It’s time to throw ourselves headlong and screaming into space with some sci-fi reviews!
Because why have chill when you can just scream! I know right?! I’m fully of free quality life advice. You are welcome.
Today I’m going to be hitting you with (1) a rip in space, (2) Obsidio by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, and (3) Mirage by Somaiya Daud.
So much fun! Now I actually bought Obsidio myself so surprise for a non-ARC review for once. But all the thanks to Flatiron Books for the ARC of Mirage! Which I was so excited to get (all the way from the USA too wooooo).
MIRAGE BY SOMAIYA DAUD
Goodreads Book Depository Publisher Author Website
publishes 28th of August
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.
Mirage instnatly caught my attention with its awesome premise.
I confess for the longest time I actually thought this was epic fantasy. HA @ me for not reading blurbs and for just being generally partially illiterate. But how exciting is it to have an #ownvoices Moroccan inspired fantasy!? I’m so thrilled books like these are on coming onto our shelves now and they thoroughly deserve it!
Unfortunately for me: the writing style and actual logic of the plot didn’t really work for me. I struggled. I’m sad, because I LOVED so many of the elements here, and I still recommend it because I know it’ll be important for a lot of readers. But ya.
Mirage is full of:
- body-doubles and face swaps (almost a Prince and the Pauper sort of thing…if the pauper was forcibly kidnapped in order to play the prince…and they’re princesses. BUT ANYWAY.)
- rich back-stabbing courts and incredible outfits and lavish descriptions.
- a most intricately detailed culture and lovingly built planets
- an enemies-to-friendship thing happening here between two complex females
- PLOT TWISTS
- sparks of rebellions and death threats and torn allegiances
OBSIDIO (ILLUMINAE FILES #3) BY AMIE KAUFMAN AND JAY KRISTOFF
Don’t worry! No spoilers!
★★★★★
Goodreads Illuminae Review Gemina Review Book Depository
published March 2018
Heartfelt shout out to myself and how frEAKING TRAUMATISED I AM RIGHT NOW.
Oh wow I love this series so much. Every single one has been 5-stars (although I think Gemina is my ultimate favourite?!) and it was such a satisfying, twisty, gut-punching and incredible finale. I’m sooooo happyyyyyyy. (And by “happy” I mean kind of just sobbing with relief that I’m still alive at the end of it tho.)
I don’t want to say much because of spoilers! So just trust me when I say: I loved everything. (HA. So helpful.) I think there should’ve been more mixed-media spreads though! I missed them. This featured way more surveillance footage summaries. Although the ending spreads were ajfkdlsad HEART EYES SO INCREDIBLE. I also listened to it via audio (while perusing the book as I went) and the dramatised audiobook is A+ in excellence. 10/10 recommend all the formats.
LITTLE THOUGHTS
- I honestly want this as a movie and I barely ever say that but yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- my hEART HURTS is this how “love” feels idk
- My favourites remain: AIDAN, Ella, Nik and Hanna.
- Yes I listed the slightly psychotic computer system and I have nothing to say for myself
- Kady is so incredibly SMART and unstoppable here
- And her dad, Isaac Grant, is basically laid out with a bullet wound from a previous books and he’s everyone’s mother and it’s incredible. He has this bunch of raggedy clever ptsd-ridden smart-mouthed teens and goes, “OK YOU ARE ALL MY CHILDREN NOW STOP SWEARING AND HERE IS YOUR CURFEW.” Bless Issac Grant.
- We get introduced to Asha and Rhys as the new couple. (Didn’t love them as much but that’s because what can live up to Nik and Hanna.)
- Rhys had amazing hair. I appreciate this.
- PLOT TWISTS
- MORE PLOT TWISTS
- PLOT
- FRIKKING
- TWISTS
- Banter! Wit! Some sections that made me snort out loud (even amongst all the carnage)
- I think it also took a really brutal look at just war and how it makes monsters out of men.
- Perfect book is perfect and I ask for nothing else from it. My feels are shattered and also made whole.
SPOILER SECTION SO I CAN SHRIEK UNCENSORED
I read Obsidio earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I had one complaint about the ending but I don’t want to post it in case I spoil someone. Other than that though I really enjoyed the book so much! Loved reading your review on it. I would love a movie series of all 3 of the Illuminae Files books. I’d watch that! I loved all the different formatting of the books. I’m planning to re-read the series in some years, but then read the 3 books closer together, as now I read Gemina when it came out and then Obsidio when it came out. I read Illuminae (book 1) a little while after it came out.
Shame Mirage wasn’t quite for you.
