I loved this book! It was just as good as the first book (if not better)!

I love the author's writing, and I love the Moroccan influences. I have been trying to read more books by POC, and this was a GREAT one!

Although I am not a fan of poetry, anyone that likes poetry (or even just respects it as an artform) will appreciate the role that poetry plays in this story.

The only issue I have is that there isn't more to this story, but I believe this is only a duology. I would love to see what happens with the characters after this book ends!

Thank you to the publishers for giving me a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you for giving me a copy to give away!

I am so devastated right now. I went into this book excited to read the conclusion to this series only to be bored out of my mind. I was loving the new POV of Maram and learning more about their world and the dangers that both girls was facing. But around 150 pages the story just felt stagnant and it also felt like it lost its luster and spark.

This one for the characters I loved how the extra POV was added but it just felt off. I am not sure how to really explain it. But pacing and placement of this extra POV just made the story feel choppy. The romance was pretty good but I wished that Maram's would have been done better. It felt like a missed opportunity.

The twist at the end was pretty great but felt lost in the overall ending. But it felt like it took me a year to get there. The story overall was so bogged down by extra people that I don't remember and slow story telling in a choppy format.

Overall, to me it felt like the author lost the love of the story and just didn't know what to do.

This book is best described as “Poetry and politics and passion,” and I loved every moment of it.

Picking up soon after the end of Mirage, Court of Lions follows Amani, body double to Princess Maram, as she marries Idris in Maram’s place and a planet-wide tour to celebrate that marriage takes place. Amani had already helped the rebels once, but after foiling an attempt to assassinate Maram and being found out, she’s been afraid to create waves, especially as her parents and brothers are being watched by the Vathik. But as she rebuilds her friendship with Maram after the perceived betrayal, Amani helps Maram and the rebels see that she’s the best choice for the future of Andaala and makes moves to ensure Maram’s ascension to the throne.

Daud has created an incredible story and world full of political intrigue and nuanced interpersonal relationships. There is fear and strife as the Vathik subjugate the Andaalans and Amani’s family is used as leverage to keep her compliant, but there’s also love and joy in Idris, Aghraas, and the relationships built over the course of the book.

I love how the tension of the politics and war is balanced with romance and friendship, and I love how the story is paced. I feel like Court of Lions shows so much growth as a storyteller since Mirage and I truly loved every moment of this book. I highly recommend picking this series up if you enjoy political SFF, complicated friendships, and nuanced characters.

A fantasy set in a world of rebellion and distrust, Amani is isolated as punishment for her rebel activity. Torn from the boy she loves, having angered her princess, Amani is unsure if she’ll survive another day. She’s surprised when the princess Maram asks her to stand in as proctor during her wedding ceremony to Amani’s love, Idris. This sets in motion a chain of events that gives Amani hope that she may have a future, her rebels could take back their planet, and she could be joined with the boy she loves. Court of Lions is the sequel to Mirage an epic fantasy that has hints of Middle Eastern flavor that colors this world in a vibrant brocade of texture and life.

After Amani’s political schemes almost cause her end in Mirage, we see a more subtle Amani in Court of Lions. When standing in as Maram, Amani developed relationships for her princess that Maram did not have the skills to do herself. At the same time she skillfully gave Maram courage to lead with strength and empathy, something her people hadn’t seen since being almost demolished by the conquering Vath. I liked the strength of these two characters. These were women who held power with empathy, not with threat. It was an interesting dichotomy as they were also preparing to go to war.

Once again, I felt the love story between Amani and Idris was underwhelming. She was such an interesting character and Idris? He was just a nice guy. More interestingly, In Court of Lions, Maram is given her own love interest in the mysterious Aghraas ( I hope I spelled that correctly!). Aghraas, another strong woman, this time in warrior form, brought out a softer side of the kind of haughty princess. I thought their relationship more interesting than Amani and Idris’ and looked forward to their scenes because they gave Maram the depth her character needed to finally shine.

