I loved this book so much that I made myself savor it; which took a lot of restraint. What happened after the one thousand nights; Ms Abdullah crafts a story with her book that is maybe even more fascinating than the original tales. This book grabbed me and wouldn't let go, I couldn't wait until I could read even a couple pages more. The plot is unpredictable and brings you on an adventure with majesty and real fear. The writing is intriguing, giving just the amount of information to keep you at the edge of your seat while not being weighed down by the exposition. I wish I could dive into this world with other worlds, ancient magic, politics on a knife edge, and mystery over the past, present and future.

Multiple POVs can be hard to balance but “The Stardust Thief” passes beautifully. I can’t remember when I enjoyed a multiple POV story this much. Every character is fallibly human, even the ones that aren't exactly human. The distinct personality and struggle of each is clear and captivating. As someone that wouldn't last long in any situation like this I really appreciated that Mazen isn't suited to this adventure either, his growth is believable and heartwarming.

“The Stardust Theif” is captivating, bringing gasps and tears and everything in between. I can’t wait to adventure with these characters in the next book. What was that cliffhanger!

Many thanks to NetGalley,Orbit Books, and Chelsea Abdullah for an advanced copy of this book.

This book was completely magical. An Arabian Nights-inspired fantasy novel, with nods to those stories lovingly placed throughout, it’s a highly engaging read.

The story is told through three perspectives: Loulie, Mazen, and Aisha. And, in a true feat for the author, all three perspectives were (for me) equally compelling; I never found myself wishing that the current chapter would end so I could get to another character’s story. All three were characters I wanted to root for, despite all three being sometimes at odds. Each had a distinct voice and perspective on the world and status quo as well, which made the world feel complex and real.

I am also delighted that the side characters are not neglected; though they lack point of view chapters, I found myself also invested in characters like Qadir, Hakim, Dahlia, and The Queen of Dunes. The world feels so much more lived-in for having such a fleshed-out secondary cast, and I hope we get to see more of them in later installments.

I am already itching to get my hands on the next book in the series. I will certainly be keeping an eye on Chelsea Abdullah’s future work!

This was a very fun read! I was very pleasantly surprised since adventure type fantasies aren't normally the type of books I read. But as a Muslim who knows a lot about arab history, this spoke to my soul!! The lore was INCREDIBLE! The way that 1001 night stories were interwoven into the plot was brilliant, truly one of a kind! But not surprising given we finally have an Arab author writing an arab-fantasy instead of non-arab authors (who tend to orientalize it). The characters & adventure made it extremely gripping! Aisha was a particularly memorable and badass character for me and I LOVED Qadir! The prose was simple and easy to read making it very easy for me to binge read this.

"The desert is no place for bleeding hearts."

ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Stardust Thief is an okay first book that have potential to be better in later sequels.

Amongst the 2022 debuts that have been circulating and highlighted on multiple blogs, Twitter threads, and general buzz from readers The Stardust Thief by—Kuwait-American author—Chelsea Abdullah takes the top spot. This debut has caught my eye ever since I saw the cover reveal. The cover is designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio and illustration by Mike Heath / Magnus Creative. The illustration of the compass with intricate detail and the enchanted fire means a lot to the story than meets the eye. The book is marketed as,

“Perfect for readers of The City of Brass and The Bone Shard Daughter, this epic quest will captivate and enthrall you, sweeping you away into a land where the line between stories and reality blur, and where magic lurks in the most unexpected places.”

I haven’t read City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty, but I have read The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart; which is one of my favourite reads in 2021. This promising marketing line and a very interesting blurb—“Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.“—promised an epic adventure.

