Rebel of the Sands

A winning bit of storytelling . . . She has circled a spot on the map and claimed it for her own.

A high-concept, and highly enjoyable, epic fantasy adventure. Picture a gun-slinging, hard-drinking wild west, transpose it on to a sweeping, romantic desert, then add a rebel prince bent on overthrowing a wicked sultan, and a little magic in the manner of A Thousand and One Nights. It's a winning combination.

A hugely entertaining, lushly painted Western with a rich seam of Arabic culture, djinni magic, breathless romance and show-stopping action sequences.

Combining a whirligig narrative with a richly evoked fantasy desert setting, Hamilton barely lets the reader pause for breath and the best news is there is more to come: it's the first in a trilogy.

From the irresistible opening paragraph, this rollicking caper expertly mashes up a gritty Middle East with a steampunk Old West, succeeding through the infectious voice of its heroine: brash, witty, cynical, and fierce, with an aching, vulnerable core and a suppressed streak of idealism. Romantic, thrilling, hilarious, and just plain great fun.

I was hooked and raced through the book, completely missing any clues to the secrets revealed in this first in a trilogy. I may just have to re-read it while I wait for the sequel.