Even though Court of Lions had some great characters, this world they lived in was even more fascinating. You can tell by the cover of this novel, but the author definitely gave this story an Arabian Nights flare with bejeweled clothing, bright colors, and the transport on horseback. I loved it. The contrast between a conquering people who were technologically advanced in spaceships and a people who got around via horseback was kind of cool. I tried not to get caught up in a thought of ‘could this really happen’ because that would’ve spoiled the mood. Instead I let the tea steep, laid back on my silken pillows and read this fun novel and, well, enjoyed the ride. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

I read Mirage way back in 2018. It had been more than two years since I was waiting for the sequel, and I can say it didn't disappoint. This story of rebellion and colonialism felt even more interesting and refreshing.

Court of Lions begins a few weeks after the end of the previous book, Mirage. The rift and distance between Amani and Maram is still fresh. Amani has been kept in isolation after her rebel connections were revealed. Then when it was time for Maram’s wedding to Idris, Amani was brought back to her duties as Maram’s body double. But Amani also starts plotting to keep Maram on the throne as she believed Maram was the rightful ruler of Andala. On the other hand, Maram tries to fight her own fears of becoming queen and getting married while she is forming a relationship with her mysterious new falconer (uhmm this I didn’t expect 😉).

I was back to loving Maram and Amani from the beginning itself. In the first book, we only had single POV of Amani. But in this book we got a couple of Maram’s POV chapters too. And I think this addition really helped us to understand the different focus of two characters. One is navigating the ramifications of colonial occupation while the other is dealing with the questions of legacy and survival.

While Mirage was mainly character oriented, Court of Lions was both character driven and action oriented. The balance between high stakes and character arcs really made me more invested in the story. The characters shows bravery and fierceness but at the same time they are fighting for their identity and are yearning for love.

I had no idea before starting this book that Maram is queer. Seeing her struggling with her identity, erasing pieces of herself while coming to terms with her identity, broke my heart. But that sapphic romance between Maram and Aghraas was so amazing and had me grinning most of the time 🙂 It was also amazing to see how the relationship of Amani and Idris evolved and I loved every single scene of theirs.

But the friendship that Amani and Maram shared was definitely my favourite. Their relationship evolved more than anything. The redeeming arc of Maram has been executed wonderfully and the way she let her guards down to accept Amani was great to see. I will always cherish this female friendship and the women bond.

Somaiya Daud’s words and prose is amazing and she has highlighted various relationships, tensions and triumphs beautifully. There are new characters, war, strong bonds, demons, secrets and fights, but everything has been tied beautifully. The political intrigue in this book is definitely strong.

The main theme is eradicating colonial rule from an invading species who are trying to demolish the inhabitants of a planet. And I am glad Daud doesn’t gloss over this tough and important subject. I loved how in the end everything was wrapped up nicely.

I think this series is criminally under hyped and deserves so much love and attention. If you are one of those who are still to start this series, then I would definitely recommend to start this sooner than later 😀

Content Warnings: violence, death, physical abuse, grief, themes of colonialism

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Court of Lions was a stunning sequel to Mirage that concluded the duology perfectly. I loved how much more Moroccan culture was incorporated into it. More delicious food descriptions (this book made me crave sfenj so badly), clothes, language references, henna, haggling in the souk, small cultural details that made my heart swell with joy and even Moroccan marriage traditions (including the all important wardrobe changes!) which made me wish someone would invite me to a Moroccan wedding (although that’s impossible with the current situation). And the cover of the book is so gorgeous! I never thought I’d see a book cover with two Moroccan girls resplendent in qaftans and selhams!

This book had a much slower pace than the first, with more of an emphasis on politics and forging alliances and I thought it worked really well and seemed realistic. All the choices the characters made sense and came together at the end nicely.

HOPE was given to a person who might reshape the WORLD (1)

Amani shone through in this book even more than she did in the first. She was brave, smart and versatile in a way Maram, for all her strengths, was not. I was already impressed with her growth in Mirage but in this book she grew even more. Although she hadn’t been raised to navigate courts she was smart, she knew how to influence people and understood the importance of symbolism. I admired the way Amani held to her hope of a better world and never, ever stopped fighting for it. I also loved how her relationship with Idris developed and how they dealt with the bumps on the road.

