Rebel Of The Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands

by Alywn Hamilton

316 Pages

Published by Viking

Plot: 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. (2018, Goodreads.com)


Review: Great start to a new series!  Loved the middle-eastern mythology / western gun-slinger theme.  Amani and Jin are both very likable characters that have you rooting for them from start to finish.  Amani is not only a dead shot with her pistol, but she is brave and willing to take risks.  Outside of Duskwalk there is a rebellion brewing.  One of the Sultan's sons, the rebel prince, is leading this rebellion and is being hunted.  So soldiers are looking  everywhere for him and his rebels - even in Duskwalk.   Amani desperately wants to leave Dustwalk before her uncle marries her to himself!  With no parents, she is at the mercy of her uncle.  But, when she crosses paths with a handsome foreigner she realizes that he could be her only way out.  Amani has never left Dustwalk, and although she doesn't know what lies outside of her dusty little town, she is willing risk everything to find out.

Hamilton does an excellent job weaving in fast-paced action, mythical beasts, and romance into an original and beautiful story!  There are lots of plot twists and turns that make this one a great page-turner!  A definite must read!  If you love fantasy, middle-eastern mythology, westerns and romance you'll love this book!  Recommended for ages 14 and up!

Rating: 4 Hearts!💖💖💖💖