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.
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
Which book reminds you of school the most? What books would you recommend which have a unique training or learning aspect?
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Mirage sounds so good!
I love The Name of the Wind but it’s so long 😂 😭
Is it cliche to say Harry Potter? 😁 oh well, I’m going to say it anyway. And Vampire Academy. Always wanted to either be a witch or a vampire 😂
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It was very good! My review is up next and I hope that helps you decide better. Agreed! And the last book – is it ever coming out? 😭
Haha I purposely left out Harry Potter so I could introduce people to some lesser-known gems but the first thing that came to my mind was obviously HP! I’ve not read the Vampire Academy but I think at this point in life I’m but likely to enjoy them as much as I would have if I’d read them when I was a teenager. Excellent choices though! 😊
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I actually got my dad to read The Kingkiller Chronicles (in audiobook form as he drives around a lot) and he loves it which was great as he normally turns his nose up at ‘teenage things’ (but I know for a fact he’s watched Divergent a million times) 😁
As I said – I love vampires so anything with vampires come to mind.
I stalk the author’s Goodreads page every now and then just to see when the Doors of Death (I think that’s the title) is coming out 😭
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That’s really nice! Thank you for sharing. 😊 I wish I had someone to share these with in real life. 🙁 Yup, I regularly look to see if we’ve had any breakthrough too.
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😆 No problem. I just told him it’s high fantasy with a magic school and its narration is very similar to Lord of the Rings and he was sold 😂 I think I’ll probably be like 30 when the third book finally comes out. 😭
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TBH that’s what a friend told me and I was sold too! 😅 Noooooo, don’t remind me. 😭😭😭
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😂 By the time the third books come out I’ll have to reread both books.
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Same!
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Oooo I loved Every Heart a Doorway. And I really want to read The Name of the Wind, but I am so nervous to start if I don’t know when the next/last one is coming!
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If you’re a binge reader, I wouldn’t recommend getting into it unless the last one at least gets a publishing date. It hasn’t yet and I really need to re-read the other two very long books before I read the third because I’ve forgotten just about everything. Sigh. 🙄
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Hahaha I know that feeling. It’s the worst. But thanks for the reminder to keep that in mind. 🙂
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No problem! ❤
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Sadly I didn’t enjoy Mirage as much as I hoped to! The City of Brass is my favorite and Aru Shas is a fun read!! Great list love 💕
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Thank you! 😊 Aw, that’s too bad. I cannot wait for Kingdom of Copper and the next book in the Aru Shah series for which the synopsis was just released and made me want it even more. 😭
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I can’t wait for Kingdom of Copper too! It’s January right? Wait what?? The synopsis of the 2nd book of Aru Shah has been released? I didn’t know that!! Thank you so much for letting me know!!!
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Yes, January. No problem at all! 😊 I’m so shook at the mention of a boy. *gasps for effect*
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Oh God! I just read it!! Can’t believe I missed it, I can’t wait!!!
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Eeeep! Same! 😭😭😭
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I loved the name of the wind ❤
Found the sequel a bit boring tho 😦 But the magic system is pretty cool. I like how they considered it kind of like science
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