Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
Synopsis for Rebel of the Sands (from Goodreads):
Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.
Amani Al’Hiza is all three. She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.
Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.
Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power.
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Canadian Author
Series: Rebel of the Sands
Author: Alwyn Hamilton
# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
There is a prequel novella: #0.5 Tales from Sand & Sea
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Completed Series
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Dates: March 2016 – March 2018
Source & Format: Public Library–Hardcover (#1-2); Audiobook (#1-3)
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
So I first heard about this book from an ARC review on 24hr.YABookBlog and I was sold on the concept (and the cover!). And while I always had the best intentions to get around to it, I never did. That’s why I made it a priority to read in 2019 as a part of my 5 Year 5 Book Challenge!
Which I did, but I never go around to reading the finale once it was published for I made it a mission in 2025 to reread the whole series so that I could finally get my ending!
The Concept / The World:
The world building for this series is solid. I loved that the layers get added as the story progresses so you are never overwhelmed by the complexity of the world because of info-dumping. Things get a little more supernatural later on in the series, but because the world-building is so well executed, it is so easy to follow as a reader.
The Plot:
I’m not usually one for adventure stories but Rebel of the Sand (#1) proved to me that they can be great reads! The action was non-stop; there were amazingly not-so-predictable twists; and just a dash of a romance to fill in the moments in between.
The rest of the series is more action-packed than true adventure. I sincerely think Traitor to the Throne (#2) is one of the best sequels I’ve ever read in a trilogy! It’s just perfection in its execution: filled with great characters and fabulous plot developments. It enthralled me from start to finish.
Which is why I might have been slightly disappointed in Hero at the Fall (#3) but the last third and epilogue solidified this book as a 5-star read.
The Characters:
Sometimes the “tough as nails” heroines can become a little grating but Amani won me over immediately. Her growth as a character is stellar and I admire her strong spirit and drive.
The rest of the cast is just wonderful and compliments the story in every way. I was just as attached to some of the side characters as I was with Amani.
The Romance:
It’s never distracting from the plotline or Amani’s character growth. I loved it and any little piece we got had me shrieking in joy. They had amazing chemistry from start to finish!
My Audiobook Experience:
Before I finished the series (it had been 5 years since I originally read the first 2 books), I decided to reread the first two books as audiobooks. Very easy listens! I wish this was a TV show!
Series Rating: 4.5/5
[Tales from Sand & Sea N/A] | Rebel of the Sands 4/5 | Traitor to the Throne 5/5 | Hero at the Fall 4.5/5
One of the best YA fantasy series I’ve ever read, hands-down. Non-stop thrills, romance and action!
Read if You Like: adventure, magic/fantasy
Avoid if You: dislike non-contemporary stories
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