Dynamic and complex female characters? Yes. Compelling arc around colonialism? Yes. Focus on a friendship between two women? Yes. The concept of love under colonialism played out with two romances, one in which they’re both girls? Yes. Villain-to-hero arc for secondary female protagonist? Yes. Ending that made me start crying? Yes. Best ya series I’ve read in at least two years? Absolutely.

Court of Lions begins with Amani having recently attempted a failed action with the rebellion, and the relationship between her and Maram, the princess she has become the body trouble to, newly strained. It will take a rekindling of their connection, and their connections with the wider world, to begin rebuilding what they have.

After the incredibleness that was Mirage, I was hopeful for a good book two. Amani resonated with me so very much; her relationships with both Maram and Idris were fascinating. I was especially intrigued by Maram, the delightful antivillain we only got a brief glimpse at; though her ending was more negative, the glimpses we get of her reveal a complex, dynamic character. So when this novel added Maram as a new narrator, it’s exciting. It becomes even more exciting when she quickly becomes so fascinating.

Maram is a character who is terrified of vulnerability, scared that her love for other people makes her weak. When she loves, she is not what the Vathek want. She tamps the sides of her that are more like her mother into smaller stubs: redesigning a palace in her mother’s style, for example. Her arc, thus, revolves around two things. First, there is her attempt to assert her own agency. Daud does something particularly good here in making this such a wide scope. There are her attempts to break free from the control of both her father and a guardian to assert her own power, of course, which are cathartic and consistently interesting. But there is also her journey towards learning to engage with others, to befriend others as a future queen. To have power and use it fairly, she must build connections.

Maram has another arc, however, which is both a fundamental part of her journey towards building connections and something altogether distinct: she must learn to let her guard down. This, of course, occurs through a sapphic romance. The romantic plot between Maram and a new falconer at her palace, Aghraas, is a highlight of the book, written in a way I found deeply gut-wrenching despite the relatively small amount of pagetime. This romance is so very well-written and incredibly well-paced; though I knew what direction it was going fairly quickly, it did not stop me from waiting with bated breath for them to touch again, think of each other again.

Amani’s arc in this book is to me less about her growing and changing and more about her asserting some of the growth that she made in book one. She is still scared to help the rebellion, yes; she knows the danger to herself and others. But she also knows what she is capable of. Watching her through these conflicts is so compelling.

Amani begins her journey within this book with the first time Maram needs her again: for her marriage to Idris. This scene killed me and then it revived me. Idris and Amani had me invested in book one, but this scene was such a heartfelt and awful introduction to their dynamic as a couple: their kindness towards each other, their knowledge of each other. Honestly, I just think that Somaiya Daud understands yearning, and knows that it is about the tenderness, and I am so very obsessed with the way these two romance plots were written.

Though Amani and Maram are in a position throughout much of this book where they could easily be forced into fighting, they almost never do. Daud within the context of this book makes a very clear choice to focus on the love between them and grow their relationship; while there are natural setbacks, the narrative never forces any conflict between them. This makes it only more compelling to see the two of them interact with an increasingly complex political scene, bringing two different sets of talent to the table.

There is an element of slow expansion to this world, with Maram’s perspective alone expanding things; the setting of her palace is textured and fantastic. Daud also, in a move that in many ways defines the book, introduces a multitude of side characters whom I quickly grew to adore. These characters are often introduced in just a few chapters, but all feel distinct and compelling, and though they each are only a part of this story, they all add: not just to the breadth of this world, but to the humanity of it.

Fadwa @ Word Wonders made a point here that I want to mention:
“From the outside looking in, Amazighi tribes probably look the same, similar attire, similar languages and dialects, etc… but everything is so different when you’re in the thick of it living it, our customs are so varied, our dialects so numerous and different, and I could see that in every detail of the book.”

And I suppose for one other thing: the tone of this series never fails. This duology never babysits, never sugarcoats, yet it feels like a ray of light. And though the conflicts are often tense, the two novels are still each slow-burning. They feel welcoming, to you and to the characters; they feel loving. As a matter of fact, their love is what is so defining about them, as novels.

