Mirage Blog Tour Review + Givaway

This unique YA Sci-Fi has all the feel of a traditional YA Fantasy but when the world you know is set among a system of planets you are quickly reminded that nothing is as it seems.

A big Thank You to Fantastic Flying Book Club for picking me to participate in the Mirage Blog Tour! I’ve really enjoyed working with them and can’t wait to see what other tours they’ll be hosting in the coming months! If you haven’t checked out their blog yet, you are missing out!

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About Mirage

Title: Mirage

Author: Somaiya Daud

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Release Date: August 28, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Synopsis:

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death.

 

Find it: IndieBound, iBooks, Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Book Depository, Goodreads

 

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Review

When you begin reading this you’ll see signs of Sci-fi such as the talk of other inhabited planets within the system, the presence of droids, and transport vehicles. It isn’t until the story really gets going that you start to feel like you’re in a fantasy world.

Amani is taken from her home on a night of celebration only to find herself in the palace, in front of princess Maram, the one person she was afraid she’d have to face at some point in her life. It is like looking in a mirror. Maram has one request of Amani, to become her so that she can take her place at events where her life will be in the most danger. Why? Because Amani is Maram’s doppelganger. Amani now has to learn the cold and distant demeanor of Maram in order to keep her existence a secret while she attends events as Maram. The inner struggle Amani has is developed very well in this story because you can feel her constant awareness to making sure her own mannerisms are not leaked into those of Maram’s. She has to make sure that her true identity is not discovered but when Idris, Maram’s betrothed, discovers there is something different in his fiance’s behavior things really get interesting!

I loved Amani and Maram’s character development throughout this book and at one point they start to form a close bond with one another. I think this happens because Amani is an outsider and that allows Maram to let her guard down a little bit. Amani also doesn’t hold her tongue as much as she should. The relationship between the two is the most important and by the end you’ll be left broken and wanting more.

Idris. He’s kind of a babe who is observant enough to know there is something different about Maram and when he finds out he needs to know more. His and Amani’s relationship blossoms at an even pace which I liked. They spend time together when they can but it is not as often as either of them would like. The poetry between them is beautifully done and I’m hoping for more of them in the next book!

Revolution! There is some plotting and betraying going on in this book so be prepared for some of that!

The only criticism I have is that this book didn’t feel enough Sci-Fi for me. I felt that those elements were only portrayed in some of the wording but the feel of the book was much more fantasy. Other than that I really enjoyed this book.

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About the Author

Somaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master’s degree she doubled as a bookseller at Politics and Prose in their children’s department. Determined to remain in school for as long as possible, she packed her bags in 2014 and moved the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she’s preparing to write a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment. Mirage is her debut, and is due from Flatiron Books and Hodder and Stoughton in August 28, 2018.

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Giveaway

* One finished copy of Mirage by Somaiya Daud (US Only)

* Begins August 22, 2018

* Ends August 30, 2018

Rafflecopter 

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Follow the Tour

August 22

Book Briefs – Review

The Desert Bibliophile – Review

Luchia Houghton – Review

Crazy for YA – Review

August 23

Velvet Spade Reads – Review

Portrait of a Book – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

August 24

Chrikaru Reads – Review

Library of a Book Witch – Review

Firstbooklove – Excerpt

Living a Hundred Lives – Review

August 25

MetalPhantasmReads – Review

Here’s to Happy Endings – Review

Bookish Wanderess – Review

Milky Way of Books – Review
My Thoughts Literally – Review

August 26

Never Too Many To Read – Review

Are You My Book? – Review

Magical Reads – Review

Uwadis – Spotlight

August 27

Paperback Princess – Review

The Clever Reader – Review

Pooled Ink – Review

The Layaway Dragon – Review
Bibliobibuli YA – Review

August 28

The Bibliophagist – Review

The Reading Life – Review

Rhythmicbooktrovert – Review

Kati’s Bookaholic Rambling Reviews – Review