Maram also had her time to shine, quite literally, because she gets her own 3rd person POV chapters! Although they were few and far between they gave so much insight into her and her character development in this book was top-tier. I loved her journey of accepting and loving her Kushaila heritage and working through her father’s conditioning. Seeing the grief, fear and anguish beneath her icy exterior, seeing the soft parts of her that were always there but pushed down by the Vath, seeing her take the time to explore herself and come into her own was so emotive and touching. If Mirage was where Amani found her strength and resilience to act, Court of Lions was the same for Maram.

In Kushaila there were degrees of love_



I loved her romance with Aghraas. The way they saw and accepted each other immediately and the slow burn of their relationship was exquisitely done. For someone who was taught that emotions were weakness and was used to constantly being on the defensive it was amazing to see Maram examine her emotions and lower her defenses completely around someone. Daud really does write romance well!

Amani and Maram’s friendship was so well fleshed out. The way they slowly regained each others’ trust and rebuilt a strong, sisterly relationship based on trust was beautiful to behold. Furthermore, the side characters and the complex web of relationships between them, Amani and Maram were also extremely well fleshed out and engrossing. And I loved how many strong, brave women were introduced into the story!

The Vath who governed us were concerned with policing and surveillance, not growth and prosperity

Court of Lions dealt with rebellion, liberation and the trials that come with them. How do you dismantle an imperial structure built to break you when it has become so interwoven with society? How do you convince people that rebellion is worth the risk? It also explored trauma and how the characters each dealt differently with their own.

I loved how much more world building we got in this sequel. We get to explore so many more places in Andala through the characters eyes as well as learning more about the world’s history and lore. The emphasis on the different tribes and their cultures was lovely to see especially as it reflected the diversity among the Amazigh tribes in the real world. It saddened me how the Vath dismissed them as all the same and sought to erase their cultures but unfortunately that also reflects our world too. However, I wish we got to see more of the universe the book is set in and understand Andala and the Vath’s position in it. There are multiple references to a galactic law but we never know who enforces it and why it matters so much.

We never used to give a thought To separation, and now, for us To be together again Is beyond our dreams...

All in all, Court of Lions was a brilliant conclusion and I’d highly recommend this duology to everyone as I love it with all my half Moroccan heart!

Concluding the Mirage duology, Court of Lions emphasizes court intrigue, lavish outfits, and lush settings- all inspired by Morroccan history, mythology, and culture. We continue to follow Amani (the common body double of the princess) and Maram (princess and heir to the planet). Thematically this deals with colonization and the complications of a biracial identity. It does a good job of tying up loose ends and we get love stories including one that is f/f, though they are decidedly not steamy with everything being implied. This is science-fiction, but the sci-fi elements are very light and it definitely reads more like a fantasy.

I liked but didn't love this. The pacing felt fairly slow, even when the tension should have been ramping up. We get a lot of time spent on descriptions of places and clothing, which I don't mind, but sometimes it got to be too much especially when it was getting in the way of significant action. The climax of the book should have felt exciting and it didn't. This especially stands out in a YA book. The plot was pretty predictable as well. On the other hand, I found the world to be richly described, loved the relationships that are explored here, and appreciated how the author wove her Morroccan heritage into the book. I found Mirage to be a very strong debut and while this had definite high points, it didn't quite match my expectations. That said, if you liked the first book it's probably worth finishing out the story. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

~>Sisterhood<~
One of the things I loved most about Mirage was the build up of Amani and Maram's friendship. It was so interesting to see how that one relationship was changing Maram for the better until Amani's betrayal. In Court of Lions, they slowly repair their relationship and this time the bond that forms between them is unbreakable. It is Amani's unwavering belief in Maram that helps her take the steps necessary to stage a rebellion against her father. 

