Mirage

Daud, Somaiya.  Mirage.  2018.  Flatiron Books, New York, NY.


Amani is a young girl who lives in a village on a mostly forgotten moon of Andala.  While the evil Vathek Empire rules with an iron fist, the villagers are left alone, for the most part as long as there are no rebellions and they pay their taxes to the Empire.

Amani loves to laugh, to dream, and to talk with her friends. She is vivacious, and so proud of her heritage.

The night of her majority is to be the night she remembers for the rest of her life.  She will receive her Daan - the markings that tell of her birthright, her family history, and her parent's hope for the future.  These marks will be tattooed proudly upon her face, worn for all to see.

Amani's life changes forever on the night of her ceremony.  Along with the other girls, Amani is celebrating her coming of age when the Droid of the Vathek invade the ceremony, separate the girls from the boys, and take Amani with no explanation given to her or her family.

After a terrifying journey to Andala, Amani discovers that she looks exactly like the Princess Maram.  She is to stand in for the Princess in all functions where the Princess' life would be in danger.  Amani is stripped of her Dann, her family, and everything else that marks her as a member of a beloved family on a small moon.  With the price of failure being death - either for her or her family, Amani quickly learns to adapt to life as the royal double.

But as Amani settles into her double life, she discovers many things.  That the Princess Maram may not be as evil as everyone believes.  That Maram is a scared young woman that nobody trusts but everyone fears.  She discovers there is an active and open rebellion, dedicated to destroying the Vathek once and for all and led by a powerful woman that is impossible to deny.  And she discovers Idris, the young Prince destined to marry Maram.

Will Amani manage to do her job as the body double for the hated princess and stay alive?  Will she be able to keep the princess safe?  Will she be able to keep the people safe without joining the rebellion, or will circumstances force her to join forces with them just to stay alive?

Author's Website:  http://www.somaiyabooks.com/


Cover Image: https://www.worldcat.org/title/mirage/oclc/1048944644&referer=brief_results