“We were both hostages, you and I. And we grew up understanding that loving anyone was a luxury neither of us could afford.”

This is, I think, a thesis of the book: this idea of how love under a colonial rule is too dangerous. Yet it is also the only thing that can destroy that regime. It is the friendship between Amani and Maram that truly hit me so hard about this book: it is their bond, the relationship between Amani and Idris, and the relationship between Maram and Aghraas that end up defining the novel.

And when I say the ending made me cry, I’m not joking. I was holding it together just vibing and then for some reason the epilogue made me absolutely lose it.

Court of Lions is, genuinely and honestly, one of my favorite novels I read in 2020. I loved the first book of this duology, but it is this book that truly solidified this as one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I will be rereading this. I will not be shutting up about it ever.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO COURT OF LIONS BY SOMIYA DAUD?
At the very beginning of 2019, I listened to Mirage by Somaiya Daud. Of course, I loved it and really gelled with the audiobook version. Upon seeing the sequel and finale to the duology, Court Of Lions, I knew I had to read it. Ultimately, I wanted to go with audio again because that was such a good experience. With some luck, I saw that Court Of Lions came up on Libby via audio and I listened in October 2020 and wow, what an excellent story and listening experience.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Court Of Lions essentially picks up where Mirage leaves off. Amani has been placed in isolation. Maram has figured out that Amani was connected to the rebels and so has forced her silence by placing her into isolation. Things are looking bleak. As you may remember, Amani is the Princess Maram’s body double. So, people think that Amani is Maram which is for Maram’s protection. When Maram is about to get married to Idris, she makes a request of Amani — that Amani take her place in the festivities. In exchange for this, Maram will keep her mouth shut about Aman’s loyalties. It is a real delicate balance and everything it seems is on edge. Amani just may have a way to help the rebels win.

WHAT DID I THINK?
I do not want to get into spoiler territory too much. Just know that I felt like Court Of Lions was the perfect ending to this duology. Both Maram and Amani have really grown as characters and presented so complexly. The plot threads in this book are wrapped up really well. I felt just elated by how it all played out. Also? This duology is seriously underrated and I think if you count yourself a speculative fiction fan, you should absolutely get this audiobook into your ears.


HOW’S THE NARRATION?
Somaiya Daud’s Court Of Lions is narrated by Rasha Zamamiri who plays it to perfection. This audiobook is 9 hours and 46 minutes long but so thrilling. Zamamiri does imperious quite well in her narration. However, it never feels over the top or over dramatic or over done. This book is narrated in pitch perfect fashion. I cannot highly recommend listening enough – particularly if you need something to take you on a flight of fancy with a good revolution brewing.

I adored Mirage. I enjoyed this sequel very much. I didn't enjoy as much as its predecessor, but it was so great to dive into this vibrant world weaved by Daud. I think this is an acceptable conclusion to a wonderful series. I look forward to reading more from this author. 4/5 stars

I cannot tell you the happy dance I did to be approved to read this title. Mirage was one of my favorite reads of 2019 and Court of Lions was a perfectly fitting conclusion. It was equal parts lush and sweeping as well as close and intimate. As with the first, the relationship between Amani and Idris was so beautiful and angsty and ugh so so good. At the same time though, it had the same weight, to me as the bond being forged between Amani and Maram. Amani and Maram have always felt like the turning and focal point of Mirage to me and it felt really nice to see that carried through to Court of Lions and given proper attention and care. Maram’s new romance though was also equally lovely and queer as hell and boy howdy was I here for that. Just magnificent.
With this duology, one of my favorite things is that Amani’s strength is in her compassion and her ability to, despite being “a poor peasant girl” to empathize and connect with others in ways that bring them together. There were so many smart and powerful ladies in this book but none of them could have gotten anything done if not for Amani’s strength and heart and endurance, nor if Amani hadn’t believed in Maram’s humanity and capacity for greatness and kindness after so many had written her off. It really was a well-crafted conclusion, very satisfying. Between the revolution, the friendship, the romance (both old and new) I was swept away and completely as enchanted as I was with Mirage. I look forward to whatever else Daud has up her very capable and imaginative sleeves in the future!

