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    Rebel of the Sands
    Rebel of the Sands
    Rebel of the Sands
    Audiobook9 hours

    Rebel of the Sands

    Written by Alwyn Hamilton

    Narrated by Soneela Nankani

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Sixteen-year-old sharpshooter Amani Al'Hiza never doubted she'd escape the miserable one-horse desert town where she was born. Getting out had always been the plan. But she never figured she'd wind up running for her life-with a boy wanted for treason. When Amani enters a disastrous shooting contest against Jin, a rakish foreigner, she has no idea of his connection to the ongoing war between the ruthless Sultan of Miraji and his exiled son, the Rebel Prince. But soon the pair are fleeing across a desert crawling with vicious bandits, terrifying ghuls, and powerful djinni, and the Sultan's army is getting closer every day. When Amani and Jin stumble across the ruins of a town destroyed by an unearthly fire, it's clear the war's stakes are higher than either of them realized. The Rebel Prince has a secret weapon, and now he wants Amani to join his revolution. All Amani ever wanted was to escape the desert and find adventure-but will the desert let her go?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMar 8, 2016
    ISBN9781501904240
    Rebel of the Sands

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    Reviews for Rebel of the Sands

    4/5

    356 ratings29 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Amani is a young woman living on the edge of nowhere in a land ruled by a Sultan who has made a deal with a country that wants to conquer his. It is a land of djinn and other magical creatures. And it is a desert.Since she is poor and orphaned and under the control of an aunt and uncle who don't want her, she is determined to get away to the city which lived in her mother's stories and which appears to her to be a land of opportunity. However, her plans are sabotaged when she meets a young man named Jin at a shooting competition and finds herself joining forces with him when he is on the run from the Sultan's army. She quickly finds herself involved in a revolution that she had pretty much thought was just a story like the hundreds of other stories she had heard.The story is filled with action. Jin and Amani have a number of narrow escapes from the forces attempting to capture them. It is also a sort of romance as she and Jin become close while they are on their adventures. But, most of all, it is the story of a young woman who thought she wanted to go it alone and who discovers fulfillment and happiness when she joins forces with others.I loved the worldbuilding in this fantasy story. The desert setting really came to life. I liked the mythological creatures that made appearances too. Fans of fantasy won't want to miss this exciting adventure.
    • 4/5
      A young desert woman in danger of being forced to marry her uncle tries to use her ability with a pistol to win free only to become involved with more trouble than she knew was out there and plunges into adventure and away from the goals she had set herself. Enough different from the sea of girl with something extra to provide entertainment, similar enough to satisfy that appetite.
    • 5/5
      I read this physically several years ago and om a whim decided to reread through audio. The narrator was excellent and really pulled me into the story again, which continues to bring me joy and excitement.
    • 4/5
      Surprising adventure -- has some steampunky elements, but is more desert dystopian with unexpected magical aspects. I'd say more, but I don't want to give anything away. I appreciate the heroine's defiance and skill, and the hero's slippery stories.

      Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
    • 1/5
      One and a half for me, the half is because I got to the end. I'm probably the wrong audience for this it felt very much like a basic YA story. Wouldn't you know it the love interest ended up being a prince...also I really dislike westerns in fantasy.
    • 4/5
      Very good YA. Reminiscent of Sara Maas, Rae Carson, and Tanya Huff's Damar duo.
    • 3/5
      I was wrong about who would be the Demdji, so that was a nice surprise. Fairly predictable plot overall, but the desert and magic twists are great and I look forward to the next book.
    • 3/5
      Fun, like Arabian legend meets with the Wild West. Entertaining read.
    • 4/5
      I read the free preview (the first... two? chapters) for this ages ago and loved it. I was so excited to pick this up from the library.

      And... it's fine. The writing is good, the characters are good, the romance has chemistry, there's a gorgeous magical horse-creature (which automatically gets this book an extra star from me)... but it's not a five-star, new-fave, rush-out-to-buy-it* read.

      I'm not entirely sure why. It's not you, book, it's me.

      *I would totally buy this set in hardcover just for the gorgeous covers (#shelfporn), but Australia kind of sucks sometimes and only has the ugly covers for books two and three. Why, Australia.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars

      I read this for the Young Adult square for Romance Bingo.

