YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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.

Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands, #1) by Alwyn Hamilton will be one of our GBRs for July 2025.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

Pre-Reading Questions

Response: A series I have been wanting to read! I feel this is going to have familiar elements but the setting and culture will be different than I lot of what I have previously read and that has me excited. m New to me author.

10% Ch 2
(view spoiler)[So that competition took some nasty turns and now she has nothing for it all? Not good. (hide spoiler)]

27% Ch 6
(view spoiler)[I hate how this community treats women! And I am angry how the stupid commander tortured her friend like that! (hide spoiler)]

I've had this book sitting on my shelf for forever! Finally time to read it lol

I think I also own the second one so I'll probably be reading that one too

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ That poor horse! She better go freaking save it after she got it captured that way. It did not deserve that at all.

Not quite sure how I'm feeling about the book so far. It's taking a bit to get going (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[ I think Jin is obviously hiding something, I'm just trying to figure out what. I believe that it has something to do with the immortals and magic because he seems so passionate about them. I'm happy the horse escaped but sad she sold it off. I hope it's ok. She's a very hard MC to like - very prickly and doesn't really listen to people, instead chooses to think she knows the best in every situation. Also, her cousin was horrible to reveal her on the train like that. I hope karma gets her (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[ ha so Jin is the rebel princes brother. I knew he was involved somehow! Looks like she just joined the rebellion (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ so the weapon was a person who was her brother. All right. And now hes missing. Pretty sure hes going to make another appearance. I enjoyed it. It wasnt amazing but it was good (hide spoiler)]

Now onto the second one!

Book 2, chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ well this book just dives right in. So jin asked to be sent away from Amani? Did he realy think she was going to die right there or was the stress of the rebellion getting to him? What a way for her to find out. Also really sad that the little girl was killed. War is ugly and makes people greedy. I also wonder about the woman who said her moms name. Could it be her aunt? (hide spoiler)]

Book 2, chapter 15: (view spoiler)[well her aunt is a piece of shit. Just sold her off to the Sultan. And Tamid is there? I knew he was alive and would pop up at some point, but didn't expect him to be working for the Sultan. Here's hoping he helps her escape because I can't see a way out of this for her. So now I'm hoping karma comes for both her aunt and her cousin (hide spoiler)]

Book 2, chapter 21: (view spoiler)[ of course her cousin is at the palace. Kind of glad Amani has something to hold over her though with the baby not being the Sultim's. Still wish karma would bite her in the ass. I also do not trust the Sultim to stay away from Amani. If anything, the Sultan saying she was off limits just made him want her more. (hide spoiler)]

Book 2, chapter 31: (view spoiler)[ I'm actually shocked that her cousin didn't give her up to save herself. She instead chose the life of her child - maybe there is growth for Shira. However, now their plans are all shot to hell because how is anyone going to get out? Esp since I don't think Tamid is going to help Amani get the metal out of her body (hide spoiler)]

Book 2 Finished: (view spoiler)[so Lelya was a traitor. I had a feeling there was something off about her. I knew something was going to go wrong I just couldn't figure out where. And Imin switched with Ahmed so she was executed at the end? I mean, I was shocked when I thought Ahmed was actually dying but this was still horribly sad. This book was so much better than the first one

Also Shira redeemed herself there at her end (hide spoiler)]

Ch 9 (view spoiler)[Why is all this not working compass talk give off "pirate of the caribbean' vibes?. (hide spoiler)]