The court of lions is sequel and conclusion to mirage, that follows the story of Amani. This book continues to explore the story of Miriam and Amani bond while showing the consequences of colonialism. We also get some Miriam povs and see her budding romance with aghraas. Overall Amani and Miriam development were the best parts of this story.

DNF. I'm really disappointed. I loved Mirage, so much. The characters, the world, the relationships--it was phenomenal. Court of Lions doesn't even feel like the same series. The characters don't act the same way as I would have expected based off of what happened in the last book (Amani and Maram especially). The plot didn't feel like it was going places (or at least not as fast as I would expect after the ending of book one), and Maram made decisions that seemed so out of character that it made it unbelievable. And after reading some spoilers about where (SPOILER warning) Maram's sexuality/relationship was going, I just couldn't keep reading. There was NO clues, NO build up in the first book about Maram being a lesbian, and I'm really disappointed that the author chose to include it at all. If you're going to include that content (whether I personally agree with it or not), it would be nice if you could at least make it make sense, and fit with character development.

this book was just not for me.
i tried getting into it a few times before i just gave up.
the first book was neat and original, but couldn't get past the first few chapters... the "story" in the beginning of the book had me so confused. i think it was supposed to be a created "recap" of book one but i couldn't figure out who was who. I had forgotten everyone's names and their purpose by the time this book was released.
3 stars because i'm sure if i could eventually get half way, it would be an enjoyable read.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a pretty slow-moving book, but things wrapped up nicely. I really did not expect Maram and Amani to become friends/sisters, so that was a twist throughout the series that surprised and delighted me. I did think the ending was rather abrupt (the way Mathis was dealt with seemed rushed and too simple), but I enjoyed seeing the characters take control of their lives and get the things they wanted. Daud is a great writer and world-builder!

i really enjoyed reading this book, I really enjoyed the first book in the series. The characters were great and it had what I was looking for in the sequel. I really enjoy reading Ms. Daud's writing.

Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud was a bit of a let down to me. I really loved Mirage and was really looking forward to this conclusion. I have to say that I liked the book but I didn't love it. The story moved super slow. I feel like we got more descriptions on the clothes and places then we did of the actual plot. The writing is still beautiful but I found the plot to be lacking. Nothing was climatic. I feel like we got a book of beautifully written words.

Seeing as this is the second book to this series I won't say much. I enjoyed this book more than the first one and the characters made decisions I was a little shocked over. I won't lie by saying the main character was my favorite because she was not. BUT there was major growth in her. With that being said this is a short fantasy that packs a punch.

[Review will be posted on 9/23/20]

Words cannot express how excited I am to finally be back in this world!!! I adored Mirage and this finale to the duology was an emotional journey – for me as well as the characters!

“‘Our choices shape our destinies. You have a choice.'”

Court of Lions is more heavily focused on the characters and their journeys. The book picks up a few weeks after the end of Mirage and Amani, Maram, and Idris are all coping with what happened. I appreciate that so much time is dedicated to them and their development, as well as having both Maram and Amani POV chapters. This does mean that it takes longer to get to the action that you may expect, but the author’s writing is just as poetic and captivating and the pacing works.

“‘The difficulty is in knowing when you have waited long enough, and when just surviving becomes untenable.'”

Identity is a central theme to this duology. In the first book we see Amani struggle with the loss of her daan and cultural identity, literally forced to become someone else. In Court of Lions we see her really come into her own and gaining confidence. With the addition of the Maram perspective, we see her struggle with her Kushaila-Vathek heritage and her identity. She knows who she’s expected to be, but is that what she wants?

“We were one heart and one mind. We had been drawn inexorably together, against all odds, despite the threat that loomed over us from the very start.”

