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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
YOU GUYS. I think I had already read Rebel & Traitor before I started posting reviews, so you never got to witness the absolute meltdown that was me reading these books, so here, have this:
Yes, this is how I read the last 20 pages of #traitortothethrone. JUST YANK MY HEART STRAIGHT OUT OF MY BODY, WHY DONâT YOU. ð© Man, that was an emotional rollercoaster, AND I FREAKING LOVED IT. What a wild ride. This was such an amazing sequel to...
That’s me, circa April 2017, absolutely losing my mind reading Traitor to the Throne. When I tell you these books will dismantle all of your abilities to function as a normal human being, I’m not lying.
This is the third, and final (I’m so sad), installment in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy, and it was a WILD RIDE, LET ME TELL YOU. In the first one, we meet Amani, who is just a nobody girl from a nobody town, who, in the course of one book, accidentally joins a rebel army fighting against the entire freaking country, basically becomes one of the Rebel Prince’s most trusted advisors, discovers that not only is she a badass with a gun, but she also has magic powers passed down from a Djinn, and oops, oh wait, is probably going to save the world. And that’s just Rebel. Clearly ^^^ Traitor was similarly ridiculous and all things amazing, so when Hero was coming out, I preordered a copy for myself and one for my roommate so that we could read it at the same time, and spent three days in a reading coma.
THIS WAS SO GOOD. This was honestly the most perfect ending to this trilogy ever. I’m not going to spoil it, but wow, you guys. If you liked Rebel, YES. YES, THIS WAS EVERYTHING. If Rebel sounds good to you, READ IT. Do yourself this favor. This trilogy is just action, romance, magic, plot twists, gorgeous language, HOLY MOLY the descriptions, did I mention romance because hold up, it’s great, and it will leave you wanting so much more right up until you get to those last few chapters and PRAISE ALWYN. She ended it the way I ended Saints 2, and that’s with a few chapters of wrapping everything up in a nice, tidy bow so that we know just how exactly the characters lived happily ever after, and I’m so thankful for that. Ugh, this book.
Yes, this is how I read the last 20 pages of #traitortothethrone. JUST YANK MY HEART STRAIGHT OUT OF MY BODY, WHY DONâT YOU. ð© Man, that was an emotional rollercoaster, AND I FREAKING LOVED IT. What a wild ride. This was such an amazing sequel to...
That’s me, circa April 2017, absolutely losing my mind reading Traitor to the Throne. When I tell you these books will dismantle all of your abilities to function as a normal human being, I’m not lying.
This is the third, and final (I’m so sad), installment in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy, and it was a WILD RIDE, LET ME TELL YOU. In the first one, we meet Amani, who is just a nobody girl from a nobody town, who, in the course of one book, accidentally joins a rebel army fighting against the entire freaking country, basically becomes one of the Rebel Prince’s most trusted advisors, discovers that not only is she a badass with a gun, but she also has magic powers passed down from a Djinn, and oops, oh wait, is probably going to save the world. And that’s just Rebel. Clearly ^^^ Traitor was similarly ridiculous and all things amazing, so when Hero was coming out, I preordered a copy for myself and one for my roommate so that we could read it at the same time, and spent three days in a reading coma.
THIS WAS SO GOOD. This was honestly the most perfect ending to this trilogy ever. I’m not going to spoil it, but wow, you guys. If you liked Rebel, YES. YES, THIS WAS EVERYTHING. If Rebel sounds good to you, READ IT. Do yourself this favor. This trilogy is just action, romance, magic, plot twists, gorgeous language, HOLY MOLY the descriptions, did I mention romance because hold up, it’s great, and it will leave you wanting so much more right up until you get to those last few chapters and PRAISE ALWYN. She ended it the way I ended Saints 2, and that’s with a few chapters of wrapping everything up in a nice, tidy bow so that we know just how exactly the characters lived happily ever after, and I’m so thankful for that. Ugh, this book.
