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Mirage #2
Court of Lions: Mirage Book 2
Two identical girls, one a princess, the other a rebel. Who will rule the empire?
Amani must make a devastating choice between revolution and family in this sequel to the instant Sunday Times bestseller Mirage .
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 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?
Amani must make a devastating choice between revolution and family in this sequel to the instant Sunday Times bestseller Mirage .
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 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?
Paperback
First published August 4, 2020
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About the author
Somaiya Daud
6 books1,114 followersSomaiya 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 in 8/28/2018.
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July 29, 2025
This is, and I am so serious, the best YA series I have read in my adult life. 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. Do I still think about Amani and Maram five years after reading this book? 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.
This is, I think, a thesis of the book: this idea that love under a colonial rule is 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. I don’t say lightly that this has instantly become one of my favorite YA fantasy series of all time. If your taste is anything like mine, I think it’ll be yours too.
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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 that love under a colonial rule is 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. I don’t say lightly that this has instantly become one of my favorite YA fantasy series of all time. If your taste is anything like mine, I think it’ll be yours too.
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August 14, 2020
I received an earc of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review
CW: physical assault, violence, murder of a child (off- page), grief, trauma, colonization.
After reading Mirage and loving that book with my whole entire heart, I had extremely high expectations for the sequel. I was unsure of where the story was headed but I hoped that wherever that was, wouldn’t be a let down. But now I’m realizing that was a silly fear. The moment I started reading Court of Lions I was overwhelmed with such a sense of right, such a sense of home and belonging that I burst into tears before I even managed to finish the first chapter. And my love for it and that feeling of home just kept on growing page by page until I reached the very last one.
The writing in Court of Lions is just as good as in the first book, if not better. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, lyrical and atmospheric. It transported me into the story and for a few hours I managed to forget where I was. Reading this book felt like I was sitting at the feet of one of my khalat (aunts) listening to her tell me stories when I was a kid, all starry eyed, giddy and invested in the stakes of what was being recounted. Court of Lions felt like one of those Moroccan fairytales of old with a moral to the story I was told growing up and I was completely riveted and mesmerized by it.
One thing that I loved about Court of Lions is how much it expended on the world. While Mirage stayed focused and confined within the walls of the palace, this sequel expands the world to the rest of Andala. One of my favorite things in series is one books expands on the previous one, and not just story wise, I like when the physical space the book takes part in expands as well and Somaiya Daud did so expertly, and while the places (belonging to different tribes) the characters traveled through were similar, there were small nuances and changes that showed for that change in location. And this to me was so very reminiscent of my own culture and people. 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.
Find my full review on my blog Word Wonders
CW: physical assault, violence, murder of a child (off- page), grief, trauma, colonization.
After reading Mirage and loving that book with my whole entire heart, I had extremely high expectations for the sequel. I was unsure of where the story was headed but I hoped that wherever that was, wouldn’t be a let down. But now I’m realizing that was a silly fear. The moment I started reading Court of Lions I was overwhelmed with such a sense of right, such a sense of home and belonging that I burst into tears before I even managed to finish the first chapter. And my love for it and that feeling of home just kept on growing page by page until I reached the very last one.
The writing in Court of Lions is just as good as in the first book, if not better. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, lyrical and atmospheric. It transported me into the story and for a few hours I managed to forget where I was. Reading this book felt like I was sitting at the feet of one of my khalat (aunts) listening to her tell me stories when I was a kid, all starry eyed, giddy and invested in the stakes of what was being recounted. Court of Lions felt like one of those Moroccan fairytales of old with a moral to the story I was told growing up and I was completely riveted and mesmerized by it.
One thing that I loved about Court of Lions is how much it expended on the world. While Mirage stayed focused and confined within the walls of the palace, this sequel expands the world to the rest of Andala. One of my favorite things in series is one books expands on the previous one, and not just story wise, I like when the physical space the book takes part in expands as well and Somaiya Daud did so expertly, and while the places (belonging to different tribes) the characters traveled through were similar, there were small nuances and changes that showed for that change in location. And this to me was so very reminiscent of my own culture and people. 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.
Find my full review on my blog Word Wonders
June 4, 2021
FINALLY!
Mirage: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Court of Lions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
After loving and reading Mirage twice, getting to Court of Lions was something I had looked forward to do for a long while.
I have thoughts on how the climax was done... Certain crucial elements were too rushed for me, but the prose remains as graceful as it was in the first book. I usually love reading long and lush descriptions of clothing and architecture. Somaiya Daud's writing is still as beautiful as ever though. Amani was still a good character. I am very glad that we got Maram's POV, but I wish she stood up more as the princess of the Vathek instead of letting Amani doing most of the political work. Unfortunately, with this sequel, this problem ended up being too repetitive. As a result, there were less page time for building up plot lines. Consequently, the climax and reveals felt cheap due to no tension constructed throughout the "rebellion" taking place during the Mirage duology. Too much time spent on meeting, and playing chess. Too little time to act their act together in preparation of the Big Final Battle. The ending was very cute and if Daud plan on revisiting the world of Mirage, I am here for it!
Per-review:
To be honest, not a fan of this cover. It’s cute, but the original design was so much more eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing. Oh well, let's see what's inside. I know this is going to be good! 😀✨ 🇲🇦
Mirage: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Court of Lions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
After loving and reading Mirage twice, getting to Court of Lions was something I had looked forward to do for a long while.
I have thoughts on how the climax was done... Certain crucial elements were too rushed for me, but the prose remains as graceful as it was in the first book. I usually love reading long and lush descriptions of clothing and architecture. Somaiya Daud's writing is still as beautiful as ever though. Amani was still a good character. I am very glad that we got Maram's POV, but I wish she stood up more as the princess of the Vathek instead of letting Amani doing most of the political work. Unfortunately, with this sequel, this problem ended up being too repetitive. As a result, there were less page time for building up plot lines. Consequently, the climax and reveals felt cheap due to no tension constructed throughout the "rebellion" taking place during the Mirage duology. Too much time spent on meeting, and playing chess. Too little time to act their act together in preparation of the Big Final Battle. The ending was very cute and if Daud plan on revisiting the world of Mirage, I am here for it!
Per-review:
To be honest, not a fan of this cover. It’s cute, but the original design was so much more eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing. Oh well, let's see what's inside. I know this is going to be good! 😀✨ 🇲🇦
September 24, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Court of Lions is the second book in Somaiya Daud's Mirage duology. This is a YA-Science-Fiction story following an ordinary peasant girl, Amani, who ends up being selected to be the body double for the Princess of their ruthless society.
Giving me Amidala's handmaiden vibes from the start...
I really enjoyed the first book and knew immediately I wanted to continue on with the sequel. The story itself took me by surprise. For some reason I was expecting more of a blend of SFF, but this is definitely solid in the SF-category.
I found it to be fast-paced, drama-filled and enjoyed the writing style a lot. I also liked the cultural influence Daud lovingly-channeled into the story. Those details made it feel more unique compared to other stories in this genre.
