Most unfortunately, Traitor To the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) came down with a severe case of Second Book Blues.
It actually wasn’t a terrible book and I still liked it!! But because I loved Rebel of the Sands so enormously much…I slapped my cover of Traitor shut and felt enormously disappointed. It was nothing like its big sibling and I felt like I’d eaten a sandwich that was more sand than wich. (I’m assuming the “wich” part of sandwich is the part with the cheese and no lettuce in sight. Because lettuce is a sin.)
NOTE: The review doesn’t contain spoilers for Traitor To the Throne! Mild spoilers may apply for the first book — BUT VERY VERY MILD. I am being all the careful.
- I STILL MONSTROUSLY ADORE THE WORLD. I’m a sucker for Persian culture! Even though Traitor to the Throne took a massive faceplant into Political Intrigue Stuff (shh that’s the technical phrasing) I still did like the scuttling about palaces and harems and conspiracy theories. PLUS IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL! The description was lush and there was tons of backstory for the world.
- THE COVERS ARE JUST THE BEST. Ha ha to the Americans who had to change covers. (Ahem excuse me, I was not gloating.) But I love the colours and the art and just = I would eat it I love it so.
- There is lots of magic!! Lots of using the desert as a weapon which I think is an A+ idea because do you know what happens when you get sand in your hair? It stays there. Forever. GOOD WEAPON! These Demdji (which are like the demigods of this culture I guess? Half Djinni x half human) know how to attack. Plus there is still shooting!! Although, sadly, not near as much as the first book.
- WE GET ANSWERS. Answers are nice! I do like a sequel that informs us about:
- Who Amani’s magical Djinni father is.
- What happened to Tamid who was left bleeding in the sand at the start of book 1 #nice
- What happened to some of Amani’s cousins.
- What happens when you are a special of specialest snowflakes but live in a desert do you melt omg who can know
- IT WAS MISSING EVERYTHING I LOVED ABOUT THE FIRST BOOK. Ya. I’m crying too. My absolutely favourite things in Rebel of the Sands were (1) Jin, (2) sass, (3) shooting all the things, and (4) action. Oh Jin’s not dead, don’t worry. He’s just SIMPLY NOT AROUND. And while I appreciate that Amani can be an interesting character by herself (#StrongIndependentYoungWomenFTW) I missed Jin because he featured so much in the last book and was my favourite. AND WHAT ABOUT THE SASS. WHERE WAS IT. WHEREEEEEEE.
- SPEAKING OF WHICH….MY SHIP RAN AGROUND IN THE DESSERT. It’s not sunk per se. But since Jin is literally not around for like 450 of the 500 page book — IT’S HARD TO FEEL ANYTHING’S SAILING. Before the book even starts, apparently Jin and Amani had this massive argument THAT WE DID NOT GET TO SEE. What?!?? That is not a good way to open a book. How can I, a reader, go from the end of book 1 where they were smooching in the desert, to the beginning of book 2 where Amani is angry at Jin for things I never saw — and yet I’m expected to understand??? Also I 10000% hate the “this is the sequel so the happy couple have got to hate each other” trope.
- SO MANY CHARACTERS. SO MUCH NO CARE. I didn’t keep up with the 39839 characters and names and then WOAH let’s add in a dozen princes or so that I’m meant to tell apart. I haven’t got a flippity flying clue who’s related to who. THERE WERE CHARACTERS POPPING OUT OF THE
SNOWSAND LIKE DAISIES. Plus I didn’t care about these characters. I care about Jin. WHY IS JIN GONE.
- WHY WAS IT 500 PAGES LONG. What did I do to deserve this. One of my biggest compliments about Book #1 was how it was fun, sassy, short, and concise. THIS HAD NONE OF THAT. It was long, tedious, and full of talking instead of doing. And since Amani is the specialist snowflake of ever she can’t be hurt and….oh sorry. I had to take a small moment to cry with frustration. #CaitIsAWeepingWalnut
I do think it suffered violently from sequel blues.
Which is ironic because it’s red. But shh, details details. It just lacked nearly everything I loved about Rebel of the Sands?? Which isn’t to say, of course, that YOU will not love it, because you are not me! (Thank goodness. The universe barely handles one of me.) But I’m still giving it 3 stars because I enjoy the world and I still like Amani…but this is still a dastardly disappointing sequel and I am a sand monster of regrets.
THANK YOU TO ALLEN & UNWIN FOR THE ARC. Traitor To The Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) by Alwyin Hamilton was published January, 2017.
Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince’s message has spread across the desert – and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.
Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl’s instinct for survival. For the Sultan’s palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper’s nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive… But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani’s past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.
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Wonderful review Cait! I’ve been really looking forward to this one because of how much I loved the first book but I am slightly disappointed to hear that in over 500 pages, there isn’t much of Jinn at all wtf!
It’s sooooo long. 😳 Which I suppose is typical for fantasy series (my my they do grow up) but I really LOVED how Rebel of the Sands was short and not waffly.🙈🙊
FIRSTLY: I am the first comment you should be very proud of me Cait! ALSO I didn’t really like the first book unfortunatley so I haven’t read this book but I’m super sad it had the second book blues. I was very excited for Rebel of Sands because I LOVE BOOKS SET IN A WESTERN AREA, but it just fell flat for me!
YAY I AM PROUD OF YOU JULIA…although I think Jeann just squeezed in like 1 minute ahead of you. hehe.🙈🙊 I’LL GIVE YOU CAKE ANYWAY BECAUSE YOU’RE AMAZING. 😜 Aww, I’m sad Rebel of the Sands didn’t work out for you! I doubt the sequel will improve things for you tho? Might just be not a good series for you, eh? NO SHAME!
Sequels scare me, too but I usually read the sequel asap if I really like the first one, except I had heard bad review first before I read it. It scares me a lot
Eeep, we’re in the same boat then, Hana. 🙈🙊 I really want to like sequels?! But often time if the first book was just soooo good, the sequel has so much to live up to!
sounds like it should be a single book rather than a duology, I’m a single lady is good life you know >.> some people just don’t get it
Ah, I mean, I don’t think the story ended at book one. It only set up the world/rebellion. I don’t think it should’ve been a single book.
I am actually laughing out loud since I just read your review on GR too? Lol. 😂😂 ahem I wasn’t EXCITED about this book at all because I had forgotten about it (bless my memory filled with Math and Science and History and Civics lol)
For this year, I am thinking of reading quality MORE than quantity, school is getting really tedious and tough and kicking my *** so I’ll just pass it up. I did read 121 books last year though so if I just read like 60 or 70 this year I won’t be unhappy or anything.😊
But second book blues are awful, aren’t they? If a second book is not as good as the first one, there’s a 70% chance that I won’t continue the series. #Noshameatall😂😂😂
I always double post things! My reviews tend to go up 2 seconds after I finish the book on goodreads, and then, if they’re an ARC, I put them on the blog too.😜
That’s fair too! It’s hard when we realise we can’t read all the books of ever, right?!? I hope you find like ALL really excellent books this year!!
(And same. I tend to avoid the finale if I didn’t like the sequel buuuuut for this one I WILL read the finale because hopefully Jin and Amani will stop being little idiots.😂)
I liked Rebel of the Sands, but it wasn’t AMAZING to me, so I was debating about picking this one up. Thanks for the review (esp the part about Jin being absent for so much), because now I won’t. I sincerely appreciate you giving me back those hours of my life (:
Haha, I’m glad the review was useful! I mean, I don’t think it’s a “bad” book by any means, but when it’s lacking all the things I loved it for in the first place???? Ya. *boards plane* *relocates to the Arctic instead*
Oh, yes, sequels can be hard – especially if the author has already determined he/she is writing a trilogy. The middle book syndrome is the worst. I think it’s something authors/publishers need to break out of, and figure out that making each book in a series important to that particular story is a LOT more necessary than following the tropes!
It can! It’s really frustrating. Like I almost wish there were more duologies so we could go straight from “set up of the awesome” to “finale of the awesome”. Not that I would call this book pointless or anything…it just really didn’t capture my attention. *sad noises* (And omg the second-book-tropes are killing me.
That’s too bad! I’m still really looking forward to this, but I hate when books suffer from the sophomore slump.
It is sad. I suppose it’s just terrible twos.😭😭 (Or I’m just really fussy!😜)
Oh boy. Well this just makes me immensely nervous. I was OKAY with book 1, and was planning to read this one because I had heard it was “sooo much better” than the first. However, no sass and lack of action is just a terrible combo. I’m sorry you were disappointed in this one! Hopefully the final book in the trilogy is the best one yet 🙂
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
It MIGHT be one of those ones where people who loved the first book don’t like the second, but people who didn’t like the first book DO love the second?? I’ll hope so for your sake. hehe. 😜 I do plan to read the finale that’s for sure! But I doubt I’ll ever re-read or anything. *sad noises*
I completely agree with you on this book. I was SO sad about the lack of Jin, guns and sass. I mean, whut even are you thinking book? WHUT EVEN??
