Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book two clearly set things up for a lot to happen in book three, but sometimes it pulled me in so many directions, with so few solutions, that it began to feel a bit overwhelming. The strange thing is that less happens in this book than I expected, especially considering it has 518 pages.

Actually, things happens, but there is less overall forward motion that I expected when starting this book. Compared to book one, this has a much slower pace and fewer action scenes. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story, but it didn’t captivate me the way book one did.

I do love Amani. She’s a unique character, with a fascinating voice. I would probably read about her going to Walmart, paying bills, and walking the dog, so this worked out for me. I had a bit of trouble juggling all the side characters and keeping them all straight in the first half of the book, but that could also be partly might fault.

I should have reread book one before continuing on. Since I read it very close to its release date, a lot of time passed before I got my hands on book two. If you’re debating what to do, I highly recommend that you reread book one. You can get by without doing so, but I struggled throughout the story to remember what happened in the first book. Plus the first book is really good, so it’s not going to be painful for people to reread it. I wish I had done that.

Pages: 518

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

Summary: "Desperate to uncover the Sultan's secrets by spying on his court, gunslinger Amani is taken captive by the forces of the Sultan, whose agenda seems less tyrannical than originally believed."

I cannot figure out why this book is almost 200 pages longer than the first one. It is slow and full of unnecessary drama and filler. While the first book is fast-paced and action-packed, this installment is quite the opposite. The first one is full of excitement and intrigue, but I was disappointed that it turned into another revolutionary story - isn't this story-arc overdone at this point? How many overthrown governments are readers really supposed to care about? 

Anyway, I'm still glad I read it, even though it was a chore to do so. The last 100 pages are incredible, and the ending is heart-wrenching in the most delicious and terrible way. 

518 pages

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Summary: "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.

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."

LOVED IT! I love the title, the cover, the characters and the story. Amani is incredibly fun and interesting. I wish I had paid more attention to some of the details earlier in the book, because everything comes back in an important way. It's alllll connected! So pay attention! 

:) I can't wait for the next book! 

314 pages

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book arrived with my very first Uppercase Book Box in March 2016, and I was really excited to receive it. In fact, it's such a good YA fantasy novel that I read it through in one day. I can't wait to read the next book, but it's not because this ends on a cliff-hanger or fails to have an ending, like some novels. It's a very good story, all on it's own. I just want more of the world, as soon as possible.

Amani, the main character, is fierce and fiesty, and she lives in a world that's not kind towards women. This book is advertised as the Wild West meets Arabian Nights, and I think that's a solid comparison. The culture of this created world is deep, rich, and fascinating. There's tons of world building, but it's incorporated so gracefully into the story and plot that it never feels unnatural, forced, or confusing.

Throw in some serious conflict, almost constant adventure, a touch of magic, and a huge rebellion, and this book is just good, from start to finish. I'm really excited about how many great YA fantasy novels have been published in the past year. I just wish I didn't have to wait for all the sequels.

Pages: 320