This second book picks up not long after the first. Amani is still getting pulled in two different directions. She continues to want to help the rebellion; to try to make their world a more just place.
On the other side, she has started to build a friendship, however tenuous, with Princess Maram. Amani doesn't want to betray her, but how can she possibly get Maram to see things from her perspective? More importantly, could she ever get Maram to use her power for change?
There's also interesting romantic developments in this installment. Maram's arranged fiance, Idris, of course seems better suited to Amani, but how the heck is that going to work? Their difference in stations would never allow them to be together formally.
And an intriguing new character ends up catching the eye of the thus far frosty-hearted Maram. You could cut the tension with a knife.
One of my favorite aspects of this story though, was the character growth displayed in both main characters, but in Amani in particular.
Amani grew so much in confidence and in the strength of her convictions. She became a leader over the course of the story; the kind of person even powerful people like Princess Maram could turn to for guidance and thoughtful advice.
I felt like Amani, as well as Maram, both were able to grow into the people they were destined to be and a lot of that was because of their unpredictable friendship/alliance.
It definitely felt predictable as we headed towards the final stretch, but honestly, it's the outcome I wanted. It was a satisfying conclusion and I thought Daud did a great job with the overall arc of the story.
I'm glad I wrapped up this duology and am looking forward to reading more from Daud in the future. I hope she continues in the Sci-Fi space.
I feel like she did an exceptional job bringing a new creative voice to that genre. It felt fresh and fun, but also contemplative and layered. Well done!
Court of Lions is the second book in Somaiya Daud's Mirage duology. This is a YA-Science-Fiction story following an ordinary peasant girl, Amani, who ends up being selected to be the body double for the Princess of their ruthless society.
Giving me Amidala's handmaiden vibes from the start...
I really enjoyed the first book and knew immediately I wanted to continue on with the sequel. The story itself took me by surprise. For some reason I was expecting more of a blend of SFF, but this is definitely solid in the SF-category.
I found it to be fast-paced, drama-filled and enjoyed the writing style a lot. I also liked the cultural influence Daud lovingly-channeled into the story. Those details made it feel more unique compared to other stories in this genre.
This second book picks up not long after the first. Amani is still getting pulled in two different directions. She continues to want to help the rebellion; to try to make their world a more just place.
On the other side, she has started to build a friendship, however tenuous, with Princess Maram. Amani doesn't want to betray her, but how can she possibly get Maram to see things from her perspective? More importantly, could she ever get Maram to use her power for change?
There's also interesting romantic developments in this installment. Maram's arranged fiance, Idris, of course seems better suited to Amani, but how the heck is that going to work? Their difference in stations would never allow them to be together formally.
And an intriguing new character ends up catching the eye of the thus far frosty-hearted Maram. You could cut the tension with a knife.
One of my favorite aspects of this story though, was the character growth displayed in both main characters, but in Amani in particular.
Amani grew so much in confidence and in the strength of her convictions. She became a leader over the course of the story; the kind of person even powerful people like Princess Maram could turn to for guidance and thoughtful advice.
I felt like Amani, as well as Maram, both were able to grow into the people they were destined to be and a lot of that was because of their unpredictable friendship/alliance.
It definitely felt predictable as we headed towards the final stretch, but honestly, it's the outcome I wanted. It was a satisfying conclusion and I thought Daud did a great job with the overall arc of the story.
I'm glad I wrapped up this duology and am looking forward to reading more from Daud in the future. I hope she continues in the Sci-Fi space.
I feel like she did an exceptional job bringing a new creative voice to that genre. It felt fresh and fun, but also contemplative and layered. Well done!
August 19, 2020
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!
Content Warnings: violence, death, physical abuse, grief, themes of colonialism
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Caffeine Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Content Warnings: violence, death, physical abuse, grief, themes of colonialism
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Caffeine Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 28, 2020
This literally hurts my heart. I expected so much more!
For starters, the romances BOTH OF THEM were insta love and awkward. Maram being queer was a cute addition to her character because without it, she’s pretty basic. A stuck up princess whose who entire personality is that they’re mixed. But her romance with Aghraas was weird and random. Sis came out of nowhere, and finessed her way into MARAMS heart 😂. We don’t know where she really comes from, we don’t know about her family or why she ends up following Maram. Whenever anyone asks her about herself all she says is “I’m here for Maram”......great. Idris and Amani never really had a strong bond from Mirage but I’m a sap and I do like seeing them together. Still the relationships were dry.
Second: It became very clear from the blurb that this book was going to center around Amani trying to be a spy and not getting caught by Maram. As well as helping Maram build political allies with the tribes. But there was hardly any action. I feel like if you’re gonna give me political intrigue YOU BETTER GIVE ME POLITICAL INTRIGUE!! I’m expecting some Olivia Pope from Scandal level of political intrigue. There was no action in this book. Barely any fight scenes. It needed more angst and suspense. I wanted higher stakes and more risks. Also Maram wasn’t even around for any of the politics. Amani did all the work while Maram got to reap the rewards.
That leads us into my third biggest issue... Maram is coddled by Everyone around her (other than her father). Even Amani, (who probably has Stockholm syndrome) was constantly telling Maram how amazing of a queen she would be.....BASED ON WHATTTTT. Sure Maram knew how to be cold and demand respect but she knows NOTHING about this planet, the people, the tribes, their traditions and showed NO INTEREST in getting to know them. She cried about how the Kushailas didn’t like her but made no moves to change their perception of her. She was immensely spoiled and coddled and I think it really stunted her character development.
I’m so mad that I didn’t love this book. I wanted to love it SOOO BAD! But it was just very lack luster and rushed to me. And pleaseeee don’t get me started on the making up of Quran verses thing.
2/5 ✨✨
For starters, the romances BOTH OF THEM were insta love and awkward. Maram being queer was a cute addition to her character because without it, she’s pretty basic. A stuck up princess whose who entire personality is that they’re mixed. But her romance with Aghraas was weird and random. Sis came out of nowhere, and finessed her way into MARAMS heart 😂. We don’t know where she really comes from, we don’t know about her family or why she ends up following Maram. Whenever anyone asks her about herself all she says is “I’m here for Maram”......great. Idris and Amani never really had a strong bond from Mirage but I’m a sap and I do like seeing them together. Still the relationships were dry.
Second: It became very clear from the blurb that this book was going to center around Amani trying to be a spy and not getting caught by Maram. As well as helping Maram build political allies with the tribes. But there was hardly any action. I feel like if you’re gonna give me political intrigue YOU BETTER GIVE ME POLITICAL INTRIGUE!! I’m expecting some Olivia Pope from Scandal level of political intrigue. There was no action in this book. Barely any fight scenes. It needed more angst and suspense. I wanted higher stakes and more risks. Also Maram wasn’t even around for any of the politics. Amani did all the work while Maram got to reap the rewards.
