i2larue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
chiku's review against another edition
Read it years ago in like 2018 and have it 4 stars but DNFed when I tried to reread in 2021
jst1morechapter's review against another edition
5.0
When I started this book I didn't want to give it 5 stars... there was no Jin, Amani was annoying me and Ahmed was being a pain in the arse...
But then... then Amani is abducted and placed inside the Sultan's Harem, and we meet so many new great characters... Sam and Prince Rahim and The Sultan himself!... and he's like an older version of The Darkling all over again... he's intelligent, charming and has a dangerous flawed logic... he's one of those villains you hate to love and he totally made this story for me
So moving on to Hero at the Fall to see what Alwyn brings us next!
But then... then Amani is abducted and placed inside the Sultan's Harem, and we meet so many new great characters... Sam and Prince Rahim and The Sultan himself!... and he's like an older version of The Darkling all over again... he's intelligent, charming and has a dangerous flawed logic... he's one of those villains you hate to love and he totally made this story for me
So moving on to Hero at the Fall to see what Alwyn brings us next!
fish_reads's review against another edition
4.0
It's probably better not to take a break between the first book and this one. At least, I'm convinced that's why it took me so long to get re-interested in the world. Moments of Amani and Jin's romance seemed a little out of place to me, but I think that may be a by-product of having such a large gap in my brain between them catching feelings and now. In any case, the elements I loved from the first book are still here. The twists and turns and the intrigue all got better. There were a few plot points that Hamilton developed that I think she didn't use to their full potential (namely Amani's doubt) but the story isn't done (for me), so maybe it isn't a wasted effort yet.
The new characters that are introduced in this book are extremely compelling, and as anyone who reads my reviews knows, that's my bread and butter. I LIVE for deep characters, and this book had me screaming about them. Regardless of the few hiccups, I'm really excited to be on the next (final??) book.
The new characters that are introduced in this book are extremely compelling, and as anyone who reads my reviews knows, that's my bread and butter. I LIVE for deep characters, and this book had me screaming about them. Regardless of the few hiccups, I'm really excited to be on the next (final??) book.
goma's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
prioryofpages's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
To jest piękne! Gdyby nie wątek miłosny to byłabym w stu procentach zachwycona, ale chyba nie można mieć wszystkiego. Zwroty akcji pod koniec to było coś niesamowitego. Podobało mi się nawet bardziej niż pierwsza część.
To jest piękne! Gdyby nie wątek miłosny to byłabym w stu procentach zachwycona, ale chyba nie można mieć wszystkiego. Zwroty akcji pod koniec to było coś niesamowitego. Podobało mi się nawet bardziej niż pierwsza część.
malinda1999's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
vee615's review against another edition
5.0
This is a sequel to Rebel in the Sands which I read earlier this year. I LOVED Rebel in the Sands and was looking very forward to getting to this book. It did not disappoint.
Since we left off Amani has been shot and recovered and Jin has disappeared. The rebel's are currently trying to liberate a couple of their friends and Amani is helping (also the power she holds over the desert has gotten better). While on this mission she unknowingly saves her Aunt who later betrays her. The majority of this book takes place in the Sultan's harem and Amani is trapped there. But of course our female lead still manages to help her rebel cause.
While the majority of this book wasn't as action packed as the first it is still VERY good. The writing is effortless and the author does a wonderful job weaving between characters, filling in the world building, and of course Amani is awesome. This book broke my heart a couple of times but it was fulfilling, and I am very excited for the third book.
Since we left off Amani has been shot and recovered and Jin has disappeared. The rebel's are currently trying to liberate a couple of their friends and Amani is helping (also the power she holds over the desert has gotten better). While on this mission she unknowingly saves her Aunt who later betrays her. The majority of this book takes place in the Sultan's harem and Amani is trapped there. But of course our female lead still manages to help her rebel cause.
While the majority of this book wasn't as action packed as the first it is still VERY good. The writing is effortless and the author does a wonderful job weaving between characters, filling in the world building, and of course Amani is awesome. This book broke my heart a couple of times but it was fulfilling, and I am very excited for the third book.
faex's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my God.
This sequel was absolutely amazing!! Hamilton's has outdone herself! How come this trilogy isn't more popular? I can't wait for the next book to come out!
