Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

“As I gradually restore Words Like Silver to its archive of reviews written between 2011 and 2024, I'll aim to first and foremost make my reading history explorable by publishing the blurbs and short reflections as books cross my mind, with the goal of eventually transferring and fleshing out the original WLS content. For now, please enjoy this brief spotlight.”

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

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This is my favorite book of the year so far. It's very Arabian Nights, but it also reads like a Western: a strange, cool combination that had me reeling. Something about its elements—wrapped up in vivid imagery—makes it stand out.

I'm not quite sure which out of those is the most prevalent: the harsh desert setting, the proud and fiercely loyal protagonist who can wield her guns like nothing else, the heart-pounding romance, the crisp action.

First of all, the ground-up worldbuilding was remarkably crafted. You can pinpoint a lot of where she draws in inspiration from other cultures and stories, but it retains this fresh feel that's entirely its own. There are religious holidays and festival nights that punctuate the narrative with these haunting, cinematic moments as well as small details that enhance each character's individual arc.

This book made me re-obsessed with Arabian tales. I went through this phase when I was younger where I absolutely devoured all the Children of the Lamp books. It's definitely become a trend for 2016. This one is so vibrant that I can't imagine it not making a splash among similar titles.

The main character Amani is epic. I talk a lot about how I don't like that girls who can use weapons are valued as "strong" more than girls who deal with their own inner conflicts but it's still fun and refreshing to see a girl as stubborn and badass as Amani. She was distinctive both in her internal and external conflicts. She could shoot, yes, but she was also persuasive enough to talk her way out of her tangles with generals.

Alwyn Hamilton's excellent pacing created a story that was distinctive, alluring, and colorful. I fell in love with the action, twists, characters, and plot. Highly recommend.