Year In Review
Mirage Book One
Written by Somaiya Daud
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
320 Pages
Published August 28th 2018
Thank you to Hachette Australia
Add to Goodreads
★★★★☆
The crown of Dihya had been stripped from me, my face changed, my body broken.
But I was not a slave and I was not a spare.
I was my mother's daughter, and I would survive and endure. I would find my way back home.
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 and of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she too will have adventures and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects, she is kidnapped 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 to appear in public, 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 and 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.
Imprisoned and held within her gilded cage, Amani was taken captive by imperial droids moments after her Majority ceremony, a milestone celebration of maturity. Amani is a character of quiet determination, intelligent and spiritual, enshrined to Massinia. A theological Prophetess that has become the symbolism of a rebellion. Captured from her home among the stars, Amani is enslaved upon the Vathek occupied Andala. Amani and the Andalaan Vathek Princess Maram are indistinguishable, Amani is deprived of her identity, tortured, assaulted, her Indigenous symbolism removed and instructed to simulate as surrogate for the reclusive Princess Maram.
Maram is young woman of Indigenous and Alien heritage, forsaken and displaced by the Vathek and Andalaan communities. Maram is isolated from royal courtesans and betrothed for political alliance, her father is apathetic towards his young daughter and heir. As the rebellion opposing the Vathek colonisation intensifies, Maram remains sheltered within her palatial home, her inhumanity ensuing Amani remains compliant.
Amani and Maram establish a tentative friendship, Maram remorseful of her treatment of Amani on arrival and confiding in the young woman she is holding captive. Posing as Maram, Amani deceives the royal consort and betrothed Idris. Idris is perceptive and determines Amani as an impostor as his attraction to Amani jeopardising both their lives. The romance is delicate and compassionate, allowing Amani to disengage the masquerade of captivity.
Mirage centralises on oppression, erasure and slavery. Although contrasting characters and circumstances, the imprisonment of a young woman who is tortured and a Princess within her gilded cage, both young woman are tormented by the burden of expectation. It scrutinises colonisation as the Vathek conquered the Mizaal Galaxy, poisoning the atmosphere of Vaxor and colonising Andala, enslaving the Indigenous population and depriving the Andalaans of their ethnology and spirituality. Rebellion arises as rebels strategise against their oppressors, Amani becoming embroiled in the uprising.
The narration infused with delicate female and Indigenous empowerment throughout the instability of dissent and cultural reclamation, comparable to the current political climate and resonating with Indigenous readers. Amani represents a quiet endurance and resilience against her environment, a reiteration of nevertheless, she persisted. Somaiya Daud has composed an exquisitely imagined narrative, enchanting and affluent. A remarkable debut.
The blood never dies. The blood never forgets.
Maram is young woman of Indigenous and Alien heritage, forsaken and displaced by the Vathek and Andalaan communities. Maram is isolated from royal courtesans and betrothed for political alliance, her father is apathetic towards his young daughter and heir. As the rebellion opposing the Vathek colonisation intensifies, Maram remains sheltered within her palatial home, her inhumanity ensuing Amani remains compliant.
You do not kneel or bend, I told myself. To anyone. You continue.
Amani and Maram establish a tentative friendship, Maram remorseful of her treatment of Amani on arrival and confiding in the young woman she is holding captive. Posing as Maram, Amani deceives the royal consort and betrothed Idris. Idris is perceptive and determines Amani as an impostor as his attraction to Amani jeopardising both their lives. The romance is delicate and compassionate, allowing Amani to disengage the masquerade of captivity.
Mirage centralises on oppression, erasure and slavery. Although contrasting characters and circumstances, the imprisonment of a young woman who is tortured and a Princess within her gilded cage, both young woman are tormented by the burden of expectation. It scrutinises colonisation as the Vathek conquered the Mizaal Galaxy, poisoning the atmosphere of Vaxor and colonising Andala, enslaving the Indigenous population and depriving the Andalaans of their ethnology and spirituality. Rebellion arises as rebels strategise against their oppressors, Amani becoming embroiled in the uprising.
The narration infused with delicate female and Indigenous empowerment throughout the instability of dissent and cultural reclamation, comparable to the current political climate and resonating with Indigenous readers. Amani represents a quiet endurance and resilience against her environment, a reiteration of nevertheless, she persisted. Somaiya Daud has composed an exquisitely imagined narrative, enchanting and affluent. A remarkable debut.
