Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Source: Purchased
Pages: 358
Release Date: February 4th, 2016
Series: Rebel of the Sands #1
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult
Dustwalk is an unforgiving, dead-end town. It's not the place to be poor or orphaned or female. And yet Amani Al'Hiza must call it 'home'.
Amani wants to escape and see the world she's heard about in campfire stories.
Then a foreigner with no name turns up, and with him she has the chance to run.
But the desert plains are full of dangerous magic. The Sultan's army is on the rise and Amani is soon caught at the heart of a fearless rebellion...
An epic story of swirling desert sands, love, magic and revolution.
Western feel with interesting mythology
This world is brilliant. The writing itself is reminiscent of westerns, which I’ve come to love after books like VENGEANCE ROAD and WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER. And then the mythology is Persian I think (I’m not too sure if this is the right culture. I could be way off), with Djinn and some super interesting magic. I couldn’t get enough.
The horse wasn’t in it for long enough
I am so mad about this. This is the only thing I truly can complain about. WHY DID THE HORSE GO?! I was ready for a magical horse companion. THEN HE WAS GONE. I WANT THE HORSE BACK BUT NOOOO.
Kind of predictable… but fun
Not all of the twists in REBEL OF THE SANDS were all that surprising. In fact I predicted quite a few of them. Only once or twice was I taken by surprise. Despite this I still had a lot of fun reading the book because they were the types of twists and turns I would have put in if I were writing this book.
THE SHIPPING IS STRONG
It’s been a while since I shipped a couple as strong as I shipped Jin and Amani. Like oh my god, the feels and tension were intense. It was frustrating having it develop so slowly, but also satisfying because slow burn. Then there were all the secondary character ships. Much shipping was done!
It gets intense
There are suspenseful fight scenes spread throughout the novel, but it’s right at the end that things get intense. First of characters die that you aren’t expecting and even though you haven’t known them long, their death breaks your heart. Then there’s the battle and magic and war. the ending. It was epic.
REBEL OF THE SANDS was the best book to read during exams. Addictive with a couple I couldn’t help but ship intensely, it was a struggle to put it down. Though it was predictable at times, I had a lot of fun reading it and my god did it get suspenseful at the end. I cannot wait to continue this story in the sequel.
| Rating Report | |
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| Plot | |
| Characters | |
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| Overall: | 4.5 |
Kelly
I was a bit disappointed by how soon the horse disappeared… perhaps we’ll see it again, though, since it’s a series. (*Crosses fingers hoping for the return of possible-murder-horse*)
Kelly recently posted…Review: The Star-Touched Queen
Bec
It will be so great if it pops up again! I really wanted more.
Rachana @ Spun
I feel like this review has described 5 things I always love to see in a book haha. So it sounds like I need to read this book ASAP! (Well other than the part about it being predictable because I really love seeing a ton of plot twists in Fantasy.)
Rachana @ Spun recently posted…I’m back!
Bec
I think you need to read it ASAP too! Just because I found it predictable doesn’t mean you will :) I hope you get to read it soon!
Karen
I’m glad you enjoyed Rebel. It was one of my favourite reads of this year when it comes to fantasy/western/awesomeness. Can’t wait for the next book!
Bec
It was a great blend of genres! The sequel needs to hurry up and get in our hands.
Ali
I have had this book for a couple months now and your review makes me want to jump up and read it (especially your bit about the “slow burn” because those are my FAVORITE)!
Ali recently posted…Book Review: The Bone Season
Bec
Yessss read it. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews
I already have this on my tbr shelf for the setting and action alone but the SHIPPINESS appeals to me very much Bec so now I want to read it even more :D Slow burn romances are life! ..Though I will probably miss the horse when it leaves too. LOVE animal companions ♥ Great review girl xx
Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews recently posted…Review: Clariel
Bec
I reckon if the horse became a main part it would have been even more enjoyable! I hope you get to read it and love it soon :D
Thanks!
Tyler H. Jolley
Sounds like a great suspenseful read for sure. I’ve really been getting into Persian books lately, so this is right up my alley. I just love the magical realism.
Bec
It was such great magical mythology and interesting world! I want to check out more eventually.
Simona
This was such a good read. I loooooved the western culture and I think we don’t get enough of it in books… at least I don’t. I NEED MORE! :D
Aaaww and Jin and Amani were so cute together. :)
I’m glad you liked the book. :)
Simona recently posted…Bookish things that annoy me
Bec
I think Western YA is a slowly emerging trend and I highly approve! Cannot wait to see what other awesomeness comes our yay.
