Hero at the Fall is the third and final book in Alwyn Hamilton’s magical Rebel of the Sands-series following orphan tomboy Amani. Known as the ‘Blue-Eyed Bandit’, she has always been “more gunpowder than girl”. Little did she know, when she eventually managed to escape her dead-end town, that she would come to lead a revolution. But fate leaves her no choice. As she watches those she loves most lay their lives on the line against ghouls and enemy soldiers, Amani questions whether she can be the leader they need or if she is leading them all to their deaths.

This is a satisfying and bittersweet conclusion to a wonderful series, but I would have liked the romance to play a bigger role. I kept waiting to get more of Jin and Amani, but was left feeling a bit let down in that aspect. But just like the previous two books, Hero at the Fall, was an action-packed joyride, with magical creatures, epic battles, friendship and low key romance. 

Rating:
​3.5 shooting stars rounding up to 4

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​Author info:
Alwyn Hamilton

Traitor to the Throne is the second book in Alwyn Hamilton’s magical Rebel of the Sands-series following orphan tomboy Amani. Known as the ‘Blue-Eyed Bandit’, Amani has always been “more gunpowder than girl”. Her whole life, she’s been trying to leave Dustwalk, the unforgiving dead-end dessert town she’s grown up in, without success. Until she meets a stranger, Jin, in a sharpshooting competition. Taking her chance, she follows him on a dangerous journey through the deserts to join the rebels fighting the evil Sultan. As the fight continues and the rebels are gaining more power, Amani has to face betrayal and rely on her desert-girl’s instincts of cunning and espionage to infiltrate the Sultan’s palace.

This is a great sequel, continuing the adventurous story at a heart-pounding pace. What’s special in this series is the mythology that Alwyn Hamilton weaves into the tale. The story is spiced with fairytale animals, like the ‘Buraqi’, a sand horse that can be turned into a real steed by a girl, ‘Nightmares’ that remains in the sands, coming out only at night to inject humans with venom that infects the mind and body, ‘Skinwalkers’ that shift their form from one victim to another, ‘Djinns’; men made of out of smokeless fir and others.

I missed the love story that sprouted between Amani and Jin somewhat in this installment though, as they spend most of the book separated. But hopefully that will change in the exciting conclusion of the series. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the third book next year and hoping for a ‘happy ever after’!

Rating:
​4 stars

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​Author info:
Alwyn Hamilton

I loved this action-packed joyride, with magical creatures, epic battles, friendship and low key romance! When I bought The Rebel of the Sands because of the beautiful cover and intriguing blurb, I had not heard about this series before and was so pleasantly surprised by it. This story just drew me in and I couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the end. It was so fun, fast paced and had such lovable characters.

I totally adore the main character Amani and what a fierce tomboy she was. Known as the ‘Blue-Eyed Bandit’, Amani has always been “more gunpowder than girl”. Her whole life, she’s been trying to leave Dustwalk, the unforgiving dead-end dessert town she’s grown up in, without success. Until she meets a stranger, Jin, in a sharpshooting competition. Taking her chance, she follows him on a dangerous journey through the deserts.

What’s special in this series is the mythology that Alwyn Hamilton weaves into the tale. The story is spiced with fairytale animals, like the ‘Buraqi’, a sand horse that can be turned into a real steed by a girl, ‘Nightmares’ that remains in the sands, coming out only at night to inject humans with venom that infects the mind and body, ‘Skinwalkers’ that shift their form from one victim to another, ‘Djinns’; men made of out of smokeless fir and others.

During the journey, Amani’s and Jin’s banter grows into love, but after rescuing a wounded Jin to a safe haven he’s pointed out, Amani finds out that Jin is not just an ordinary boy, but the brother of the rebelling Prince fighting to overthrow the Sultan. When Amani gets over the betrayal, she soon also finds out that she is a ‘Demdjii’ with supernatural powers and gets pulled into the uprising.
There is also a slow-paced love story that leaves you desperate to know that there will be a HEA after all strains. Can’t wait to continue this magical series!

Rating:
​5 stars

Get your own copy:
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Book Depository

​Author info:
Alwyn Hamilton