~>Maram's POV<~
Getting to read a little bit from Maram's perspective was a welcome surprise in Court of Lions. I really missed not getting to know her better in Mirage, so this was a real treat. While the story is still predominantly told in Amani's voice, even the brief glimpse into Maram's internal struggle with her identity, desires, and destiny was incredibly illuminating. I finally feel like I understand her character and motivations better, and found myself sympathizing with her. 

~>Forbidden Romance<~
Things between Amani and Idris are further complicated by his marriage to Maram. It's a bittersweet torture to be near the one you love but not be with them. Add in pretending to be their wife and that's a whole new level of torment. Daud fills their scenes with intense yearning and desire that just left me crying for this ship. In a surprise twist, Maram gets her own forbidden love interest that rounds out her story arc. 

~>Female Empowerment<~
This duology is chock full of fierce females blazing a path to a better world. I love how they took center stage in this duology and were celebrated for their strength and ambition. From Amani and Maram's respective mothers to important political allies and leaders of a rebel army, Daud didn't hold back to placing women at the heart of this story. 

~>Overall feeling upon finishing the book<~
I'm quite satisfied with the ending. Daud neatly wraps up the main plot as well as the individual character arcs. The Mirage duology is a powerful exploration of colonization, oppression, sisterhood, fighting for a better world, and embracing your true self.

Court of Lions takes up not long after Mirage, when Amani’s tense situation with the Vathek crown is at its height. She is devastated by the prospect of being conduit to Maram’s marriage to Idris, whom she loves in spite of herself. The closeness she had carefully nurtured with Maram has all but shattered, and she has no way to prove her innocence to her. On top of it all, the Vathek is keeping her family hostage, dangling them by a thread to make sure she keeps lenient. Yet the fateful signs are on her side and the fire inside her still burns, her steel conviction and sharp eye giving her the edge she needs to survive.

There is much to love about this stunning conclusion to the duology. When I say I wished I could bottle the feeling of wonder but also, strangely, comfort and hope, this book gave me, I mean it. The language is lyrical as ever, glowing bright with lavish descriptions of clothes, places and people amidst the tragic undertones of the story, like how the tale of Houwa and her shadow mirrors Amani and Maram’s arrangement.

As a translator, the poetry translation aspect of Mirage wasn’t lost on me, though I somehow left it out of my review. That aspect of the plot continues in Court of Lions, Amani can’t help but see poetry everywhere. She needs to go through a healing process before finding comfort in poetry again, though, and what better way to do that but with a poetry competition? I really enjoyed the inclusion of poetry competitions and how they relate to politics as a tool to rise in the ranks of society. The threads of galactic politics seemed to tighten. With a revolution brewing against the Vathek, against Maram, more seemed to be at stake with Amani left to walk the line between two impossible choices.

I have been highly anticipating this book since I read Mirage, the first book back in 2018. Maram was still a bitch at the beginning of the book especially since she makes Amani act as her proxy to her marriage to Idris, the prince that Amani is in love with. Amani ends up pretending to be Maram for the first two months or so of Maram and Idris' marriage all the while fighting her feelings while Maram is fighting her feelings for her female royal falconer on her mother's estate. All this fighting of feelings is happening while both Maram and Amani are trying to place Maram on the throne sooner rather than later. Maram is very angry that she was forced into marriage with a man.

A good portion of this book built up to Mathis being taken off the throne and ultimately his death is how it is decided that he will be removed. The thing is though that when we get to his death it really doesn't take that long to accomplish. Also, Nadine is killed by a shoot through the head on Maram's orders and I couldn't be happier for her death. I love how everybody got to be happy at the end and I didn't see that twist with Amani's mother coming at the end.

I want to talk about the cover for a minute. The covers for this duology are gorgeous especially the new one for Mirage. It matches the cover for Court of Lions so well.

So I really recommend adding this duology to your TBR list if you love intrigue, adventure, and forbidden romance.

If you want to know what I thought about Mirage then check out my review on Goodreads by clicking HERE! 

