Book Review: Hero at the Fall

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In Hero at the Fall, we (fans of the series) will come to the end of Amani and Jin's journey. They cross the desert with their skeleton crew and venture into places that are spoken only in myths and legends to save Ahmed and the rest of the Rebellion's key people. The world that Alwyn Hamilton built from the first book to the second and this last instalment ends with the message on the power of stories and storytelling; that there are limits in our knowledge and in the safe keeping of our memories; and that love, in whatever shape and form, is a force that can make or break humanity.

This is a closure. A period. A full stop to Amani's story arc. It is a well thought out narrative from her point of view. The backdrop and setting of the third book is so rich that the myths and legends introduced in Traitor to the Throne is the beginning. The first, Rebel of the Sands, is a prequel or an introduction for readers to fully enjoy and understand the land of Miraji and its inhabitants. Amani's turn as hero of the series truly began in the second book. I was so enthralled into her world until the culmination of the war where finally, all my questions from previous books were answered.

I did miss Jin a lot in books 2 and 3, but seeing how Amani's character grew from obscurity to bandit, to hero, Jin slipping in the background is reasonable. The series' film rights have been bought and I just hope that the Western-steampunk texturing, middle-Eastern-fantasy tones and the romantic themes of the series be kept intact. Demanding, I know. But this is such a wonderfully written series!



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Book Review (SPOILERS): Traitor to the Throne

Traitor to the Throne
Alwyn Hamilton
Viking, 2017

I will begin my review of Traitor to the Throne, the second installment to the Rebel of the Sands, with the quoted paragraphs.

 "In this backdrop, Amani struggles to find herself while Jin has his own agenda. Jin maybe fighting alongside his brother, but he dreams of freedom; of being in a place where he can truly be himself; where he is not beholden to anyone else; where he could be the master of his fate."

"But this is a dream yet to come. Or not. My guess is, since Amani has only discovered her true power at the end of the book, Jin has to make a decision somewhere in book 2. Fight or Flight? Can he do both? Will Amani continue to become her own hero despite her growing feelings for Jin? Will the Rebel Prince prevail? Is there a traitor waiting in the wings?"

These came from the book review I wrote about Rebel around June last year. If you wish to read my review before this one, just click the link that is highlighted. There are spoilers in this review, so, don't say I didn't warn you.

I am glad that most of my questions that came up in Rebel were answered in Traitor. Amani did become the hero in book 2 to the point of leading the Rebellion to the next installment. Jin was gone most of the time, spying and gathering intelligence for the Rebellion. Jin and Amani's relationship have grown more intense as well as the political intrigue that envelopes them both. Since Amani was traded as a slave to join the Sultan's harem, I got a good look of the nature of the Rebellion's enemies and their battle plan. The Sultan is really evil.  

Traitor bespeaks of many messages for the reader to take it all in at once. I am still digesting the whole novel, actually. One of the messages I took away from Traitor that lingers still is this: those who love and stay loyal to the virtues and values that make us human in a time of conflict and war eventually die and get hurt. This is a more compelling read, for me, at least. But that is not saying that Traitor is better than Rebel. The latter is intriguingly beautiful and captivating. The former is breathtakingly exciting and ruthless at the same time. 

Sam's mindscape as he sneaks into Shazad's room.

What Hamilton began as narrative layering in Rebel, she continued so skillfully in Traitor. The legends and djinn lore she used as padding to the world she built for Miraji and its characters is an homage to the Arabian Nights. The crafting was well done that the legends and djinn lore she introduced in selected chapters made Miraji and its inhabitants more believable in a folkloric sense.

I am glad there are more djinns this time. And golems too! Shazad continues to kick ass. There is a rainbow moment between a demji and a human. New characters were introduced and a few good ones died. Sam is one of my favorites to emerge. While I wonder about Jin's prolonged stay in Xichia, and who funds the rebellion of the Rebel Prince, I also wonder what will become of Sam in book 3.

