Traitor to the Throne

Starred review from January 15, 2017
Palace intrigue, military stratagems, even cosmic powers can't eclipse the complex tangle of love, loss, and loyalty in this Arabian Nights-inspired fantasy sequel.The rebellion against the Sultan of Miraji is collapsing, but months after joining the fight, Amani is doing even worse. Her love life is faltering, her friends are on the run, and she has been captured and sold to the Sultan, who covets her half-Djinni powers. As his prisoner, she's well-positioned to spy...if she can only conceal her identity, survive the jealousy of the harem, and stop doubting her mission. This follow-up to Rebel of the Sands (2016) retains the heroine's snarky first-person voice and irresistible attitude while digging much deeper and darker. The appalling consequences and compromises of war are not sugarcoated, but the matter-of-fact evil within the palace may be even more horrific. Nearly every character hurts, betrays, or fails another; yet they remain sympathetic, with understandable justifications. While most (like Amani) are dark-skinned desert folk, others display ethnicities clearly analogous to various African, Asian, and European origins, a diversity fully reflected in their choices and actions. With an expanded geopolitical backdrop, intricate web of schemes, and heightened interpersonal drama, this hefty tome is almost overstuffed with plot, all building to a crescendo of heart-pounding--and heartbreaking--climaxes that will leave readers sobbing and desperate for the next volume. A story "about revenge and about love and about sacrifice and the great and terrible things...people do"--and, ultimately, about the "truly invincible" power of stories themselves. Superlative. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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March 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-Amani Al-Hiza continues to wield a rifle and magic as she and fellow rebels plot to overthrow the Sultan, put the Rebel Prince in power, and give truth to their cries of "A new dawn! A new desert!" Amani, "The Blue-Eyed Bandit," is a demdji (half djinn, on her father's side) who was separated from Jin, one of the Sultan's out-of-favor sons, at the end of Rebel of the Sands. No prison can hold her, and Amani escapes to join rebel friends, only to be recaptured and held as a "flower in the Sultan's harem." Not that Amani's acerbic wit and willingness to fight will allow the Sultan or his guards any peace. Jin, Ahmed, Shazad, and others from the previous volume are integral to this tale, along with human and nonhuman rebel friends and foes. There are passages of violent conflict; passionate, interrupted kisses; and occasional discussions of political theory. Shape-shifters, formidable djinni, and ruthless double-crossing keep the story racing along. The Sultan has sons by many women, and not all of them can (or should) reign over the desert kingdom of Miraji and its nearby lands. Though Amani doesn't desire the crown for herself, she definitely wants a say in who will become ruler of Miraji. Significant loose ends point to a third book. VERDICT Purchase where the first installment is popular, or buy both titles for larger collections.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017
Grades 9-12 Strong-willed Amani found herself enmeshed in a revolution in Rebel of the Sands (2016), and this intrigue-filled sequel continues her story. After a spy discovers the rebels' camp, Amani is captured and sent to the palace, where the sultan plans to use her Demdji powers. While there, Amani conspires to help the rebellion from within, but as the uprising grows into war, she begins to doubt the cause for which she's been fighting. This volume may have less action, but there is plenty to love. As Amani takes on a new role as a scheming prisoner, she becomes a stronger character, allowing readers to see more of her wit and resilience. A romance with Jin is still present, but it's not the story's focus; this is very much Amani's tale, and political maneuverings take center stage. Hamilton's strong and exciting sophomore novel is full of compelling twists and turns, and the ending will leave readers highly anticipating the final volume in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
As a half-magic Demdji, "Blue-Eyed Bandit" Amani (Rebel of the Sands) must conceal her powers while a prisoner at the palace. She's also there spying for Prince Ahmed's rebellion to overthrow his tyrannical father, the Sultan. The Middle Eastern lore, relationships, and political machinations continue to be well developed in the captivating--and heartbreaking--second installment of this epic fantasy.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)