With the dual perspectives, there are two primary romances full of tender moments and heartfelt yearning. Both of the relationships are secret/forbidden, making the moments they share extra special to read.

While I was most invested in the characters, this installment effortlessly ties together the threads from the first book into a cohesive storyline. This is an excellently plotted duology as the first book really laid all the groundwork for this finale. As a person who loves the belief system aspects of world-building, I loved the lush descriptions of ceremonies, paintings, and Kushaila poetry as it brings the world to life on the page.

Overall, Mirage is a stunning and criminally underrated duology more people need in their lives. Daud’s writing is lush and poetic, transporting the reader into the Moroccan-inspired world she created. The pacing is a little on the slower side, but the story and its characters are captivating. Everything is woven together so well and builds to the action scenes. This is a duology where the stakes feel real and kept me on the edge of my seat to make sure my cinnamon rolls would be okay.

Representation: Moroccan-inspired world & characters, f/f romance, LGBTQIAP+
Content warnings: colonization, grief, mentions of abuse, off-page murder of a child, racism

eARC sent to me by Flatiron Books for my honest review. This has not affected my opinions in any way. Quotations are from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon final publication.

“All of us have suffered one loss of another. All of us live in the shadow of that. And those losses do not absolve us of the choices we make.”

Picking up where Mirage left off, The Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud has Amani continuing her fight for a better future. Taking place in an alternative world, Daud utilizes planets and moons for the setting of her story. In this culturally-diverse tale, Amani has to get Miram to trust her after she betrayed her in Mirage. To help save the world from the wrath of the Vathek empire, Amani must show Miram that she can be more than her father’s successor. She has the opportunity to make the world great and honor her mother’s memory. While Miram doesn’t want to be like her father, she feels stuck in the role she inhabits. It is up to Amani to show everyone another side of Miram, and she can do this by continuing to body double for Miram. Do Amani and Miram have what it takes to transform the world? I won’t say because this story is worth the read. This novel is a healthy blend of science fiction and fantasy that gives readers the ending that they have been waiting for. Daud does an excellent job of providing complex, culturally diverse characters that support her themes of resistance and court intrigue. We even get some LGBTQ diversity in this read as we learn more about the characters that we have come to love.

All in all, this was a great read. I absolutely loved the ending, and I was so happy that Amani and Idris got their happy ending and that Miram got her chance to transform the world and love someone of her own choosing. I love that Amani was reunited with her family, was given a prominent spot in Miram’s court, and had a chance to be herself again. Despite the way their friendship started, Amani and Miram have such an amazing relationship that allows them to lean on one another as they try to take down Miram’s father. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fantasies and court intrigue. It depicts the struggles with identity that teens can relate to, and the struggle Miram faces as she learns who she is helps draw you into the story. Daud did a great job with this novel, and her unique cultural elements makes it a fantasy that stands out among the rest.

Plot
After betraying Miram in Mirage, Amani must find a way to make it up to Miram and show her that she cares about her and only wants to help her be the ruler she knows she is meant to be. After Miram uses Amani to body double her for her marriage, and once more for her wedding night, Amani is put in a position with Miram that enables her to earn back Miram’s trust. Amani puts herself into Miram’s shoes once more and helps her win over the people that her father has trapped under his wrath. Switching back and forth between Miram and Amani, Amani works to show everyone that Miram is not the evil Vath that they believe her to be; once Amani creates these openings, she has Miram interact with them to show her that she is not doomed, and she has a chance to change her destiny. Meanwhile, Amani continues to talk with the resistance because she knows that without them, Miram cannot bring down her father. Working together, Amani, Idris, and Miram must work together to grow their forces and rid the world of the corrupt Vathek empire. With forbidden romance, corrupt politics, and court intrigue, Daud keeps readers on the edge of their seat as they watch the story unfold.