WOW
Hero at the Fall was one of my most-anticipated release of the year, and most certainly my most anticipated release of the beginning of 2018. I was both excited and terrified to read it, and it definitely didn't disappoint!
I only finished it a couple of hours ago, but I still need time to process everything, and to process the fact that this trilogy is sadly over.. God I'm going to miss these characters. Amani, Jin, Ahmed, Shazad, Sam, the twins, everyone. They made me laugh and cry and want to throw my book so many times, but in the end I love them anyway.
The Rebel of the Sands series has become over the last two years one of my all-time favorite trilogies, and I know I just finished it, but I already need to re-read it.
Alwyn already showed us what an amazing author she is, and Hero at the Fall only confirms it.
I think it is now safe to say that she has made her way to my list of authors from whom I will read every book.
Hero at the Fall was one of my most-anticipated release of the year, and most certainly my most anticipated release of the beginning of 2018. I was both excited and terrified to read it, and it definitely didn't disappoint!
I only finished it a couple of hours ago, but I still need time to process everything, and to process the fact that this trilogy is sadly over.. God I'm going to miss these characters. Amani, Jin, Ahmed, Shazad, Sam, the twins, everyone. They made me laugh and cry and want to throw my book so many times, but in the end I love them anyway.
The Rebel of the Sands series has become over the last two years one of my all-time favorite trilogies, and I know I just finished it, but I already need to re-read it.
Alwyn already showed us what an amazing author she is, and Hero at the Fall only confirms it.
I think it is now safe to say that she has made her way to my list of authors from whom I will read every book.
Currently staring at wall crying silently. I think I'm broken. Send help. Will review later, when I can form a cohesive sentence again.
Post recovery review: THE FEELS!!! This was a very satisfying, but traumatic ending. I love Alwyn Hamilton's writing, especially the way she describes things, it is exquisite and I can't wait for whatever she writes next - she is one hell of a talented writer... I definitely read chapter 36 more than once... And now I'm emotional that the series is over... I can never get enough Jin ;)...
Post recovery review: THE FEELS!!! This was a very satisfying, but traumatic ending. I love Alwyn Hamilton's writing, especially the way she describes things, it is exquisite and I can't wait for whatever she writes next - she is one hell of a talented writer... I definitely read chapter 36 more than once... And now I'm emotional that the series is over... I can never get enough Jin ;)...
“but even if the desert forgot a thousand and one of our stories, it was enough that they would tell of us at all. that long after our deaths, men and women sitting around a fire would hear that once, long ago, before we were all just stories, we lived.”
A gripping, thrilling, heart-wrenching end to the epic trilogy. I loved it. I cried. Rather a lot -- a mark of a good book, to me. I love the way she ended things, the twists and turns and wrapping up of all the little threads. I also love the way she incorporates short chapters with fairy-tale-style tales of the characters to span time gaps and to give backstory and hint at fates (and sometimes misdirect). I will definitely listen to this trilogy again.
This series started out really slow for me. I gave the first book 3 stars. The second book blew me away, and I gave it 5 stars. The characterization in the second book, I felt, was phenomenal. I was really looking forward to the third book to see how Hamilton concluded this series.
I liked the book overall, but I was disappointed. The pacing was off. For a lot of it, it was like watching paint dry. Which was a lot of the problems in the first book. The characterization was still fantastic.
Hamilton just did not know how to end the series. We went through this long journey to get to the end, and it was over in like 2 pages. And it does flash forward into the future, and I have said before I HATE books that do that. I loathe that. I think it should be left open to your imagination. Not everything should be wrapped up into a pretty little bow. In this case, the future wasn't even what I wanted it to be.
Overall, this last book gets 3.75 stars. I felt like this series had a TON of potential, and I had high hopes after the 2nd book of this being a series I continued to reread in the future. However, it fell flat.
I liked the book overall, but I was disappointed. The pacing was off. For a lot of it, it was like watching paint dry. Which was a lot of the problems in the first book. The characterization was still fantastic.
