a people that have taken over her planet. She is to become the double of the princess and pretend to be her in dangerous situations.

This is a story about a people that have been oppressed, a princess finding out more about who she really is, and another trying her best to rejoin her family but also set her people free. It is similar to many Young Adult fantasy books about a heroine fighting against the government controlling and abusing her people. However, the relationship between the princess and Amani bring some uniqueness to the story. Overall it is a fun, enjoyable read for fans of books like The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard or The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.

A thoughtful YA sci-fi that blends elements of other genres into a slow-moving but engaging storyline. Amani is the heart of the novel but there’s interesting twists, relevant social commentary, and a complicated ship.

I enjoyed the story of Amani. It was a fast-paced book and what Amani would do to save her family. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

I was hesitant to start this as I often struggle with fantasy stories but to my surprise this was NOT a fantasy story, it was more sci-fi and it was brilliant. The story I read was beautiful, brutal, raw, enchanting, and captivating. I appreciated it being so fast-paced because slow moving (ie boring) stories make me DNF and move on. I do wish there had been a little more world building but it was just enough to work. The premise of a body double had my attention. I was weary of it as it could either go really right or really wrong... in this story it went really right.

It felt like everything was just enough to get the story through and have the reader begging for the second book. The characters were developed just enough to keep my attention. The world building was just enough that I could visualize everything. The plot was just enough to have me cheering for more. It was hard to believe this was a debut novel. I'm ready for the second book.

It's been quite a while since this book was published, but I absolutely adored it! Mirage is a lovely high fantasy with a scifi feel, wrapped up in an amazing Moroccan-inspired setting. I loved the characters and how character driven Amani's story is. :)

I received Mirage to catch up on events leading to Court of Lions to prep for an interview with Somaiya Daud. I absolutely loved this, I'm eager to get into Book Two and find out where these characters go. What a great setting and superb worldbuilding.