Writing & Setting
Daud pulls you into this sci-fi fantasy through her world-building and lush writing style. Daud uses the theme of resistance within her novel, and by giving Amani something to fight for, she gives teens a chance to see that there is nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe is right. Using a sci-fi setting throughout the novel, Daud explores issues like suppression, anti-colonialism, and redemption. Although Daud explores the forbidden romance trope throughout her book, it does not detract from the overall story; instead, the forbidden romance helps Amani fall into her role as Miram as she helps bring the Kushaila people to Miram’s side.

Characters
Miram is the half-blooded Vathek princess, and the heir to the throne. As she grows closer to Amani, she learns that she doesn’t have to be the cold-hearted heir that her father wants to be. Working with Amani, she slowly gathers Kushaila supporters in an attempt to undermine her father and change the world.
Amani is Miram’s body double, a supporter of the resistance, and Idris’ lover. Put in a difficult position after betraying Miram, she must prove that she is loyal to her “sister” and wants nothing more than to make her happy. After being forced to “marry” Idris, Amani is able to grow closer to Miram when she is repeatedly asked to take her place so that Miram doesn’t have to be around Idris. Using this to get back in Miram’s good graces, Amani helps Miram by trying to garner Kushaila support that can help Miram undermine her father. Initially, Miram doesn’t feel as if it’s possible, but by combining their forces, Amani helps show Miram that she is not doomed to the life her father expects of her.

Can I say that I am overjoyed at the ending of the Mirage duology. The world that Somaiya created was beautiful and a breath of fresh air. I was worried that my love of the first would hinder me going into the sequel, but it did not. In fact, I think I loved this a bit more. I was on the fence about Maram in Mirage, as I'm sure most people were, but I had such high hopes for her. Her character development did not let me down. She and Amani both blossomed in this story in ways that I did not imagine. They both found their foothold in a world determined to keep them underfoot and in their places.

The writing of the book itself was beautiful, but honestly I expected nothing less. I especially enjoyed reading Maram's perspective, which is something I felt was missing from the first book. I'll admit that I was wrong. I don't think I would have appreciated Maram as a character or all of her nuances as much if I had been given a look into her mind during Mirage. Somaiya, you're a genius. I'll admit it.

On a completely unrelated note, I was very pleased to see the sapphic romance, which I'd heard hints about. Their relationship progression was just *chef's kiss* and my bby deserved all the happiness.

So here's the thing. I almost gave this 4 stars and here's why: it felt a bit....easy. The journey of course was work and obviously they hit obstacles along the way, but in the end I think that I expected more push back. It had me thinking that something was lacking in this story, but after a few minutes, I changed my mind. Maybe the issue is that I'm just not used to getting pure happiness from a fantasy/sci-fi story that way it happened here. Maybe I'm so conditioned to expect the protagonists to get blow after devastating blow and THAT'S why I felt like something was mixing. Tragedy does not have to be a major part of a resolution and the fact that Somaiya Daud made it her business to say enough is enough....well I have to stan.

Such a great sequel! I absolutely loved book 1, Mirage, and had been anxiously anticipating its sequel. I felt like it was even better than book 1 and further developed the world and it’s characters so well! A series worth reading thag I would recommend to anyone.

I'm always hesitant when it comes to reviewing sequels because I never want to give anything away, especially in the case of Mirage. Mirage was a book I read and I loved, but I haven't really thought about much since finishing.

However, coming back into the world of Mirage with Court of Lions was just so much fun. The writing was just as breathtakingly beautiful as Mirage, if not more so, and I was immediately swept back into the world with just a few lines. Daud's writing has a poetic feel about it that makes reading such a fun experience. We got to experience entirely new parts of Andala as the story expanded far beyond the constraints of the first novel. Not only did the world expand, but the story did as well. I will say I found the pacing much slower this time around, but the emphasis on political intrigue and the forming of alliances was just fascinating.

The main reason why I find it so hard to review sequels is that there is so much I want to talk about, but I'm also so hesitant to reveal too much. I will just say that I loved following Amani, Maram, Idris, and the rest in this installment as much if not more than in the first novel. I also very much appreciated all the representation in Court of Lions as it is something that differentiates itself from most of the YA out there.

