**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley for a blog tour with Caffeine Book Tours in exchange for an honest review**

A wonderfully crafted and emotional finale – this duology has come along and captured my heart.

Court of Lions picks up mere weeks from where Mirage left off. Upon being discovered of sympathising and having connections to the rebels, Amani has fallen out of favour with the princess and is in a way back to square one – isolated from the world until she is required for her role. Stepping out of line would put her family’s lives at stake, would put her own life at stake. However, Amani’s belief in Maram’s potential to become the queen Andala needs holds strong, and she is determined to do what is necessary to achieve her hopes and aspirations for the planet. Despite the danger it poses to her family and despite the sacrifices she has to make when it comes to her own feelings and heart.

A standout difference between this book and its predecessor it that there was a distinctive plot. I absolutely loved Mirage but the body double plot point, though key to the story, initially felt quite loose to me and a lot of what was happening felt as though it was there to introduce the world and set the overall scene for the reader. In Court of Lions Amani’s ambitions really channel the storyline.

Having spent much time in Maram’s shoes Amani really starts to come into her own in this sequel, projecting her new level of confidence into mending her relationship with the princess and precariously amassing support for her from the Makhzen.

I was really excited to see that we finally had some chapters from Maram’s perspective, whose character has intrigued me from the minute she was introduced. Her harsh exterior is scratched away to reveal an all too human layer of vulnerability.

Identity is a significant theme in these books and Daud skilfully touches on Maram’s internal conflict with her mixed Kushaila-Vath heritage as well as her sexuality, just as she did with Amani’s daan and Kushaila heritage. It was wonderful experiencing both of their character arcs side by side. Their supportive and sisterly relationship is the heart of this duology and Daud has crafted it beautifully.

As with Mirage, action heavy scenes are pretty sparse and the sci-fi elements were again more of an accessory to the setting. The political intrigue however, took a step up adding a compelling layer of tension to the narrative and I absolutely loved it.

Though without a doubt the strongest aspect of the story was once again the world-building. Following a similar pacing to the first book, Daud’s lyrical prose transports us right back into her Moroccan inspired world. Through both Amani and Maram we travel to new corners of Andala and discover more of its history and folklore. I couldn’t get enough of Daud’s lush descriptions when it came to the settings and ceremonies, the food and clothing.

Then there’s the romance. Akin to the snippets of poetry sprinkled throughout the duology, both of the primary romantic relationships in the book were full of heartfelt yearning and angst.

Amani and Idris’ relationship is one of very few ‘insta-lovey’ relationships that I have got fully invested in. I enjoyed reading their interactions throughout and the ounce of familiarity and support they were able to give each other in their situations was really wholesome. I guess the secret/forbidden aspect of their relationship also gave it a bit of an edge, and let me just say the way certain events in this book added to the yearning just ahhhhhhhfsjgsk

The relationship that blossoms between Maram and her love interest was also quite sweet. Though with Maram’s chapters being so few and far between this was again shown only through snippets – I wanted more!!

This duology is criminally underrated and under loved, I urge you to pick up Mirage if you have yet to! I look forward to checking out what Somaiya Daud writes next.
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful second book in the series. I loved seeing both Amani and Maram come into their own, and both find happiness in spite of what was expected of them.

Let’s start with Maram: I liked what was done with her this time around, particularly that she’s queer. Her relationship with Aghraas was one of the best parts of this book. I didn’t always think much of Maram, dismissing her as another spoiled princess at times, but it was cool to see her have these tender moments. And I also liked seeing her grappling with her mixed heritage, and trying to figure out if she’s the right person for the role of ruler…the internal growth on her part was splendid, as was the development of her relationship with Amani, given it originally started off in a horrible place.

And Amani and Idris’ arc started off with a bit more “will-they-won’t-they” angst for my taste this time, but I was won over by them as a couple as the story went on.

I enjoyed this book overall, and look forward to what Somaiya Daud releases next. If you’re looking for a rich, immersive Moroccan inspired fantasy, I recommend this series highly.

It's honestly impossible to give this book a bad review. After reading and LOVING Mirage, I was a little skeptical as to how this book would hold up against my ~very~ high expectations. Nevertheless, there were some bumps in the road, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! Overall, this duology is an exquisitely written YA fantasy, that is a must-read for those who love female-led novels(a.k.a. everyone!!). Although I had some issues with this novel, I also have a million wonderful things to say about it. I would recommend this to the ages of 16-25. View my full review on my blog at : https://readingonastar.wordpress.com/

Arc provided by NetGalley. All reviews are my own.