Twenty seventeen. The year where I can't remember anything.
Fifth blogaversary giveaway
I'm celebrating five years of blogging with a giveaway. Thank you to everyone who has followed, commented, engaged me on social media and recommended wonderful new reads.
Enter to win a book of choice. Winner will be chosen at random. For an Australian winner, your book of choice will be chosen from Booktopia. For an international winner, please ensure The Book Depository ships to your country. If you are under thirteen years of age, please ask parental consent before entering.
Click here to enter via Twitter.
The year that was in Australia
In Australia we were Googling how to make Beef Stroganoff, how to make slime and Sophie Monk was the most searched Australian on the internet. We wanted to read about Cyclone Debbie and North Korea, Harvey Weinstein and the Australian Open. We still have no idea what a Bitcoin is. The distracted boyfriend meme took social media by storm, mocking Sponge Bob mocked us and Meryl Streep continued to yell abuse. Parents continue to call their spawn Charlotte and Oliver and we're still watching The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.
Women in their thousands shared their experiences of sexual abuse across social media using the #MeToo hashtag, while actors like Matt Damon insisted decent men deserve a parade for not sexually assaulting women. I hope to see #mattdamonisawanker trending shortly. Australia's disgrace continues to be the refugees of Manus Island and the neglect of asylum seekers. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre continue the tireless work towards human rights, join the conversation by using the hashtag #BringThemHere. We also continue to demand the government to change the day in which we celebrate Australia's colonisation by the British, resulting in the genocide of Indigenous Australians. Australian's, demand we #ChangeTheDate.
Politicians were resigning over the Citizenship debacle, Australian Conservative Cory Bernardi is an even bigger wanker than Matt Damon and Malcolm Turnbull thought it was a great idea to have the nation note on Marriage Equality. Australian's voted yes. Go fuck yourself Cory Barnardi. Victoria is the first state to legalise Euthanasia. Magda Szubanski is the darling of Australia for her tireless work throughout the LGBTTQQIAAP community. Currently researching if we can elect a member to parliament without their knowledge.
Australia was listening to Ed Sheeran. Beauty and The Beast was the highest grossing film. Richmond are the AFL premiers, Melbourne Storm won the NRL grand final, Rekindling won the Melbourne Cup. Isaiah Firebrace represented Australia at Eurovision. Yeah, we don't know why we're there either. I also surpassed half a million views. Totally bitching.
And we read!
Favourite #LoveOzYA reads
 Goodreads |  Goodreads |  Goodreads |
 Goodreads |  Goodreads |  Goodreads |
Favourite Contemporaries
 Goodreads |  Goodreads |  Goodreads |
Favourite middle grade reads
 Goodreads |  Goodreads |  Goodreads |
Favourite fantasy
 Goodreads |  Goodreads |  Goodreads |
Most anticipated
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Cover reveals
My twenty eighteen goals
I'll live in the moment and blog whenever I damn well want to.
Twenty sixteen. The year that took so much and gave so little in return.
The Year That Was
In Australia, we were Googling the United States election and recipes for pancakes, parents were calling their children Charlotte or Oliver and the highest grossing film for twenty sixteen was Finding Dory. Collectively, we mourned the loss of cultural identities Prince, George Michael and David Bowie among others and for readers, none more so than Alan Rickman. A man who brought the beloved Severus Snape to life in the Harry Potter series adaptations.
Racism and ignorance created a volatile United States with the new President Elect, Donald Trump. We witnessed the Bastille Day terrorist attack in Nice, atrocities Iraq, Belgium and Syria, the Orlando nightclub massacre, Brexit and the ongoing genocide in Aleppo. In Australia, we elected our first Muslim and first Aboriginal female to the House of Representatives. We still have Indigenous Australians dying in custody, Asylum Seekers on Naru and Manus Island being denied human rights and we continue to campaign for marriage equality while protesting against Neo Nazi Australians and for Black Lives Matter, along with our American counterparts.
Kanye West announced, I actually don't like thinking. I think people think I like to think a lot. And I don't. I don't like to think. Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston were an item, then not. We stood with Her, we marched against domestic violence and domestic violence within our Indigenous communities and Clementine Ford encouraged women to push back against patriarchy.
