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heartsdesire's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars because:
one, I ENJOY IT A LOT. the epic adventure tale from the desert with the wind of magic? I'M SO IN.
two, the cover is a sort of therapy for my eyes. three, 'nuff said.
one, I ENJOY IT A LOT. the epic adventure tale from the desert with the wind of magic? I'M SO IN.
two, the cover is a sort of therapy for my eyes. three, 'nuff said.
josiescott's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was not the BEST thing I've ever read but it kept my attention. I actually listened to this novel when I was making the commute to college everyday. I liked it so much, I purchased a physical copy!
libraryofdreaming's review against another edition
4.0
must say I am a big fan of this new fad for Arabian Nights-esque YA fantasy! (That's a poor generalization but I honestly don't know what they're calling it these days.) Rebel of the Sands is a true gem in this category! One part gun-happy Western, one part classic YA magic, it's inventive and just plain fun. I was looking for something entertaining and this book was just what I needed. Alwyn Hamilton's world-building is creative in a genre that can sometimes feel like the same thing over and over again. The setting was just great. It felt real as well as appropriately fantastical. I mean, why hasn't someone thought of combining Middle Eastern traditions with a shoot 'em up Western?? The genres meld to wonderful affect in Rebel of the Sands without being overly corny. It's just fun without having to make a particular message.
Amani is an engaging heroine. She is not immune from certain YA tropes, but you still feel for her and root for her. She is realistically self-serving at times which makes her nobler actions have more of an impact. I really loved her connection to the desert as well as the portrayal of life in the Saharan version of the Dust Bowl. (I'm really mixing my geographical metaphors. Somebody reel me back in.) The romance was tropey as well but I still enjoyed it. The reveal will surpise literally no one but that doesn't mean that it can't play out well. Unlike other quicker romances in The Forbidden Wish and The Star-Crossed Queen, I believe that Alwyn Hamilton will be able to give greater weight and time to the romance as this is the first of a series. While I wasn't completely thrilled by one of the reveals (I felt like Amani stood just fine on her own without any more complications), I did appreciate the magical elements well enough. The imagery, again, was pretty enchanting and the magic was unusual enough to capture my imagination.
Hopefully the author will be able to expand on the magic and world-building of Rebel of the Sands in the rest of the series without falling into any overdone plot holes. This book was a very fun ride and I look forward to the sequel! Bring on the Western-esque magic adventures!
Amani is an engaging heroine. She is not immune from certain YA tropes, but you still feel for her and root for her. She is realistically self-serving at times which makes her nobler actions have more of an impact. I really loved her connection to the desert as well as the portrayal of life in the Saharan version of the Dust Bowl. (I'm really mixing my geographical metaphors. Somebody reel me back in.) The romance was tropey as well but I still enjoyed it. The reveal will surpise literally no one but that doesn't mean that it can't play out well. Unlike other quicker romances in The Forbidden Wish and The Star-Crossed Queen, I believe that Alwyn Hamilton will be able to give greater weight and time to the romance as this is the first of a series. While I wasn't completely thrilled by one of the reveals (I felt like Amani stood just fine on her own without any more complications), I did appreciate the magical elements well enough. The imagery, again, was pretty enchanting and the magic was unusual enough to capture my imagination.
Hopefully the author will be able to expand on the magic and world-building of Rebel of the Sands in the rest of the series without falling into any overdone plot holes. This book was a very fun ride and I look forward to the sequel! Bring on the Western-esque magic adventures!
bzzylz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookdust's review against another edition
5.0
Oh was this something else. Impeccable characters and world building. Every tiny thread was used and woven to a purpose, never abandoned. I am so blindly in love with this book and all its creative and fresh glory, my heart only breaks because I have to wait on the sequel. There isn't even a cover yet...
Just go read this. You won't regret it.
Just go read this. You won't regret it.
nishaali's review against another edition
5.0
I'm part of the same YA book club as Alwyn Hamilton so Rebel of the Sands has been on my radar for some time. Billed as the “Arabian Nights meets the Wild West”, this novel is the first in a new trilogy and one that sounded really different and exciting.
Amani dreams of having a greater purpose in life and is desperate to leave behind her bitter extended family, who took her in after she was orphaned, and the dead-end desert town that she has grown up in. A talented gunslinger, she's hoping it's enough to get her to the capital city of Miraji where she can be free from the constraints of small town life. Her plans are however derailed by the arrival of a foreigner in town who awakens Amani’s desires (romantic and adventurous!) and the two are flung together for survival. But this stranger has secrets of his own and it is not long before Amani finds herself wound up in his mysterious mission and his mesmerizing eyes...
This book was simply delicious. I was really looking forward to reading a novel in an Arabian Nights setting and Rebel of the Sands did not disappoint. Hamilton's world-building and attention to detail is great and the setting was at once recognisable, familiar enough to ground readers, but different enough to keep it fresh and intriguing. I loved the references to the Djinni fairy tales and the exploration of the spiritual aspect of life in the desert, such as the origins of the world and ideas behind right and wrong. At times, I'll admit I found it difficult to keep up with the wider world – there were other cities, nations, and political alliances pretty important to the story that I had to make an effort to keep straight but it wasn’t impossible.
Amani was a wonderful character to get to know and follow as she found the world opening up in front of her. She is the ultimate heroine fighting against societal constraints and I loved that she was a balance of bold and loyal but self-critical and unsure - a very realistic 17-year-old. Her smart mouth gave way to some pretty epic lines and made her so badass and impossible not to like. Jinn was also a delight, mysterious but compelling and you can totally understand why Amani found it difficult to abandon him at various points.
