REVIEW: Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

Disclaimer! This review was first published on my Bulgarian blog HERE so that's why I am writing about an ARC of a book that's already come out.

An ARC has been kindly provided by Faber and Faber Ltd via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. (It was actually a wish come true. Literally.)

I didn't expect this to be as good as it was. It still had its flaws as the first book but it was even more enjoyable.

Traitor to the Throne is an amazing book full of action from the beginning to the very end and Amani is even better than before. This sequel to Rebel of the Sands was a pleasant surprise and a very enjoyable read. 

From the beginning, we are thrown in on a mission of Amani's where things go down as expected and she has to fight her way out, freeing the area she is in. The action and descriptions caught me in the book and after that, I couldn't put it down. I am so impressed with the development of this novel that I am struggling really hard to review it right now. (Besides, I read it yesterday.) The plot was still predictable to me but there were a couple of twists I didn't see coming. It is very well-developed and it is worth reading. As I said, the difference in her writing is visible (or it could be the fact that I read it in original this time).

I am not good at giving comments on the plot so I will just move on to the characters who are one of the most important things in books for me.

I don't remember anything from Rebel of the Sands. Nothing. Nada. When I started reading this sequel it was like I was reading a separate book and I am really impressed with Amani. By the time I've read around 50% of it, I've already remembered most of the first book so I was able to see Amani's development. I love her. She is strong and I liked the way she talked about always getting into danger. I am really fond of her fighting skills and the way she picks up bits and pieces of everything she isn't familiar with and becomes almost an expert in these areas (I am exaggerating of course). There are some obvious things she is oblivious to but I cannot really blame her because it is easy to observe and a whole lot different to actually participate in all of this. Anyway, Amani is a character I love and she didn't even once anger me like some heroines do. (There were some expressions that weren't appropriate but I highly doubt somebody else would pay them any attention at all.)

Tamid was utterly useless here as was he in the first book. But whereas he was the reason for a little twist in Amani then, here he just got in the way of the Rebellion. I didn't like him then, I don't like him still. He is too weak to be worth even a word. 

Rahim is an interesting character I didn't get to know really well and I really hope that I will meet him again in the next book and get to know him because I am impressed with him. I will say nothing further in order to avoid spoilers.

I really like Shazad, her strength, her loyalty to Amani and how she always watches her back. I couldn't like a side character more even if I wanted to.

There is a lesson in surviving that everyone in the Rebellion needed in my opinion. It is a little harsh but I think that this will help them win unless Alwyn Hamilton hasn't got something else on her mind. 

I really liked the Sultan which might be surprising but I love a well-written villain and he has potential in him for being one. I love the way the author has captured his personality, he is very clever and I just couldn't help myself but grow fond of him. 

Traitor to the Throne is even better than Rebel of the Sands, there is action, battles, love, betrayal, some unexpected twists and more! I totally enjoyed it and I can't wait for the next one because this ending was just epic!
*****
Have you read Rebel of Sands? What do you think?

You can get Rebel of Sands
                    Traitor to the Throne and
                    Hero at the Fall  on Amazon
You can get them on EBAY as well.