Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumour 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.
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[They said the only folk who belonged in Deadshot after dark were the ones who were up to no good]***
(Viking Books for Young Readers, 8 March 2016, 240 pages, paperback, A Year of @EpicReads 2019, a book that's a non-european inspired fantasy, bought from @TheBHF)
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I bought this book ages ago in a Charity Shop before it became such a big deal. I'd never heard of the book or author before but I chose it because I liked the cover. It seems I made a damned fine choice. The book is a delightful blend of Persian fantasy, magic horses, bad add characters and guns. Who could resist such a combination? The book reminds of the Prince of Persia videogames and The Gunslinger by Stephen King. Amani is a brilliant character, sassy, a bad ass and handy with a gun. The world building is impressive. I loved the epic battles and magic. I need to read the other books in the series now.
