
She’s the first YA heroine I’ve really liked in a long time. She’s also an amazing shooter with perfect aim. She has a sharp tongue but she’s also ambitious, strong, and caring.

Characters:Īmani is a fierce and fearless badass. The novel is set in the desert with mythical creatures like Djinni, Skinwalkers, Ghouls, Shape-shifters, Demdjis, Buraqis, giant rocs, etc. From there, their journey began across the desert, exploring a variety of things – magic, rebellion, near-death experiences, and a little bit of romance. There she meets Jin, a foreigner, and the two become companions and attempt to flee.

The story begins with Amani dressed as a boy competing in a shooting competition. She wants to have enough money to go out of Dustwalk and go all the way to Izman, the city her mother told her about. She is fierce and badass, but she can’t seem to get out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’ll either end up married or dead. My Thoughts: Spoiler-free Summary:Īmani Al’Hiza is a talented gunslinger with perfect aim. 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. 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. Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. 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.

For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.Īmani Al’Hiza is all three. 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.
