Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton isn’t your typical fantasy read, it gives wild west meets desert magic, with a side of rebellion, romance, and chaos. Right from the start, we meet Amani, a no-nonsense girl with a gun and zero patience for the small, suffocating town she’s stuck in. She’s the kind of character who’ll steal your heart while dodging explosions and roasting her enemies (literally and figuratively). The vibes? Think Wild West mixed with mythical Middle Eastern creatures and a low-key dystopian backdrop. It’s kinda like Arabian Nights got a makeover and said, "Let’s cause some trouble." This book will drag you into the sandstorm and refuses to let go. Strap in, because Amani’s ride is wilder than a runaway fire horse.
(Rebel of the Sands oleh Alwyn Hamilton nggak kayak kisah fantasi biasa, ini tuh Wild West ketemu sihir padang pasir, ditambah pemberontakan, romance, dan chaos. Dari halaman pertama, kita langsung kenal Amani, cewek jago tembak yang nggak punya waktu buat hal-hal nonsense dan benci banget sama kota kecil tempat dia terperangkap. Karakternya bisa bikin klepek-klepek, dia bisa menghindari ledakan, tapi masih sempet roasting musuh (baik secara literal maupun verbal). Vibes-nya? Bayangin Wild West dicampur makhluk mitologi Timur Tengah dan sedikit distopia. Kayak Arabian Nights versi edgy yang bilang, "Yuk bikin onar!" Buku ini bakal menyeret kita ke dalam badai pasir dan nggak membiarkan kita kabur. Siap-siap aja, karena petualangan Amani jauh lebih gila daripada kuda yang kabur.)
TL;DR: A sassy sharpshooter + magical desert rebellion = your next addictive read. Rebel of the Sands delivers fiery action, slow-burn romance, and a heroine who steals the show even if the world-building and side characters could use more love.
⚠️ WARNINGS
• Slow-start hangover: First few chapters might have you checking your phone
• Whiplash pacing: Second half moves faster than Amani’s trigger finger
• Underdeveloped sidekicks: Prepare to mourn the potential of cool characters who get sidelined
• Magic system mysteries: Djinn rules? War history? More like "figure it out yourself"
• Emotional damage: That cliffhanger will leave you screaming for Book 2
BEST READ: While snacking on something spicy to match Amani’s attitude. 🌶️
(Note: Sejujurnya waktu bikin review bahasa Indonesianya, aku agak bingung antara jin dan Jin. Jadi jin adalah djinn alias makhluk gaib, sedangkan Jin adalah karakter ganteng dan tidak gaib, at least di buku ini.)
BOOK REVIEW
Rebel of the Sands throws you straight into a wild, fast-paced ride through the desert with Amani, a sharp-shooting girl who’s basically done with everyone telling her what she can’t do. This story’s set in Miraji, a desert land where djinn used to grant wishes and sand horses were a thing (yes, you read that right), and with dusty towns where women are expected to stay quiet and obedient. Our girl Amani? She’s stuck in a dead-end town where being a girl basically means you’re invisible. So what does she do? Dresses as a boy, enters a shooting contest, and suddenly she’s tangled up with a smooth-talking foreigner named Jin, running from explosions, dodging the army, and basically setting the whole desert on fire (sometimes literally). The best part? Amani’s voice is everything, she’s got the sass of Han Solo, the aim of Legolas, and a heart you can’t help but root for.
Okay, full confession: I judged this book by its cover. That gorgeous design? The tagline calling Amani a "Sharpshooter. A Dreamer. A damn good liar"? Sold. And yeah, Amani completely lived up to it. She’s strong in a way that doesn’t feel forced, she knows what she wants, says what she means, and is never afraid to fight back. Most heroines are strong in a quiet, Katniss-y way, but Amani? She’ll tell you she’s a badass while proving it with a bullet between your eyes. What starts as a story about running away with a stolen gun turns into something way bigger, a full-blown rebellion, a story that’s part legend, part revolution, and all heart.
One of the coolest things about this book is how it got all the fantasy fireworks (djinn! magic! steampunk guns!) and real-life stuff like sexism, power, and the fight to control your own life. We can't say Amani's job is dodging monster or bad guy, because here we witness she’s pushing back against a society that keeps trying to box her in. And Jin? Oh, Jin. He’s got that mysterious energy going on, but he never steals the spotlight. Their chemistry is chef’s kiss, full of banter, slow-burn tension, and zero damsel-in-distress nonsense.