      The world building was a bit confusing with all the magical components just thrown at me but towards the end I felt like I had a good grasp on what was what and who was who.
      The story of a girl who doesn't know she is special, meets a boy, and a rebel group fighting against the establishment is nothing new but the magical elements and sort of wild west feel made this exciting enough.
      This is young adult, so the relationship developing between Amani and Jin is innocent enough but they still had some good heat and tension between them.
      The overall structure is pretty straight forward while the story still allows for some mystery and surprises. If I was in my teens, this is definitely a story I would have really liked. I'm a bit surprised but I'll probably bookmark the next in the series at the library to continue on :)
    • 3/5
      It may be that I read this book while on a plane, but I really struggled to get into this book. I did enjoy the beginning, which was intriguing. It was a fast read, which I appreciated and I fully intend to continue the series.
    • 4/5
      An engaging story of a girl that learns who and what she is set against a brutal and violent desert background. I knocked a star off because it was hard to read at certain points.
    • 4/5
      Set in a fantasy sultanate with more than a pinch of the American Old West, Rebel of the Sands had me hooked from the setting. Add in a female sharp-shooter disguising herself as a boy and I'm all in. It would have been so easy for this book to go wrong in so many ways, but it never went horribly off-track and I galloped along with it until the very end. I had some small issues with it as a reader--the relationship between Jin and Amani never quite clicked for me, the "Western"-ness seemed to fall by the wayside and some characters felt more like plot devices than actual characters--but, overall, it was a fantastic read, with a heroine and setting that I want a lot more of.
    • 4/5
      Over Thanksgiving Break, I devoured Rebel of the Sands in a matter of days. So, without further ado, here are five reasons to pick up this book:

      1. Amani- and all the girl power
      Our main character, Amani Al'Hiza, is one of those characters I couldn't help but root for from the beginning. She is tough, smart, and a sharpshooter. Amani's voice is both gritty and real. How could you not love a character with the nickname The Blue-eyed Bandit?

      2. Jin- everyone's favorite fugitive
      Jin was another amazing character. I loved every run-in with him, as excitement always followed. I loved seeing him and Amani grow close and I can't wait to see more of them together!

      3. The desert and all its surprises
      First of all, the desert seems to live and breathe in this book. It is so vividly described and you can see how it is such a part of Amani. And the best part is that mythological creatures roam the desert. All of the mythology in Rebel of the Sands was incredibly well developed.

      4. Guns! Shooting! Adventure!
      I was surprised and impressed by Alwyn Hamilton's affinity for action scenes. There is never a dull moment and I loved Amani's ability with a gun. The fight and on-the-run scenes were always fraught with tension.

      5. The ending- I'm ready for book two
      After some amazing reveals and twists, I am ready for everything to go down in Traitor to the Throne. (Although I am a bit disappointed by the cover change... Rebel of the Sands is SO BEAUTIFUL and I would have loved the second book to match. *sigh*)

      Overall, I cannot recommend Rebel of the Sands enough. You will want to get on board with this new, exciting series!!!
    • 4/5
      Well-conceived, tightly edited young adult fantasy. The first chapter is an excellent example of storytelling: We know next to nothing about the main character's back story, but we're immediately wrapped up in her derring-do and thus invested in her character from the beginning. She's a fiery, determined, and resourceful heroine who's a pleasure to follow.

      I would be surprised if Hollywood hasn't already snatched up the movie rights, as this has all the ingredients for a YA hit: highly visual elements, seat-of-your-pants action, believable romance with lots of conflict, and opportunities for great special effects.