Crystal
Magical Horse? Oh heck yes! :D
Bec
All I need are magical horses in a book for me to need to read it with great desperation haha
Kyra Morris
EEK so glad you enjoyed this! I actually got Rebel of the Sands for my birthday a few months back and I still haven’t read it – I must get to it soon! Great review! :)
Kyra Morris recently posted…The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder made my heart squeeze with happiness
Bec
I hope you enjoy it when you read it! And find time for it ASAP.
Thanks :D
Ashleigh
I really should pick this book up already, it’s been eyeing me up from every corner of the internet for months now!
Bec
Yesss you should! All those little places it pops up on the internet are signs XD
Joy // Joyousreads
Really worried about that dreaded love triangle. I don’t know if it’s heading that way, but it’ll be a waste if it did. Gah.
Joy // Joyousreads recently posted…[649]: This Is My Brain on Boys by Sarah Strohmeyer
Bec
I didn’t detect any signs of a love triangle in this. But that could change in the sequels? I have doubts though.
Cyci Cade
I had a lot of fun reading it too. This book surprised me; I didn´t expect so much from it because the cover is a little plain, unattractive. .
Cyci Cade recently posted…Movie Review: Independence Day Resurgence
Bec
It was so much fun and pretty much all that I was hoping for. I actually love the cover :/
Rabiah
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this one, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The mythology looks really interesting and did you say HORSE???? I’m so in. Thanks for sharing your thoughts :D
Rabiah recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – Week 171
Bec
The mythology was awesome. And there is a horse! But it doesn’t play as big a part as I wish it did :'(
Romi
The shipping, the intensity and the horse all have me intrigued, Bec. And it sounds like a really strange mix of elements to make one intrigued, but there you go. I do like the cover a lot as well (and there’s that horse), but that is besides the point (mostly).
It can be really sad when an animal character you love either disappears, is cut out or dies, because sometimes I am more concerned with the wellfair of the animal than I am with that of the MC. Sometimes the horses, dogs, cats and birds just make you care in a way the MC doesn’t manage to, and whilst it doesn’t sound like you disliked the other characters (hence the intent shipping feels), I am sad the horse is out of the picture way before its time.
I do find it difficult when a book is supposed to be surprising you with all its plot twists but instead you’re sitting there expecting all of it, because it takes a definite element of intrigue and excitement out of it, and I tend to think back on those books with disappointment. Even when I find myself surprised on occasion, it still doesn’t seem to negate the fact for the other 90% of the book I’ve expected everything else. Although when I *can* still enjoy the book, and the expections amd plot “surprises” are okay even if I know them, then it’s wonderful. It proves how enjoyable the book itself is.
Romi recently posted…From me to you and back again -7-
Bec
The mix of genres was done so well! I really loved it.
I really love having animal companions as part of the story. It’s another element to the characters and they’re usually a source of great entertainment haha
Yeah predictable plots can be hit and miss. If it’s something super obvious that annoys me I’m not going to enjoy it. But if it’s a plot twists I would write myself or a “Omg will the story goes here, I can’t believe it’s going here, this is amazing” twist it doesn’t bother me.
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
Yessss I’m glad you enjoyed this too Bec! It’s a shame that horse didn’t stay there for long, such a cool magical horse! I loved the setting and the fast pace of the story too.
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…Contemporary YA Reviews: One Would Think the Deep & My Heart and Other Black Holes
Bec
The horse would have been such a good addition to the story, seriously. Like it was a really good book, but the horse would have made it even better :P
molly @ molly's book nook
OMG I AGREE ABOUT THE HORSE! I was expecting it to be in the book THE ENTIRE TIME.. Seriously. How rude?!
molly @ molly’s book nook recently posted…Legacy by Ellery A. Kane // A dystopian miss…
Bec
I know right! If there’s going to be even a hint of an animal companion, especially a magical one, it needs to stay there for the entire book!
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
WHY DO THE ANIMALS NEVER STAY? I swear there are little animal cameos and then BAM, gone. I want a magical horsey companion! If I ever write a fantasy, I am going to have an actual animal character with importance and adorableness.
Originally, this book didn’t make it to the TBR because I am being totally ruthless with my TBR nowadays, but after reading so many positive reviews I have bowed down to the hype and now want to read it. Shipping and suspense and things that sound like fun to read. I can’t help myself.
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity recently posted…Five Faves of 2016 (the half yearly edition)
Bec
The fantasy novels that I’ve started writing (but never ended up finishing) both had animal companions. They are so much fun.
It’s a really fun book! I hope you get to read it and enjoy it :)