The Sultan was very interesting, even though he's still an ass and Kadir. I hated him so much! They were great characters.
Jin was amazing. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. I LOVE AMANI SO MUCH!! She's really developed character wise but yet somehow stayed the same.
The stories between were awesome and I've got to say, Sam's pretty awesome.
I don't think I've giggled so much in a long time. This book constantly made me giggle, laugh, whoop, and cry out in distress. A real son of a bitch this book was.
IT WAS SO GOOD. SO GOOD. INSANELY GOOD.
I loved every single minute I spent on reading this book. Alwyn has become one of my autobuy authors. I loved RotS, but I loved TttT just as much.
The ending was.. unexpected.
And a little sad and I just need the next book, like, right now!!
Alwyn, you're a First Being and I'm kneeling and praying for and to you.
Is it 2018 yet?
This sequel was absolutely amazing!! Hamilton's has outdone herself! How come this trilogy isn't more popular? I can't wait for the next book to come out!
The Sultan was very interesting, even though he's still an ass and Kadir. I hated him so much! They were great characters.
Jin was amazing. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. I LOVE AMANI SO MUCH!! She's really developed character wise but yet somehow stayed the same.
The stories between were awesome and I've got to say, Sam's pretty awesome.
I don't think I've giggled so much in a long time. This book constantly made me giggle, laugh, whoop, and cry out in distress. A real son of a bitch this book was.
IT WAS SO GOOD. SO GOOD. INSANELY GOOD.
I loved every single minute I spent on reading this book. Alwyn has become one of my autobuy authors. I loved RotS, but I loved TttT just as much.
The ending was.. unexpected.
And a little sad and I just need the next book, like, right now!!
Alwyn, you're a First Being and I'm kneeling and praying for and to you.
Is it 2018 yet?
writeronherway's review against another edition
5.0
I read Rebel of the Sands a while ago and it has taken me ages to get a hold of Traitor to the Throne from my local library and now I know why; it's really, really good! I remember the characters and setting of the first book being really strong but coming back to it, there's a real sense of escalation and growth from the characters. I seem to be reading a lot of sequels that are surpassing the first book recently and I love it!
Amani is a really compelling character. I love the combination of grit and gentleness. Her personality definitely reflects her power over sand; soft shards of glass, shifting but immobile, powerful but also at the mercy of other powers. Her experience of being stripped of her powers when the metal is embedded beneath her skin and the loss of her freewill was horrendous but made the stakes more believable, made the tension unbearable and created such strong dynamics between her and the other characters. It forced the character to rethink her strategy and find a new source of strength which I think a lot of readers will really relate to.
It's worth saying as well that the mythical underpinnings and socio-political work that has gone into the world building is really effective. I completely believe the social unrest and the appearance of a Djinni wasn't jarring but felt suitably shocking (Amani and the Rebels are facing a new level of threat and new impossible odds). The stories don't feel like tangents but highly relevant information that you need to unpick for clues! The way the characters find themselves trapped in impossible situations but somehow, through bargaining, working with other characters and acting instinctively, find a way out is a masterclass in plotting especially when you realise the agency the characters thought they had was engineered by the antagonist all along!
I loved the ending and how it sets up a whole new stage for the third book which I need now!
Amani is a really compelling character. I love the combination of grit and gentleness. Her personality definitely reflects her power over sand; soft shards of glass, shifting but immobile, powerful but also at the mercy of other powers. Her experience of being stripped of her powers when the metal is embedded beneath her skin and the loss of her freewill was horrendous but made the stakes more believable, made the tension unbearable and created such strong dynamics between her and the other characters. It forced the character to rethink her strategy and find a new source of strength which I think a lot of readers will really relate to.
It's worth saying as well that the mythical underpinnings and socio-political work that has gone into the world building is really effective. I completely believe the social unrest and the appearance of a Djinni wasn't jarring but felt suitably shocking (Amani and the Rebels are facing a new level of threat and new impossible odds). The stories don't feel like tangents but highly relevant information that you need to unpick for clues! The way the characters find themselves trapped in impossible situations but somehow, through bargaining, working with other characters and acting instinctively, find a way out is a masterclass in plotting especially when you realise the agency the characters thought they had was engineered by the antagonist all along!
I loved the ending and how it sets up a whole new stage for the third book which I need now!