''Rebel of the Sands'' is a 2016

young adult novel Young adult fiction (YA) is a category of fiction written for readers from 12 to 18 years of age. While the genre is primarily targeted at adolescents, approximately half of YA readers are adults. The subject matter and genres of YA correlate ...

written by

Alwyn Hamilton Alwyn Hamilton is a Canadian author. She is known for her bestselling young adult book '' Rebel of the Sands''. Biography Hamilton was born in Toronto and had lived in Europe and Canada before her parents decided to settle in France. She grew ...

. ''Rebel of the Sands'' is Hamilton's

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

. This is the first book of the trilogy.

Plot

Sixteen-year-old gunslinger and sharpshooter Amani Al'Hiza has the elemental power to control the sands of the desert. An orphan, she itches to leave Dustwalk her dead end home town, the small town where she lives with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. Amani escapes in a Buraqi, to travel across the desert with Jin, a mysterious foreigner. They encounter many dangers along the journey as they defend themselves against mythical creatures such as the "Nightmares" and "Skinwalkers". Along the way, Amani found many secrets about herself, her mysterious foreigner and the Rebel Prince.

Reception

In a ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' review, Jeff Giles wrote: "''Rebel of the Sands'' is a winning bit of storytelling, as well as a homage to storytelling itself. It evokes such disparate influences ... that at times you wonder whether Hamilton can pull it all off. She can." Linda Buckley-Archer of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' called the book "a high-concept, and highly enjoyable, epic fantasy adventure for young adults." A ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' review remarked, "Hamilton successfully mingles romance with thrilling stakes, and hints at a welcome sequel." A ''

Kirkus ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' review described the book as "romantic, thrilling, hilarious, and just plain great fun."

Film adaptation

Willow Smith Willow Camille Reign Smith (born October 31, 2000), known mononymously as Willow (stylized in all caps), is an American singer and actress. The daughter of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, she has received various accolades, including ...

's MSFTS Production and Cartel Entertainment acquired the film rights to the ''Rebel Of The Sands'' trilogy in 2017.

Characters

Ajinahd Al-Oman Bin Izman (Jin); the mysterious foreigner Amani; Sixteen-year-old sharpshooter, Demji marked by blue eyes, able to control desert sand, also goes by the moniker of Blue Eyed Bandit. Ahmed Al-Oman Bin Izman; the Rebel Prince, the leader of the Rebellion Shazad Al-Hamad; Daughter of a Mirajin general, among the original members of the Rebellion, well-trained fighter, strategist. Delila; Demji marked by purple hair, able to cast illusions in the air, Ahmed's sister by blood. Jin's sister by adoption Hala; Demji marked by golden skin, able to twist people's minds into hallucinations. Imin; Demji marked by golden eyes, able to shape-shift into any human form, Hala's sibling Izz and Maz; Twin Demji, marked by blue skin and blue hair respectively, able to shapeshift into any animals form. Bahi; Childhood friend of Shazad, disgraced Holy Man. Prince Naguib; One of the Sultan's sons, army commander Tamid; Amani's best friend, Holy Father in training, walks with a limp due to a deformity at birth. Farrah; Amani's aunt, eldest sister to Amani's mother. Asid; Farrah's husband, a horse trader in Dustwalk. Zahia; Amani's mother, hanged for the murder of her husband. Hiza; Amani's mother's husband, not Amani's father by blood, killed by his wife. Shira; Amani's cousin, Farrah's only daughter. Fazim; Shira's lover

References

{{reflist Canadian young adult novels 2016 Canadian novels 2016 debut novels Faber and Faber books