This line was enough to catch my attention and immediately request an ARC on NetGalley. It is the perfect teaser for an adventurous story across the vast dessert with an unlikely group of people to find an ancient artifact. The art of the character cards for the pre-order campaign done by Sara Mirzaa and sticker designs by Samohsai adds to the hype for the book. Before the release Chelsea Abdullah did an interview with a close of friend of mine Ness from Talks of Tales (Talking of Tales — Interview with Chelsea Abdullah, Author of ‘The Stardust Thief’) where Chelsea talked about the writing process, the inspiration of the story in detail, and many more. Truly the hype for the release of— The Stardust Thief—Chelsea Abdullah’s debut is quite large.

When I finally got my hands on The Stardust Thief I was excited and buzzed to read this Arabian epic fantasy. Yet.. my ratings didn’t reflect the excitement and hype I had for this book.

"There was a fine line between being set free by the truth and being shackled by it."

The Stardust Thief is the first book to an epic trilogy—The Sandsea Trilogy—by debut author Chelsea Abdullah. The story is inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights or also known as Arabian Nights—a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. The Stardust Thief follows the perspectives of multiple characters : a legendary merchant—Loulie and her jinn bodyguard—Qadir; a cowardly prince—Mazen, and his fearless bodyguard—Aisha— that hunts jinn. The merchant is tasked by the sultan to find an ancient artifact that is believed to be buried in the desert. Escorted by the sultan’s son and his bodyguard they travel across the desert to find this artifact.

The Stardust Thief takes readers under the scorching heat of the sun and the golden sands of the deserts. The world building in this story is truly expansive and magnificent. Abdullah described the world in vivid detail from the bustling markets, the dusty secretive bars, the lush gardens sprouting from jinn blood, and to the gilded riches of the sultan’s palace. The sensory descriptions also adds another layer to immerse readers fully into the story.

Throughout the story readers will be treated with stories from legends and mythology about jinn kings and queens, enchanted artifacts, magical lamps, and heroes. A story within a story never fails to catch my attention. It is certainly one of my favourite parts in The Stardust Thief. Abdullah dances between illusion and real life using these stories to weave an adventure that is wondrous and fantastical. The magic itself is pretty straight forward as it all stems from jinns that have powers to enchant things or do any certain kind of magic. But seeing the progression of the story there is a potential for the magic to be expanded even more in future sequels.

"Magic had destroyed her life. But perhaps when sharpened into a weapon of her making, magic could help her reclaim control of it."

The beating heart of The Stardust Thief are the cast of characters. From the brief descriptions of the cast of characters readers can get the gist that there will be a lot of trials and interesting character interaction throughout the story. Out of the four main POVs, Loulie and Mazen is the most important as they are the two most prominent characters that fuels the plot of The Stardust Thief. Qadir and Aisha are mostly there as plot tools that help Loulie and Mazen to move forward. Knowing this I had high expectations for the characterization and growth of these characters.

Abdullah meticulously gives snippets into the characters personality and overall motivation for readers. Each character came with a particular role to fill, equipped with a certain of skills, and a background that was expected to be interesting enough to grip readers attention. Yet for me the characters didn’t give me enough of a hook to fully invest in them.

There are certain things in the characterization that seemed one dimensional for me. It is understandable that this is a subjective view from here on out. Don’t let my opinion differ you from reading this book because this view may be different person to person. I had high expectations for the characterization and character development because it is something that I have preference towards.

"This is not a story, he told himself. This is reality, and I am living it right now."

The first half of The Stardust Thief introduces each character to readers in separate scenarios in which their paths slowly converges by the second half. Though for me this comes at a cost that resulted in slowing the pace and ended up having certain parts feeling quite dragged out. If you are a reader that don’t mind a slow paced plot progression this shouldn’t be much of a hindrance.

There is a few pre-established relationships between characters in this book. The relationships unravel with the continuation of the story, which resulted in something similar to a domino effect of revelations. Yet these revelations were executed in a very monotonous and predictable way. It is obvious while reading how easily predictable the actions of the characters in my eyes that it definitely affected my reading experience.

The dynamics and interaction between the characters is quite standard. It is not what I hoped it would be. The characters serve their purpose for the plot and so the plot moves forward. I expected to be kept on edge by the intensity of their predicament and filled a sense of emotion but I ended up feeling like Qadir, which is very neutral about everything. This led to me slowly lose interest in continuing the story.

