What happened in Mirage by Somaiya Daud - Recaptains

The basics

Title: Mirage

Author: Somaiya Daud

Series: Mirage #1

- Mirage (2018)
- Court of Lions (2020)
- Untitled

Add it: Goodreads

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Read a full summary of Mirage by Somaiya Daud below. If you can’t remember what happened in Mirage and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.

what happened in Mirage?

• The Vathek empire has taken over the star system, and as a result Andala and its moons are poverty-stricken. We meet Amani, who lives on one of the moons called Cadiz with her two brothers.
• Amani dreams of a black feather, which is a sign from Dihya.
• On Amani’s majority night, her brother Husnain gives her some forbidden poetry.
• During the ceremony, Amani is given her daan (tattoos), and then the after-party is rudely interrupted by Imperial droids. They’ve come looking for Amani, and they pick her out of a line up. Amani refuses to leave with them, so the droids shoot her friend Khadija. The crowd panics, and Husnain tries to save Amani, but a droid catches them and Amani is taken away.
• The droids take Amani to the Vethek king’s palace. She is rudely greeted by the king’s daughter, Maram, and the king’s stewardess, Nadine. It turns out that Amani is pretty much identical to Maram, and she has been taken to the palace in order to stand in as Maram’s body double at public events. Think Star Wars.
• Amani is a bit uncooperative and Maram punishes her.
• They surgically alter Amani’s face and remove her daan. She’s even more identical to Maram now.
• Amani has to train for her new role. She clashes with Maram a lot. Eventually, she has to impersonate Maram at a ball, and therefore impress the king.
• Amani spots Maram’s fiancé, Idris, when she’s observing Maram’s closest friends. Idris is the Banu Salih’s heir. The Banu Salih tribe was almost wiped up by the Vaths, but in the end they came up with a deal and Idris became betrothed to Maram.
• Amani attends a dress fitting as Maram as her first test. She does a great job.
• At the Terminus Ball, Amani is impersonating Maram again. She gets to speak to Idris for a bit. He doesn’t realise that she’s not his fiancée. They dance together.
• Lady Furat approaches Amani, but Amani doesn’t want to speak to her. She knocks a servant over and asks if she’s okay. Idris of course finds this a bit dodgy, since Maram isn’t that nice.
• Idris tells Amani about Massinia, which is something she already knows about but pretends to have no knowledge on the topic.
• The king speaks to Amani and asks about her confirmation, which Amani knows nothing about. Nadine has to remind the king that Amani is not Maram.
• Maram explains that she needs to inherit the throne, because otherwise her sister Galene may try to supplant her.
• Amani is sent to a moon called Gibra to visit Maram’s grandmother, the Dowager Sultana. Idris accompanies her and asks her about the story he told her.
• Amani goes to explore the catacombs in Ouzdad, and finds a mural there. Idris translates the story – poorly – and Amani calls him out on it. In turn, Idris calls Amani out on this, because Maram doesn’t speak Kushaila. Amani tells Idris everything.
• Amani notices Idris’ tattoo – called a khitaam – which shows his royal ancestry.
• Idris tells Amani that she should tell the Dowager Sultana and Lady Furat who she is. She does so.
• Lady Furat introduces Amani to Arinaas, who leads a group of rebels. Arinaas asks Amani to spy on the king and Maram.
• Idris falls into the water during a date with Amani, and they kiss.
• Galene hosts a party when Amani and Idris are back at the palace. After the party, Idris tells Amani that he doesn’t want to marry Maram (no kidding!).
• Amani attends a council meeting. She learns about Arinaas’ rebels taking over two cities called Ghazlan and Sidi Walid. In response, the king plans to destroy the towns on the Eastern Reach. Amani supports the king publicly to detract attention from herself. Amani leaves the meeting and contacts Arinaas to warn her that the king will be destroying Sidi Walid.
• Maram and Amani dine together. Maram is happy with Amani’s actions as it makes her look good to the king. She asks Amani to help her write a speech.
• Idris is upset because his family are on the Eastern Reach. Amani tells him to visit them, and Idris invites her along.
• Amani gives a speech (as Maram) at the library.
• Maram visits Amani again and tells her that she’s glad that she’s there. She’s asks Amani to go with Idris to the Eastern Reach.
• Amani and Idris arrive in Al Hoceima. There’s a party happening for Idris’ grandmother’s birthday. Amani overhears Idris’ family talking about Maram, and they really pity her.
• Idris gives Amani a poetry book that used to belong to his mother. They tell each other that they love one another.
• Amani meets with one of the rebels and gives them information on the Vathek resources and where they’re situated.
• King Mathis makes Maram his heir, officially. She’s obviously super happy. She and Amani talk about Maram’s mother and father. Maram apologises to Amani for being a cow.
• The rebels contact Amani and tell her they plan to assassinate the king and Maram the following day. Amani talks to Arinaas, and tells her it won’t be Maram at the ceremony, it will be her.
• The next day, Maram is nervous about the ceremony and allows Amani to take her place. During the ceremony, the crowd goes wild, and the assassin tries to kill Amani, but she speaks to him in Kushaina so that he realises who she is. The guards stop the assassin, and Amani stops the guards from killing him.
• Maram asks Amani if she knew about the assassination attempt ahead of time. Amani admits that she did.
• Nadine confines Amani to her room, and plans to punish her for withholding information.
• Nadine makes Amani watch a live stream of her family being beaten. Nadine orders the guard to hold a knife to Husnain’s throat. Amani begs for her to spare them, and she does.
• Idris visits Amani and asks her to run away with him. They both realise that this isn’t really an option.
• Amani hears a tesleet bird chirping outside her window and she takes this as a sign of hope.

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