Let's talk about the world-building in this book, because seriously it's next level. Miraji feels so real you can almost taste the sand in your teeth and the burn of the sun on your skin. There’s magic everywhere, djinn hiding in the dark, creepy ghouls sneaking around, and shape-shifters that literally wear people’s faces. It’s wild. But the coolest part here is the desert that feels like its own character that reflects Amani's whole vibe: tough, beautiful, and full of surprises. And then there’s the rebellion bubbling in the background, led by the mysterious Rebel Prince, that feels urgent and real, like it could jump off the page and start a revolution in your living room.
Now, let’s get to the twists, because this book loves to mess with you. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, bam! Betrayal. Bam! Secret identity. Bam! New magical lore. Oh yes, honestly the pacing goes full speed near the end (new characters! Plot bombs! Zero chill!), not my favorite but let's count that as part of the fun. It’s like riding one of those horses Amani loves, terrifying, exhilarating, and over way too fast. And that ending? Perfect mix of "heck yes" and "wait, I need the next book NOW." If you want a book that’s equal parts heart, heat, and hell-yes moments, drop everything and join Amani’s revolution. Just maybe don’t start with the shooting contests, trust me on that.
(Rebel of the Sands langsung menyeret kita ke dalam petualangan gila-gilaan di padang pasir bareng Amani, cewek penembak jitu yang udah muak dibilangin "nggak bisa" mulu. Ceritanya terjadi di Miraji, negeri pasir tempat jin dulu bisa mengabulkan permintaan dan kuda pasir itu beneran ada (iya, beneran!). Di kota-kota berdebu ini, perempuan diharapkan jadi kalem dan nurut. Tapi Amani? Dia terjebak di kota sampah yang nganggep cewek kayak hantu. Jadi dia ngapain? Nyolong senjata, nyamar jadi cowok, ikut kontes tembak, eh taunya malah ketemu Jin, bule maut yang mulutnya licin banget. Selanjutnya? Kabur dari ledakan, ngumpet dari tentara, dan basically bikin seluruh padang pasir membara (kadang beneran literal). Yang paling keren? Karakter Amani itu mood banget, punya sarkasme level Han Solo, jitu kayak Legolas, tapi hatinya bikin kita auto dukung dia.
Sejujurnya aku pilih buku ini gegara covernya doang. Desainnya? Chef's kiss. Taglinenya yang bilang Amani itu "Penembak jitu. Pemimpi. Pembohong ulung"? Langsung sold. Dan ternyata Amani beneran deliver semua itu! Kekuatannya nggak dipaksain, dia tahu banget mau apa, blak-blakan, dan pantang menyerah. Kalau kebanyakan heroine kuat ala Katniss (yang quiet gitu), Amani? Dia bakal bilang "gue jagoan" sambil membuktikannya pakai peluru. Awalnya cuma cerita kabur bawa senjata curian, eh malah jadi pemberontakan besar, separuh legenda, separuh revolusi, tapi 100% bikin baper.
Yang paling keren dari buku ini? Campuran epik antara fantasy (jin! sihir! senjata steampunk!) sama isu real kayak seksisme, kekuasaan, dan perjuangan buat mengontrol hidup sendiri. Amani nggak cuma melawan monster atau penjahat biasa, dia juga melawan sistem masyarakat yang pengen packing dia dalam kotak. Dan Jin? Duh, Jin sih aura mysteriousnya juara, tapi dia nggak pernah mencuri perhatian pembaca dari Amani. Chemistry mereka? Chef's kiss, full bercandaan sarkastik, ketegangan slow-burn, dan zero drama putri yang perlu diselametin.
Ngomong-ngomong, dunia di buku ini GILA, BANGET. Miraji terasa begitu nyata sampai kita bisa ngerasain butiran pasir di gigi dan panas matahari di kulit. Di mana-mana ada magic, jin bersembunyi di kegelapan, hantu menyeramkan yang mengendap-endap, shape-shifter yang bisa nyolong wajah orang. Tapi yang paling mantap itu gimana padang pasirnya sendiri kayak karakter hidup yang mencerminkan vibe Amani: keras, indah, dan penuh kejutan. Belum lagi pemberontakan di latar belakang yang dipimpin si Rebel Prince misterius, terasa begitu urgent sampai kayak bisa loncat dari halaman buku dan bikin revolusi di kamarmu.