While I really enjoyed this sequel and how it all ended, I will say that it definitely suffered from the “middle book syndrome”. All the characters developed and it was fun, but some scenes were VERY dragged out while others happened so fast and had me reading the passages again to make sure I understood it. The beginning was quite slow but it did pick up and ended up being fairly fast paced. I liked the dual POV and hope we can get that again. It was nice being inside some one else’s mind besides Amani. Honestly, I don’t really have much to say about it otherwise.

This is the rousing and satisfying sequel to Mirage, the end of a beautiful science fiction duology. Mirage set a high bar for its successor to meet, and I was not disappointed.

The Court of Lions builds on the found sisterhood between princess and body double, and gives more insight into Princess Maram's mindset as the product of both the conqueror and the conquered. In addition, she finds her own love story (and it's queer!). Body double Amani continues to be the iron-willed idealist with the perfect mindset and position to bring together the necessary disparate parties that could finally oust the imperialist, occupying Vath forces sucking the planet dry.

What most struck me about this story was all the facets of love it explores: duty, loyalty, friendship, family, the family we make for ourselves, and of course, romance. The world-building was also vivid and transporting. What a beautiful finale-- I recommend the series unreservedly.

This book is the sequel to Mirage which I finally read earlier this month and enjoyed. Court of Lions takes place where Mirage left off with Maram and Idris' wedding soon arriving. Maram is disinterested and puts Amani in her place for the ceremony and even asks if she'll take place in the marriage bed. Idris knows Amani well so he instantly recognizes when she's attempting to double as his wife even if Maram's own father does not.

Amani is determined to remove toxic people like Nadine and her spies out of Maram's life and build an army of support around her in hopes of a new world order. We get to see a bit of Maram's perspective inserted into each section but I still wasn't sold on her. I understand she was a vulnerable young woman with insecurities about her mixed heritage but I missed the fiery woman from Mirage. This one bore almost no resemblance to the intimidating princess and every time she did Amani commented on how bad it was that the old Maram was showing.

I also founding the pacing to be slightly off at times as pages upon pages could describe their surroundings and then key plot points would get little cover. And at some points the story moved incredibly fast while other points like in the middle it seemed to drag on.

If you're a fan of the romance between Idris and Amani you will be enjoy those parts as it continues in this story as they are forced into each other's proximity during the honeymoon tour. And they don't always see eye to eye when it comes to politics which creates some tension.

Overall I'm rounding the 2.5 to a 3 star since there were parts that kept me entertained.

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron Books for giving me the opportunity to review this arc.Please check out my series review on my blog
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2020/07/mirage-series-by-somaiya-daud.html

Court of Lions was such a wonderfully written sequel to Mirage, and well worth the long wait. Amani grapples with the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the brutal Vathek princess Maram, to whom she has acted as body double and has come to view as a friend. She's lost her home, her family is threatened on all sides, and she has said goodbye to the man she loves in order that one day Maram might be the queen Amani knows she is meant to be. But Maram's discovery of Amani's rebel ties and her upcoming marriage to Idris leaves this relationship in tatters. Amani is determined to restore this relationship whatever it takes and to bring Maram and the rebels into one accord so that her people may taste freedom, but she must navigate the tenuous of the Empire's politics, or else she could lose her very life.
I absolutely adore Somaiya Daud's writing style. It's something that is not talked about enough. Her writing carries a certain vulnerability and heart to it as it lyrically weaves the story of Amani and Maram together. Once again, the relationship and the love that Amani and Idris share just sizzled right off the page. I also think that Daud does an incredible job handling the complex personality of Maram, and I enjoyed being able to read her perspective in this book independent of Amani. It allowed me to understand Maram more, and I loved seeing her character develop as the book went on. Amani and Maram's friendship is one the best written female friendship dynamics I have ever read. Court of Lions transcends genre just as Mirage did, and has forbidden love, betrayal, secrets and so much more in it. I love this duology with my whole heart and cannot recommend it enough. A story ultimately about the love forged between chosen sisters, Court of Lions reminds us that it is never too late to stand for justice and to do the right thing, irregardless of the expectations of those around us and the legacy those who came before us left us. Our choices are our own, as is our way forward. Thank you to the publisher for access to this title.

I received this EARC from
NetGalley exchanged for an honest review.