"Blessed, blessed sand. Ground beneath their feet. An end. Or, perhaps, a beginning."

Final thoughts, The Stardust Thief is a good debut book, with okay characters, a somewhat interesting premise, and fine execution. Subjectively, for me, it didn’t hit the mark as a fantastic and compelling read. The Stardust Thief has all the potential to bring something new to the table. I really hope that the sequel will be better in so many ways because I can truly see how the world and characters can grow to be something more. I am truly saddened that I didn’t like The Stardust Thief as much as I hoped I would but I am positive about the future. And I will indeed read the sequel!

I recommend for readers that have similar taste as me to proceed with caution. While I highly recommend if you are a reader that likes a slower pace and have preference towards plot over characters. The Stardust Thief is also a good book for new readers to get into fantasy because of how epic the world is and the easy to grasp fantastical elements. The story within a story adds a lot to the wonder and awe that will truly entice readers to read more.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

"The desert is no place for bleeding hearts."

ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Stardust Thief is an okay first book that have potential to be better in later sequels.

Amongst the 2022 debuts that have been circulating and highlighted on multiple blogs, Twitter threads, and general buzz from readers The Stardust Thief by—Kuwait-American author—Chelsea Abdullah takes the top spot. This debut has caught my eye ever since I saw the cover reveal. The cover is designed by Lisa Marie Pompilio and illustration by Mike Heath / Magnus Creative. The illustration of the compass with intricate detail and the enchanted fire means a lot to the story than meets the eye. The book is marketed as,

“Perfect for readers of The City of Brass and The Bone Shard Daughter, this epic quest will captivate and enthrall you, sweeping you away into a land where the line between stories and reality blur, and where magic lurks in the most unexpected places.”

I haven’t read City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty, but I have read The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart; which is one of my favourite reads in 2021. This promising marketing line and a very interesting blurb—“Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.“—promised an epic adventure.

This line was enough to catch my attention and immediately request an ARC on NetGalley. It is the perfect teaser for an adventurous story across the vast dessert with an unlikely group of people to find an ancient artifact. The art of the character cards for the pre-order campaign done by Sara Mirzaa and sticker designs by Samohsai adds to the hype for the book. Before the release Chelsea Abdullah did an interview with a close of friend of mine Ness from Talks of Tales (Talking of Tales — Interview with Chelsea Abdullah, Author of ‘The Stardust Thief’) where Chelsea talked about the writing process, the inspiration of the story in detail, and many more. Truly the hype for the release of— The Stardust Thief—Chelsea Abdullah’s debut is quite large.

When I finally got my hands on The Stardust Thief I was excited and buzzed to read this Arabian epic fantasy. Yet.. my ratings didn’t reflect the excitement and hype I had for this book.

"There was a fine line between being set free by the truth and being shackled by it."

The Stardust Thief is the first book to an epic trilogy—The Sandsea Trilogy—by debut author Chelsea Abdullah. The story is inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights or also known as Arabian Nights—a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. The Stardust Thief follows the perspectives of multiple characters : a legendary merchant—Loulie and her jinn bodyguard—Qadir; a cowardly prince—Mazen, and his fearless bodyguard—Aisha— that hunts jinn. The merchant is tasked by the sultan to find an ancient artifact that is believed to be buried in the desert. Escorted by the sultan’s son and his bodyguard they travel across the desert to find this artifact.

The Stardust Thief takes readers under the scorching heat of the sun and the golden sands of the deserts. The world building in this story is truly expansive and magnificent. Abdullah described the world in vivid detail from the bustling markets, the dusty secretive bars, the lush gardens sprouting from jinn blood, and to the gilded riches of the sultan’s palace. The sensory descriptions also adds another layer to immerse readers fully into the story.

