The thirteenth tribe continues to try to unite the desert, under Macide's leadership, but not everyone is so ready to turn from their warring ways. Hamid has enjoyed the role of heavy for the Moonless Host and prefers more indiscriminate bullying to the common alliance that Macide strives to build, much less the peace that Hamid wants nothing to do with. Hamid will make his play to take the reins of the tribe - and he is not without his supporters - but Çeda would stand in his way, of course. But, if Çeda has to choose between saving Macide or someone she grew up with... what will she choose?
In previous books, the gods of the desert have made their appearances, manipulating small things here or there, but we rarely see them truly actively participate in a hands-on matter. When Jackals Storm the Walls reveals just why that is and unveils the gods' great plan that has been generations in the making. However, for the gods to get what they desire would mean the ruination of Sharakhai and the great desert. This would bring the end of not only Çeda, Macide, all thirteen tribes, and all life in Sharakhai, but quite possibly life throughout the desert and even the known world beyond. Such a unified threat makes for the strangest of bedfellows and, while there is no shortage of different sides fighting against another, most of them will recognize that they must fight together to prevent what the gods have planned.
Meanwhile, Meryam, Queen of Qaimir, but currently - and more actively - a Queen of Sharakhai, continues to seek her revenge against Macide for the death of her sister, Yasmine. She is as treacherous and as ill-mannered as ever. She manages to scheme, plot, and get her hands on Macide, leaving Çeda to attempt to fight for his life, but this book finds Meryam's fate turning, and in the end, she may finally get what she's got coming to her.
I found this story to be just as captivating as previous installments and When Jackals Storm the Walls continued the storyline for all of the characters I love - or love to hate. To help to immerse myself in the story, I played desert ambiance sound effects in the background while reading; I highly recommend curling up with the series and trying it, yourself.
If you've been following Çeda's adventures in The Song of the Shattered Sands series, you've got to pick this one up. If you haven't, by all means, read it, but start at the beginning. Highly recommended.