Court of Lions is the sequel to Somaiya Daud's debut novel Mirage.

I was super excited to read this novel because I loved the first book. Also I was excited because we were able to get the opportunity to have Maram point of view as well.

So for this sequel the parts that I really liked was Idris and Armani love story. I felt it was so cute and nature and I felt like I was apart of the story.

There was some parts I was little bit confused with when it comes to like the world but that’s mostly because I don’t usually read Sci-Fi novels.

But I think the story flowed well. I didn’t like Maram in the last book but grew to like her in this book. There is romance , action and a good story .

Court of Lions is the sequel to Somaiya Daud's debut novel Mirage, which is now a finished duology.

Amani is by far the strongest character in the series, which makes her a captivating heroine to root for. Though dispirited at times, she shoulders the most responsibility of everyone. She balances her feelings for Idris and her duties to Maram—with grace—to ensure the safety of her family. And she rallies and unites a number of families against Mathis. This is with no substantial help from Maram, really.

By the end of COL, everyone gets a happy ending. Ultimately, I rated Court of Lions 4 out of 5 stars. I really struggled with pacing. Daud spends an entire page talking about architecture or Amani’s outfits and jewelry (this happens frequently in both books), yet when it comes to major plot points, she speeds through them. Certain death scenes come to mind. Here were these abrupt major events taking place, and then the series just... ends.

But all in all, I would recommend Court of Lions; It was a world unlike other sci-fi-fantasies I’ve read, and I always enjoy stories that cast strong women leads. COL had a number of strong women—hero and villain alike in that regard.

Court of Lions is a wonderful sequel to Mirage. It’s told from the perspectives of Maram and Amani. I appreciated the character development in this book. Maram struggles with her identity, and it’s always fun to follow a character on their journey of discovering who they are. There are high political stakes, and the growth of both Amani and Maram over the course of this book is refreshing.

Relationships are a main focus of this story, and I loved the LGBTQ romance. Amani and Maram are playing a dangerous political game, and I loved seeing everything carefully fall into place. The world-building is just as incredible as it was in Mirage. The only issue I had was the pacing and how easily things seemed to work out for the characters. I felt that based on the stress the characters felt that there should’ve been more of a struggle to get what they wanted.

Gorgeous sequel to MIRAGE. Daud gives the feminist fantasy tale I have been dreaming of. So pleased with this ending, and can't wait to see what else she will write in the future.

COURT OF LIONS finishes the MIRAGE duology with aplomb. This YA fantasy series takes us to another planet and the two women who have been brought together amidst a challenging political climate. Amani is the daughters of poor farmers on an outer moon, Cadiz, who was captured by androids and brought to the palace. She is the shield (double) for the princess, Maram, who is half-Kushaila and half-Vathek. The Vathek conquered the Kushaila and cemented their victory by marrying Maram's mother and fathering Maram, who will take over the crown.

Maram and Amani had grown close in the first book, and their falling out at the end of the first plunges them into dangerous waters in the second. This sequel begins not long after the first ends with the royal wedding that had been planned for so long. As they navigate the current waters, Amani tests the bounds of her relationship with Maram and pushes her to become the queen she believes Maram could be. The rebellion is growing and questions remain about whom should lead.

What I loved: This book was even better than the first. Although it has a slow start, it soon launches into the action and political plotting that are absolutely engrossing. The characters are also growing here, both Amani and Maram, into the women they will become. I really loved that we get scenes from Maram's point-of-view as well as Amani's, which gives her a deeper character. She also finds her own romance, and it was brilliant to watch.

The ending sections gave me chills. There are poignant quotes, observations, and some surprises that I absolutely enjoyed reading. Nothing happens easily, but very carefully, and there are some great secondary messages about what makes a leader and the value of government. The mythology and world-building here is really strong, and I loved learning about their culture and the bits of their history that we see. This is a beautifully woven sequel that brings all the strings from the first book to a satisfying conclusion.

What left me wanting more: As a relatively small point, I wish that we could have witnessed more of the romances for both Amani and Maram. They had the potential to be so deep, and while I loved both of the couples, I would have liked a bit more depth/substance behind the built relationships.