I will read Traitor to the Throne once more so I can post my guide for teachers and parents who wish to discuss the book with their teens. Here now is the link to the resource and reading guide I whipped up for Rebel of the Sands.

Rating: 5 Bookmarks

Teaching Resources and Readers' Guide: Rebel Of the Sands

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (Viking, 2016) is one of the books that Zoe and I read last year that really got us so excited that we can't wait for the next book. The good news is, Traitor to the Throne, the second book in the series will be out in March 2017. I have placed my advance order on Amazon!

While I wait for its release and launching, here are resources for readers, young and old, that may help bridge the long wait for book 2. The curated list of links may also serve as teaching resources for upper middle grades to high school levels. May these materials be of assistance to book discussion groups, school librarians, teachers and parents who are developing units for the classroom or in a homeschooling learning environment.

Book Reviews

The Guradian: Linda Buckley-Archer's Review
My Review of Rebel of the Sands This has spoilers, so think before you click.
Kirkus Review of Rebel of the Sands
Nice Gearls Read Books: Review of Rebel of the Sands

Recommended Writing Activity

After reading the book, ask the reader to write his or her own thoughts and feelings about it. The write up doesn't need to be a long  book report or review. Start simply with two questions: what you liked and what you didn't like about the book. If these questions are too broad, make a handout that identifies the character, plot, theme, setting, problem and solution. Have the reader fill this out. Save this up in a journal. This can be used as a guide for the reader during book talks or book discussion sessions.

Building and Developing Context

Check these links out for context building. These short readings, infographics and images may help in comprehension before reading, during reading and after reading the book.

The world building in Rebel of the Sands is akin to that of Middle Eastern geography and history. Review maps, a sultanate's hierarchy and middle eastern mythology.

Middle East Geography 
Middle East and Islamic Photographs
Infographic: Sultanate of Oman
Arabian Mythology: Jinn
Mythology of Rebel of the Sands

Themes: Freedom and Revolutions

Two themes that Zoe and I talked about after reading the book were freedom and revolution. Amani wishes to be free from her uncle's cruelty while Jin dreams of sailing away from the desert and turn his back on the revolution. And so we asked ourselves:

What does it mean to be free? Are revolutions worth dying for? To what extent is a revolution relevant, personally and collectively? When do you fight and defend the self and the motherland?

Where we found some answers, but reading them prompted us to ask for more questions.

The Philosophy of Freedom Groundwork for the reader to explore ideas on freedom and its many aspects and consqeuences.
History Today: Waves of Revolution A historical perspective that leads the reader to see patterns and cycles in humanity's social struggles to be free and its quest for power.
Inside Revolution: Why do revolutions happen? This is my favorite, so far, because this was made by a grade 10 student as a Personal Project. Being a school project, the author notes his references and provides a background on his interest about the Syrian crisis. Revolutions, real or fictionalized, have an impact in the lives of young people.
BBC News looks at Freedom's many forms and manifestations  an interesting video that can spark deeper and more comprehensive discussions on freedom.

Suggested activities to expand and extend the experience of the themes freedom and revolution


* Poetry - write poems that celebrate freedom or lament the lack of it
* Picture Collage or Photo Exhibit - create a collage or a photo exhibit on the effects and consequences of revolutions
* Music and movement - stage concerts where kids can sing or dance to express one's freedom; watch a play or musical that touches on these themes
* Curate articles and commentary discussing current events that affect our freedom
* Long term writing project: Choose a revolution that happened in the Philippines and investigate its success or failure.

