In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon. But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place. As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death (from Goodreads). Fans of sci-fi blended with fantasy, this is definitely a novel you are going to want to pick up. Slow to start, Amani's kidnapping starts a succession of events that will keep you reading - and guessing - about how this tale will end! Amani was a fabulous main character. One thing I really enjoyed about her was her strength - her people, her family, and she herself were prisoners of their own planet - tortured and killed and left to basically survive on their own. Once a thriving nation, they are now second-class citizens and are no longer allowed to speak their language, celebrate their customs, or just be themselves. Throughout it all, Amani remained strong, firm in her beliefs, and holding out that there is hope for her people and that she will see her family again. This novel has a great mix of romance, action, and suspense - and it will definitely leave you waiting in suspense for the next installment! Pick up a copy of Mirage today! TITLE - Mirage AUTHOR - Somaiya Daud PUBLISHER - Flatiron Books/Macmillan PAGES - 308 SOCIAL MEDIA - http://www.somaiyabooks.com/ Twitter @somaiyadaud Mrs. Larkin, EO Smith School Librarian
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