And of course, we read.
And of course, we read.
Favourite #LoveOzYA Reads
My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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Favourite Contemporaries
My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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Middle grade awesomeness
My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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Fantasy Favourites
My Review
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My Review
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My Review
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Most Anticipated #LoveOzYA reads
 Add To Goodreads |  Add To Goodreads |  Add To Goodreads |
Most Anticipated International Reads
 Add To Goodreads |  Add To Goodreads |  Add To Goodreads |
Fourth Blogaversary
As the new year approaches, I'm celebrating four years of blogging with a giveaway. Thank you to everyone who has followed, commented, engaged me on social media and recommended wonderful new reads. Thank you to Kynndra who continues to be a source of support and motivation and I miss dearly. Thank you to the Australian Young Adult Bloggers and Readers group, my fellow administrators and our friends from New Zealand who continue to support our community, our authors, publishers and most of all, our fellow readers.
Enter to win a book of choice or an Amazon giftcard to the value of $15.00AU. Winner will be chosen at random. For an Australian winner, your book of choice will be chosen from Booktopia. For an international winner, please ensure The Book Depository ships to your country. If you are under thirteen years of age, please ask parental consent before entering.
It's almost the new year and at this time of year not only do we reflect back on what we've done, we booknerds reflect on what books we've read. New Years Day is also the celebration of three years of Diva Booknerd. Who knew this modest little book blog would not only make it to three years but we'd like to think we've been able to recommend new books for readers to discover along the way. So before we ring in the new year, here's a look back at 2015 along with an international giveaway. Giddy up.
Kelly's Favourites
 Kelly's Review ★★★★★ |  Kelly's Review ★★★★★ |  Kelly's Review ★★★★★ |
 Kelly's Review ★★★★☆ |  Kelly's Goodreads Review ★★★★★ |  The Bone Season Kelly's Review ★★★★☆ |
Kelly's Disappointments
 Kelly's Review ★★ |  Unfinished ★ |  Unfinished ★ |
Kelly's Best Blogging Moment
By far my best blogging moment of the year was when Kynndra finally came to her senses and decided to coblog with me back in October. I knew that eventually I could wear her down. It's been a hard year for me personally and I tried to work my way through a blog and reading slump. After almost three years of blogging alone, I was about to walk away. Kynndra is the reason I've kept going. Even when I first begun blogging, it was never as rewarding as it is since Kynn has joined me and for that, I'm incredibly thankful not only for sharing my love of books, but for being an incredible friend. I couldn't ask for more.
The second half of the year has been incredibly trying for me on a person level. My mother has been terribly ill and I've struggled to find the motivation to blog. I've stepped down from my duties within the Aussie YA Bloggers & Readers group that I founded along with Brittany, which was not only a difficult decision but also to those who continue to guide the group, I felt that I had let them down and pulled away from the community instead. What brought me back to my love of not only reading but social media again was published author and dear friend Rachael Craw, who surprised me with a box full of love and munchies. I've never felt more accepted as part of our community. If you want to read more about my surprise, you can find my thank you post to Melissa Keil, Rebecca James, Ellie Marney, Gabrielle Tozer, Walker Books Australia and the lovely Rachael by clicking here.
To everyone who's left a comment, tweeted us, followed us and thrown books at us. Thank you.
The second half of the year has been incredibly trying for me on a person level. My mother has been terribly ill and I've struggled to find the motivation to blog. I've stepped down from my duties within the Aussie YA Bloggers & Readers group that I founded along with Brittany, which was not only a difficult decision but also to those who continue to guide the group, I felt that I had let them down and pulled away from the community instead. What brought me back to my love of not only reading but social media again was published author and dear friend Rachael Craw, who surprised me with a box full of love and munchies. I've never felt more accepted as part of our community. If you want to read more about my surprise, you can find my thank you post to Melissa Keil, Rebecca James, Ellie Marney, Gabrielle Tozer, Walker Books Australia and the lovely Rachael by clicking here.
To everyone who's left a comment, tweeted us, followed us and thrown books at us. Thank you.
