An excellent story that builds momentum until the very end and continues the unique premise that we found in Mirage.” —The Nerd Daily
“Court of Lions brings the Star Wars–inspired duology to a stunning close.” —BookRiot.com
“Fantasy meets science-fiction in this tumultuous tale of sisters, sacrifice, and resilience...Amani and Maram’s story will leave you wanting more of the rich culture Daud weaves into each poetic chapter.” —PaperbackParis.com
“In the conclusion to the Mirage duology, identity and self-acceptance are inextricably tied to revolution and the dismantling of colonial oppression and power. Daud’s prose is poetic and rich...the climax satisfying. A solid conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Mirage
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults List
ABA IndieNext Pick
Junior Library Guild selection
Booklist Top 10 Scifi/Fantasy Book for Youth
Children’s Africana Book Award Honor Book for Older Readers
“Superb...a refreshing and unique coming-of-age story. The way Amani uses her heritage to facilitate her survival makes Mirage a beautiful and necessary meditation on finding strength in one’s culture.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Daud’s debut novel has the flair of an Arthurian drama, the lavish sensory detail of a Nizar Qabbani poem, and the sleek technical flair of a sci-fi series...this audacious combination is so skillfully done that it’ll shock breath into your lungs. If you loved The Wrath and the Dawn and Children of Blood and Bone, Mirage will captivate you.” —The Christian Science Monitor
“This poetically written novel will appeal to many, particularly fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Verdict: This debut novel has what it takes to be the next big thing in sci-fi/fantasy.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“This gorgeously written, immersive, and captivating series starter is sure to have fans eager for a sequel.” —ALA Booklist, starred review
“Prepare yourself for a story that’s enriching, thrilling, and captivating.” —BuzzFeed
“Mirage is smart, sexy, and devilishly clever. Somaiya Daud has penned a tale worthy of all the stars in the sky, and I can't wait to read what she writes next.” —Renée Ahdieh, author of The Beautiful
“Daud is a masterful storyteller. Mirage gives readers an exquisitely wrought world with deft characters, death-defying stakes, and an aching romance. Bound to linger in your dreams.” —Roshani Choksi, author of The Star-Touched Queen
“Somaiya Daud’s Mirage reads like the lushest of fantasies, set in an unforgettably immersive world that is both dangerous and impossibly lovely. The characters are complex and nuanced, and the story is by turns romantic, harrowing, climactic and hopeful, though the unresolved ending paves the way for an even grander sequel. I didn’t want it to end, and I can't wait to return to the world Daud has created.” —Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion
“Mirage is full of my favorite things: secrets, intrigue, gorgeous mythology, and complicated characters. It will break your heart and fill you with hope.” —Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians
“A rich, dazzling, powerful debut. Somaiya Daud is an author to watch.” —Tahereh Mafi, author of the Shatter Me series
“Lush and dangerous, Mirage had me entranced. Amani’s journey—from rural innocent to calculating young woman, from village girl to royal impersonator—is galactic. Daud’s novel asks, ‘what does it mean to impersonate your enemy?’ And the answer she provides here is nothing short of thrilling. I was here for all of it, and I desperately need to know what happens next.” —Tochi Onyebuchi, author of Beasts Made of Night
“Mirage is full of characters who feel like they existed long before the story began, and a rich world that is as beautiful as it is cruel. Somaiya Daud is a rare talent. A smart, romantic, exciting debut.” —Veronica Roth, author of Divergent
“Mirage reads as an impossible trick of the light, a feather that carves words into stone, a banquet of longing and loss. Every page comes roaring to life in a way that overwhelms and transforms you. This isn’t a debut novel so much as an heirloom, and the work of a master storyteller.” —Margaret Stohl, coauthor of Beautiful Creatures
“Mirage had me enthralled from its first page to its last. It’s a heart-wrenching, romantic, and exhilarating page-turner. Begin preparing yourselves for it now. Somaiya Daud is a brilliant writer and she has written a brilliant book.” —Courtney Summers, author of Sadie
“With its breathtaking worldbuilding and characters who grabbed me from the first page, Mirage is by turns thrilling and ruminative, sexy and heartbreaking. Somaiya Daud has written a moving and unforgettable debut.” —Sabaa Tahir, author of An Ember in the Ashes
2020-06-30
In the conclusion to the Mirage duology, identity and self-acceptance are inextricably tied to revolution and the dismantling of colonial oppression and power.
Having spared a rebel assassin and broken princess Maram’s trust, body double Amani must now obey orders to the letter to avoid further torture of her family by Maram’s stewardess Nadine. The order for Amani to stand as a proxy in the royal marriage to prince Idris is exquisitely painful, physical proximity serving as a daily reminder of the impossible reality of their mutual love. But Maram’s additional secret orders reveal the half Kushaila/half Vath princess’s inner conflicts of identity and discomfort with the unjust rule of the Vath and her father. Amani must regain Maram’s trust and convince her and their possible allies that Maram is the queen their planet needs. Daud continues to explore aspects of colonialism, from cultural erasure to self-hatred, action versus complicity, and liberation from structural oppression. Shifting perspectives reveal the depth of Maram’s inner conflicts but also the power dynamics and trappings of the two women. The pacing is deliberate, focusing mostly on court machinations and personal relationships as inner and interpersonal conflicts dominate over rebellion plots and revelations (some a little too on-the-nose). Daud’s prose is poetic and rich though occasionally repetitive. The climax, while satisfying, is more abbreviated. Most characters are brown-skinned.
A solid conclusion. (maps, dramatis personae, political factions, timeline, glossary) (Fantasy. 13-18)
Narrator Rasha Zamamiri delivers an enchanting conclusion to a fantasy series immersed in Moroccan-inspired traditions that emotionally connect listeners to vivid characters with high stakes. Body double Amani must balance her desire to continue helping the rebellion and her need to protect her family from punishment for her transgressions. Zamamiri’s narration depicts Amani with fierce passion as she works to repair her relationship with Maram while pulling at listeners’ heartstrings as Amani tries to bury her feelings for Idris, knowing they can never be together. As Maram begins a new lesbian romance with her falconer, Zamamiri’s voice softens, easing listeners past her frigid exterior and revealing the tender interior she’s always pushed down. Filled with political intrigue, this audiobook is hard to pause. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
