This is an excellent story that builds momentum until the very end. I love stories of political intrigue, and this story continues the unique premise that we found in Mirage. Both Amani and Maram experience so much growth in this book that it certainly feels like we’re meeting them anew in this sequel. I loved that this second part to the story added in some drama between our love interests, because it fleshed out a little more what their individual thinking is like. You get to find out just what each party is willing to sacrifice for happiness. Then there’s Maram’s love interest. This was the part I found myself truly invested in. If you haven’t picked up Mirage yet, definitely get it on your TBR, and click away from this review until you have!
In Court of Lions, Amani (serving as the Maram’s body double) has been put in isolation. The half-Vathek princess discovered Amani’s connections to the rebellion and has forced her silence, with the threat of her betrayal and identity being revealed if she should cross Maram again. However, Amani is still desperate to help fight for her people. Unfortunately, she’ll have to make choices that could put her family and people in danger, and separate her from the man she’s come to love.
I’ll definitely say that I’m glad that I decided to re-read Mirage before I started into Court of Lions, because I needed a bit of refresher! Getting into this story felt like it picked up right where readers were left at the end of the book, with a little bit of drama to get the readers going. Just like in Mirage, I was immediately drawn into the story, and curious where this was all headed. There was some information at the beginning of the ARC that I had that I’m curious if it will be in the finished copy, and I will say that that was definitely interesting, and had a tidbit of information that I was immediately curious about.
A majority of this book is Amani amassing allies, so be prepared for a lot of names to be thrown your way. I sometimes had a hard time with this, but it was only because I was trying to make sure I hadn’t already seen the character in another part of the book. What I will say is that each character that is introduced feels unique and makes their presence known within the book. Idris’ family I definitely enjoyed reading, especially their interactions with Amani masquerading as Maram.
The sequel added Maram’s perspective into the mix, and I truly appreciated seeing her side of things. There were hints in Mirage that Maram had a lot more going on than simply being a princess, but now she’s having to deal with things on a much bigger scale, and Maram is finding out that maybe what she wanted wasn’t all that it was rumoured to be. Also, there is a stunning love interest. Their interactions are fantastic, and I think they deserved each other. I was curious what would happen with Maram, and I was definitely satisfied with her character arc.
We can’t talk about romance without also talking about Amani and Idris. I loved seeing these two interact with each other in this story because there’s a lot of tension. In Mirage, there’s a lot of budding and building of this beautiful romance, but there’s not as much drama to it. Their circumstances are dramatic enough already. In Court of Lions, this gets ramped up, but I would argue in a good way. Plus you start seeing that these two aren’t always thinking on the same page, which also creates some conflicts between them. Side note though, I absolutely adored some of the work that the servants went to in support of their favourite love interests.
Sometimes the pacing of this story felt a little off, because I felt like I would fly through some parts of the story, and others would take me a little longer to get through. Despite all that, I finished this story in a couple of hours. I’m going to rate this story an 9/10. It’s a great story, and I can’t wait to see where Somaiya Daud takes her readers next.
Court of Lion is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 6th 2020.
Will you be picking up Court of Lions? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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?