Oh my goodness this was a wild ride. I love the dynamic between Amani and Maram. Amani is forced into being Maram's body double and if she gets caught her family will be the price she'll pay. 

Amani is such a strong character given her circumstances. Maram is always seen as cold but it's not in Amani's nature to be that way so by pretending to be her she starts to build relationships Maram never would have made because of her personality. Amani never forgets who she is even in the  moments she fully embraces the coldness of Maram to get what she needs. 

Maram is afraid of any potential threat to her life and starts to give control over to Amani more and more. I think that in her isolation she realizes that being the cold person she portrays to everyone is not going to get her what she needs. She starts to really lean on Amani and I think in the end they both learn from each other. Maram sees that you can be a good ruler and still be mindful of the feelings of those around you and within your people. 

This is a story about friendship and love. Amani finds love with Idris who is so sweet and wants everything for Amani even if he doesn't understand that she'd take death over slavery. Amani and Maram build a friendship close to sisters by the end of this final installment and I really enjoyed their journey.

This has been my most highly anticipated book ever since I read Mirage back in 2018! So two years later, I still remember that book, which goes to show how amazing this author is. Somaiya Daud created a world that was memorable, characters who captured my heart, and an adventure I wished I could witness on the big screen. The sequel just continued that magic, and I hope this duology will eventually be optioned for a movie. It has so much potential and positive themes, and I wish more books exhibited such strength and perseverance. While there is a romance in the book, which made my heart melt and gave me tingles, the overarching storyline was about two very strong women. Almost every character who had a major impact on the story was female, and that was an absolute delight.

As the double of Princess Maram, Amani continues to struggle for her own freedom and that of her family. Upon discovering that Amani has been working with the rebels, Maram feels betrayed and with her impending wedding to a man she doesn't love, she feels trapped and unsure of who to trust. Amani is also faced with the heartwrenching truth that Idris will be be marrying Maram, meaning that her torment may never end - being close to the man she loves yet never truly being with him. As Idris and Amani fight for their relationship, in spite of the odds, Maram does the same in a way that is sure to sent shock throughout the kingdom if she is discovered. Soon the rebellion is gaining strength, and Amani and Maram must decide what they want their futures to look like. Are they willing to play a part, or will they sacrifice all to find happiness for themselves and their people?

I read through this book so fast, I'm surprised I got any sleep last night! I thought it would be difficult for this book to meet expectations, since those expectations had been building for two years. However, Somaiya Daud produced a book that captured my attention just as the first did, and now I want to share this series with my family and friends. I loved how she developed the characters of Amani and Maram, although I would have definitely liked more development with Idris as well. He was a strong character, and so I had a hard time accepting his reactions mid-way through the book, when he learns of Amani's connection with the rebellion. I think more time spent on Idris would have been beneficial, similar to how we got more insight into Maram's character with chapters from her point-of-view. It would have rounded out the triad of main characters a bit better. However, that being said, it was still very enjoyable, and I loved the direction the author took with Maram's character. She showed so much strength on the outside, and we got to see her more vulnerable, which is when we meet her love interest. You'll never guess who it is, and my heart melted as their relationship grew.

Somaiya Daud is surely an author to watch, and I need more from her soon! She is most assuredly on my auto-buy list going forward.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

Somaiya Daud’s first novel, Mirage, mixed science fiction and fantasy with a dash of real-life Moroccan culture to create a story that felt like a breath of fresh air in the world of YA fantasy. Its sequel, Court of Lions takes things to the next level, raising the stakes to encompass the future of an entire people.

In Mirage, Amani found herself a prisoner of the seemingly cruel Vath princess Maram, forced to serve as an unwilling body double for the heir of the invading army that conquered her planet, Andala. Yet, as she spends more time with the princess, who has roots among her people and the potential to become a good queen, Amani spearheads a rebellion with the potential to change all their lives.