That leads us into my third biggest issue... Maram is coddled by Everyone around her (other than her father). Even Amani, (who probably has Stockholm syndrome) was constantly telling Maram how amazing of a queen she would be.....BASED ON WHATTTTT. Sure Maram knew how to be cold and demand respect but she knows NOTHING about this planet, the people, the tribes, their traditions and showed NO INTEREST in getting to know them. She cried about how the Kushailas didn’t like her but made no moves to change their perception of her. She was immensely spoiled and coddled and I think it really stunted her character development.
I’m so mad that I didn’t love this book. I wanted to love it SOOO BAD! But it was just very lack luster and rushed to me. And pleaseeee don’t get me started on the making up of Quran verses thing.
2/5 ✨✨
June 17, 2022
In this book, the tyrant king played a secondary role. The plot was centred around the women, pushing boundaries, forging alliances and battling evil. One of the cruelest person, was also a woman, a servant living vicariously through the princess. Eventually, the princess, instead of letting herself get pushed around, grew a backbone and stood up for herself and for her people. All with the help of Amani, the brave and courageous main character.
There was a lot of strategy and politics, and it was nice to see women play a pivotal role in reshaping a sovereign ruined by pure cruelty.
I enjoyed some parts of the book more than others, probably because the novelty of the “exoticness” of the book had worn off after the first book. Nevertheless, it was a brilliant plot and overall quite enjoyable. 3 stars.
There was a lot of strategy and politics, and it was nice to see women play a pivotal role in reshaping a sovereign ruined by pure cruelty.
I enjoyed some parts of the book more than others, probably because the novelty of the “exoticness” of the book had worn off after the first book. Nevertheless, it was a brilliant plot and overall quite enjoyable. 3 stars.
August 2, 2020
read on my blog
rep: ownvoices Moroccan-inspired world and characters; lesbian main character and love interest
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
This was the long-awaited sequel to Mirage, which I hadn’t read in a while so I reread in preparation for this book. I liked it even more the second time around and found this story of rebellion against colonialism even more refreshing, so I was particularly excited to read the sequel. Court of Lions takes us back to this lush world amidst a bed of beautiful prose and wonderful characterization.
After revealing her rebel connections, Amani is kept isolated, only to be brought back into Maram’s life for her wedding to Idris. She returns to her duties as Maram’s body double, but she also starts plotting to keep Maram on the throne as the rightful ruler of Andala. Meanwhile, Maram faces her fears of being queen and of being married when she forms a relationship with her mysterious new falconer.
The prose was stunning, as always. It had such a soft tone, which lent beauty to the words. I also thought it was fascinating to include Maram’s chapters, albeit how few of them we have. Being in her head allowed us to see more of her: her doubt, her wanting to be loved and not feared, her desire to be known as someone other than the cruel princess.
The plot was drenched in political intrigue, so much so that I had a little bit of trouble following certain details. It was interesting though, and I liked how everything resolved.
I also liked the characters; it was nice to return to them. Amani is strong-willed and resilient, Maram finds herself anew, and Idris realizes that he doesn’t have to live his life in fear. They all have such compelling dynamics as well. Despite her seeminly traitorous betrayal, Amani really does believe Maram will be a good queen, and she rebuilds her sister-like relationship with her. They put more trust in each other, as well as with Idris.
The romance was as passionate as the first book, but now we have two to follow in this book! Amani and Idris are wonderful, and I loved the growth in their interactions. They do have to face the fact that Idris is technically married to Maram, but I thought this was handled with grace. Anyways, Maram is a lesbian and she has a love interest; their romance was so soft. I loved them, and I loved seeing all of them happy!
I did have a few complaints about this book. First, much like the first book, I found that the romances moved far too quickly. Amani and Idris build up their relationship more here, but I thought they declared their love for each other without much development in the first book. Similarly, Maram and Aghraas have very little build-up before they were suddenly at the “I would do anything for you” stage. Don’t get me wrong, I loved both of these relationships and thought there was attraction between them, and there’s nothing wrong with falling in love quickly. I just would have preferred a little more build-up.
The other issue was the pacing; Maram only has a few chapters, which was fine because they were more about her personal characterization and didn’t contribute much to the plot. However, the first few of them took place before the contents of this book and then they caught up in the middle, which felt very uneven to me. Also, while I really enjoyed the first and last quarters, I thought the middle half dragged a bit. None of these were big issues and were more to my personal tastes, but I did still really enjoy this book!
Court of Lions was a wondrous sequel that had all the passion and heart of the first book. It was more plot-heavy, full of political intrigue and machinations, but the character development was carefully interspersed, particularly in Maram. Pick up Mirage if you haven’t already because this series is not to be missed!
original review:
this was goodddd but it kinda dragged in the middle
(also! Maram is a lesbian and has a love interest and their romance is so soft)
rep: ownvoices Moroccan-inspired world and characters; lesbian main character and love interest
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Sacred fire only ever came to the brave and courageous. Hope was given to a person who might reshape the world.
This was the long-awaited sequel to Mirage, which I hadn’t read in a while so I reread in preparation for this book. I liked it even more the second time around and found this story of rebellion against colonialism even more refreshing, so I was particularly excited to read the sequel. Court of Lions takes us back to this lush world amidst a bed of beautiful prose and wonderful characterization.
After revealing her rebel connections, Amani is kept isolated, only to be brought back into Maram’s life for her wedding to Idris. She returns to her duties as Maram’s body double, but she also starts plotting to keep Maram on the throne as the rightful ruler of Andala. Meanwhile, Maram faces her fears of being queen and of being married when she forms a relationship with her mysterious new falconer.
The prose was stunning, as always. It had such a soft tone, which lent beauty to the words. I also thought it was fascinating to include Maram’s chapters, albeit how few of them we have. Being in her head allowed us to see more of her: her doubt, her wanting to be loved and not feared, her desire to be known as someone other than the cruel princess.
The plot was drenched in political intrigue, so much so that I had a little bit of trouble following certain details. It was interesting though, and I liked how everything resolved.
I also liked the characters; it was nice to return to them. Amani is strong-willed and resilient, Maram finds herself anew, and Idris realizes that he doesn’t have to live his life in fear. They all have such compelling dynamics as well. Despite her seeminly traitorous betrayal, Amani really does believe Maram will be a good queen, and she rebuilds her sister-like relationship with her. They put more trust in each other, as well as with Idris.
For some, passion and love are separate, but for you they run parallel along your heart line . . . I think for you, it is impossible to have one without the other.
The romance was as passionate as the first book, but now we have two to follow in this book! Amani and Idris are wonderful, and I loved the growth in their interactions. They do have to face the fact that Idris is technically married to Maram, but I thought this was handled with grace. Anyways, Maram is a lesbian and she has a love interest; their romance was so soft. I loved them, and I loved seeing all of them happy!
I did have a few complaints about this book. First, much like the first book, I found that the romances moved far too quickly. Amani and Idris build up their relationship more here, but I thought they declared their love for each other without much development in the first book. Similarly, Maram and Aghraas have very little build-up before they were suddenly at the “I would do anything for you” stage. Don’t get me wrong, I loved both of these relationships and thought there was attraction between them, and there’s nothing wrong with falling in love quickly. I just would have preferred a little more build-up.
