Description
The stunning and lushly imagined Sunday Times bestseller about a girl who is kidnapped and forced to become the body double for the princess of a ruthless empire.
'A smart, romantic, exciting debut from a rare talent' Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent
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 and receiving a sign that one day, she, too, will have adventures, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects. She is kidnapped by the government and taken in secret to the royal palace. There, 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 to appear in public, 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' fiance, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear, and she soon realises that one wrong move could lead to her death . . .
'By turns thrilling and ruminative, sexy and heartbreaking' Sabaa Tahir, author of an Ember in the Ashes
'Enriching, thrilling, and captivating' BuzzFeed
'Lush and dangerous, Mirage had me entranced' Tochi Onyebuchi, author of Riot Baby
About the Author
Somaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master's degree she doubled as a bookseller at Politics and Prose in their children's department. Determined to remain in school for as long as possible, she packed her bags in 2014 and moved to the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she's writing a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment.
Reviews
A BuzzFeed, Publishers Weekly, Bustle, and Hypable most anticipated book of 2018
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. A smart, romantic, exciting debut from a rare talent
Prepare yourself for a story that's enriching, thrilling, and captivating * BuzzFeed *
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 *
Superb . . . a beautiful and necessary meditation on finding strength in one's culture * Entertainment Weekly *
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. I was here for all of it, and I desperately need to know what happens next
Riveting . . . Readers who love clever, independent young women, protagonists of colour, cultures we don't normally get to see positively represented in fiction, lite-SF, space opera, royal court intrigue, and delectable insta-love will inhale Mirage * Tor.com *
A masterful, stunning read that brings Somaiya onto the scene as a major talent and voice and force to be reckoned with
Beautifully detailed, with enchanting poetry and characters you'll come to care for, Mirage is an exciting introduction to what is sure to be a thrilling series * CultureFly *
Mirage is smart, sexy, and devilishly clever. Somaiya Daud has penned a tale worthy of all the stars in the sky
Mirage is a fantastic book. It's full of my favourite things: secrets, intrigue, gorgeous mythology, and complicated characters. It will break your heart and fill you with hope
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
Mirage had me enthralled from its first page to its last. It's a a heart-wrenching, romantic, and exhilarating page-turner. Somaiya Daud is a brilliant writer and she has written a brilliant book
This is a book that will blow you away from the moment you start * Escapades of a Book Worm *
Book Information
ISBN 9781473651746
Author Somaiya Daud
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Series Mirage
Weight(grams) 220g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 130mm * 28mm
