Welcome to the next stop in the TRAITOR TO THE THRONE blog tour, hosted by Penguin Teen. I'm so thrilled to share my review for one of this week's newest release, and one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. I thoroughly enjoyed Rebel of the Sands, you can read my review, and couldn't wait for this book to be out. This book is so good! Check out my spoiler free review below, a few of my favorite quotes, and be sure to enter to win!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Published by: Viking
Released on: March 7th, 2017
Series: Rebel of the Sands #2
Purchase from: The Publisher | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 stars - I LOVED IT
Source: arc from publisher / purchased book
Mere months ago, gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she's fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne.
When Amani finds herself thrust into the epicenter of the regime—the Sultan's palace—she's determined to bring the tyrant down. Desperate to uncover the Sultan's secrets by spying on his court, she tries to forget that Jin disappeared just as she was getting closest to him, and that she's a prisoner of the enemy. But the longer she remains, the more she questions whether the Sultan is really the villain she's been told he is, and who’s the real traitor to her sun-bleached, magic-filled homeland.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Miraji, about the rebellion, about djinni and Jin and the Blue-Eyed Bandit. In Traitor to the Throne, the only certainty is that everything will change.
An action packed sequel with plenty of swoon, shocking revelations, plot twists you don't see coming, and a few laughs. This is the sequel I've been waiting for, and it was worth the wait. This was my kind of read, and I want more!
Rebel of Sands had one killer of a ending, and this book picks up not too long after it ended. I loved the way the book starts off. It definitely thrusts readers right back into the thick of the rebellion. While I liked that Rebel of the Sands was faster paced, this book is a little bit slower, but had a much more substance to it. It's a slow burning plot that reveals everything at the right time, while giving you just enough to keep you hooked, yet not enough that it keeps you wanting more. If that makes sense. It was so well written.
This book had everything I had hoped it would have, and more. Strong characters, rich world building, a lot of surprises, and plenty of action, mixed with the right amount of romance. I loved getting to know all the characters more, as well as meet some new ones. I enjoyed getting a deeper look at the history of Amani's world, as well as into the rebellion, and the cause and effect it has on those who are apart of it.
Jin is Amani's perfect match. What I wanted between these two I got. I love the way Hamilton wrote these two. Even if they're not physically together for some of the book, they're very much present. If that makes sense. I love the way she wrote that, and how they affect each other, even when not physically together. Talk about sizzle! Hamilton gave me a couple scenes between these two that I LOVED! Yes, it's those scenes that I may have re-read a couple times and my word, they are so, well, awesome.
This is one awesome sequel. From the characters to the setting, and everything this story included. It was perfectly paced, had the right amount of swoon, mixed with the right amount of action, shocking revelations, and the twists that you didn't see coming. My word, this book is just, WOW. I need the next one like now.
FAVORITE QUOTES
For today's tour stop, I was asked to share a few of my favorite quotes. Really I could have quoted most of the book. I loved it. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
* "He said he would have torn the desert apart looking for me. And I felt that kiss in desperation as his mouth found mine."
* "... The Sultan had given us an advantage-the only thing that was truly invincible. Not an immortal creature. But an idea. A legend. A story."
* ".... Our history hung between us, a dozen tiny reminders of the first days we'd known each other. When things had been simpler. He'd been the Eastern Snake and I'd been the Blue-Eyed Bandit and it'd been just the two of us, not the two of us and a whole revolution. A whole country."
* "You can trust a sailor with knots," Jin said. "And you can trust me with you."
* Jin's eyes found mine. I was wrong. He didn't have his father's smile. Because that troublemaker curve to his mouth was all ours.
* "Amani. Let go. I've got you, I promise. Trust me."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FOLLOW THE TOUR
Week One:
3/6 – The YA Book Traveler – Mood Board
3/7 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Author Q&A
3/8 – Love is Not a Triangle – Review
3/9 – Mundie Moms – Review + Favorite Quotes
3/10 – Butter My Books – Guest Post
Week Two:
3/13 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Guest Post
3/14 – The Eater of Books! – Favorite Quotes
3/15 – Two Chicks on Books – Author Q&A
3/16 – Lost in Lit – Review
3/17 – My Friends Are Fiction – Review
Week Three:
3/20 – The Yong Folks – Author Q&A
3/21 – The Book Addict’s Guide – Traitor Candle
3/22 – Seeing Double in Neverland – Review
3/23 – Bookworm Everlasting – Review
3/24 – Fiction Fare – Guest Post
Enter for a chance to win one (1) grand prize set of Alwyn Hamilton’s books, including a paperback copy of Rebel of the Sands and a hardcover of Traitor to the Throne, or to win one (1) of five (5) paperback copies of Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (ARV: $10.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on March 6, 2017 and 12:00 AM on March 27, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about March 29, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
The last quote. :D :D :D :D I adored this book so much! I think Rebel is my favorite of the two, but I'm so glad this one did not disappoint (like many YA sequels do these days, unfortunately). Book three! We need book three. ;)
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Katie!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I'm so excited to read this! I love this quote "You can trust a sailor with knots," Jin said. "And you can trust me with you." because my husband and I are both Navy veterans. He worked on a ship and is an expert with knot tying. :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this read!! Might be my most anticipated YA sequel this year!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnnie JC @JustCommonly
This book sounds interesting, keep up the good work on the blog.
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds to be right up my alley! Thanks for the giveaway! (Love the quotes!)
ReplyDeleteSounds like such an amazing series! I really should check it out. I really liked this blog post! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteEee, yay :D So glad you loved this book so much sweetie. <3 Gorgeous review. I must read it soon. So curious :) Yay for amazing characters. <3
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so excited for this! The first one was soooooo good! And your review makes this one sound just as good ;)
ReplyDeleteI would just be so excited to read both of these books. Thanks so much for the chance!
ReplyDelete