Friday, February 19, 2016

Coming to the Vise Library: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton




The Vise Library is introducing books (in separate blog posts) that will be available in our catalog soon.  We were given the opportunity to read Rebel of the Sands prior to its release in March (thanks Penguin Teen, seriously).  Read below to find out what this book is about and to see what the Vise Library thought about it!





About the book:

“You will cheer for Amani the whole way as she escapes the bonds of oppression and finds her own power, and you will mark your calendar for the sequel.”—Rae Carson, bestselling author of the Fire & Thorns trilogy
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.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew. 

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.
I have been dying to read Rebel of the Sands since last year.  I can't tell you how happy I was to receive a copy of Hamilton's book!  I was almost willing to sell my soul to the library gods in order to get an advanced copy of this book (would that really have been so bad??)  It's always a little frightening to finally get your hands on a book that you have been anticipating for some time.  You just do not want to end up disappointed if the story does not rise to the occasion.  I was hoping this book would live up to the expectations I had for it.  Well it didn't. It actually surpassed them!  (See what I did there??)  I'm trying to think of the best way to describe this book in order to do it justice...and I just can't.  I will try though!  

This book is basically a western mixed up with genies (djinn) and magic.  However, the magic is not the normal three wishes kind.  Djinn are quite feared and hunted down.  The main character, Amani, is desperately trying to leave her desert town in order to get away from her awful relatives.  She meets a stranger who helps her do that (he has his own selfish reasons though).  They embark on an adventure together that involves jumping off trains, evil creatures that give you nightmares and uncovering unknown identities.  There are lots of ways that the djinn are woven into the story but I am afraid to give too much away where the main secrets slip out.  Just know that this book is very imaginative, exciting and leaves you wanting more (PLEASEEE).  I was pleasantly surprised that this book was not predictable and a few times I was completely caught off guard. This book is going to be a major hit, so make sure that you get your hands on our copy when it releases the beginning of next month!  I think a reread is going to be in store when I get my pre-ordered copy in my hands.  I can't wait to discover this book all over again.  Alwyn is going to be visiting the area the end of next month at Parnassus books if anyone wants to join me!  

Buy the book:
     Amazon
       Barnes and Noble
      Parnassus Books





About the author:

 Alwyn Hamilton was born in Toronto and spent her childhood bouncing between Europe and Canada until her parents settled in France. She grew up in a small town there, and attempted to read and write her way to new places, developing a weakness for fantasy and cross-dressing heroines. She left France for Cambridge University to study History of Art at King’s College, and then to London where she works for an auction house.
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