Obsidio just gave me ALL the feels and I ended up kind of screaming softly for a million years…but ultimately in a good way. 😍They like to stress us out, right?! AGHGHGH. And omg I hope they actually do get to go ahead with the movie! I know they said it was happening but sometimes these things can fizzle. But it’d just make SUCH a good movie though!!
coindentally i also finished the Illuminae file series. And I finished your book, it did really have cake, chocolate and stabbing. Great job.
Aww thanks SO MUCH for reading my book too!! 💛💛
I DON’T KNOW THE LAST SCI-FI BOOK I READ HA HA HA HA HA. But I’m reading an ARC of a sci-fi book right now. It’s not really my favorite genre but it’s close to fantasy so I don’t hate it either.
AND YES MIRAGE AND ILLUMINAE ARE IN MY TBR PILE. The Illuminae files books have been in my TBR since time immemorial but I still haven’t read them yet. I haven’t heard any negative reviews on those books so maybe I’ll read them soon.
Sci-fi isn’t really my favourite either. 😂I mean I have a ton I LOVE but usually I kind of steer clear hahaha. (afjdsklad you should definitely have the Illumiane books destroy your life. They are worth it. 10/10 would be murdered by them again.)
Ooooh I want both of these books!! Mirage sounds really good, and I’ve kept seeing and wanting to read the Illuminae books!!! I love the idea that there’s pictures and other cool stuff to break up the story!!! Which is great for such thick books 😂
I love sci-fi!!! It’s one of my favorite genres. I think the last sci-fi book I read was The Diabolic, which was really interesting and unique from any robot book I’d read before, so I liked it a lot!
Great post, Cait!! I’m definitely gonna read both of these books one day hopefully soon, if I can get through the other books that are first in line 😂
You should definitely try both! And I LOVE how Illuminae does all the unique formatting with the pictures and messages and emails and stuff. It’s so different and unique!? BEST.
Omg I loved The Diabolic!! Like I don’t really reach for sci-fi often, but there are some that really stand out. 😍
I AM SO NERVOUS ABOUT OBSIDIO. SO FREAKING NERVOUS. I JUST KNOW THAT I WILL BE STRESSED THE WHOLE TIME.
I WAS 1000% STRESSED THE WHOLE TIME. NOT GONNA LIE.
You read Obsidio! I’m still waiting to find a cheap copy of that book because I must own it. It’s so pretty! I’m glad you liked it. Great reviews! I’m reading a sci-fi book right now. It’s called The Possessions, and it’s about these people who can take pills and be possessed by the spirits of dead people. It’s all very weird.
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It IS. It practically reflects our horrified faces back at us?! 10/10 for design there. (Although kind of horrible to take photos of haha.) And omg The Possessions sounds seriously creepy there.😂
HELP CAIT YOU’RE MAKING MY TBR TOO BIG. jkk I love you reviews. 🙂
I never read Obsidio *gasp* but this makes me really want to!! Idk it was pretty big and intimidating and I wimped out, haha. XD But I love the characters and it’s hard to resist seeing them again. And Mirage sounds spectacular!! *adds to never-ending TBR*
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YOUR TBR IS MOST WELCOME FOR ALL THE SUFFERING.😂
But no no you have to try Obsidio! It’s not really any bigger than Illuminae or Gemina! Although I definitely find big books intimidating too, hence I went with the audio.😂Saved me from breaking my little wrists too. Holy wow those books are so big?!
I will I will!! Haha maybe my eyes just think it’s huger (totally a word) than it is. Audio books are awesome!
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The premise to Mirage looks interesting. I’m sorry the writing style and plot logic didn’t work out for you. Those would be problems for me too. I haven’t read ILLUMINAE FILES, but I keep hearing great things about Jay Kristoff. I haven’t picked up one of his books since Stormdancer. I’ll need to check out some of his newer works!
I am a little biased to say I think Illuminae is WAY better than Stormdancer.😂 But also his Nevernight books are phenomenal?! So basically yes: read all the Kristoff books of ever.😂
Mirage sound really interesting! 😃 I’ll have to try reading it.
I hope you like it if you get a chance to try it!
Oooh, I’m sad you didn’t love Mirage, but SO HAPPY that you loved Obsidio that I honestly mostly forgot all about Mirage when I read your Obsidio review. 😂 The ENTIRE SPOILER SECTION just had me grinning like a weirdo because YES TO ALL OF IT but especially the um… “parachute” thing which I also forgot about and I was actually literally sliding out of my chair SOBBING at the time. Like. This book broke me in every possible way and I love it. I am dyingggg for Jay to give us more info on the movie for Illuminae and I just hope they do all 3 books and that they do it WELL.
I’M FULLY FREAKING OUT OVER OBSIDIO. HOW WAS IT SO PERFECT AND GOOD?!? Like ajfdkslad I just…can’t…talk without spoilers.😂😂But least to say, absolute respect to the authors for smashing our hearts AND piecing them back together. (THE FRIKKIN PARACHUUUUUTE.)