Hamilton just did not know how to end the series. We went through this long journey to get to the end, and it was over in like 2 pages. And it does flash forward into the future, and I have said before I HATE books that do that. I loathe that. I think it should be left open to your imagination. Not everything should be wrapped up into a pretty little bow. In this case, the future wasn't even what I wanted it to be.
Overall, this last book gets 3.75 stars. I felt like this series had a TON of potential, and I had high hopes after the 2nd book of this being a series I continued to reread in the future. However, it fell flat.
Ahhhhh, here it is: the final book in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy. I feel like I have been waiting for this all my life. I read Rebel of the Sands when it first came out, and following Amani on her journey across the desert, into the Sultan's palace in Traitor to the Throne, and back across the desert, has been a delightful (and not so delightful) journey.
*Because this book is the third and final in the series, there ARE going to be spoilers, because I don't think I can write this review without them...*
When gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn't exist. 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.
Where to start...
Let's start at the end.
I can't believe how well Hamilton wrote that ending. It was done perfectly, where she spanned five decades after the war had finished, and she tied up all the loose ends, and also told us where our characters had ended up, and even what the world was like after all the characters had died. Hamilton showed how flawed humans are, and how war is always on the horizon. She showed that wars don't stop the fighting between realms over night; it takes time. I just felt so satisfied with the ending. It felt right.
I love Hamilton's writing so much, and every time I get to meet her at Waterstones in Birmingham, I always tell her how magical her writing is. She fully immerses you into the story and makes you connect with ALL of the characters - even the villains - and I think that's such a great skill to have when you're writing ANY book. From book one, she built this fantastic world and magic and magical beings, throwing in politics and romance for good measure, and has ended up creating one of my favourite trilogies (and worlds). I will read ANYTHING that this woman writes. Absolutely anything.
One of the things that I LOVE. about this series (and mainly this book) is how we are shown the ancient history of the world. I think this was such an apt thing to include in Hero at the Fall because the rebel camp and the Sultan's army are gearing up for this massive battle, and to hear some of the ancient history just made it more exciting. I also loved how we meet some more of the mythological characters and we also get some of the history told through the perspective of one of the Djinn's which was fantastic. It added an extra layer to the story, that I didn't even know it needed.
One thing that a story needs, and especially a series are great characters. This is something that Hamilton has done and exceeded. Amani, Hala, Shazad, the twins, Sam, Jin, the Sultan, Delia, Rahim... Everyone was fleshed out and just felt so real. I'm sad that I didn't get to see much of Rahim in Hero at the Fall because I really did love him in Traitor to the Throne, but we DID get to see Noorsham again which made me happy because I really liked his character in Rebel of the Sands, and I was excited he was getting more character development.
There WERE points though that I did get slightly annoyed about, hence the 4 stars and not 5. I felt like the beginning was very slow and it did take time to really build up the atmosphere. I don't think it needed to be 500-odd pages, because there were times where things could have been said in a couple of sentences but Hamilton took up a page; I reckon about 100 pages could have been cut easily. BUT, that was the only thing that let this book down for me. I probably should have mentioned this at the beginning, but I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator for the series is brilliant. She voices each character so well.
Anyway, back onto the positives!
Jin and Amani.
I will forever love these two together, and what I was dreading was that now they were reunited, they would be inseparable and romance would take over the book, but it didn't! Yes, they had their moments but they love each other! The romance definitely didn't take over the storyline which I'm super happy about. What I'm not happy about however, and I'm still trying to get over is who died. I WAS NOT READY AT ALL!
I really am trying to write this review without spoilers but it's so god damn hard. Yes, people die. Some of your beloved characters WILL die and you will cry and it break your heart so much. There's a game that the Djinn play with Amani that I couldn't handle, and I was just sat on my bed crying the whole time... It got so intense, and I didn't prepare myself for it at all.We lost a key character in Traitor to the Throne which I definitely wasn't ready for, but there is another character who has a link to them that also dies and I'm just... yeah... I'm getting emotional writing this review, so I'm going to stop talking about the deaths now. But you get the gist. A lot of the main characters go.