Recommended Readings 

Fiction
 
A Tale of Two Cities / by Dickens, Charles   New York : Pocket Books, 2004

Kangkong 1896 / by Alabado, Ceres S.C.   Quezon City Philippines : New Day Publisher, 2006

Doctor Zhivago / by Ponti, Carlo,|d1912-2007   Burbank, CA : Distributed by Warner Home Video, 2010

The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing, traitor to the nation : The Pox Party, Volume 1 / by Anderson, M. T.   Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, c2006-2008

In the shadow of the banyan / by Ratner, Vaddey.   New York : Simon & Schuster, 2012  

Animal farm / by Orwell, George,   New York : A Signet Classic, 1996 

All woman and springtime : To survive the journey to freedom, all they have is each other / by Jones, B.W.   London : Phoenix, 2013 

The silver dream / by Gaiman, Neil.   New York, NY : Harper Teen, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2013 

Anthem / by Rand, Ayn.   New York : Dutton, 2005

All woman and springtime : To survive the journey to freedom, all they have is each other / by Jones, B.W.   London : Phoenix, 2013  

Non-Fiction 

Tales from EDSA : Stories of the Revolution / by Cruz, Neni Sta. Romana   Pasig Philippines : Anvil Publishing Inc, 2009

Silent Spring : The classic that launched the environmental movement / by Carson, Rachel   Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2002, c1962   

How Apple Inc. changed the world : Revolutionary Companies / by O Grady, Jason D.   Fort Mumbai India : Jaico Publishing House, 2010

The Evils of Revolution : What is liberty without wisdom and without virtue? / by Burke, Edmund   London : Penguin Books, 2008

The Great Political Theories, from French revolution to modern times : from French revolution to modern times   New York USA : Harperperennial Modernclassics, 2008   

Air power : the men, machines, and ideas that revolutionized war, from Kitty Hawk to Iraq / by Budiansky, Stephen.   New York, N.Y. : Penguin Books, 2005

Inside WikiLeaks : my time with Julian Assange at the world`s most dangerous website / by Domscheit-Berg, Daniel.   New York : Crown, c2011

Escape from camp 14 : one man`s remarkable odyssey from North Korea to freedom in the West / by Harden, Blaine.   New York : Penguin Books, 2013, c2012
 
Long walk to freedom, the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. : the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. / by Mandela, Nelson,   Boston : Back Bay Books, 2008 

Freedom from fear / by Kennedy, David M.   New York : Oxford University Press, c2005  

Book Review: Rebel of the Sands

Rebel of the Sands
Alwyn Hamilton
Viking, 2016

I enjoyed reading this book because, to me, it is a love story. Love. Love. Love! Oh, there is so much love in this book by Alwyn Hamilton that I am rereading it this summer.

What worked 
The lead characters are adorable. Jin and Amani are worth rooting for. There is tension between the two which was established at the very start of the novel. For me, at least, this is a motivating factor to move faster through the pages. As Amani's attraction to Jin slowly unfolds, she remains clueless of her true identity. This is something that Jin knows all along and to the perceptive reader, Jin has some surprises tucked into his sleeves that Amani is not aware of. She can only guess. 

Jin's secret is revealed in the middle part of the book. And what perfect timing. As Amani's belief in the stories surrounding the mysteries of the desert materialize, so is her realization of the truth behind the identity of Jin and the Rebel Prince. I like this unfolding of events and the revelation of the key characters in the story. It engages me. I have many AHA and I knew it moments while reading the book. The last time I was engaged in a book was when I was reading the HP series.

The book also presents a bigger view of Amani and Jin's world. There is political intrigue, international relations and the unending quest for power. In this backdrop, Amani struggles to find herself while Jin has his own agenda. Jin maybe fighting alongside his brother, but he dreams of freedom; of being in a palace where he can truly be himself; where he is not beholden to anyone else; where he could be the master of his fate. Sexy. Yes! 

But this is a dream yet to come. Or not. My guess is, since Amani has only discovered her true power at the end of the book, Jin has to make a decision somewhere in book 2. Fight or Flight? Can he do both? Will Amani continue to become her own hero despite her growing feelings for Jin? Will the Rebel Prince prevail? Is there a traitor waiting in the wings?

These are my questions. I am counting the months till book 2 comes out.

What did not work 
Very few djinns. Their spawns are everywhere, but these creatures of fire and air are amiss in book 1. Just a little thing, I know. But I love djinns.