Kynndra's Favourites
 Kynndra's Review ★★★★★ |  Kynndra's Goodreads Review ★★★★★ | 
Golden Son
★★★★★
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 Kynndra's Review ★★★★★ | 
The Demon King
★★★★
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The Wrath & The Dawn
★★★★★
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Kynndra's Disappointments
 ★★★ |  ★★★☆ |  ★★★ |
Kynndra's Best Blogging Moment
Finding my best friend. I've known Kelly for a year now, long before I joined her on DB. But if I had to say what my best blogging moment was? It's easily meeting Kelly through my other blogging ventures. I haven't co-blogged with her for long, but I've had conversations with her far into the night over the past few months. This year has been a difficult one, harder than most and I genuinely don't know where I would be without her in my life. Probably very lonely, and lost. Blogging with her, and sharing this platform is just a bonus. I think we were both meant to meet, as corny as it is. I didn't think blogging suited me until I started doing it with my best friend. Truthfully, I'm mostly thankful that I dared to begin blogging, otherwise if I hadn't, I would have never met this wise ass Aussie I've come to adore like a sister. Thank you so very much, Kells.
Kynndra's Tumblrs
See the full post here
See the full post here
Follow Kynndra via Tumblr
Highlights
Most of you are either from the United States or Australia.
Some of you are still searching for the Mockingjay ringtone. Stop it.
It seems our most popular posts are still giveaway posts. Greedy bastards.
I've kept my current template for the entire year. This is an achievement.
You've really increased the spam this year. No, neither of us need a longer penis.
Kynndra finally caved and joined Diva Booknerd in October. She's Canadian. Speak slowly.
Kelly has read 140 books this year with an average rating of 4.1 stars.
Kynndra has read 50 books with an average rating of 4.41 stars.
Kelly tried to live a healthier lifestyle. Then quit. She's much happier now.
Kynndra now has her license. Look out pedestrians.
Tahereh Mafi tweeted kisses to Kelly. She's now naming her first born after her.
We joined Facebook. Lord knows why. It's shithouse.
The author of Sleeping Giants loved Kynndra's review and sent her a gift.
Really, you need to move on from the Mockingjay ringtone. It's getting annoying.
Kynndra finally caved and joined Diva Booknerd in October. She's Canadian. Speak slowly.
Kelly has read 140 books this year with an average rating of 4.1 stars.
Kynndra has read 50 books with an average rating of 4.41 stars.
Kelly tried to live a healthier lifestyle. Then quit. She's much happier now.
Kynndra now has her license. Look out pedestrians.
Tahereh Mafi tweeted kisses to Kelly. She's now naming her first born after her.
We joined Facebook. Lord knows why. It's shithouse.
The author of Sleeping Giants loved Kynndra's review and sent her a gift.
Really, you need to move on from the Mockingjay ringtone. It's getting annoying.
Kelly's 2016 Booknerd Resolutions
I want to read more young adult historical fiction in particular, surrounding the French Revolution.
Increase my reading goal to 160 books. Then decrease it when no one is paying attention.
Read more middle grade novels and Australian authors in general.
Stop purchasing online and support my local bookstores.
Make it onto Paper Fury's favourite bloggers list. Or stuff her full of cake.
Give everyone a nickname. Rather than refer to you all as stinky.
See our quotes on a book cover. Even if I need to deface a book with a sharpie.
Kynndra's 2016 Booknerd Resolutions
Read more than 50 books in a year. I'm a slow reader. I want to get to 100.
Start collecting hard copies of books I love - all I have are ebooks.
Read more new releases, I'm usually way behind on the 'in' books. Not that that's a bad thing.
Make more blogger friends, no seriously. I am a shy moose and I need to crawl out of my hermit hole.
Go to a book signing, even though those are nearly impossible to find in Canada. Sigh.
Save up money to go to BEA 2017 (Ha! It's nice to dream, right?) PS: Anyone know where it'll be held?
I second Kelly, I would love to see one of our quotes on a book. That's always cool.
Continue to be a awesome co-blogger while juggling work. Whenever I work.
Kelly's 2016 Most Anticipated Reads
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Kynndra's 2016 Most Anticipated Reads
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Giveaway
To celebrate the third birthday of Diva Booknerd, we're giving away a book of choice from The Book Depository or Amazon giftcard to the value of $15.00AUD to one lucky winner. Giveaway is open internationally but if you're under 13, please seek your parents permission to enter.
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