I'm just going to go and cry in a corner. Bye...
Overall, this was a fantastic book, and a brilliant way to end a much-loved series. This is going to be one that I'm definitely going to be re-reading.
*Because this book is the third and final in the series, there ARE going to be spoilers, because I don't think I can write this review without them...*
When gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn't exist. 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.
Where to start...
Let's start at the end.
I can't believe how well Hamilton wrote that ending. It was done perfectly, where she spanned five decades after the war had finished, and she tied up all the loose ends, and also told us where our characters had ended up, and even what the world was like after all the characters had died. Hamilton showed how flawed humans are, and how war is always on the horizon. She showed that wars don't stop the fighting between realms over night; it takes time. I just felt so satisfied with the ending. It felt right.
“But even if the desert forgot a thousand and one of our stories, it was enough that they would tell of us at all. That long after our deaths, men and women sitting around a fire would hear that once, long ago, before we were all just stories, we lived.”
― Alwyn Hamilton, Hero at the Fall
I love Hamilton's writing so much, and every time I get to meet her at Waterstones in Birmingham, I always tell her how magical her writing is. She fully immerses you into the story and makes you connect with ALL of the characters - even the villains - and I think that's such a great skill to have when you're writing ANY book. From book one, she built this fantastic world and magic and magical beings, throwing in politics and romance for good measure, and has ended up creating one of my favourite trilogies (and worlds). I will read ANYTHING that this woman writes. Absolutely anything.
One of the things that I LOVE. about this series (and mainly this book) is how we are shown the ancient history of the world. I think this was such an apt thing to include in Hero at the Fall because the rebel camp and the Sultan's army are gearing up for this massive battle, and to hear some of the ancient history just made it more exciting. I also loved how we meet some more of the mythological characters and we also get some of the history told through the perspective of one of the Djinn's which was fantastic. It added an extra layer to the story, that I didn't even know it needed.
“We contained our own stories. A thousand tiny parts of the story would die with us.”
― Alwyn Hamilton, Hero at the Fall
One thing that a story needs, and especially a series are great characters. This is something that Hamilton has done and exceeded. Amani, Hala, Shazad, the twins, Sam, Jin, the Sultan, Delia, Rahim... Everyone was fleshed out and just felt so real. I'm sad that I didn't get to see much of Rahim in Hero at the Fall because I really did love him in Traitor to the Throne, but we DID get to see Noorsham again which made me happy because I really liked his character in Rebel of the Sands, and I was excited he was getting more character development.
There WERE points though that I did get slightly annoyed about, hence the 4 stars and not 5. I felt like the beginning was very slow and it did take time to really build up the atmosphere. I don't think it needed to be 500-odd pages, because there were times where things could have been said in a couple of sentences but Hamilton took up a page; I reckon about 100 pages could have been cut easily. BUT, that was the only thing that let this book down for me. I probably should have mentioned this at the beginning, but I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator for the series is brilliant. She voices each character so well.
“I’m so sorry, Noorsham,” I said. And then I punched him in the face.”
― Alwyn Hamilton, Hero at the Fall
Anyway, back onto the positives!
Jin and Amani.
I will forever love these two together, and what I was dreading was that now they were reunited, they would be inseparable and romance would take over the book, but it didn't! Yes, they had their moments but they love each other! The romance definitely didn't take over the storyline which I'm super happy about. What I'm not happy about however, and I'm still trying to get over is who died. I WAS NOT READY AT ALL!
I really am trying to write this review without spoilers but it's so god damn hard. Yes, people die. Some of your beloved characters WILL die and you will cry and it break your heart so much. There's a game that the Djinn play with Amani that I couldn't handle, and I was just sat on my bed crying the whole time... It got so intense, and I didn't prepare myself for it at all.