Final verdict: Satisfying and enchanting, COURT OF LIONS is a perfect finale to a beautifully woven YA fantasy series. Highly recommend for fans of THE DIABOLIC, THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION, and SORCERY OF THORNS.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is the sequel to last year outstanding novel Mirage. This second novel is decent but it in no way left me with the same feelings that book one did. One main thing that stood out is this is supposed to be a space novel and for a majority of the novel i forgot that tell some sort of space type thing was inserted into the novel. The growth of the characters is what made this novel. Maram and Amani come along ways from when we first met

after screaming for months about how Mirage captured my heart, Court of Lions came to crush the slim hope i had of this story not completely destroying every little piece of my heart.

this story was absolutely brillant. while it is on the slow side, i couldn’t help but fall in love with how the story evolved, drove into a climax and concluded. it is remarkable how the author put so much thought and creativity into bringing to live a story like this one, inspired by moroccan culture, a culture so vast and beautiful. i was delighted to spot every reference of the culture that i’m so proud to be part of.

the writing was soothing, poetic, though simple and easy to understand, which makes it easy to get into the story. i found myself gripped each time i picked it up, and couldn’t put it down. and while i still praise the writing of Mirage, i could definitely see that the author’s writing improved while reading Court of Lions. it was great, and now it’s even greater.

the thing about Court of Lions is that it is 100% character-driven. the main ones go through a lot of character development, and, to be quite honest, i wanted to hug them all. i love each one of them so so much. i have no words to describe how fond i am. i guess you could say they’re my little babies (even though they are probably my age).

Court of Lions was not only a great book in itself, it was also a great conclusion to this duology. i am so sad to let this world and characters go, but i am so so so happy with it.

Mirage. was one of my favourite reads of 2018 and I was delighted to receive a review copy of Court of Lions. Simply put, this was everything I wanted in the second half of this richly textured, Morrocan world inspired fantasy duology.

It's incredibly refreshing to find a YA fantasy which doesn't follow the usual frenetic formula, dropping the reader in in media reas but allows time for us to get to know the characters and build the world. This duology is nominally a sci-fi/ space fantasy. The empire involved in the conquest of various cultures and ethnic groups on a variety of planets, is spread across an entire galaxy. That said, most of the action in book one takes place on a small backwater moon called Cadiz and also on an imperial home world, and here it takes place on the Kushaila homeworld of Andalaan.

To summarise the plot of this book; at the end of Mirage, Amani (our pov MC) and Maram, the imperial princess she had been forced to become a body double for, had formed a tenuous friendship only for it to be fractured when it is revealed that Amani is associated with the rebels against the Vathek Empire. Here, we pick up pretty much straight away with Amani once more forced to act as Maram's double, while her family is held hostage to her good behaviour. Picking her way through the intrigues of Andalaan court and trying to repair her shattered friendship with Maram, Amani is tested again and again - not least with the torment of her hopeless love for Idris, Maram's betrothed.

If you are a reader who absolutely has to have plenty of action sequences, fight scenes and 'loud' drama, then you may find this one is not for you. The action is very much present but in the form of internal and emotional change, the journey of self rather than the external quest. This is a book about the relationships between people, the pushes and pulls of friendships, enmities and alliances with all the pressures of personality, ethnicity, culture and history behind them.

There is plenty to like about these books - the lyrical, expressive but very clear style; the careful layered characterisation; the meditation on themes such as freedom, identity, colonialism and justice. Something I especially enjoyed - and which will no doubt strike many western readers - is how many active female characters are involved, while their male counterparts are comparatively passive. This makes perfect sense in that the people most crushed by a regime are more likely to be active in seeking freedom with agency, but it is nevertheless a rather stark contrast compared to many YA fantasy writers who give us one or two female MCs and then very few other women in the cast at all! I especially liked the fact that this looked at how wars and rebellions are lost or won based on your ability to form alliances - which is what the women of this book do so well.

Amani is a delightful character - compassionate and brave without ever tipping into the realms of unbelievable goodness. Idris is adorable, if a little to willing to accept the status quo. Maram is one of my favourite characters. I must respectfully and completely disagree with a few reviewers who have described her as a basic spoiled princess. This is a very complex young woman who has desperately sought the approval of a father she can never please because she is a literal reminder of war crimes. She has been taught to hate half her heritage and therefore to hate half herself. In addition, when she displayed cruelty or coldness, she was met with slightly more approval. She's literally been gaslit and conditioned her entire life, and here we see Maram finally start to reject that. Aghraas, a young female falconer who comes to work on Maram's estate, is the tipping point. While Maram struggles with displaying vulnerability, she cannot avoid the fact that she falls for Aghraas. This is a very quiet, soft romance that isn't about big declarations, but is shown in looks and actions. (It is ridiculous to say that this is instalove btw - every time the pair are together on page, everything is about the romance growing between them; the important things are those not being said. Maybe that went over a few readers' heads?)

