A wily teenage orphan named Amani Al'Hiza tames an immortal horse made out of sand and wind, and then, dodging bullets from the sultan's army, gallops into the desert with a mysterious stranger. What reader wouldn't want to follow them? Hamilton's debut novel, the first in a planned series, invites us to Miraji, a kind of supernatural Wild West full of shape-shifters and sharpshooters, warring princes and steaming locomotives. Any time a young adult book throws a girl and a guy together, the clock starts running on the countdown to the kiss. But "Rebel of the Sands" is not principally a romance. It's about a girl who disguises herself as a boy and crosses the desert in a terrifying (and sexist) land, discovering along the way who she is and what she's capable of and how she figures into an epic uprising. When Amani tries to get hired to protect a caravan, an obnoxious competitor laughs at her scrawniness - so she shoots the booze out of his hand. "You shot me!" he whines, to which she replies coolly, "No, I shot your glass. ... I don't need a lot of muscle to pull a trigger." "Rebel of the Sands" is a winning bit of storytelling, as well as a homage to storytelling itself. It evokes such disparate influences - "1,001 Arabian Nights," Hindu lore and Navajo myth, as well as, inevitably, the triumvirate of Tolkien, Lucas and Rowling - that at times you wonder whether Hamilton can pull it all off. She can. She has circled a spot on the map and claimed it for her own. JEFF GILES'S debut young adult novel, "The Edge of Everything," will be published next year. He is a former deputy managing editor of Entertainment Weekly.

A sassy desert sharpshooter swashbuckles through a six-gun Arabian Nights in this fantasy debut. Once upon a time in Miraji, fiery Djinn bartered for wishes and heroes rode immortal steeds of wind and sand; now the hardscrabble folk of Dustwalk make weapons for the Sultan's foreign allies and trade whispered rumors about the Rebel Prince. Orphaned, barely tolerated, and stifled in a culture that considers females worthless, Amani is so desperate to get out of the Last County that she dresses as a boy and enters a shooting contest. But that's before she meets the charming foreign scoundrel Jin, and then the barn burns down, and the factory blows up, and the army arrives.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. The secondary characters are just as memorable, from snarky, secretive Jin to their various foes, who range from cartoonish to terrifying to darkly tragic. Amani's adventures through this immersive alternative landscape continually veer off into unpredictable detours, looping back to an almost overstuffed climax that manages to deliciously satisfy while dangling tempting hints for a sequel. Romantic, thrilling, hilarious, and just plain great fun. (Fantasy. 12 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 7 Up-Surviving life in the desert of Miraji is difficult and even more so if the person is the orphaned daughter of foreign invaders. Amani wants more than anything to escape Dustwalk and make her way to Izman. When she meets Jin, however, her plans change as she is drawn into a world she never imagined, one full of magic and rebellion. Through Jin, she learns to care for someone other than herself and that her hidden power just might save her country. Soneela Nankani narrates with the skill of a seasoned storyteller, pulling listeners into a world reminiscent of the American West and the Middle East, one filled with bullets and djinni. Nankani articulates well the subtle accents and personalities of the characters, and she conveys Amani's naïveté as she journeys into an unknown yet familiar world. VERDICT Full of romance and adventure, this audiobook would be a good fit for fans of Westerns and One Thousand and One Nights. ["A readable, middle-of-the-pack "teens save the world" story. Consider for large collections": SLJ 1/16 review of the Viking book.]-Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Still mourning the hanging of her mother for killing her father, 16-year-old Amani Al'Hiza seeks to escape the quiet, oppressive town of Dustwalk before her uncle takes her as one of his brides. With unusual blue eyes, sharpshooter skills, and no shortage of daring, Amani joins up with Jin, a lawless adventurer. Disguised as a boy, Amani travels with Jin across the desert and the Sand Seas, defending herself against "Nightmares," "Skinwalkers," and the pursuit of the Sultan of Miraji's army and allies. Debut author Hamilton combines elements of Western and Middle Eastern civilization and lore with her own mythology, crafting an enticing, full-bodied story. Upon meeting the Rebel Prince, one of the sultan's sons who promises leadership founded on equality and justice, Amani discovers her true identity and must choose between striking out on her own or defending the prince and his followers against a dangerous weapon. Through some of the metaphors can feel forced ("The rails were as empty as a drunk's liquor bottle on prayer day"), Hamilton successfully mingles romance with thrilling stakes, and hints at a welcome sequel. Ages 12-up. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

*Starred Review* Arabian Nights meets the Wild West in this thrilling debut novel. Amani can't wait to escape her small desert town. She knows she's meant for more, and she's counting on her sharpshooting skills to help her find a way out of Dustwalk. When she meets the mysterious Jin, a charming foreigner who is wanted for treason, she decides he can be her escape. Amani ends up on an exciting journey where mythical beasts rise, djinni wield magical powers, and the sultan's army is on the hunt. As whispers of a rebel prince start echoing through Miraji, Amani finds herself unexpectedly caught up in a revolution; but, once within it, she discovers more about herself than she ever imagined. This atmospheric fantasy combines magic, mythology, and the Wild West to create a riveting tale. Amani is a strong heroine who is witty and willful. The supporting cast of characters is well drawn, and the story is full of surprising twists that will leave readers satisfied yet still eager for a sequel. Although many familiar tales echo within its pages, this is an exciting, romantic adventure that is all its own.--Thompson, Sarah Bean Copyright 2016 Booklist