The other issue was the pacing; Maram only has a few chapters, which was fine because they were more about her personal characterization and didn’t contribute much to the plot. However, the first few of them took place before the contents of this book and then they caught up in the middle, which felt very uneven to me. Also, while I really enjoyed the first and last quarters, I thought the middle half dragged a bit. None of these were big issues and were more to my personal tastes, but I did still really enjoy this book!
Court of Lions was a wondrous sequel that had all the passion and heart of the first book. It was more plot-heavy, full of political intrigue and machinations, but the character development was carefully interspersed, particularly in Maram. Pick up Mirage if you haven’t already because this series is not to be missed!
original review:
this was goodddd but it kinda dragged in the middle
(also! Maram is a lesbian and has a love interest and their romance is so soft)
Read
August 4, 2020Definitely not a book to be rushed. Subtle and far from the flashy action you'd expect, yet equally piercing. Do not read if you are not willing to give it the time it is worth. Let Court of Lions settle around you, swirl in your mind, sink in to truly experience it.
Want to read
March 12, 2020Mid-series cover changes are the bane of my existence. And no, I do not like the new cover style.
August 5, 2020
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.
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.
August 14, 2020
I went into this book very excited about the prospect of finding out how Maram and Amani fix their friendship, and how Amani's romance with Idris plays out. Both of these questions were definitely answered and the beginning chapters felt promising. Crazy things were happening and there were so many twists and turns just in the first 10% of the book. But then, things swiftly started to look bleak.
I want to start off with some good things first, because like I pointed out, the beginning was very promising. I loved how it started off with Maram demanding that Amani not only be her decoy during the wedding, but also during the consummation of that marriage. I felt like that was a bold storytelling choice and I was excited to see what other things would happen after this.
However, I felt like Somaiya Daud kind of went a little too hard a little too soon. She put so many cool and exciting plot twists in the beginning of the book, that once we hit the 30% mark, the story was already dragging. Things were moving slowly, there were so many filler chapters, and it seemed like nothing of importance was getting done.
What I did enjoy about the middle of the book, despite all of the issues, was Maram's plot. I liked that her perspective (while in 3rd person) was sprinkled in every once in a while. I found that I was much more interested in Maram and her life than I was with Amani's. I loved the decision to make Maram sapphic and I felt like, despite the lack of character development, her love interest was interesting and they had chemistry. I just wish that their relationship had been more developed, because to me it felt as though one moment Maram was just discovering this girl existed, and then they were an item. It felt very emotionally jarring and the progression didn't make a whole lot of sense.
Another thing that bothered me was the extreme tone shifts within scenes. There is one instance that stands out where Amani and Idris are making out, and suddenly Amani screams at him to wait (which he immediately does) and then there's no conversation about her wanting to not continue. They typically seem to have pretty good communication between them, so it was strange for that moment of intensity and screaming at him to never be addressed. Just to clarify: the fact that Amani wants to wait before being more intimate is not my issue, it's the tone shift of her suddenly screaming at him when it's a moment they're meant to be hiding from people. And he questions her twice on what she meant by "wait!" but she never clarifies or explains. It's a very strange scene that felt like it could have been cut and we would have lost absolutely nothing. I think it could have been a really great scene where Amani outlines her boundaries and they communicate just how intimate they want their relationship to be, but that is never discussed or brought back up in a later scene.
*SPOILERS*
I think this book's biggest issue, however, is the abandonment of what I had assumed was the thesis. I had assumed that this book was about how lineage and background are not important and should not decide whether we are good or bad people. Maram is mixed and she struggles constantly with which side of her family she feels the most related to. She worries about whether her father's evilness has been inherited by her, and she also worries about how her mother's family judges her based on her father's ruthlessness. She is constantly battling against the idea of her lineage and overcoming it in order to be her own person. Amani is a nobody from a nowhere planet who is plucked from obscurity because she looks like the princess and is forced to be her body double. Despite her having a lineage of no importance, she is smart and daring and empathetic. She cares about people and is savvy in being able to ally herself with the right people in order to fight injustice. However, by the very end of the novel, we find out that Maram actually isn't related to her father and should feel no anxiety about her lineage so all of her fears were baseless. And then we find out that Amani is actually a long lost princess and her mother was the niece of the dowager. Suddenly lineage is extremely important and none of these characters have agency. They all had pre-destined futures and nothing they could have done would have stopped it because they're all very important people BECAUSE of their very important lineages. It's basically The Rise of Skywalker all over again.
This new information about both Maram and Amani's lineages completely undermines the thesis and makes this book about basically nothing. It's disappointing that this trope was used in this book because I feel like the duology could have had a really powerful message of "you are not your family, you are your own person and you get to decide your impact on the world". I felt like it was a completely missed opportunity.
Overall, I didn't completely hate this book. But the good parts are now being affected by so many of the truly disappointing aspects. I really wish I had liked this book, but it just wasn't for me. I can't wait to see what else Somaiya Daud puts out in the future! Her writing is breathtaking and I love her characters so much. I think that her sophomore work will be really incredible.
I want to start off with some good things first, because like I pointed out, the beginning was very promising. I loved how it started off with Maram demanding that Amani not only be her decoy during the wedding, but also during the consummation of that marriage. I felt like that was a bold storytelling choice and I was excited to see what other things would happen after this.
However, I felt like Somaiya Daud kind of went a little too hard a little too soon. She put so many cool and exciting plot twists in the beginning of the book, that once we hit the 30% mark, the story was already dragging. Things were moving slowly, there were so many filler chapters, and it seemed like nothing of importance was getting done.
What I did enjoy about the middle of the book, despite all of the issues, was Maram's plot. I liked that her perspective (while in 3rd person) was sprinkled in every once in a while. I found that I was much more interested in Maram and her life than I was with Amani's. I loved the decision to make Maram sapphic and I felt like, despite the lack of character development, her love interest was interesting and they had chemistry. I just wish that their relationship had been more developed, because to me it felt as though one moment Maram was just discovering this girl existed, and then they were an item. It felt very emotionally jarring and the progression didn't make a whole lot of sense.
Another thing that bothered me was the extreme tone shifts within scenes. There is one instance that stands out where Amani and Idris are making out, and suddenly Amani screams at him to wait (which he immediately does) and then there's no conversation about her wanting to not continue. They typically seem to have pretty good communication between them, so it was strange for that moment of intensity and screaming at him to never be addressed. Just to clarify: the fact that Amani wants to wait before being more intimate is not my issue, it's the tone shift of her suddenly screaming at him when it's a moment they're meant to be hiding from people. And he questions her twice on what she meant by "wait!" but she never clarifies or explains. It's a very strange scene that felt like it could have been cut and we would have lost absolutely nothing. I think it could have been a really great scene where Amani outlines her boundaries and they communicate just how intimate they want their relationship to be, but that is never discussed or brought back up in a later scene.