Throughout the story readers will be treated with stories from legends and mythology about jinn kings and queens, enchanted artifacts, magical lamps, and heroes. A story within a story never fails to catch my attention. It is certainly one of my favourite parts in The Stardust Thief. Abdullah dances between illusion and real life using these stories to weave an adventure that is wondrous and fantastical. The magic itself is pretty straight forward as it all stems from jinns that have powers to enchant things or do any certain kind of magic. But seeing the progression of the story there is a potential for the magic to be expanded even more in future sequels.

"Magic had destroyed her life. But perhaps when sharpened into a weapon of her making, magic could help her reclaim control of it."

The beating heart of The Stardust Thief are the cast of characters. From the brief descriptions of the cast of characters readers can get the gist that there will be a lot of trials and interesting character interaction throughout the story. Out of the four main POVs, Loulie and Mazen is the most important as they are the two most prominent characters that fuels the plot of The Stardust Thief. Qadir and Aisha are mostly there as plot tools that help Loulie and Mazen to move forward. Knowing this I had high expectations for the characterization and growth of these characters.

Abdullah meticulously gives snippets into the characters personality and overall motivation for readers. Each character came with a particular role to fill, equipped with a certain of skills, and a background that was expected to be interesting enough to grip readers attention. Yet for me the characters didn’t give me enough of a hook to fully invest in them.

There are certain things in the characterization that seemed one dimensional for me. It is understandable that this is a subjective view from here on out. Don’t let my opinion differ you from reading this book because this view may be different person to person. I had high expectations for the characterization and character development because it is something that I have preference towards.

"This is not a story, he told himself. This is reality, and I am living it right now."

The first half of The Stardust Thief introduces each character to readers in separate scenarios in which their paths slowly converges by the second half. Though for me this comes at a cost that resulted in slowing the pace and ended up having certain parts feeling quite dragged out. If you are a reader that don’t mind a slow paced plot progression this shouldn’t be much of a hindrance.

There is a few pre-established relationships between characters in this book. The relationships unravel with the continuation of the story, which resulted in something similar to a domino effect of revelations. Yet these revelations were executed in a very monotonous and predictable way. It is obvious while reading how easily predictable the actions of the characters in my eyes that it definitely affected my reading experience.

The dynamics and interaction between the characters is quite standard. It is not what I hoped it would be. The characters serve their purpose for the plot and so the plot moves forward. I expected to be kept on edge by the intensity of their predicament and filled a sense of emotion but I ended up feeling like Qadir, which is very neutral about everything. This led to me slowly lose interest in continuing the story.

"Blessed, blessed sand. Ground beneath their feet. An end. Or, perhaps, a beginning."

Final thoughts, The Stardust Thief is a good debut book, with okay characters, a somewhat interesting premise, and fine execution. Subjectively, for me, it didn’t hit the mark as a fantastic and compelling read. The Stardust Thief has all the potential to bring something new to the table. I really hope that the sequel will be better in so many ways because I can truly see how the world and characters can grow to be something more. I am truly saddened that I didn’t like The Stardust Thief as much as I hoped I would but I am positive about the future. And I will indeed read the sequel!

I recommend for readers that have similar taste as me to proceed with caution. While I highly recommend if you are a reader that likes a slower pace and have preference towards plot over characters. The Stardust Thief is also a good book for new readers to get into fantasy because of how epic the world is and the easy to grasp fantastical elements. The story within a story adds a lot to the wonder and awe that will truly entice readers to read more.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Though the trappings of Chelsea Abdullah’s debut novel The Stardust Thief will be familiar to readers who grew up on some of the most popular retellings of One Thousand and One Nights, this debut novel launches an entirely new, deep world with the first lines. “Neither here nor there, but long ago…” begins not just the novel, but each of the tales within, weaving a tapestry of magic and adventure.