Like whyyyyyy. WHY. I have no clue why a book would just cut out a character everyone loves for no reason????😭😭 It’s like Chaol betrayal all over again.
Your ship ran aground in the “dessert”? Oh, dear. If you’re thinking about sweets that much, you must really need some cake! 🙂
Second-book blues are the worst. I can think of very few series where the second book was better than the first. Why is it (especially in YA) that a major character always has to be MIA in the second book?
Just a typo. I had severe internet issues while writing this and my computer froze after every sentence.
I don’t find sequels to be scary unless its a contemporary sequel. Contemporary just scares me overall because if I find a contemporary I like, someone always dies! Why?! Why do they do this to me?! I can name a hundred contemporary’s I love and probably like 90% of them have death in them. Maybe my inner love for fantasy and stabbyness (yes, that’s a word) seeps into my choices of contemporary. Sometimes I procrastinate sequels, and I have no idea why. Like I have the next book, I loved the first one yet my hand still decides to choose another book. I recently unprocrastinated (I’m speaking Leahtopian now!) reading The Cursed Child. I’m not a huge Harry Potter fan, but why did no one tell me The Cursed Child would be better!!! I love it! Some of the names are weird though. Like “Scorpius,” what was Malfoy thinking! Where did that name come from? Every time I read it I’m like this is still weird. Have you read The Cursed Child? I also kind of don’t like the title, but I think that is just a personal preference.
Bahah, yes contemporaries do enjoy killing people off for sequels.🙈🙊😂 I actually rarely find a contemporary that NEEDS a sequel though, so they worry me a bit too, hehe. (Stabbiness is OF COURSE A WORD. Wait till you start using stabtastic and stabbage. #legitwordstoo)
Also “unprocrastinate” is my new favourite word.😂
I haven’t read The Cursed Child because I heard soo many bad reviews and I’m really not into screen plays. But maybe I will someday?!? My library wants to charge me to reserve it though, so that’s deterring.😂
Does this make your more afraid of starting THE ROSE & THE DAGGER?
YES I’M ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.🙈🙊
Sequels don’t scare me because I usually forget about them. I bad with series because there are so many other amazing books. Although I’m sad that this book wasn’t as good as the first one because that was amazing. Oh well.
Bahaha, I get that!😂 I constantly forget to read series too…although I think, for me, that’s because I’m scared of potentially awful sequels. 🙈🙊 Am I a true wimp? YES YES I AM.
DANGIT SEQUELS. GET YOUR LIFE TOGETHER. I mean, I’m still going to read it, but DANGIT.
No obligation or anything since you are clearly the blogging goddess that may not have time for peasants, but I tagged you! 🙂
http://theoddlifeofegy.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-inspire-me-tag-in-which-i-inspire.html
Aww, thank you so much for the tag!! I appreciate it. <3
Ooooh. See, I like me some political intrigue, I do. AND I thought the first book was too short (I think? Let me check…YES!) I didn’t like how much time passes between one chapter and the next, and how I felt like I didn’t really get to know most of the other characters because of the missing time. So I’m hoping I’ll get to know more of the characters in this one! So a slower pace, political intrigue, more backstory to the world (I think you said this somewhere, but I can’t find it, so if I’m wrong, ignore me. But I could have sworn I read it.) = MY BAG! This makes me super excited, because I did feel there was a bit of a disconnect in the first book.
But I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it as much as you’d have liked, Cait! I generally don’t have a problem with sequels, it’s endings I have a problem with. I just don’t like things ending. Great review, Cait!
Then this sounds like it’s going to be awesome for you!😜 I do think things like this can be sooooo subjective, so I’m definitely not saying “this is a bad book”…I’m just so averse to change and I was expecting more of what book 1 delivered. 😂
I am the all time worst at finishing series in general, although I am getting better I swear. BUT, this has been goof, because I have never experienced the sequel blues! I KNOW LIKE HOW HAVE I MANAGED THIS. I do know the legends and tales of these beautiful first books to a series that are followed by the not so great little sibling that still like whines and doesn’t understand the way you like to play certain games so you don;t even really want them there, but your mom MAKES you let them play and so you sit in silence and don;t move and hope it goes away. And maybe that is dramatic, but that about sums up what people tell me. Honestly, though just hearing you talk about the series at all makes me want to pick it up. I don’t think I would be nearly as frustrated while reading it if I knew that at least you were frustrated as well. Is that bad?