*SPOILERS*
I think this book's biggest issue, however, is the abandonment of what I had assumed was the thesis. I had assumed that this book was about how lineage and background are not important and should not decide whether we are good or bad people. Maram is mixed and she struggles constantly with which side of her family she feels the most related to. She worries about whether her father's evilness has been inherited by her, and she also worries about how her mother's family judges her based on her father's ruthlessness. She is constantly battling against the idea of her lineage and overcoming it in order to be her own person. Amani is a nobody from a nowhere planet who is plucked from obscurity because she looks like the princess and is forced to be her body double. Despite her having a lineage of no importance, she is smart and daring and empathetic. She cares about people and is savvy in being able to ally herself with the right people in order to fight injustice. However, by the very end of the novel, we find out that Maram actually isn't related to her father and should feel no anxiety about her lineage so all of her fears were baseless. And then we find out that Amani is actually a long lost princess and her mother was the niece of the dowager. Suddenly lineage is extremely important and none of these characters have agency. They all had pre-destined futures and nothing they could have done would have stopped it because they're all very important people BECAUSE of their very important lineages. It's basically The Rise of Skywalker all over again.
This new information about both Maram and Amani's lineages completely undermines the thesis and makes this book about basically nothing. It's disappointing that this trope was used in this book because I feel like the duology could have had a really powerful message of "you are not your family, you are your own person and you get to decide your impact on the world". I felt like it was a completely missed opportunity.
Overall, I didn't completely hate this book. But the good parts are now being affected by so many of the truly disappointing aspects. I really wish I had liked this book, but it just wasn't for me. I can't wait to see what else Somaiya Daud puts out in the future! Her writing is breathtaking and I love her characters so much. I think that her sophomore work will be really incredible.
August 6, 2020
Weakness or treason – they were the same, weren’t they? There was no room for grief. There never had been.
On my blog.
Rep: Moroccan inspired characters and setting, lesbian mc & li
Galley provided by publisher
I have been waiting so long for Court of Lions that I almost can’t believe now that it’s here. But it is here, and it was so definitely worth the wait.
The book picks up pretty much immediately following the end of Mirage. Which was sort of good because I couldn’t remember a whole lot of what happened in Mirage, and starting so close on the tail of the ending meant that there was just a hint of a rundown of what happened. So that definitely helped.
(At this point, I feel obliged to note that if you haven’t read Mirage, what on earth have you been doing instead??)
Unlike Mirage, Court of Lions has a dual POV setup. Which means we finally get to see Maram’s POV (although it does not quite follow the same timeline as Amani’s, starting further back before catching up). And I loved being able to see that, because it really shows her turmoil, does she follow Amani, her proclaimed sister, or does she bow to her father’s will? And, of course, it means we get to see first hand her romance with Aghraas.
In addition to Maram’s POV, what I loved about the book was the characters. This was true in the first book, but doubly true here. In Mirage, I found myself not really liking Idris and Amani’s relationship because it felt a little rushed. But that was actually one of my favourite parts of this book, because of the whole forbiddin and angst-ridden facets of it.
And the way everything developed, with first Maram and Amani plotting, then Idris joining in? I loved seeing all three of them together and interacting.
I think the only thing I would say here is that the book never really felt high-stakes in the same way as Mirage did. It was almost like all the hard work in building up tension was done there, and now it’s all downhill (i.e. easy) from here. In any other book, that might have caused me to round down, but I just loved the characters too much to do that.
Overall then, Court of Lions is a highly satisfying and enjoyable conclusion to the duology. I only wish it had been about ten times the length.
June 17, 2021
I LOVE MARAM AND AMANI AND WOULD WILLINGLY AND GLADLY LAY MY LIFE DOWN TO DEFEND THEM.
Literally everything about the way Somaiya Daud wrote Maram and Amani was freaking perfect. As I write this review and think of them, it’s a bit of a struggle to not start crying to be honest.
Let’s start with Amani. We already know she’s a brave, determined girl who is unwilling to let go of her dream of freedom for her people, and that she’s capable of incredible loyalty to those people who prove themselves worthy. In Mirage, we see that Maram is taking steps to becoming a ruler that will bring that vision of freedom that Amani wants. And in Court of Lions, Amani takes on the role of queenmaker by meeting with rebels, forging alliances, and just generally being Maram’s right-hand woman and helping her secure the planet of Andala and the freedom and self-determination of the Kushaila people. Throughout the book Amani is cunning, ambitious, and intelligent. She’s a spy through and through and ultimately is instrumental in freeing Andala from the tyrannical grip of the Vath.
On the other hand, we get to see more of Maram’s gentler, more vulnerable side. It was so beautiful to see her finally begin to believe Amani when she says that Maram can become the queen that Andala deserves. And more than working through her own feelings of being hopeless and fulfilling the prophecy of cruelty that the Vath have made for her, we also get to see Maram coming into her own: reconnecting with her past and the legacy that her mother gave her, freeing herself from the control of her Vath handlers, and even falling in love.
And speaking of love – whew. The chemistry between Maram and her girlfriend (YOU READ THAT RIGHT FOLKS, MARAM QUEEN OF ANDALA IS SAPPHIC) is so tangible, I just wanted to scream and clutch my hands to my chest. Every interaction Maram and Aghraas had got me fanning myself because hoo boy, the tension and unresolved sexual tension and eventually romance between the two was just so spicy. The yearning tugged on my heart and was absolutely perfectly written. Chef’s kiss.
Read my full review here.
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Literally everything about the way Somaiya Daud wrote Maram and Amani was freaking perfect. As I write this review and think of them, it’s a bit of a struggle to not start crying to be honest.
Let’s start with Amani. We already know she’s a brave, determined girl who is unwilling to let go of her dream of freedom for her people, and that she’s capable of incredible loyalty to those people who prove themselves worthy. In Mirage, we see that Maram is taking steps to becoming a ruler that will bring that vision of freedom that Amani wants. And in Court of Lions, Amani takes on the role of queenmaker by meeting with rebels, forging alliances, and just generally being Maram’s right-hand woman and helping her secure the planet of Andala and the freedom and self-determination of the Kushaila people. Throughout the book Amani is cunning, ambitious, and intelligent. She’s a spy through and through and ultimately is instrumental in freeing Andala from the tyrannical grip of the Vath.
On the other hand, we get to see more of Maram’s gentler, more vulnerable side. It was so beautiful to see her finally begin to believe Amani when she says that Maram can become the queen that Andala deserves. And more than working through her own feelings of being hopeless and fulfilling the prophecy of cruelty that the Vath have made for her, we also get to see Maram coming into her own: reconnecting with her past and the legacy that her mother gave her, freeing herself from the control of her Vath handlers, and even falling in love.