      My only real quibble is with the childhood friend she leaves behind: the situation is left unresolved, and the friend feels too detailed to be such a minor character, so I assume either his role was significantly cut during the editing process, or we're going to see a lot more of him in the sequel. Either way, his part in this novel seemed awkwardly curtailed.
    • 4/5
      Arabian Nights meets Aladdin meets teen romance. A wonderfully executed teen fantasy novel set in the harsh desert where guns are the currency of the land. As a woman, Amani knows that she has no rights and might soon be forced to marry her uncle and become one of his many wives. Trying to escape she goes to the pistol pit disguised as a boy trying to win a shooting contest to get money to escape the hell hole she's grown up in. While their things get out of hand and she finds herself befriending a foreigner who is almost as a good shot as she. Little does she know that her chance encounter with him will forever change her future. Full of daring escapes, magic, folklore, and all around badassery, this young adult novel is a slam dunk. I'll have to check out the second in the series.
    • 4/5
      Rebel of the Sands is a mythical tale of the desert, a blue-eyed sharpshooting badass, and a building rebellion. I was so floored by this book I accidentally read it in one night. Hamilton's debut is part western, part Arabian mythology, a blend that can be hard to get your head around, but which worked well for me. Desperate to escape her dusty dead-end town and a dim future of arranged marriage, Amani joins forces with Jin, a charming yet enigmatic fugitive wanted for treason, and her best chance at a new life. With a touch of rebel romance when they're not too busy escaping tight spots, battling demons, or running for their lives, Rebel of the Sands offers the ultimate mystical journey.
    • 3/5
      Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton was a book I’d heard mentioned quiet often, but didn’t know much about. I picked it up on somewhat of a whim when I was at the library, not quite knowing what to expect, just a little miffed that the first book in the series I was originally searching for wasn’t returned yet.So what did I think about this book?This is the story of Amani, a teenage girl who will do anything to leave Dustwalk. She’s a sharpshooter who has no problems dressing up as a boy and doing just about anything to escape. Along the way she meets Jin, a boy about her own age being hunted by the army.Let’s be up front about this. This is a book about walking. Personally, I don’t have much of an issue with books about walking. But the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the book follows Amani as she first tries to escape Dustwalk before simply following her as she travels towards the capital city where her Aunt is supposedly living. If you do not like books with more walking than plot heavy action, do be forewarned.That being said, there were sections where the plot dragged. The plot is a basic one – escape Dustwalk. And that was enough to keep my attention for some time. However, I did keep reading to see where they were going and where the rest of the plot would be as the initial intent of escaping was over rather quickly.As for the characters, Amani is rather generic as far as heroines in YA literature go. Despite this, I do think there are some very good aspects to her, and I did like her as a character when I normally find cookie-cutter characters unpalatable. Amani doesn’t fall into the continuously angsty thoughts about her love interest as many others do. When she threatens to fall into anxiety, angst, and an identity crisis Jin tells her to pick up her gun, put her big girl panties back on, and get the hell back out there. And this is something that I absolutely loved. It is quite easy to fall into the 'oh woe is me/I’m not who I thought I was/I’m so different’ mentality. At least in YA lit it is. Here, that is stomped out very quickly which I am absolutely thrilled about.I did like Amani’s character development. Due to some of the other books I’ve read recently, I was over the moon there was any character development at all. I must admit, though, that a good number of the other character's actions were predicable up to a point. On the other hand, I didn’t absolutely despise them the way I do with other similar characters. Why? Personality. Though they might have been rather firmly based in the tropes of the genre the vast majority of the characters had their own personalities and their own reasons for their actions. The secondary and side characters were all rather likable and had interesting backgrounds. I would love to learn more about them.While I like the world the story is set in, I did find some problems with it. I really loved the Middle Eastern mythology and setting woven into the tale. I also like Westerns. I’ve watched dozens of spaghetti westerns with my dad; it was a Sunday afternoon ritual for years. But there were times where the two sides just didn’t feel at all coherent. We went from a Wild West opening chapter to a Middle Eastern feel to the next. It didn’t quite mesh, not really feeling as if these two chapters were set in the same world. Instead, it pushed things in the opposite direction, making it feel as though Amani was leading two incredibly different lives.Despite these problems, there is a fair amount of world building within the novel. We learn the origin story for this world. We learn about the last two or so kings. And we see some mythological creatures. Yes, this novel does include magic. While mentioned in the first few chapters, it really doesn’t come into play in any sort of significant way until later in the story.Okay. Let’s talk about Jin for a minute. This is the second main character in the novel, our male lead. Did I like this character? Yes. I did. No, we didn’t really need the multiple descriptions of his chest muscles, but I still really liked his character. One question I did have was why Jin was alone in Dustwalk when the book opened. This seemed rather odd to me after reaching the end of the novel, even if only because most of the other characters are always seen to be traveling in pairs. (You'll know what I mean when you get there). All I can say is that he was alone instead of in a group because the plot required him to be, not fitting in with things we learn and see later in the novel.Here’s the thing. I gave Rebel of the Sands a solid three stars. It was fun and had some interesting characters. However, I would have given the book four or five stars if told from Jin’s point of view instead of Amani’s. There is one huge issue with seeing this story from Amani’s point of view and following her story. There is not much of a story there, and she’s just a bit of a cookie cutter main character. The real meat of the story heavily revolves around Jin and Ahmed, especially, it looks, as we go further into the series. And I am more than fine with that. That’s what I’m interested in. That’s what I want to see. For the majority of the book I was much more interested in Jin as a character than Amani.Did I like Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton? Yeah, I did. It was fun and, once we finally get there, has a very interesting plot that really hooks you in, even if the getting there is potentially slow. I definitely plan on reading the sequel once it comes out. If you like YA fantasy and mythology this is a title you’ll want to pick up. If you don’t like ‘books about walking’ a la Lord of the Rings you may want to skip this one.
