Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Court of Lions

Author: Somaiya Daud

Book Series: Mirage Book 2

Diversity: Moroccan based characters

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: kidnapping, switching places tales, Moroccan characters

Publication Date: August 6, 2020

Publisher: Hodder

Pages: 336

Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, some sexual content, violence, slight gore)

Synopsis: 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: Overall, I thought the series greatly improved from the first series. I loved the whole series and I love how much more developed the characters became in this book, especially Maram. I loved the duel POV and loved Maram’s scenes the best in the book. The world building continued to be grand and I loved the plot of this book.

However, the book is incredibly slow and the book does tend to slow down even more at random times, especially during Amani and Idris’ scenes.

Verdict: It’s a great duology! Definitely one that’s unique and will be rememberable.