And speaking of love – whew. The chemistry between Maram and her girlfriend (YOU READ THAT RIGHT FOLKS, MARAM QUEEN OF ANDALA IS SAPPHIC) is so tangible, I just wanted to scream and clutch my hands to my chest. Every interaction Maram and Aghraas had got me fanning myself because hoo boy, the tension and unresolved sexual tension and eventually romance between the two was just so spicy. The yearning tugged on my heart and was absolutely perfectly written. Chef’s kiss.
Read my full review here.
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July 19, 2025
January 7, 2021
Following the events of Mirage, Court of Lions follows two identical girls with very different lives. Maram is a princess, the heir to a powerful empire. Amani is a rebel, the daughter of farmers, kidnapped to be Maram’s body double.
I read Mirage just a couple of months ago and I was hooked from the first chapter. The introduction to this world, a well-lived and complex world set in space inspired by Moroccan culture, kept me reading. But it was Amani who settled this book as a favorite. From that first chapter we see her bravery and strength, she’s a survivor, and there’s nothing that she wouldn’t do for her people and family. That’s the kind of character that I love with all my heart.
Court of Lions is a story of resistance and power sprinkled with sapphic longing and beautiful writing. Hands down, one of my favorite conclusions.
Read my full review on my blog, Cande Reads.
I read Mirage just a couple of months ago and I was hooked from the first chapter. The introduction to this world, a well-lived and complex world set in space inspired by Moroccan culture, kept me reading. But it was Amani who settled this book as a favorite. From that first chapter we see her bravery and strength, she’s a survivor, and there’s nothing that she wouldn’t do for her people and family. That’s the kind of character that I love with all my heart.
Court of Lions is a story of resistance and power sprinkled with sapphic longing and beautiful writing. Hands down, one of my favorite conclusions.
Read my full review on my blog, Cande Reads.
January 4, 2021
4.5/5 stars
It's not about the teller," I said. "But the fortune. Good or ill, true or false, it haunts the listener."
And another super enjoyable 2020 read that brought a smile to my face! I read Mirage in February and really liked it, so I was immensely excited for the sequel and finale to the duology, curious to see where the plot would go and how the characters would evolve. Thankfully, not only did this reach up to what the first book represents, but it was even better, and I found myself smiling and crying and enjoying every minute of it.
Following the events of the first book, the second finds Amani and Maram (bonus points for the dual pov) struggling to piece together freedom and reclaim a kingdom that was ravaged by colonialism. Breathing culture in the story, weaving a tale of friendship and love, mixing tales and history and science fiction, this duology captured my heart and will remain in it for a long time. The writers evolved, and I loved that we saw Maram's side of the story too, as I found her to be a very interesting character. Another thing that really delighted me was the bond between her and Amani, because it made me realise how much I love the enemies to friends trope. New characters were also introduced, and the plot thickened and sprung to various sides. The twists were rather predictable, I must admit, but it didn't lower my enjoyment at all.
This book has this wonderful way of reclaiming old YA tropes and giving them unique twists in different cultural settings, and I realised it might have become one of my comfort reads. For this reason, I recommend for YA fans who want to diversify their reading, fans of lighter sci fi and fans of dual POV stories and stories about faraway kingdoms and revolutions ♥
Please remember to take time for yourselves today ♥
~Mary ♥
It's not about the teller," I said. "But the fortune. Good or ill, true or false, it haunts the listener."
And another super enjoyable 2020 read that brought a smile to my face! I read Mirage in February and really liked it, so I was immensely excited for the sequel and finale to the duology, curious to see where the plot would go and how the characters would evolve. Thankfully, not only did this reach up to what the first book represents, but it was even better, and I found myself smiling and crying and enjoying every minute of it.
Following the events of the first book, the second finds Amani and Maram (bonus points for the dual pov) struggling to piece together freedom and reclaim a kingdom that was ravaged by colonialism. Breathing culture in the story, weaving a tale of friendship and love, mixing tales and history and science fiction, this duology captured my heart and will remain in it for a long time. The writers evolved, and I loved that we saw Maram's side of the story too, as I found her to be a very interesting character. Another thing that really delighted me was the bond between her and Amani, because it made me realise how much I love the enemies to friends trope. New characters were also introduced, and the plot thickened and sprung to various sides. The twists were rather predictable, I must admit, but it didn't lower my enjoyment at all.
This book has this wonderful way of reclaiming old YA tropes and giving them unique twists in different cultural settings, and I realised it might have become one of my comfort reads. For this reason, I recommend for YA fans who want to diversify their reading, fans of lighter sci fi and fans of dual POV stories and stories about faraway kingdoms and revolutions ♥
Please remember to take time for yourselves today ♥
~Mary ♥
July 19, 2020
this is....everything i wanted in the sequel 🥺🥺🥺 how do i form coherent words and express my love for it
April 27, 2021
Phenomenal conclusion to this amazing duology!!
Court of Lions picks up from the end of Amani's arc in Mirage, and adds in Maram's POV. We alternate between the two and some flashbacks on Maram's side. While it was a bit confusing at first, the story quickly finds it flow and we see Amani and Maram have much more entangled than they realized and they'll need to rely on each others strengths to get ahead.
A big focus of this book is the friendship between Amani and Maram. How they must gain back the other's trust and strengthen their relationship in the face of colonization. Plus each is developing or facing the constraints of their own romantic relationships. This sequel was just too freaking good. I loved it with my whole heart and I want to reread this duology ASAP.
Court of Lions picks up from the end of Amani's arc in Mirage, and adds in Maram's POV. We alternate between the two and some flashbacks on Maram's side. While it was a bit confusing at first, the story quickly finds it flow and we see Amani and Maram have much more entangled than they realized and they'll need to rely on each others strengths to get ahead.
A big focus of this book is the friendship between Amani and Maram. How they must gain back the other's trust and strengthen their relationship in the face of colonization. Plus each is developing or facing the constraints of their own romantic relationships. This sequel was just too freaking good. I loved it with my whole heart and I want to reread this duology ASAP.
June 10, 2020
3-3.5 stars
Based on the ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love what Somaiya was trying to achieve with this story, but I had technical issues with the pacing and placement and execution of character moments. I'm glad Maram finally proved herself and her arc in concept is amazing. Amani and Maram's relationship is the heart of this series . However their respective romances are really hit or miss and for me it was a miss in both cases.
The rebellion is supposed to be brewing throughout the book, but I feel like the other makhzen players were underdeveloped and so it was hard to care about what was going on with Amani's negotiations. Again I have to point out that the writing tends to gloss over key events such as the climax which was what I found to be true about Mirage as well. I do also have issue with how Maram's character and position is used within the rebellion plots. Part of this is understandable because she has an internal conflict of whether she is fit to rule, but she is just straight up no present for a lot of the politics and just lets Amani do her homework for her. Maram is not a bad character, she's just not utilized to her best potential again in this book. She came through in the end, but I think she really needed to do more work on her end to get to that juicy, culminating end.