    • 3/5
      A fast-moving YA fantasy about a teenage girl who manages to escape from the dusty desert community where she’s grown up, and falls in with a group of rebels.It’s full of tense moments and involves a couple of twists I didn’t see coming.I didn’t see the ending coming, either, mostly because I was not quite 75% through the ebook and was under the misapprehension that there was more of the story to go before the final conflict and resolution. It turns out the ebook contains a multi-chapter preview for the sequel - I’ve never come across such a long preview at the back before. The night and the colours and the laughter and the sense of power and certainty in what they were doing made my head spin. This revolution was a legend in the making. The kind of tale that sprawled out long before me and far beyond my reach. The sort of epic that was told over and over to explain how the world was never the same after this handful of people lived and fought and won or died trying. And after it happened, the story seemed somehow inevitable. Like the world was waiting to be changed, needing to be saved, and the players in the tale were all plucked out of their lives and moved into places exactly where they needed to be, like pieces on a board, just to make this story come true. But it was wilder and more terrifying and intoxicating, and more uncertain than I’d ever thought. And I could be a part of it, if I wanted to.
    • 5/5
      An amazing and original new series
    • 2/5
      The book cover is beautiful with shiny gold lines and blue print, it gives the right feeling of the story somewhere in the middle east and full of magic AND a distopian. While reading the book I was really happy this smells of trilogy and finally it is all in one book, by the end of the book, i wasn't so sure, still it might as well could have stopped on a guess note. I am sooo disappointed right now to learn its going to be a trilogy, one long and extended story. The story was a winner of Goodreads debut writers nomination, I am truly wondering - HOW did that happen?? This tastes for another distopian, another battle and breaking the system, another book where both war sides realizes they have been triggered and they don't actually have to fight between. I like that the book has the epic story plots of magical tales its reminds me of traditional tales from middle east region, which are so hard to find for an average reader.Unfortunately I did not find it unique. I am not sure I will keep around for the next parts.
    • 4/5
      Interesting mix of fantasy, wild west, and romance.
    • 4/5
      I thought that Rebel of the Sands was a great read. This book grabs you from the very beginning with witty and brave Amani practically running after danger to escape the family who want to marry her off to her Uncle in Deadwood. I really liked how determined her character was from the start and how she knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to do what was necessary to accomplish it. Keeping her eyes on the target (Amani was a real sharpshooter with a gun), she drugs Jin and runs away with his money (I REALLY liked her at that moment). Amani is not afraid to go it alone to get what she wants in Izman with her Aunt Safiyan who she has never met rather then winding up "Wed or Dead" in Deadwood.Amani goes for a shooting contest dressed as a boy and that is how we first meet her. There she meets the mysterious foreigner Jin and the two of them end up bonding and pretty much saving each other’s lives. A Buraqi , one of the first beings and an immortal being of the sand which also looks like a horse shows up the next day and Amani thinks of it as a ticket out of the place she lives in to go to the city which she has dreamed about from her mother’s stories! Miraji seems like such a richly detailed place. The political tensions of this kingdom is also a major plotline in this book along with mythology. The Sultan is corrupt and basically lets the foreigner, the Galan, who helped him gain and stay in power, pretty much do what they wish on the Sultans lands and to his people. This leads to a lot of unrest in his people and the public starts believing in the Rebel Prince Ahmed who promises a better future for them. Djinni also play a really major part in this book as children of mortals and Djinni are slaughtered ruthlessly by the foreigners who think it’s against their culture. As I said, the Sultan lets them do what they want. I enjoyed how the relationship between Jin and Amani’s develops fist from being at one another's throats into a relationship where she, and they become part of something bigger. They become very supportive of each other and I enjoyed watching them grow with each other and see how much Jin trusts her. Amani learns to stop being selfish all the time and starts to care more about other people as well instead of just fending for herself since her mother was hung.Overall this book was really magical fun and fast-paced! It had all the elements that made it a very exciting read and I loved the mythology of Miraji. I would definitely recommend it if you want something quick and entertaining. Plus the characters are hilarious at times. This book does get serious but there is always a balance. Rebel of the Sands was definitely a great read.Jack Murphy
    • 5/5
      I take pride in searching for the unique reads of the world... The ones that pull you into the words and away from reality. Books that capture your soul and leave you feeling like you left a piece of you behind with the last page. Rebel of the Sands was one of those reads... It was quick to capture my attention and left me craving more long after the final page. What really caught my attention as a reader was the how vivid each scene was. I could really picture the gritty sands, makeshift buildings, and creatures painted in swirls of light and dark. I could feel the air from the horses toss my hair every which way and I could feel the love bloom deep within my heart.