Of course it isn’t bad! I hope you get a chance to read them and love both of them.😜
Oh noooooooo! I absolutely adored Rebel of the Sands (and JINNNNNNNNN omg) and was so excited for this one! I’m so sorry to hear it suffers from second book blues 🙁 I will definitely still pick it up, but with considerably lower expectations! But nooooo why is Jin not in this book for the majority?? I absolutely loved him agh. Great review, though Cait!
I love Jin so much too omg. And I think without him there to banter with Amani, that’s why the sass was seriously deplete???? SO SAD.
Darn! Was hoping it’ll be good, annnnnnddd FLOP! I haven’t read Rebel of the Sands yet, although I plan to read it soon. The cover for book 2 looks GOREGOUS though… Good review! Way to be honest! *High fives Cait*
Definitely try Rebel of the Sands if you get a chance!! IT’S SPLENDID. And maybe I’m alone in whingeing about this one haha. 😜
I haven’t read any of those books, but now I’m scared to… XD
I’m actually not that scared of sequels. I mean, it’s either going to be better, worse, or the same. USUALLY, if the first book was good, the second book is also likely to be good (but that doesn’t mean it will be better). There are exceptions though.
A lot of the time, first books are better than their sequels. I think it’s because of many reasons, all of them I am too lazy to think of at the moment.
And then there are those books which are both equally great (ahem SIX OF CROWS AND CROOKED KINGDOM), and you’re just like I LOVE IT AAAAAAAAAAAALL. XD
Oh I’m sorry. 😳 It wasn’t my intention to scare you off reading any of these? I LOVED the first book and I didn’t hate the sequel, but it just failed my expectations. I’m only one person though. I’m sure tons of people love it. 😉
CROOKED KINGDOM IS 1000000% AWESOME AND DID NOT HAVE SEQUEL BLUES AT ALL!! I think it helps that that was a duology. YAY for duogloies who don’t slump in the middle.😂
Nah, no problem. 😛 I’ve heard of Rebel of the Sands before, but I don’t remember what it was about… *goes to look it up*
OH MY MANGOES YEEEEEEEEES I LOVE LEIGH BARDUGO SO MUCH IT’S NOT FUNNY LIKE <3 <3 <3
Yeah, duologies are great. Especially without that slump.
DID YOU SEE LEIGH BARDUGO’S NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY?!!??! It’s a collection of Grisha short stories. 😍😍😍😍 And she 100% confirmed that this wouldn’t even be the last time she writes in the Grisha world. I AM SO HOLDING OUT FOR A PRINCE NIKOLAI SERIES OMGGGGGG.
WHAT OH MY GOSH REALLY AAAGGGHHH HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS OMGGGGG!!! I really hope that she continues the story that was left off at Crooked Kingdoms — my friend and I were actually just talking about how she HAS to write about Pekka Rollins and all that other stuff!!! EEEEEE FANGIRLING SO HARD RIGHT NOW
Yiiiiiikes. I kind of had to skim this review (mucho apology!) because I’m still weighing getting into the series at all. LIFE IS HARD WHEN 50% OF YOUR CREDIBLE SOURCES LIKE SOMETHING, AND 50% OF YOUR CREDIBLE SOURCES KIND OF WANT TO BURN IT WITH FIRE.
(It’s the desert, y’all. It’ll burn on its own eventually. #summerthoughts)
With Gemina and ACOMAF and all these trilogies wherein the second book was actually stupendously spectacular, I was hoping that the second-book-syndrome is sort of dying down, but… RESURGENCE! RUN, AUTHORS, RUN! I’VE SEEN IT SPREAD LIKE PLAGUE BEFORE! Granted, 3 stars isn’t bad, but why, oh why would a sequel add like 200 pages of conversation and Slow-Pacing-Little-Action-No-Good-Very-Bad-Dragging, whyyyyyyyy?
Let’s hope at least it follows in the wake of those series which justified a sucky #2 with a spectacular #3? Yay?
I totally understand, don’t worry. 😂 I don’t even read reviews for books I’m absolutely going to read half the time, because I want to go in with aaall the surprises. 😉 And omg it’s very frustrating when one’s bookish-twins disagree on books. Like what am I supposed to do here??? Do all the work for myself??? What is this life.