I’m so so hoping the Aurora Arising series is this good *fingers crossed tightly*
Ahhh space sci-fi, the genre I should love but for some reason I rarely reach for it and when I do it usually disappoints? Like my favorite one I’ve read is The Lunar Chronicles but I don’t really think those count because they don’t actually do much in space until the last book? I read the first Illuminae in July and I enjoyed it but wasn’t blown away and I haven’t picked up Gemina yet. And the only other one that comes to mind is I guess I Am Number Four sort of counts because it’s about aliens and must’ve been written by a robot because of hOW EMOTIONLESS AND DRY THE WRITING WAS!!!!! Weird since I’m such a huge Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy fan but maybe those have made me picky?
I’m the saaaame.😂I barely ever touch sci-fi. I think Illuminae is one of my “exceptions” because I adore EVERY volume, but usually I avoid sci-fi like nothing else. (Like I keep reading ones where no one eats?? All they do is eat ration bars and blow up people in outer space and I’m like: mate, I need more than this.) I did like Lunar Chronicles too, but I think they feel almost more dystopian? Until Winter.😂
Guardians of the Galaxy, however, is AMAZING.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU ON OBSIDIO. It’s not that I’m heartless; I just feel like death has a great punch at the end. It’s not all rosy and “dreams do come true.” War kills people. Everyone. It kills the soldiers, the civilians, the children. It kills the living every day that they continue when their family/friends/country is dead. So I would have enjoyed if they had gone with that sentiment and maybe focused a little more on the PTSD and absolute shock that war is.
AFJDKLASD OBSIDIO WAS SO GOOD THOUGH. Okay but truly…I AM 100000% glad about the ending. It’s so hard to talk without spoilers but if Certain People Had Died I would’ve been absolutely pissed off.😂
Lovely reviews, Cait! <3 I'm sorry that Mirage didn't work out for you – I really enjoyed this book and it has amazing elements, I really liked the whole body-double kind of thing, it was so cool haha 😀
I'm glad you loved Obsidio so much ahhh I'm so excited to read it, I hope I can get it soon – I'm very nervous about it as well,…. but ahhhhhhh so impatient too haha 😀
I’m sad it wasn’t a favourite either! But SO many cool elements ahhh. And I’m still definitely recommending it because I think it’s pretty freaking awesome to have a Moroccan inspired sci-fi out there now.
OBSIDIO SLAYED ME. I’M SO HAPPY WITH IT.
I don’t usually like Sci-Fi which is why I haven’t grabbed the Illuminae series yet. That and the fact that the pages seemed to be filled with visually sensory overloaded content. But it does peak my interest a TINY bit because of the unique layout. Any way to convince this sci-fi skeptic to join the Illuminae spaceship?
IT’S SO GOOD THOUGH. I mean, if you have sensory overload, I get how it would be overwhelming. Maybe try the audiobooks if you like them?? They’ve got lots of different narrators so it’s not confusing with all the messages/dialogue pages! But anyway, I’m not the biggest sci-fi fan myself but I adore them.😂
I’m sad you didn’t like Mirage that much! I’m actually part of the blog tour, so I’m reading it soon and I can’t wait. I’m really excited to read a Moroccan inspired fantasy, especially, because it’s #ownvoices and I’m intrigued by the whole body-doubles plotline. I haven’t read the Illuminae Files series yet, but I’m definitely planning to get to it soon now that the third book came out. I’m glad you enjoy Obsidio! Great review! 🙂
I so so hope you adore Mirage!! It’s definitely not a book I’m all ranty or salty over though? It just didn’t really work for me?? I think I maybe expected a little more rebellions and girl-girl friendships but it ended up being VERY romancey. Which I’m sure tons fo people will love.😂
Oohh then I will love it! I’m definitely one of those people that like books that are very romancey 😂
Great reviews Cait!! I have yet to read the illuminate series due to soooo many mixed reviews but now that I know you love it I might have to give it a try! Also I have heard amazing things about Mirage I haven’t been reading a lot syfi books lately and should probably mix up my reading… great post 🙂
IT’S SO GOOD, JAMIE. I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT. It’s one where I love EACH book a ton and find it hard to pick favourites. 😂
Good to know I’ll definitely bump it up on my TBR 🙂
Uh I think the last sci-fi I read was Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott. Is that a sci-fi? I don’t even know what genre it was supposed to be. 😛 The race felt very dystopian, but apparently it was sent in present day?? Oh well. I just know I liked it. XD
I like sci-fi I guess, but usually the kind with time travel or interesting technology or when aliens come to earth, not ones set in space because those usually tend to be long boring space operas that drag on forever. XD But I am interested in reading Illuminae anyway because I’m curious to see if I would like the interesting format and to listen to the audiobook at the same time and just all the hype because everyone seems to like it. 🙂
Honestly I have NO idea what genre that one is.😂I remember enjoying it though! It was a loooong time ago though ahah. But it felt like the Hunger Games but more present day??? I have no idea.😂
The Illuminae books are SO FREAKING GOOD ON AUDIO THOUGH. I recommend it so much!