Nah, sekarang soal twist, karena buku ini emang hobi bikin pembaca kelabakan. Pas kita udah merasa paham alur ceritanya, tiba-tiba BAM! Pengkhianatan. BAM! Identitas rahasia. BAM! Lore magic baru. Jujur aja, pacing di akhir agak ngebut banget (karakter baru! Plot twist! Zero waktu buat napas!), which is not really my cup of tea tapi ya anggap aja bagian dari petualangannya. Rasanya kayak naik kuda pasir kesayangan Amani, seram, seru, dan kelar terlalu cepat. Endingnya? Perfect banget, bikin seneng tapi juga bikin ketagihan pengen lanjutin ke buku berikutnya. Intinya sih, kalau kamu pengen baca buku yang isinya deg-degan, udara panas, dan momen-momen bikin teriak "YASSS!", langsung aja gabung revolusi Amani. Tapi saranku, jangan ikutan kontes tembak-menembak, trust me.)
WHAT I LOVE
■ Can we just appreciate how Amani isn’t your typical "strong female lead"? She’s messy, impulsive, and so real, like that friend who’d drag you into trouble but make it worth it. Yeah, she’s brave with a gun, but she’s also vulnerable, stubborn, and sometimes makes terrible decisions (we’ve all been there). What I love? She roasts the rotten system while climbing her way from just wanting to escape her small town to becoming part of something bigger. And her narration? Pure gold. Sarcastic one-liners, hidden heartache, every chapter feels like she’s leaning over to whisper, "Watch this."
■The world-building? Hamilton basically took Arabian Nights, Wild West vibes, and a steampunk workshop, threw them in a blender, and created Miraji, a desert that breathes. Djinn are lurking in shadows. Sand horses? Real, and probably judging you. Even the towns have creepy legends. But it never feels like a lore dump. The politics of the rebellion (shoutout to the mysterious Rebel Prince) slap hard because they echo real struggles, power, oppression, and fighting back.
■ Couple goals (but make it rebellious). Listen, Jin isn’t just another smoldering love interest. Their banter? Electric. It’s all witty comebacks and charged glances, but what sells it is how their relationship grows through shared near-death experiences and ideological clashes (romantic, right?). Best part? Amani stays gloriously independent. No damsel nonsense here. Their chemistry is the slow-burn, "I’d die for you but also I will 100% call you out" vibe we deserve.
■ Beyond the gunfights and magic, this book nails the deeper themes exploration: feminism, class, and fighting for your place in the world. Amani’s rage at being treated as "less than" because she’s a poor desert girl? Relatable. Her journey mirrors real battles against sexism, poverty, and systems designed to crush you. And the Rebel Prince and the whole uprising made the fantasy feel grounded in real-world ideas like justice and change. Definitely more thoughtful than I expected going in.
(■ Amani bukan "perempuan kuat" yang sempurna, karena dia berantakan, grasa-grusu, dan nyata banget kayak temenmu yang suka ngajak kamu masuk ke dalam masalah tapi bikin semuanya worth it. Jago tembak? Iya. Tapi dia juga punya sisi rapuh, keras kepala, dan suka mengambil keputusan buruk (kita semua pernah kok). Yang aku suka? Dia bisa nyinyirin sistem busuk sambil berjuang dari cuma pengen kabur dari kota kecil jadi bagian sesuatu yang lebih besar. Narasinya? Gold banget. Sindiran tajam, luka hati yang disembunyikan, tiap bab rasanya kayak dia bisikin, "Nih, liat ya gue beraksi."
■ Dunia Miraji? Gila, kreatif banget! Hamilton mengambil Arabian Nights, vibe Wild West, sama teknologi steampunk, terus blend jadi satu. Hasilnya? Padang pasir yang hidup banget. Jin berkeliaran di bayang-bayang. Kuda pasir? Ada, dan mungkin lagi judge kamu. Kota-kotanya punya legenda seram sendiri. Tapi nggak kayak dikasih info dump. Politik pemberontakannya (salut buat Rebel Prince misterius itu) terasa nyata banget karena mencerminkan perjuangan di dunia nyata: kekuasaan, penindasan, dan perlawanan balik.
■ Couple goals ala pemberontak. Jin tuh bukan sekadar love interest cakep. Chemistry mereka? Nyetrum. Bercandaannya tajam, tatapannya bikin mabok, tapi yang bikin ship mereka kuat adalah hubungan yang berkembang lewat situasi near-death dan perbedaan ideologi (romantis kan?). Paling keren? Amani tetap independen. Nggak ada cerita putri yang diselametin. Chemistry mereka tuh slow-burn ala "Gue bisa mati buat lo, tapi gue juga bakal call out lo kalo salah" yang kita semua deserve.
■ Lebih dari sekadar tembakan dan sihir. Buku ini mengangkat tema feminisme, kelas sosial, dan usaha mencari tempat kita di dunia. Amarah Amani karena diperlakukan kayak sampah cuma karena dia perempuan miskin dari padang pasir? Relate banget. Perjalanannya mirip banget sama perjuangan nyata melawan seksisme, kemiskinan, dan sistem yang menjegal. Gerakan Rebel Prince bikin kisah fantasi ini terasa grounded dengan isu keadilan dan perubahan. Lebih dalam dari yang aku kira!)