The Stardust Thief is the first of a planned trilogy, the tale of Loulie al-Nazari, the Midnight Merchant; her enigmatic jinn companion, Qadir; tragedy-haunted jinn hunter Aisha; and a pair of princes: Omar, the king of the forty thieves and eldest prince, and Mazen, a cloistered younger prince trapped by his royalty, who misses his mother’s stories. Loulie and Qadir find and sell relics, making her a legendary merchant in the black market, as buying and selling magic is strictly forbidden by the sultan.

But while Loulie thinks of herself as a pragmatic, practical woman who has avoided forming attachments (for fear of losing those she loves), she also has a tender heart. When she sees Mazen, disguised as a commoner and following a jinn through the marketplace, she realizes he’s enchanted and goes after them. While Loulie doesn’t think jinn are evil—unlike the rest of the citizenry—she doesn’t want harm to come to an innocent human.

But Mazen and Loulie’s encounter is part of a much larger plot, unraveled bit by bit throughout the book, until readers can trace it to its source. When Loulie is sent by the sultan on a mission for a relic within the treacherous Sandsea, her fate and Mazen’s become more deeply intertwined. Jinn kings, necromancers, discarded thieves, and relic hunters are seeded through their adventures. And always, there is a story, and within it, hints of a larger truth hidden from the world.
Abdullah uses Loulie, Mazen, and Aisha as the story’s three point of view characters. All of them have secrets—and each lie to hide them. Loulie, as the Midnight Merchant, is secretive about her history. She must also hide the identity of her bodyguard, for if anyone knew she traveled with a jinn, they’d try to kill him, and she’d likely be executed by the sultan as well. Mazen’s initial disguise, dressing as a commoner, is replaced by an even more devious one: High Prince Omar gives Mazen a relic that changes Mazen into Omar’s body double.

It is in Omar’s form that Mazen undergoes a quest with Loulie at the sultan’s command, with only Aisha knowing the truth of his identity. Aisha, a thief and a jinn hunter under Omar’s command, follows the secret orders given to her by the High Prince, accompanying Mazen as his bodyguard. No matter how grudgingly she took her initial assignment, she grows fond of Mazen—but her loyalty to Omar defines her, and her closeness with her companions never tempts her to spill her secrets.
The three point of view characters aren’t the only ones with lies and secrets, which is what makes reading the novel such a delight. While readers are able to see through the lies of each character, the limitations of their own knowledge means readers are still likely to be surprised by the novel’s many twists and turns—and reveals—that come throughout the story. Because the three are human, they only know the human tales of the jinn. No matter how well those tales are told, they have limitations. (Mazen, the son of the late queen Shafia, whom readers will recognize as Scheherazade, knows a full repertoire of stories, and the text is interrupted with tales laid out on a parchment background, giving further insight to the situation of the characters—but hiding the truth within decorative embellishments.)

This mix of familiar tropes and characters from folklore with an invented world, where spilled jinn blood sprouts greens within the desert, makes for an unpredictable narrative. Because the point of view characters lack understanding of the jinn, when those jinn do something unexpected, or when magic turns the course of the tale, the results feel fresh and new. And despite their different worldviews and opinions of those same jinn, each of the point of view characters earns the sympathy of the readers. Even when they’re at odds, it’s hard not to root for each of them to triumph.
It’s hard to believe that Abdullah, an American-Kuwaiti writer who grew up on some of the traditional tales she embellishes, is a debut writer. The prose is polished, the world rich with depth, and the characterizations endearing. With lies and secrets, she lulls her readers in with a story that feels familiar, simultaneously crafting a tale that undermines expectations. The finale changes the stakes for the series to come, and while it’s not quite a cliffhanger, the last pages are told almost breathlessly. The wait for the second book will be long, with no publication date yet announced, leaving readers to imagine an endless desert filled with ruins and danger—and jinn.

This is so immersive and transportive -- I felt like I was sitting around a campfire, listening to a master storyteller, being taken in by the adventures and friendships, grounded by relics I could almost touch. Oftentimes, epic fantasy can read as dry/confusing, but Abdullah's clear voice and narrative cadence was such a boon! I was reading in tandem with a new and beautifully annotated translation of the Arabian Nights (by Yasmine Seale) and it felt like an extension of these stories in the best and most modern of ways.
Going to recommend this to everyone!