I also cannot with how the lineage reveals were used. The book spends so much time exploring Maram's inner turmoil about being Vathek and Kushaila but one piece of info given to her is like "OH this changes everything!" but nothing really changed, it was more like an OK to proceed with the plans that were already laid out. Amani's reveal near the end too was like... that wasn't necessary but alright???
5/9/20: Yessss I got approved for an e-arc from Netgalley
Based on the ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love what Somaiya was trying to achieve with this story, but I had technical issues with the pacing and placement and execution of character moments. I'm glad Maram finally proved herself and her arc in concept is amazing. Amani and Maram's relationship is the heart of this series . However their respective romances are really hit or miss and for me it was a miss in both cases.
The rebellion is supposed to be brewing throughout the book, but I feel like the other makhzen players were underdeveloped and so it was hard to care about what was going on with Amani's negotiations. Again I have to point out that the writing tends to gloss over key events such as the climax which was what I found to be true about Mirage as well. I do also have issue with how Maram's character and position is used within the rebellion plots. Part of this is understandable because she has an internal conflict of whether she is fit to rule, but she is just straight up no present for a lot of the politics and just lets Amani do her homework for her. Maram is not a bad character, she's just not utilized to her best potential again in this book. She came through in the end, but I think she really needed to do more work on her end to get to that juicy, culminating end.
I also cannot with how the lineage reveals were used. The book spends so much time exploring Maram's inner turmoil about being Vathek and Kushaila but one piece of info given to her is like "OH this changes everything!" but nothing really changed, it was more like an OK to proceed with the plans that were already laid out. Amani's reveal near the end too was like... that wasn't necessary but alright???
5/9/20: Yessss I got approved for an e-arc from Netgalley
Want to read
March 12, 2020I mean look it is beautiful but it also looks so childish... Why oh why ??? I am so sick of cover changes between books and this one is *smh* really bad...
Uggghh.. I am tired and frustrated.
Uggghh.. I am tired and frustrated.
July 20, 2020
MARAM AND AGHRAAS. THAT'S IT, THAT'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.
I'm gonna need a spinoff book about them or I will never shut up about it.
I'm gonna need a spinoff book about them or I will never shut up about it.
November 8, 2020
the way I'd give my life for Maram:))) (4.25)
September 6, 2022
I am rewriting this review because it mysteriously disappeared. I googled it and this occasionally happens on Goodreads because someone reports a review and it's taken down, even if it's not offensive and someone just says that they disliked the book lmao.
I received this book free from Netgalley as a digital ARC, and I was originally very excited to read it!!
I quite enjoyed book one, and own it in hardcover. When I got my ARC I was beyond excited to read it!
It's now been some time since I read it, so I'll keep my review summary brief.
Basically, the characters in this book were not the same as in book one. Their personalities totally shifted, especially the princess and Amani.
Maram's treatment in this story was my major dislike. I ask you to recall that in book one she sicced her pet raptor on Amani, a kidnapped young woman whose entire identity was stripped away so Maram could get away from her responsibilities and also be safe from assassination. I sympathized with Maram, but I did not like her. I appreciated that she had depth but ultimately Amani was the one I cared about.
In this book, Amani feels like an afterthought. She loses her agency and becomes too frozen to make decisions. The abuse she endured from Maram is set aside in favor of redeeming Maram in the most sloppy of ways, by giving her her own love story [SPOILER HERE SKIP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH] with a falconer. Ironic that she loves a woman who trains birds and in the first book Amani was scarred by Maram's own pet bird. It honestly just all confused me and frustrated me.
There was also a lot filler and unnecessary drama in this book, and so much complaining from Maram about her privileged life. She wasn't the one kidnapped and made to live her life as someone else's sniper stand-in so honestly it just feels weak compared to that lmao.
Essentially, this book was a let-down if you liked Amani, great if you liked Maram. I know others enjoyed it more than I did, but for me it was a disappointment after I liked book one so much.
I received this book free from Netgalley as a digital ARC, and I was originally very excited to read it!!
I quite enjoyed book one, and own it in hardcover. When I got my ARC I was beyond excited to read it!
It's now been some time since I read it, so I'll keep my review summary brief.
Basically, the characters in this book were not the same as in book one. Their personalities totally shifted, especially the princess and Amani.
Maram's treatment in this story was my major dislike. I ask you to recall that in book one she sicced her pet raptor on Amani, a kidnapped young woman whose entire identity was stripped away so Maram could get away from her responsibilities and also be safe from assassination. I sympathized with Maram, but I did not like her. I appreciated that she had depth but ultimately Amani was the one I cared about.
In this book, Amani feels like an afterthought. She loses her agency and becomes too frozen to make decisions. The abuse she endured from Maram is set aside in favor of redeeming Maram in the most sloppy of ways, by giving her her own love story [SPOILER HERE SKIP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH] with a falconer. Ironic that she loves a woman who trains birds and in the first book Amani was scarred by Maram's own pet bird. It honestly just all confused me and frustrated me.
There was also a lot filler and unnecessary drama in this book, and so much complaining from Maram about her privileged life. She wasn't the one kidnapped and made to live her life as someone else's sniper stand-in so honestly it just feels weak compared to that lmao.
Essentially, this book was a let-down if you liked Amani, great if you liked Maram. I know others enjoyed it more than I did, but for me it was a disappointment after I liked book one so much.
December 24, 2020
Give 👏 this 👏 series 👏 the 👏 respect 👏 it deserves.👏 I have no complaints. I have no notes. I just find it apalling that this masterpiece of political intrigue and postcolonialist science fiction has only 720 ratings at the time I'm writing this. If this series isn't on your TBR, what are you doing with your life?
In all seriousness, I am thoroughly in awe of this book. I did give Mirage 5 stars as well, but I read it more than two years ago, and I think I had forgotten just how powerful Somaiya Daud's writing can be. Court of Lions brings a quiet explosiveness to the "space opera" genre that I haven't seen before. Some aspects of this story could almost be fantasy with how much politicking and strategic planning goes on, and others could almost be historical fiction with the numerous similarities to real-world imperialism and class dynamics.
This book manages to strike a perfect balance between the quiet machinations of an insurgency and the fast-paced action scenes of a revolution. Somehow even the most peaceful scenes hold an air of tension and energy to them that pulls you onward. Her writing style is so elegant and clean. The numerous lovely descriptions are just as succinct as they need to be; we get a beautiful atmosphere without the descriptions ever getting excessively lengthy or purple.
From the beginning of this series, the romance between Idris and Amani has been enthralling in every way. It's a reinvention of the classic trope of the star-crossed lovers that creates such a unique and terrible dynamic. The romance is a constant throughout the series, but the suspension of their romantic tension manages to remain interesting and relevant to the plot without ever getting old or breaking.
And what is the one thing an author can add to any book to make me love it that much more? A sapphic romance. I joke about it, but I am completely serious when I say this perfectly placed f/f romance took Court of Lions to the next level. Sapphic energy aside, this additional romance was the perfect final puzzle piece to complicate the character dynamics for the final book. And how is it possible for both of the main characters' love interests to be so perfect and stunning? Bisexuals: prepare yourselves. That's all I'm saying.