I'm just going to go and cry in a corner. Bye...
Overall, this was a fantastic book, and a brilliant way to end a much-loved series. This is going to be one that I'm definitely going to be re-reading.
KEY WORDS: Middle-Eastern Fantasy, rebellions, djinn, perfect conclusion, perfect couple. Yes.
I’m going to start at the end (spoiler-free) because I want to be super positive about this. The final chapter was probably one of my favourite series conclusions I have ever read (just behind A Conjuring of Light and Our Dark Duet) because it tied up the whole entire three books in an expertly crafted way, summarising the rebellion, the uprising, the lives lost and where Miraji could go from there. It didn’t answer all the questions but it didn’t leave you burning and angry for everything unanswered. It was the perfect ending and that chapter alone made up for any sins the rest of the novel had.
I loved this book. But it was slow. Maybe that was just my brain and its desperation for the series not to end but it felt slow to me, less enjoyable in the middle, a bit like it was plodding from one big, impactful scene to the next. BUT, those big, impactful scenes were everything. I cried so many times when I wasn’t expecting to. I forgot how connected I was to these character and how in love with Jinn and Amani I was. And boy do those two just fill my heart with love. One of the most perfect OTPs, for sure.
My absolute highlights were the short chapters. In between each big event, there is a short chapter, told third person about various situations the rebels find themselves in, written as though a bard/storyteller is speaking of these characters as myths and legends of the past. These moments were my favourite and if I could frame each tale on my walls, I would.
I’m not really sure how much more I have to say, because I could gush for days but I really want this to be spoiler-free. The most important thing I can say is that if you loved the rest of this series then this books will only impress you. It is a really beautiful conclusion and Hamilton’s writing is definitely something to watch. I’m so excited to see what she does next.
TL;DR – A perfect conclusion. My heart is so full and this ending was everything I needed it to be. Constantly twisting and turning away from my predictions.
--
Wow. What a brilliant conclusion. I found some of the middle slow which made me struggle to rate this but the last chapter alone made up for everything else. Just wow. Full RTC.
I’m going to start at the end (spoiler-free) because I want to be super positive about this. The final chapter was probably one of my favourite series conclusions I have ever read (just behind A Conjuring of Light and Our Dark Duet) because it tied up the whole entire three books in an expertly crafted way, summarising the rebellion, the uprising, the lives lost and where Miraji could go from there. It didn’t answer all the questions but it didn’t leave you burning and angry for everything unanswered. It was the perfect ending and that chapter alone made up for any sins the rest of the novel had.
I loved this book. But it was slow. Maybe that was just my brain and its desperation for the series not to end but it felt slow to me, less enjoyable in the middle, a bit like it was plodding from one big, impactful scene to the next. BUT, those big, impactful scenes were everything. I cried so many times when I wasn’t expecting to. I forgot how connected I was to these character and how in love with Jinn and Amani I was. And boy do those two just fill my heart with love. One of the most perfect OTPs, for sure.
"But he wondered if a boy from the sea and a girl from the desert could ever survive together. He feared that she might burn him alive or that he might drown her. Until finally he stopped fighting it and set himself on fire for her."
My absolute highlights were the short chapters. In between each big event, there is a short chapter, told third person about various situations the rebels find themselves in, written as though a bard/storyteller is speaking of these characters as myths and legends of the past. These moments were my favourite and if I could frame each tale on my walls, I would.
I’m not really sure how much more I have to say, because I could gush for days but I really want this to be spoiler-free. The most important thing I can say is that if you loved the rest of this series then this books will only impress you. It is a really beautiful conclusion and Hamilton’s writing is definitely something to watch. I’m so excited to see what she does next.
TL;DR – A perfect conclusion. My heart is so full and this ending was everything I needed it to be. Constantly twisting and turning away from my predictions.
--
15th March 2018
Wow. What a brilliant conclusion. I found some of the middle slow which made me struggle to rate this but the last chapter alone made up for everything else. Just wow. Full RTC.