Review: Mirage

Mirage by Somaiya Daud
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

4.25 stars

Somaiya Daud's Mirage, a YA novel, gives us the story of three vibrant characters in a Moroccan Space Opera that reads a bit more like fantasy than sci-fi. We have Amani, a classic heroine who is clever, goodhearted and brave, Maram, an antiheroine princess and heir apparent to a violent invading Vethek people who have invaded and subjugated, the peaceful world in which Amani and her Andalaan tribe live, and Idris, the hostage Andalaan prince bridegroom, who must marry Maram in order to forge a peace between the invaders and the subjugated. As the novel opens Amani is about to undergo a coming of age ceremony. Rather than being able to celebrate this embrace of her cultural history, Vathek droids invade the venue and Amani is forcibly removed. Shortly thereafter she finds herself in training to become the body double for Maram, providing security against assassination at public events. And why is Amani so similar in appearance? Maram's mother was Andalaan. Amani is rigidly trained to take Maram's place and while she initially finds Maram cruel and cold, as months pass the girls draw closer to each other, putting Amani in a difficult position. She grows to care for Maram as she begins to see how isolated and secretly vulnerable Maram is and yet protecting Maram could potentially mean turning against her own people. Attending events and going on visits to family that Maram might find arduous means that Amani also spends time with Idris. Amani and Idris, quite predictably, become attracted to one another. They share a culture and heritage that is being systematically wiped away by the Vatheks. It includes a love of games, stories and especially of poetry. The story of these three people is set against a backdrop of growing rebellion and political intrigue.

There are a number of aspects of the novel that are quite refreshing, not least of which is the importance of language and poetry to Amani and Idris' story. I love this aspect of Arabic flavor to the novel. This is the first book in a trilogy and it manages to move beyond the usual "there's a princess and a girl that isn't the princess and the prince who is promised to the princess but loves the girl that isn't a princess" trope. (Which, don't get me wrong, I'm quite content to see this trope adapted to Moroccan/Arabic traditions!) Daud manages to give the reader the flavor of what colonialism, imperialism, and erosion of culture in the name of unity is like. Amani is shocked to find that Idris cannot even read what should have been his native language (Kushaila). He knows stories, games, but all have been reinterpreted through a Vathekaar filter. He is unable even to interpret his daan, a tribal tattoo with designs relating to a person's history- family, faith and ancestry. There is poignancy too in the fact that Maram resembles a member of a tribe and culture that she knows nothing about and has been told is inferior and dangerous. She knows little, really, of her mother's heritage, and her mother's people mourn her distance from her maternal family and culture. Amani bridges a cultural gap for both Maram and Idris, all while struggling to maintain her integrity.

There was much to love in this book and I'm looking forward to the next entry in the trilogy!

I received a paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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