Final point but I love the inclusion of Arabic poetry as a storytelling tool. It echoed and cemented some of the mythological motifs - Houma and the tesleet birds for example. It was really beautiful to read and enriched the prose. This might be a space fantasy but it's also a piece of culture, offered generously for those who can accept it. Highly recommend both books, especially if you like quiet, emotionally intelligent and exquisitely written female led fantasy that's about the inner landscape of the characters, rather than who is charging around waving a sword.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book!

This is quite honestly one of my favorite books out of what I've read this year! I went back and read the first book, Mirage, before I attempted this one- I'm sure you could read this as a standalone but there is so many little details that have more impact if you read Mirage first. I was so immersed in this story line and almost mourn the fact that I've finished! The way Amani and Maram interact and their growing relationships with others is beautiful. The world that has been built is very detailed and intricate, from politics to fashion. I would 100% recommend this to everyone!

This book was the second and final installment of the Mirage series. I read MIrage in one day, and immediately wanted to get my hands on Court of Lions, and was fortunate to be approved for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Spoilers below:

What I loved:
- the growing friendship between Maram and Amani
- the tension between Idris and Amani
- Aghraas (need I say more?)
- The ending of this book was so happy and left me buoyant
- The lush descriptions of the cities, celebrations, and clothing worn by the characters

What I didn't love:
Mirage felt like it was building up into a larger series that would grow to encompass more of the world and take us on an epic adventure. I felt like Court of Lions, while a happy ending, could have expanded the series much more. Instead it seemed to follow a very straightforward path. It seems strange to dislike such a happy ending, but the whole last 50% I kept thinking "okay now something bad HAS to happen. It can't just be this easy." But it was that easy. Other than the tension between Idris and Amani it felt as though the entire revolution fell into their lap. Especially compared to Mirage, which had a lot of struggle, this book felt too easy for the characters. This is just my personal feelings, it doesn't mean the book was bad at all, I just wanted it to be a bit more difficult (personal taste here).

Overall:
I really enjoyed this series, and will purchase a set of the books for my classroom - they are great young adult novels! It was fun, and I enjoyed reading it despite my wishes for a more epic conclusion.

Court of Lions, the long awaited sequel to one of my favorite reads in 2019. This book was packed full of court intrigue, angst, romance, secrets and my personal favorite: family drama. When I tell you, no one is doing sci-fi like BIPOC I mean it. I don’t often read sci-fi but Samiya Doud has created such a vivid world full of interesting cultures and complex politics.

Court of Lions is specifically an Ownvoices story with a Moroccan inspired setting and characters. The world this story takes place in is incredible, I loved reading the details about the palaces and the different foods that were made throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the focus of Maram reclaiming her mother’s heritage after all those years of her father and the people around her trying to make her disregard it. There’s something so powerful in reclaiming your identity after others have been trying to take it from you.

Maram’s development was one of the strongest points of the entire story. I loved her in Mirage and was absolutely thrilled that we got her POV in Court of Lions, it really helped the story flow better. Additionally I loved seeing her fall in love and begin to understand that the whole world wasn’t against her, I was so proud when she started taking those step to become the queen I knew she could be. Also just seeing Maram and Amani grow in their friendship was so GOOD.

Amani’s development was also great because she continued to grow in her self confidence. She took charge and worked endlessly to help her people with the power she was given. A lot of the book took place in political conversations that Amani led and even though she isn’t the real queen, I almost wish we could see her be queen because she was incredibly talented at playing the role. We also see Amani and Idris’ relationship develop more and I liked watching how the two of them worked together to help their people.

One of the main themes of the story was colonialism & its effect on the identities of the colonized. A lot of characters introduced throughout the story are trying to survive the brutality of the the Vathek empire which conquered their lands and rules through force. Even Maram suffers the consequences of her father’s conquest as she rediscovers her mother’s culture and family. It’s a thought-provoking look into the aftermath of these huge conquests and how they affect future generations.

While Court of Lions does explore the struggles with colonialism, it also explores the power and the forces that fight back. There’s a rebellion fighting against the Vathek empire and honestly I wished there was more information about the rebellion because there were a lot of unique characters that could have added more perspective to the story. However, Court of Lions mainly elaborates on worldstate, politics, conversation among the nobles and gives special focus to characters reclaiming & keeping cultural heritage alive. It broadens the reader's understanding of the world as a whole instead of being more focused on more character perspectives.