Court of Lions picks up shortly after the events of Mirage. Maram has discovered Amani’s connection to the rebels and no longer trusts her. Things seem bleaker than ever before. But are they? Amani is still desperate to fight for her people, and Maram isn’t entirely closed off to the possibility of change. Nothing is impossible. (More at the full link: https://culturess.com/2020/08/04/court-of-lions-review-somaiya-daud/)

I fell in love with the way Somaiya Daud weaves words to tell a beautiful story that highlights various relationships, the tribulations, turmoil and triumphs. Mirage left me wanting and in anticipation of its sequel and I'm thrilled to announce the long wait was worth every single second and Court of Lions is that book, a wonderful end to a beautiful story.

I will start by saying if you've not read Mirage, please don't go any further as this review is for its sequel, even though it doesn't contain spoilers, it may still give insight into Mirage.

Once I started reading I was captivated, I wondered and was curious about the fate of Amani, how she would escape her predicament and how she would turn Maram around and earn her trust. I wasn't disappointed, this story is a story full of wonderful stories, love, poetry, hope and faith.

In the wonderful tale that ends the Mirage duology, we are introduced to new characters, unforgettable bonds, slaying of demons, the outcomes of war and revealing of secrets that perfectly ties all questions the stories bring forth. We get to not only follow the story from the point of view of, the farmer's daughter, turned body double of the heir to the kingdom, Amani. But also follow Maram's thoughts, her life and perspectives as she is the heir to the kingdom and her story is equally as important and because of this, we get to know her truly.

The story stays true to its political course, eradicating colonial rule from an invading species set to demolish and make the rightful inhabitants of a planet extinct. This, of course, means what the characters have to accomplish wasn't going to be an easy feat and the way Somaiya shows us this in her writing is amazing, because she doesn't gloss over it.

I shed tears because of our main protagonists, Amani & Maram, their relationship in this books evolved more than anything, the growth, the trust, the whole revamp of Maram, when she began to let her guards down. This is the kind of redeeming arc I have been craving in books, one that turns you over so completely, you won't second guess the believability of the character's change of heart as you get to know and understand the antagonist of any book.

The emotions in this book are written so well, you feel every single hardship and joy the characters go through. I love romance and the romantic interests of Maram and Amani are so beautiful, it makes my heartthrob with happiness and glee, I loved every single scene Amani and Idris had together, the way their relationship evolved and his growth. Nothing was as pure as Maram and Aghraas relationship and how it was portrayed, plus I am certain of Aghraas origin, because of the conversation she had with Amani and the opening chapter of the story.

The character development and arcs really came through in Court of Lions and I will always treasure the female friendships and bonds between women in this book.

A good series conclusion, but I think ultimately, not for me. The science-fiction/fantasy elements were a little too "light" for me without the worldbuilding depth I thought I would be getting; I did not mind this is the first book, but I believe that a sequel--especially the last of a series--should build upon these blocks to craft a real, tangible world. The plot is fairly slow, but those are the sort of books I enjoy, but worth mentioning in this review. However, I chose to rate this three stars because of the writing, characters, and (for the most part) a cohesive, well-done storyline. The dual POV was one of my favorite parts; it made both the narrative protagonists shine. I realize this sounds a little negative but I am genuinely looking forward to seeing what the author does next with their talent and skill. Overall, I think I preferred the first in the series, but fans should still look forward to this mostly satisfying conclusion.

What I liked about Court of Lions:
-I enjoyed learning more about Maram. Even thought Amani is her body-double, I feel like we didn't get to see much of her in the first book. In this book Maram relies on Amani to cover for her when she is put into situations that she feels uncomfortable in. Their trust in each other grows into a sisterly bond that strengthens through their joint goal of seeing Maram on the throne and overthrowing the Vath's control of their planet.

What I disliked about Court of Lions:
- I felt that many parts were rushed. There a nice buildup to the climax, but when we got there I felt that too many things fell conveniently into place and was over too quickly. I think this book could have been longer or another book added to the series to spread the events out more.