So yes this duology will probably go down as one of my favorites, at least among scifi. It has all the elements I love to see: a nuanced exploration of real and historial themes, two swoony romances in dual POV, fast paced action scenes coupled with quiet intrigue, a character-driven plot complete with complex family dynamics, lush but sensible prose, an explosive final sequence... Just please give this series a chance. I promise you will not regret it.
Content Warnings: murder of family, war violence against civilians, parental abuse, prejudice against fictional group
In all seriousness, I am thoroughly in awe of this book. I did give Mirage 5 stars as well, but I read it more than two years ago, and I think I had forgotten just how powerful Somaiya Daud's writing can be. Court of Lions brings a quiet explosiveness to the "space opera" genre that I haven't seen before. Some aspects of this story could almost be fantasy with how much politicking and strategic planning goes on, and others could almost be historical fiction with the numerous similarities to real-world imperialism and class dynamics.
This book manages to strike a perfect balance between the quiet machinations of an insurgency and the fast-paced action scenes of a revolution. Somehow even the most peaceful scenes hold an air of tension and energy to them that pulls you onward. Her writing style is so elegant and clean. The numerous lovely descriptions are just as succinct as they need to be; we get a beautiful atmosphere without the descriptions ever getting excessively lengthy or purple.
From the beginning of this series, the romance between Idris and Amani has been enthralling in every way. It's a reinvention of the classic trope of the star-crossed lovers that creates such a unique and terrible dynamic. The romance is a constant throughout the series, but the suspension of their romantic tension manages to remain interesting and relevant to the plot without ever getting old or breaking.
And what is the one thing an author can add to any book to make me love it that much more? A sapphic romance. I joke about it, but I am completely serious when I say this perfectly placed f/f romance took Court of Lions to the next level. Sapphic energy aside, this additional romance was the perfect final puzzle piece to complicate the character dynamics for the final book. And how is it possible for both of the main characters' love interests to be so perfect and stunning? Bisexuals: prepare yourselves. That's all I'm saying.
So yes this duology will probably go down as one of my favorites, at least among scifi. It has all the elements I love to see: a nuanced exploration of real and historial themes, two swoony romances in dual POV, fast paced action scenes coupled with quiet intrigue, a character-driven plot complete with complex family dynamics, lush but sensible prose, an explosive final sequence... Just please give this series a chance. I promise you will not regret it.
"Everyone imagines that a poor villager has no understanding of the operations of cruelty. That because she is removed from the center of power, she does not experience the way it is used. I know the Vath... There is no survival to be had in this world."
Content Warnings: murder of family, war violence against civilians, parental abuse, prejudice against fictional group
August 3, 2020
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.
🙂
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.
🙂
June 16, 2020
a better way to review this would probably just be to screencap of all the prose and descriptions that i highlighted as i was reading. it was just so rich and punchy with detail, just like the first book, and i seriously enjoyed taking my time with this one. There was a depth of worldbuilding we don't often see in YA, reminding me of what I love best about, like, a Megan Whalen Turner novel? I simply adore court politics and intrigue done well. Daud did such a good job establishing the stakes in Mirage that I really felt how precarious and dangerous Amani's machinations were in Court of Lions. huge. i'm just in awe of her.
These characters have some so far and in such a natural way that I almost can't believe it. I super dug the pacing through which Amani and Maram moved through and past the events at the end of Mirage, settling into the sisterhood I loved. They are warm and FUNNY and unafraid around each other. And when Amani and Idris struggled through their opposing worldviews, that reckoning of love with fear and duty and responsibility was perfect and felt real. And, most importantly, well paced despite only having one book to do it in.
There are two swoonworthy romances in this book and I adored the space Amani and Idris were given to comfort and settle into each other--every moment felt essential. but I'm feeling super especially gratified by Maram's whole narrative. I DON'T KNOW HOW I KNEW THAT BITCH WAS GAY IN MIRAGE BUT I KNEW IT. THE SEEDS WERE SOWN. i said, "this horrible girl is a lesbian". yes. love when this happens. and yes she deserved to meet a beautiful tall drink of water to calm and ground her, someone so attuned to what Maram's wants and needs, every lesbian deserves to be asked what she wants because we spend so much time thinking about what's expected and that really spoke to me in the wake of spop. Aghraas is so dreamy and there was a subtle and magical conversation between her and Amani at the end that I wanna give a special shoutout to.
FULLY LOVED THIS SERIES. can't wait for more from this author. 5/5 preorder and buy it
These characters have some so far and in such a natural way that I almost can't believe it. I super dug the pacing through which Amani and Maram moved through and past the events at the end of Mirage, settling into the sisterhood I loved. They are warm and FUNNY and unafraid around each other. And when Amani and Idris struggled through their opposing worldviews, that reckoning of love with fear and duty and responsibility was perfect and felt real. And, most importantly, well paced despite only having one book to do it in.
There are two swoonworthy romances in this book and I adored the space Amani and Idris were given to comfort and settle into each other--every moment felt essential. but I'm feeling super especially gratified by Maram's whole narrative. I DON'T KNOW HOW I KNEW THAT BITCH WAS GAY IN MIRAGE BUT I KNEW IT. THE SEEDS WERE SOWN. i said, "this horrible girl is a lesbian". yes. love when this happens. and yes she deserved to meet a beautiful tall drink of water to calm and ground her, someone so attuned to what Maram's wants and needs, every lesbian deserves to be asked what she wants because we spend so much time thinking about what's expected and that really spoke to me in the wake of spop. Aghraas is so dreamy and there was a subtle and magical conversation between her and Amani at the end that I wanna give a special shoutout to.
FULLY LOVED THIS SERIES. can't wait for more from this author. 5/5 preorder and buy it
January 1, 2021
BIRD LESBIANS BIRD LESBIANS BIRD LESBIANS BIRD LESBIANS
May 31, 2020
”You have the makings of a great queen, Maram,” I said. “And I did what I could to save that.”
I was seriously pleased by the character development in this book. Even characters that is made my mind up about in book one, changed my mind in this book!
Amani and Idris and their “will they-won’t they” had me a bit nervous but their scenes together made my heart swell.
And OMG Aghraas? Her and Maram was something I definitely didn’t see coming and I’m glad it happened..
The plot was amazing, and kept me interested and I loved every minute of it!!
4/5 🌟’s
I was seriously pleased by the character development in this book. Even characters that is made my mind up about in book one, changed my mind in this book!
Amani and Idris and their “will they-won’t they” had me a bit nervous but their scenes together made my heart swell.
And OMG Aghraas? Her and Maram was something I definitely didn’t see coming and I’m glad it happened..
The plot was amazing, and kept me interested and I loved every minute of it!!
4/5 🌟’s
August 29, 2021
this was okay! i expected there to be a bit more closure but overall it was fun to read. i wish maram and aghraas had a bit more development but otherwise i enjoyed it
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