I do not often reach for sci-fi. Ironically just the other day I tried to reread a Halo book, but immediately thought, “They all die in the end pretty much, this isn’t going to be any fun.” So I didn’t continue. Even though I picked it up to get an idea of how to write sci-fi battles, because I have a potential book* involving a similar scenario. (I have no idea if I would consider the battles well-written or not. It’s been so long. xD)
*Is it a book, or will it only be a few chapters, I don’t know. It’s a story arc at any rate.
Then I realized my favorite sci-fi story is Star Wars, and lightsaber duels and the Force make it feel waaaay more like fantasy, and apparently I cannot function in stories without magic. So. I haven’t pursued normal sci-fi.
I was interested in Mirage, but reading reviews it sounds like there isn’t enough plot. I’ll probably read it eventually just cuz I am interested in Morocco and all the details sound like delicious worldbuilding data.
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This is where I confess I’ve never actually read/seen ANYTHING to do with Star Wars!? Terrible aren’t I. 😂😂I think sci-fi isn’t something I usually reach for but I DO so love Illuminae, Red Rising, and the Knife of Never Letting Go at least haha.
I definitely think Mirage is still worth checking out! It’s more of a romance than anything else though, tbh.
I recently read The Zanna Function by Daniel Wheatley which is so, so good! I enjoyed it a lot <3 Mirage sounds like a wonderful read. It's so great to see so many different cultures being celebrated in YA Fantasy, these days 🙂
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Yes yes I LOVE that we’re getting to see way more cultures celebrated in all genres. Go these fantastic #ownvoices authors. 😍
ALL THE FEELS FOR THE SHWARMA AND LITERALLY OBSIDIO WAS THE BEST. basically your sentence; perfect book is perfect. the wit and banter and isaac grant!!!! so much love and heartbreak and arghhhh thanks fr summing up all my feels into actual words
YES YES IT JUST COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT. SO HEART PUNCHING AND YET SATISFYING AHHHHH.
OMG THAT PARACHUTE.
I don’t usually gravitate towards sci-fi, but the Illuminae Files are my favouritest thing ever (along with another twelve million books), and I just love them so much! Agreed that Gemina is the best! Although they’re all SOOOO GOOD!!!
And I really want to read Mirage… It’s too bad that it didn’t work for you, but I’m hopeful that I’ll enjoy it.
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Saaaame though.😂Like sci-fi isn’t my typical genre AT ALL but I super much love Illuminae!!
Aw, I’m sorry Mirage wasn’t for you, Cait! I totally get it, though. While I really enjoyed it I also wasn’t blown away. It used too many tried and true fantasy tropes (even though it was sci-fi?) for me to fall absolutely in love with it. But I still had a nice time when I was reading it so I think that’s a bonus, anyway. ALSO. I am holding out the tiniest sliver of hope that the main character is bi? Because she is super into that goddess of hers, and I think a romance between her and the rebel captain girl would be the best!! Also, she said she’d kissed other people, bot other boys so that tiny sliver of hope is glowing brightly. I’ll probably be let down but you never know!!
I didn’t read your Obsidio review because I… have… not read any Illuminae books. *runs*
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I think the genre bending kind of was confusing the whole way through. 😂Like I think it needed more tech, or else it just really felt like fantasy and then — OKAY THERE’S ROBOTS. But I like the premise! I just wish I’d adored it more because I was looking forward to it so much. (And hey we can always hope for it to leave the path of the straights, right?! :’)
I’ve heard good things about Obsidio. I think I just nee to order it. I just finished one called The Selah Branch, I’m not usually in to a lot of science fiction books but the female protagonist was awesome and the story needs to be told. If you ever get requests for a good book club book, I couldn’t recommend this one enough! I found more info here, http://www.tenebraypress.com.
Obsidio is SO worth it! That series is just mind-blowing awesome. 🎉😍
In light of everyone loving reading Obsidio I caved a few months ago and got Illuminae. So I shall now be starting the series after everyone has finished it and already loved it 😛 In true Olivia fashion. I also really like the sound of Mirage! I hadn’t read a review of it before. I love the enemies to lovers trope so it will be cool to see it as friendship. I am here for all the pretty dresses and court games, so I am so going to be reading that one 😀
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YAS YOU HAVE MADE A GLORIOUS LIFE DECISION HERE. 🎉🎉 And I really hope you get a chance to try Mirage too!!