Amani’s desperation and need to get away was beautifully explored and was reflected in the barren and vast surroundings of desert that she has been grown up in. At the same time her growing attachment to Jinn felt natural too. It brings to mind the saying that home isn’t a place but a person. I was supper happy that there wasn’t instalove – she totally poisons him at one point in order to put her need to escape first (atta girl!) There were some stereotypical romantic moments e.g. burning touches and overwhelming ~feelings~ but I can forgive Amani those because 1. Jinn is hot and 2. She is so busy being badass the rest of the time that she is totally entitled to some twitterpation ;)
The pacing in the book was just right and the balance between action and explanation was strong throughout. And the overarching plot was super intriguing that I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment. I read this with half a mind to the fact that it was the first in a trilogy and would most likely spend the majority world building, and setting up the plot for the rest of the trilogy so I was pleasantly surprised when the book finished with a satisfying climax and ending of its own with no cliffhanger in sight.
If you’re at all interested in far-flung exotic lands with badass heroines, yummy love interests and the promise of rebellion, you will not be let down by Rebel of the Sands.
Originally posted on my blog: bookishatheart.com
Amani dreams of having a greater purpose in life and is desperate to leave behind her bitter extended family, who took her in after she was orphaned, and the dead-end desert town that she has grown up in. A talented gunslinger, she's hoping it's enough to get her to the capital city of Miraji where she can be free from the constraints of small town life. Her plans are however derailed by the arrival of a foreigner in town who awakens Amani’s desires (romantic and adventurous!) and the two are flung together for survival. But this stranger has secrets of his own and it is not long before Amani finds herself wound up in his mysterious mission and his mesmerizing eyes...
This book was simply delicious. I was really looking forward to reading a novel in an Arabian Nights setting and Rebel of the Sands did not disappoint. Hamilton's world-building and attention to detail is great and the setting was at once recognisable, familiar enough to ground readers, but different enough to keep it fresh and intriguing. I loved the references to the Djinni fairy tales and the exploration of the spiritual aspect of life in the desert, such as the origins of the world and ideas behind right and wrong. At times, I'll admit I found it difficult to keep up with the wider world – there were other cities, nations, and political alliances pretty important to the story that I had to make an effort to keep straight but it wasn’t impossible.
Amani was a wonderful character to get to know and follow as she found the world opening up in front of her. She is the ultimate heroine fighting against societal constraints and I loved that she was a balance of bold and loyal but self-critical and unsure - a very realistic 17-year-old. Her smart mouth gave way to some pretty epic lines and made her so badass and impossible not to like. Jinn was also a delight, mysterious but compelling and you can totally understand why Amani found it difficult to abandon him at various points.
Amani’s desperation and need to get away was beautifully explored and was reflected in the barren and vast surroundings of desert that she has been grown up in. At the same time her growing attachment to Jinn felt natural too. It brings to mind the saying that home isn’t a place but a person. I was supper happy that there wasn’t instalove – she totally poisons him at one point in order to put her need to escape first (atta girl!) There were some stereotypical romantic moments e.g. burning touches and overwhelming ~feelings~ but I can forgive Amani those because 1. Jinn is hot and 2. She is so busy being badass the rest of the time that she is totally entitled to some twitterpation ;)
The pacing in the book was just right and the balance between action and explanation was strong throughout. And the overarching plot was super intriguing that I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment. I read this with half a mind to the fact that it was the first in a trilogy and would most likely spend the majority world building, and setting up the plot for the rest of the trilogy so I was pleasantly surprised when the book finished with a satisfying climax and ending of its own with no cliffhanger in sight.
If you’re at all interested in far-flung exotic lands with badass heroines, yummy love interests and the promise of rebellion, you will not be let down by Rebel of the Sands.
Originally posted on my blog: bookishatheart.com
beachybookstack's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fairly fast read that felt so easy. It didn't keep me up or get me obsessed, but it was a fun bout through the desert world that Hamilton has created. It takes awhile for the story to take off and by the end, it felt like I could pick up the sequel or wait a few months (I don't get time to read during the semester) without issue. I had this on my To-Read shelf for so long and I'm a little bummed that it didn't have more romance?? There were also some chapters with just....nothing going on. Maybe I'm spoiled from reading much larger, deeper series. This was just "meh."
m00plays's review against another edition
3.0
My actual rating is 3.5 stars.
I thought this book had a brilliant premise and is something totally different from the usual. The setting was well written and the unique magic system was really interesting! I loved the story but I have a few minor problems that brought the rating of this book down.
I found some of the language didn't suit the geographical location. Although this isn't set in our World, I envisioned a Middle Eastern area and the word 'folks' doesn't suit that area, it's an American word I think!
Also, I didn't feel a major connection to our main characters and I don't know why.
My last gripe is that the major action and plot takes place in the last 100 pages and it's a whirlwind. I feel like it needed to slow down so I could digest what was happening. A bit more detail was needed I think in that last battle with Naguib.
Overall, I'd recommend this read most definitely despite my few problems with it!
I thought this book had a brilliant premise and is something totally different from the usual. The setting was well written and the unique magic system was really interesting! I loved the story but I have a few minor problems that brought the rating of this book down.
I found some of the language didn't suit the geographical location. Although this isn't set in our World, I envisioned a Middle Eastern area and the word 'folks' doesn't suit that area, it's an American word I think!
Also, I didn't feel a major connection to our main characters and I don't know why.
My last gripe is that the major action and plot takes place in the last 100 pages and it's a whirlwind. I feel like it needed to slow down so I could digest what was happening. A bit more detail was needed I think in that last battle with Naguib.
Overall, I'd recommend this read most definitely despite my few problems with it!