      The characters were a huge part of the book and I loved each one in a different way. Amani was a heroine that all will learn to appreciate! She was strong and fierce... Manipulative, but in the best way possible. She knew how to shoot a gun and was able to capture the readers attention with her softer side. Jin was the mysterious guy with an unexpected twist... He had secrets and was on a dangerous journey. When him and Amani meet it turns into a middle eastern "Bonnie & Clyde'ish" scenerio. Together they face mythological creatures and fight for a better world.

      For those wondering... Yes, there was romance and no it wasn't instalove. It was a gradual slow burn relationship that fed off of danger. It was passionate and quirky and definitely swoon worthy!

      All in all, I really loved this story! I enjoyed the twists and turns and found myself unable to stop turning the pages. For the most part I thought it was an awesome debut... Yeah, some of the story was bit scattered and it did seem a tad rushed towards the end, but those things didn't take away from all of the wonderful things that happened. I thought the Author did a great job at creating a unique world with characters that were captivating and fun to read about. I can't wait for the sequel!
    • 5/5
      Wow. Rebel of the Sands draws you in and doesn't let you go. Rebel of the Sands is a YA about coming of age and figuring out what you are!
    • 4/5
      A fantasy novel that you will not be able to put down, Rebel of the Sands tells the tale of Amani and Jin.Amani al-Hiza is female, poor, and orphaned, but she is a perfect shot. No one can handle a gun better than Amani. In order to escape her terrible town of Dustwalk (aptly named), Amani enters a shooting contest as a male. Women are lower class and must abide by their status. As fate would have it, chaos ensues and she loses the money she had saved to enter. Jin enters the contest as well and finds this person very talented. Only Jin realizes that winning is impossible--the winner is pre-determined. He’s intrigued and can’t help but seek her out. Come to find out, he’s a wanted man. Amani’s life is very small in Dustwalk. If she doesn’t escape, she’ll have to marry her uncle who already has several wives. She wants freedom. In addition, there’s political unrest. One of the Sultan’s sons is known as the Rebel Prince. Supposedly, he wants rebels to fight with him to overthrow his father and create a better land for everyone and not just a few. Supporting the Rebel Prince is dangerous. There isn’t a chance to defend yourself; the military can kill as they will.Then, something happens that hasn’t happened in a very long time. A mythical horse--a Buraqi--comes into town. If a woman can trap the Buraqi in its mortal form, it belonged to her. Actually, it belonges to a girl’s nearest male relative. After capturing the Buraqi, Amani thinks it will all work out until she is recognized as the shooter in the contest. In trouble, Amani is thankful to see the Buraqi riding toward her with a rider. It’s Jin. He grabs her and they leave town just in time. This is only the beginning of the adventure. Nothing is as it seems. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and didn’t want to stop reading. The author cleverly drops hints throughout the novel yet the reader remains surprised at the revelations later in the novel. It’s a very different fantasy novel. The history of the creatures and the lands does get confusing. To be honest, I skimmed that part and concentrated on the story.
    • 3/5
      First off I just want to say this cover is absolutely gorgeous, so kudos to the cover designer for that. As for the book, it just wasn't for me. It wasn't the story line or the characters or anything like that (both were great!) I just personally couldn't connect with any of the characters and because of that I didn't enjoy the book as much as I could have, I think. I would still recommend it though because it really is a great story. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
    • 2/5
      2.5 starsThis book started very well with a terrific blend of the Wild West and Arabian Nights, and a great female character who was spirited, smart-mouthed and a sharp-shooter. The first 70 or so pages were full of daring exploits and I was really enjoying the ride, but then the story disintegrated, especially once Amani and Jin joined the rebel camp. The plot became tedious, a range of new characters were introduced and the action died. Also, even though I liked Jin, I just did not feel the connection between him and Amani, and found their romance unbelievable So, while "Rebel of the Sands" had a strong, promising start, hence the extra half star, it didn't continue and ended up a painful read.
    • 3/5
      This was an interesting cowboy meets Ali Baba kind of tale in that the first couple chapters felt like a gunfight at the O.K corral, and then the rest felt like a genie fantasy. Amani is an orphan who is determined to use her deadly aim with a gun to get out of Deadshot and avoid marrying her uncle. She meets a mysterious foreigner named Jin, and just when you think they've gone their separate ways, they end up reunited. Don't want to give too much away. I enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the second half which really seemed to slow down a lot, but still was intrigued enough to finish it. Would like to see it made into a movie. Some of the special effects needed to show the Demdjii and their skills would be amazing.