I just don’t get why people are so allergic to having small, concise books.😂 I’M SCARED OF GINORMOUS AMOUNTS OF PAGES, SOMEONE PITY ME.
Aww so sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this as much! I actually was not a big fan of Rebel Of The Sands when it came out even though the cover is drop dead gorg, it just didn’t work for me so after hearing that the next one isn’t very good, I’m probably not gonna be picking it up! But thanks for the awesome review Cait! And lovely photography <3
Aw, I’m sad book #1 wasn’t for you. *pats shoulder and gives you consolatory cake* But the covers though right?!? THEY’RE TOO BEAUTIFUL THIS WORLD. 😍
I was waiting eagerly for this book! Ugh. I think I will still read it though, skim through at my pace. But I totally don’t understand why Jin isn’t there???!!! I mean?! WHY EVEN??!?! On second thought, I’ll wait for the third book and if it’s good I’ll read it. I trust your judgement, your majesty. LOVE the sass in this post btw!
I DON’T UNDERSTAND EITHER. Isn’t he everyone’s favourite?!? 😭 And this seems like it’s becoming a popular trend in books just to ditch much-loved-characters but yet not kill them? GAW I’M THE FRUSTRATE. (Also thankyou! 😜)
WHAT WHERE IS JIN???? Noooooo I ship them so much, but how can I when he’s not around for basically 95% of the book?? Ah I’m so disappointed to hear (from multiple reviews) that this book is lacking and not as good as Rebel of the Sands. I adored the first book and now I’m unsure of this one. I really want to read it – but it’s just that I don’t want to be disappointed 🙁
I don’t even get it?!!? And like this seems to be a popular trope for sequels and I don’t get it. Why put together a power team and then not USE THEM AS A POWER TEAM.😭 If you do try it, I hope you like it better than I did!!
Reading this kind of makes me happy I did not pre order the book. I did enjoy Rebel of the Sands but I can’t seem to get excited for this sequel at all.
AGh, I do understand. I was realllllly excited for it myself, but less excited when I heard how long it was going to be.😂
Awww….I’m sorry this was such a disappointment Cait. 🙁 It’s definitely hard when your ship sinks. But I completely feel where you’re coming from – books with too many characters make my head hurt, and books over 500 pages definitely start to drag after a while. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3
I don’t think the ship has SUNK I just don’t think it’s active. 😂 A paused ship?!?? (I just don’t want it to turn into Chaol all over again, you know? *weeps*)
*cries internally* So I’m disappointed to here that Jin has followed the sass and left. It’s sad when sequels don’t live up to their debuts. And the whole part about beginning with the aftermath of an off-the-page fight? WHAT?! That’s should be illegal.
All the same, I’ve got to read it. Because, you know, loyalties have already been aligned.
It should definitely be illegal. *nods* If you’re going to have character changing developments WE NEED TO SEE THEM. *breaks a plate* 😂 Here’s to hoping you like it better than I did though!
Oh no! Not second book blues ): I’m planning on reading it soon, I’ll lower my expectations a bit and prepare myself for less Jinn. Thanks for the review, Cait!
I hope you enjoy it more than I did, Cyn!!
Hey! Awww I’m so sorry you didn’t like this book! I fortunately loved it! I completely agree there wasn’t enough Jin! I love your review!
I’m glad you loved it!! And I’m still really excited for the sequel…and I hope Jin gets back to being awesome.😂
I absolutely adored the first book, so I’m extremely sad to hear that book 2 didn’t live up to your expectations. Also WHERE ON EARTH WAS JIN?!?!!! How is the book so freaking long (did not realize it was 500 pages) and we still get barely any of Jin. *tears* I’ll probably still be picking it up since I was such a fan of the first book, but my expectations will unfortunately be a lot lower. (sidenote: RIP the beautiful US covers… you will be missed)
IT BREAKS MY HEAR THAT JIN WAS JUST…ABSENTEE. I mean, he is the life of everything here?? 😜😜 I do hope you have better luck with it than I did!
I recently reviewed this book too. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it as much as the first. I don’t think it suffered too badly from middle book syndrome, but it definitely had its problems. The main one being it was about 100 pages too long. I feel it could have been shorter, it started to really drag at the end. And, oh, I missed Jin so much. I wanted all of his humour. And I missed Amani with him. I kind of liked that Amani was stripped bare in this, she couldn’t rely on her skill as a shooter or her powers to help her, she had to try to outsmart and outwit others and I found that really interesting. I am very excited for the third book though, I think Alwyn will really deliver with that, at least I hope she does.