Rebels of the Sand

In this book, Hamilton takes us to a time and place where the world is fighting a rebellion and people are fighting for their rightful place in the world. The main character has one dream, a dream she has held onto all her life, to travel to the main city and live her life where she felt she belonged. I think everyone has felt that way one way or another in life. Feeling that you don't fit in with society and long for something more. Once she has the courage, Amani is setting out to chase after her dream. What she doesn't count on is finding true love in the mist of a rebellion coming her way.

Hamilton really brought the characters to life and you really felt for Amani and why she wanted to get away from her aunt and uncle. Both parents dead, she was thrown to a family that didn't want her. You felt her anger and the reason why she couldn't stay in Dustwalk anymore. Jin, a mysterious foreigner who comes her way is someone she never expected to find. Though she didn't know it at first, there was a reason they were meant to meet.

I rated this book 5 stars because it was full of fantasy and an easy read. Hamilton told the story from Amani's point of view which I thought was a great way to bring this story to the reader. You could feel all of Amani's feelings and struggles as if you were one with her.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

Hamilton has the mortals of Miraji mixed amongst the mythical creatures of the land. The creatures are feared by the mortals, assuming they're all out for evil. While some creatures are bad and want to kill the mortals, we learn that some are willing to help the mortals. In a time where there's a rebellion going on, the forces need to team up and fight for their land.

Mythical creatures play a big part in this book, as they were thrown out and set to be destroyed from earth when they were here first. It's no wonder they aren't fond of the mortals because of this.

Hamilton's description of the creatures really brought a clear picture, easy to imagine what they looked like. With her wording to describe their powers, you can sense the intensity of what they did to protect what was there's.

In a time such as when this book took place, it was looked down upon if you were an orphan, poor, or a girl. Sadly, the main character is all three and is out of luck in Dustwalk. Her aunt wants to get rid of her and her uncle is willing to marry her so she could stay with them. Amani isn't one to settle down and sit back and let this happen. It isn't known for a girl to be strong willed, stubborn, and good at shooting. But Amani is. It's her skills that help her through the journey to the capital and was as surviving through long journeys in the night in the desert.

Hamilton makes you feel sorry for Amani for all that she has gone through in just her seventeen years of life. It's clear to see that she wasn't meant to live in Dustwalk for the rest of her life.

We first meet Jin in the first chapter where he seems to be nothing but ordinary, except keeps a lot of secrets. I'm glad Hamilton introduced us to him in the first chapter because he was a character who was so mysterious, that you couldn't help to be drawn to him immediately. You always knew he was hiding something and yet you were surprised each time a secret came out. Without giving much away, I'm going to say that towards the end, we find out one major secret about him. One that even Amani didn't even see coming. Hamilton had us guess til the very end about Jin. I can honestly say that his biggest reveal, wasn't one I saw coming. A boy that Amani thought once as being her escape from Dustwalk turned out to be anyone but ordinary.