Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Studying (Mirage Blog Tour + US Giveaway)

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. How it works is that each Tuesday the host assigns a topic and then posts their top ten list that fits the topic. Every blogger can create their own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well and link to the host’s. The topic for August 28th, 2018 is: Back to School/Learning Freebie. Since I’m also on the blog tour for Mirage, I had to find a way to incorporate this prompt creatively into my post and I decided to talk about books which have some kind of learning, studying or training in them. Thanks a million to Aimee @ Aimee Always for organising the blog tour!

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

Amani, our protagonist, studies the mannerisms of the princess she has been forced to impersonate, as well as knowledge of important places, people and politics. More about the book after the list!

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

This book has amazing relationship between strong female characters. Wanda, a servant girl, learns bookkeeping and mathematics under Miryem’s tutelage.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This has the standard magic school setting but the split narrative adds a lot more tension as the outcome is already known. The magic system still manages to be engaging, complex and well thought-out.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

After Aru discovers she’s a reincarnation of one of the Pandavas, she goes on a quest to save the world and learns a lot about her heritage along the way. This charming middle grade novel has several lessons that will appeal to an older audience as well.

A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

In the second instalment of the well-loved Shades of Magic trilogy, Lila Bard trains to hone the abilities she discovers in A Darker Shade of Magic. Her skills are put to the test when she makes the bold decision to enter a competition she would be better off losing.

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

Nahri, on discovering that she is the last of the Nahids, a djinn tribe famous for their healing prowess, is put through a rigorous training once she arrives in Daevabad. I really like how Nahri responds to this and how the ‘special snowflake’ trope is turned on its head.

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

As can be guessed from the gorgeous cover, this book has a science aspect to it as the protagonist, Freya, likes to conduct experiments in her laboratory. There is no teacher-student kind of learning, but more of a trial and error, hands-on kind, which is very refreshing to read about.

Roar by Cora Carmack

When the princess Aurora runs away to avoid a wedding she does not want, she teams up with a motley crew of storm chasers who teach her more about the powers she had no idea she possessed and help her keep her powers in control. The magic system in this is an absolute delight to know more about because of its uniqueness.

The Blazing Star by Imani Josey

One of the first review copies I remember receiving, this book whisks the reader away to ancient Egypt, where the twin sisters Portia and Alex must find a way to survive and head back to present time. There’s quite a bit of magical learning that is the main focus throughout the book.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Set in Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, this book follows children who enter a magical world and struggle to cope with the real world after they are forced to return. The way the different worlds are described, classified and studied along with the murder mystery aspect is what makes this stand out from the usual magical school narrative.

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About the Book

TITLE: Mirage

AUTHOR: Somaiya Daud

RELEASE DATE: August 28th, 2018

PUBLISHER: Flatiron Books

SYNOPSIS:

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.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

About the Author

Somaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master’s degree she doubled as a bookseller at Politics and Prose in their children’s department. Determined to remain in school for as long as possible, she packed her bags in 2014 and moved the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she’s preparing to write a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment.

LINKS: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr

Blog Tour Schedule

AUGUST 20 (MONDAY)

Aimee @ Aimee, Always

Harker @ The Hermit Librarian

Austine @ NovelKnight

AUGUST 21 (TUESDAY)

Kaleena @ Reader Voracious

Jamie @ Books and Ladders

AUGUST 22 (WEDNESDAY)

Lara @ Bellibone

Karlita @ Tale Out Loud

Sara @ A Gingerly Review

AUGUST 23 (THURSDAY)

Naadhira @ legenbooksdary

Shealea @ That Bookshelf Bitch

Breanna @ Paws and Paperbacks

AUGUST 24 (FRIDAY)

Caro @ Bookcheshirecat

Lila @ Hardcover Haven

Sarah @ Sarah June Blog

AUGUST 27 (MONDAY)

Brianna @ Polish & Paperbacks

Kate @ The Backwards Bookshelf

Simant – Flipping Through the Pages

AUGUST 28 (TUESDAY)

Carolina @ fictionologyst

Kevin @ Bookevin

AUGUST 29 (WEDNESDAY)

Wendy @ whatthelog

Jacquie @ Rattle the Stars

AUGUST 30 (THURSDAY)

Vanessa @ Through Prose Tinted Pages

Imogene @ Amidst the Pages

AUGUST 31 (FRIDAY)

LaRonda @ Flying Paperbacks

Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads

Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books

Giveaway Link

• Enter to win one finished copy of Mirage
• Open to U. S. residents only
• Ends on September 12th, 2018

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Which book reminds you of school the most? What books would you recommend which have a unique training or learning aspect?