Who would I recommend Court of Lions:
-Strong sister relationships
-Very light sci-fi/fantasy


Overall Thoughts:
Overall, I really I like this conclusion to Mirage. There were so many elements that I liked: the friendships, the romantic relationships, and the writing style. However, I was disappointed in the rushed feeling of the ending. I am excited to try more of Somaiya's work in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so happy that I was approved to get an arc of this book. I had really fallen in love with the first book "Mirage" and this sequel did not disappoint. I had been a real slump the past few months were I had practically given up on doing anything. Reading this book though had me feeling everything. The authors storytelling is beautifully written with the poetry, the fashion, the friendships, and just the entire world building. I really enjoyed how in the last few chapters we get a few surprises in the end that had me grinning like a crazy person.I'm sad that this is the last book but I am really happy with how the story wraps up with the characters. Amani and Maram have become my favorite characters and I'm going to miss them. I can not wait for this to be out in the world for everyone to read. I'm definitely going to buy a physical copy when it does come out. It

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Court of Lions

Author: Somaiya Daud

Book Series: Mirage Book 2

Diversity: Moroccan based characters

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: kidnapping, switching places tales, Moroccan characters

Publication Date: August 6, 2020

Publisher: Hodder

Pages: 336

Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, some sexual content, violence, slight gore)

Synopsis: After being swept up into the brutal Vathek court, Amani, the ordinary girl forced to serve as the half-Vathek princess's body double, has been forced into complete isolation. The cruel but complex princess, Maram, with whom Amani had cultivated a tenuous friendship, discovered Amani's connection to the rebellion and has forced her into silence, and if Amani crosses Maram once more, her identity - and her betrayal - will be revealed to everyone in the court.

Amani is desperate to continue helping the rebellion, to fight for her people's freedom. But she must make a devastating decision: will she step aside, and watch her people suffer, or continue to aid them, and put herself and her family in mortal danger? And whatever she chooses, can she bear to remain separated, forever, from Maram's fiancé, Idris?

Review: Overall, I thought the series greatly improved from the first series. I loved the whole series and I love how much more developed the characters became in this book, especially Maram. I loved the duel POV and loved Maram’s scenes the best in the book. The world building continued to be grand and I loved the plot of this book.

However, the book is incredibly slow and the book does tend to slow down even more at random times, especially during Amani and Idris’ scenes.

Verdict: It’s a great duology! Definitely one that’s unique and will be rememberable.

This was everything that I enjoy in the conclusion to a duology. The romance and political intrigue were amazing. I really enjoy Daud's writing because it is so immersive and descriptive. This was definitely a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Somaiya Daud for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Daud twice, and she is an absolute joy! Her ideas are brilliant and her ability to write a passionate tale is astounding.

Court of Lions is the second and final installment in the Mirage duology. This conclusion has everything fans of the first book seek: “Poetry and politics and passion.” Perfect!

This book is full of Middle-eastern culture, mostly Moroccan, immersing the author’s own heritage into the pages of this brilliant work. I love the world she has built through her culture, as well as the fact that this novel takes place in space–there’s droids, drop-ships, and a good old Galactic Senate. What a wonderful combination of ideas to form a most beautiful tale!

While the first book felt more heart-pounding in the budding romance between Amani and Idris, this book starts quickly with Maram asking Amani to step in her place for her marriage and bridal night. Of course Amani struggles with this. Her and Idris agreed to put their passions aside, so this request sure isn’t easy. And Maram seems to have some deeper reason to not step in with Idris…

Amani and Idris find their passions once again kindled, staying away from each other an impossible task, while Maram explores romantics of her own.

Amani plays a political double agent once more. She sees just how great a Queen Maram can be, but that means gaining the rebels to the side of someone they may have their qualms about. Amani finds challenges not only among the courtly people, but from Nadine as well. Nadine has helped guide Maram her whole life, but the woman has ulterior motives as she tries to secure the throne for herself–along with her interrogation droids… And let’s not forget Maram’s tyrannical father.

This is exactly the conclusion this duology should have. It’s perfectly satisfying in every way. The only problem: there isn’t more. Will Miss Daud be doing a new series? I sure hope so! She is certainly an author on my “auto-buy” list.
🙂