WHAT I DON'T LIKE
■ To be honest, the pacing of this book felt a bit uneven for me. The beginning was kind of slow, I didn’t feel immediately pulled in, and it took a few chapters before the story really got moving. Then, when it finally picks up, the second half suddenly speeds through a bunch of major plot twists. Like, boom—we find out who the Rebel Prince really is, get hit with new magical lore, and everything escalates super fast. That climax? Felt kinda like chugging an energy drink, exhilarating but leaving you wishing the emotional moments had more room to breathe.
■ Listen, Amani and Jin carry this story hard, because most other characters get about as much development as a desert tumbleweed. I liked Shazad and thought she had so much potential to be a strong, interesting female ally, but we don’t get much of her story. And don't get me started on Amani's relatives and the Sultan's son that had "generic bad guys" written all over them. It's like Hamilton created this amazing main course (Amani) but forgot to season the side dishes.
■ The desert atmosphere? Chef's kiss. But the magic system? More like a "trust me bro" situation. Djinn, skinwalkers, and magical powers seem cool until you realize no one really explains how they work. And those first few chapters barely give you a mental map of Miraji. I kept wondering if I'd missed some crucial description. Also, that whole war with the foreign invaders? Felt underdeveloped when I wanted the full context.
(■ Pacing-nya agak kacau. Jujur aja, awal bukunya lambat banget. Butuh beberapa bab baru ceritanya mulai seru. Pas udah mulai asik, eh malah kecepatan di bagian kedua. Plot twist kayak identitas Rebel Prince dan lore magic baru tiba-tiba dijejelin sekaligus. Klimaksnya? Kayak minum energy drink, semangat sih, tapi bikin pengen ada jeda buat napas. Slow down, sis!
■ Karakter sampingan? Sayang banget kurang berkembang. Amani dan Jin emang bintangnya, tapi sisanya kayak tumbuhan gurun. Shazad tuh keren, bisa jadi partner in crime Amani yang oke, tapi dikit banget screen time-nya. Keluarga Amani dan anak Sultan yang jadi musuh? Flat banget kayak karakter NPC. Rasanya kayak makan steak enak, tapi side dish-nya nggak dibumbuin.
■ World-building-nya setengah matang. Atmosfer padang pasirnya? Perfect. Tapi sistem magicnya? Kayak "pokoknya percaya aja dah". Jin, skinwalker, kekuatan gaib, keren sih, tapi nggak jelas gimana cara kerjanya. Beberapa bab awal juga kurang jelas layout Miraji, jadi bingung ini settingnya kayak gimana. Perang dengan penjajah asing? Rasanya kayak dikasih info seadanya, padahal pengen tahu backstory lengkapnya.)
🔥 THIS BOOK IS PERFECT FOR YOU IF
CONCLUSION
By the end of Rebel of the Sands, you’re basically riding shotgun on Amani's revolution. Her journey from "just trying to survive" to "nightmare-for-tyrants" is the kind of story that sticks with you, like sand in your boots. Between the heart-pounding action, the slow-burn romance (with all the chemistry), and lore so rich you’ll wanna bottle it, this book will leave you buzzing, like you’ve just survived a shootout and lived to tell the tale. If you’re into badass girls, desert magic, or books that make you wanna yell "Let’s goooo" every few chapters, this one’s for you. And honestly? Once you hear Amani’s voice, you won’t forget it anytime soon. Now go grab this book, your inner rebel will thank you.
(Pas selesai baca Rebel of the Sands, rasanya kayak baru ikut pemberontakan bareng Amani. Perjalanannya dari "sekadar bertahan hidup" jadi "mimpi buruk para tiran" tuh nempel di kepala, kayak pasir yang masuk ke dalam sepatu. Antara aksi bikin deg-degan, romance slow-burn (chemistry-nya on point!), dan lore yang kaya banget sampe pengen nyimpen dalem botol, buku ini bakal bikin kita high, kayak habis selamat dari tembak-menembak dan bisa cerita panjang lebar. Kalau kamu suka cewek-cewek jagoan, sihir padang pasir, atau buku yang bikin kamu teriak "Gaskeun!" tiap beberapa bab, ini buku cocok banget. Dan jujur aja? Begitu dengar suara Amani, kalian bakal susah move on. Buruan beli bukunya, jiwa pemberontak di dalam diri kalian bakal berterima kasih!)
0 Comments
don't use this comment form, use the embedded disqus comment section. No spam!
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.