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Court of Lions (Mirage #2) by Somaiya Daud

Please be aware that this is the final book in this duology so there will be spoilers for Mirage.



Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.


Goodreads Synopsis

Two identical girls, one a princess, the other a rebel. Who will rule the empire? After being swept up into the brutal Vathek court, Amani, the ordinary girl forced to serve as the half-Vathek princess's body double, has been forced into complete isolation. The cruel but complex princess, Maram, with whom Amani had cultivated a tenuous friendship, discovered Amani's connection to the rebellion and has forced her into silence, and if Amani crosses Maram once more, her identity - and her betrayal - will be revealed to everyone in the court. Amani is desperate to continue helping the rebellion, to fight for her people's freedom. But she must make a devastating decision: will she step aside, and watch her people suffer, or continue to aid them, and put herself and her family in mortal danger? And whatever she chooses, can she bear to remain separated, forever, from Maram's fiancé, Idris?

Review

After finding out that the final book in the Mirage duology was coming out I knew I needed to get in gear and read Mirage, which was a brilliant book with so many twists and turns that it had me on the edge of my seat. Once I finished it I was concerned about how the story would continue on and if it would live up to Mirage.


I can honestly say that this book did just that. This was such an epic conclusion to this story with these characters that I had found myself becoming quickly attached too. Maram and Amani are two very unique characters who have already gone through so much and go through even more in this book.


Amani is struggling with the fact that any more mistakes or betrayals will put her family in even more danger and the fact that she’s completely in love with Maram’s fiancé. Maram on the other hand is struggling with figuring out who she is as she learns more about her mother and her culture. I think what makes this duology so enjoyable is the friendship between Maram and Amani. I loved watching the two characters grow together and teach each other new things.


Somaiya Duad has this magical way of writing that just completely pulls you in to this world and has you wanting more. I loved learning more about the different cultures and politics that surrounded these characters and this story.


I do however feel like the end wrapped up too quickly for me and would have liked to have had a bit more in terms of the final scenes. It felt like I blinked and the battle was over to the point I actually went back to re-read it because I felt like I had missed something!


Overall, this was a brilliant, action-packed and magical ending to the Mirage duology and I cannot wait to see what Duad comes out with next!


Review: 4/5 stars

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