In conclusion I give Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud four out of five stars to being a fantastic sequel to one of my most enjoyed books of 2018. I highly recommend everyone go pick up a copy of Mirage immediately so they can experience the enchanting writing and world.

Yesyesyesyes. Yessss.

You know that feeling when a book gives you exactly what you hoped for? I’d almost forgotten what that felt like. But Court of Lions, the follow-up to Somiya Daud’s debut Mirage, reminded me what it feels like to watch an author hit a sequel out of the park.

Book Cover: Mirage by Somiya Daud
I really enjoyed Mirage, which was a short little hit of YA catnip. Think Padme Amidala meets Moroccan history: Amani is stolen from life on her family’s farm and forced to be the body double to the imperial princess Maram. Of course, there’s a handsome boy and an ill-defined rebellion and lots of gorgeous clothes. Mostly, though, Mirage is about Amani’s devastating loss of home and culture.

My original review brings up a couple things I wasn’t wild about, though. Court of Lions is like an answer to each of them.

In Mirage, the Moroccan-inspired sci-fi setting was fresh and interesting, but a little thin and underbuilt. I was hoping that Court of Lions would develop the world a little more. And it did! The book is still disinterested in the technological aspect of the setting, but that suits me just fine. It isn’t relevant. Instead, Court of Lions focuses on deepening the various cultures and widening our view of the multi-planet world.

Most of all, the sequel drills down into the best thing about Mirage: both books are relentlessly character-driven. There’s more romance, and it’s pretty good romance at that– lots of slow-burn yearning from Amani and her man, contrasted with Maram’s sudden tumble into an affair with

But both romances take a backseat to the most important relationship in the book: Maram and Amani’s friendship and partnership. YES– more friendship-focused YA! The girls’ relationship is complicated and messy, making their growing trust and sisterhood deeply rewarding.

I love good dialogue, and Daud focuses most of the book on high-stakes, dynamic conversations. I was particularly struck by some scenes near the middle of the book in which characters discuss colonialism in very frank terms. Daud doesn’t bury any of the analysis of imperialism in metaphor– her characters are well aware of their political reality and make distinctions between individual actions and systemic issues. They don’t waste time discovering or decrying that “empire is bad;” they go straight to the difficult and messy matter of solutions.

“Everyone imagines that a poor villager has no understanding of the operations of cruelty,” Amani says. “That because she is removed from the center of power, she does not experience the way it is used.”

The book has a lot to say about oppression and colonialism, but I think this is her biggest point. The oppressed people in this story are not waiting for someone more worldly to explain their situation to them. They understand the workings of empire– it’s their daily life. The etiquette of court life is strange to Amani, but that doesn’t mean she’s ignorant of the workings of power or unable to navigate palace intrigue.

In a perfect world, Mirage and Court of Lions would be one single volume. They’re fairly short, and I think the story would combine well into one epic book. I can’t really begrudge the two separate books, though. Splitting this story doesn’t work from a storytelling perspective, but I assume there are Publishing Business Reasons that it’s a duology instead of one book. If that choice made it possible for an OwnVoices debut to get her foot in the door or made Mirage an easier sell, I’m not going to complain.

Recommended OwnVoices and/or diverse reviews:

Fadwa at Word Wonders has been a huge champion for Mirage and Court of Lions. Definitely check out her beautiful review.

I received an advance review copy of this title from the publisher at no cost. No money changed hands for this review and all opinions are my own.

*chef's kiss*
A great ending to an intriguing story.
Dare I say better than the first book? I think that this could be read on it's own, it's such a well contained story alone, and I think everything is well enough explained to make it easy to read for everyone. It's not as dark or as violent as the first book, and there's a lot more intrigue.

Tayreet has great strength and can take on a bird shape. I like the name Tayreet. Tala is her only real friend . I liked the characters and dialogue.

Not enjoyable, found it really boring and predictable. Didnt enjoy the romance either and found it unnecessary