Overall this was a fantastic sequel. Where Mirage focused a lot on survival and stealth as Amani tried to befriend Maram and persuade her to listen. Court of Lions takes the shaky trust built from Mirage and turns it into a friendship that can save the world. If you were invested in the characters and world from the first story, you will love the development that happens throughout this book.

So I’m writing this review a little differently from how I write all of my other reviews- I’m going to be writing this as I read and telling you where I am in the book as I have my thoughts- I’ll definitely do everything I can not to post any real spoilers.
Ok, so I’m in Maram’s second chapter right now, and I really like how Maram’s chapters are from before the wedding and gave a glimpse into what was going on during Amani’s imprisonment while Amani’s chapters are from present day. I’m normally pretty iffy about timeline jumps unless they’re done well and I think Somaiya Daud does them really well here (so far anyway).
I really don’t want to be in Amani’s position- she really seems to care for Maram as a person and she wants Maram to be the best possible queen, but at the same time, Maram controls her in every way because they have her family and man, I can’t even imagine that pressure. What would it be like to have that kind of political pressure on you at all times, an entire kingdom, on your shoulders, but it’s not even your shoulders that it’s on- it’s on the shoulders of the person you’re forced to impersonate and you’re in love with her husband (that’s not a real spoiler- they get married like right at the beginning). And every time you think you’re done, every time you think you’ve done enough and the person pulling your strings is ready to take over and be themselves in public again, they decide that they want you to continue being them for a little longer and just do another thing.
I’m starting chapter 11 right now and ooo so many interesting things are happening! I feel like Amani is biting off more than she can chew again and she’s trying to do too much to gain freedom for both her people and her family, but I’m sure any of us would do the same. Maram’s interludes with her falconer are even more interesting now, but I’m a little confused about the actual location of where they’re happening.
I’m on page 109 right now and I didn’t realize how defeated Maram seems. She doesn’t seem quite as much of the fighter as I remember he being in book one- like don’t get me wrong, Amani was always more of a fighter of the two of them, but Maram still used to put up more of a fight. I hope she gets her spirit back within this book or at least in book 3!
Maram’s 5th chapter brings us to the present day and I’m liking everything about this book so far!
Aww I just finished and I loved everything about this book! I loved how much Maram grew and I loved Amani as always. The plot was great and the ending was perfect. This made me so happy to read and it’s such a great duology that I’m going to enjoy revisiting in years to come. Definitely check out both Mirage and Court of Lions!

Review to be posted on my blog around July 21st

Court of Lions was an absolutely captivating, inspiring, and lush world to fall into. In this stunning sequel, Amani and Maram continue to struggle to find their paths in a world defined by their identities and loyalties to family and country, and their relationship is truly the foundation of this duology. After the events of the first book, Maram and Amani have to repair their relationship and find trust in one another again. I appreciated the addition of Maram's point of view in this book, and it added a lot more depth to her character. With her relationship with Amani fractured at the start of this book, Maram is forced to depend more on herself to change, and her budding relationship with Aghraas was another stellar part of this book. In general, the amount of powerful and complex women within this series is one of my favorite parts. There are so many different characters that are women, and they're all different people, with different ways of existing in this world, and different methods of exercising agency and power within a colonial environment. These myriad personalities and realities of these women created such a fleshed-out feel to this world, and the representation of all these different stories was amazing. Another element of this series that makes it so powerful is the themes of colonization. power, and revolution. Continuing from Mirage, Court of Lions builds the action up, and furthers the plot of revolution and rebellion well. The anti-colonial narrative was powerful, compelling, and well-written. Once again, Court of Lions doesn't fail in capturing the different experiences of those under colonization. Between Amani, Idirs, Maram, and the other characters, this book isn't shying away from the consequences of colonialism, and how it shapes peoples' lives. With the three main characters we see different responses and experiences related to colonialism - and how people fight to exist and live within it. The tension and conflict between Amani and Idris about the rebellion was one of the best parts of the book for me, and their relationship never failed to make me feel all the feels. In conclusion, this book was amazing! The characters were all compelling and I felt invested in all their stories, the plot and action was also entertaining and filled with tension, and the cultural components that were interspersed in the world-building and throughout the series was beautiful as well, and finally, the core narrative of revolution against colonization was nuanced, powerful, and compelling.