There’s a reason why there are so many books that are retellings or influenced by A Thousand and One Nights. It’s because it’s a classic, and so many authors long to tell the tale, playing within that magical world, giving the stories their own special spin on them. I doubt I'll ever tire of reading them. So it thrills me to say Chelsea Abdullah’s stellar debut, The Stardust Thief, is a classic in its own right.

In this first book—in what promises to be a phenomenal trilogy—Chelsea Abdullah introduces us to incredibly lush world, weaving a wondrous tale filled with complex characters, ancient magical creatures, incredible action, and a story that is as enchanting as it is epic. Was this seriously her first novel?

I’d like to thank Orbit Books and NetGalley for the allowing me the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Stardust Thief.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-stardust-thief-chelsea-abdullah/1140137053?ean=9780316368766&bvnotificationId=7bf3dffb-d5f0-11ec-b712-1280e1e3c7ef&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/209145202

https://www.amazon.com/review/R22O7JKWHJWJ94/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Wow. This book absolutely knocked my socks off. Much as you’d expect from a book loosely based on 1001 Nights, it’s a story about stories, about the stories we tell about ourselves and how they can constrain us or free us.

Loulie survived the attack that killed the rest of her tribe, and with the help of her jinn friend Qadir, has risen to become the Night Merchant, the mysterious seller of jinn relics. When the sultan summons her and commands her to go on a quest to retrieve perhaps the most dangerous relic of all, she has no choice but to agree. Accompanied by Omar, the king’s oldest son, and Aisha, one of his thieves, she must journey to the Sandsea. But much like mirages in the desert, things aren’t what they seem. Omar has blackmailed his younger half-brother Mazen into taking his place. And the relic may not be as dangerous as something already travelling with them….

“You worry worse than my mother did.” She grabbed the lantern from him.
Qadir sighed. “You have self-destructive tendencies; I have to worry.”


The story is told from three points of view: Loulie, Mazen and Aisha. Loulie’s tribe was killed by humans, and it was Qadir who saved her and has protected her ever since, so she especially doesn’t believe the anti-jinn propaganda espoused by the sultan and most people. The last thing she wants to do is give more power to him, but what else can she do but go along and hope for a chance to escape? The relationship between Loulie and Qadir was just *chef’s kiss*. They’re family, albeit one brought together by a relic and lots of blood and fire. To the outside world, he’s just her bodyguard, but in reality he’s her best friend and protector. Qadir (and a magical compass relic) help Loulie find relics, and Loulie gives Qadir a purpose in life. Their lives are intertwined, sometimes to Loulie’s resentment, as she thinks being strong means she needs to stand on her own with no help. This makes her reckless at times, to everyone’s detriment. But the journey they’re on – and the secrets they uncover – help her learn that being vulnerable and trusting others is not the weakness she initially assumes.

“A thief steals lives. They do not have their life stolen from them.”


Like Loulie, Aisha was the sole survivor of an attack, though her family was killed by jinn. Omar’s given her a chance at the thing she wants most – revenge against all jinn by becoming a jinn hunter and one of his famous forty thieves. While Loulie had Qadir, Aisha had no one, so she knows what it’s like to have to survive on your own at all costs. She’s all vengeance and sharp edges and scorn, especially for the princeling she’s being forced to guard.

“It didn’t matter that he was a coward. Cowards knew how to flee and hide, and that was good enough.”


Mazen, the second son, inherited his mother’s love for storytelling, as well as a longing for adventure. His father keeps him locked up in the palace, so it’s only through small trips to the city that he gets to experience the world. Omar’s demand that he take his place on the treasure hunt sounds like a dream come true… for a few hours. Mazen, to put it mildly, is a cinnamon roll, gentle and sheltered, one who struggles to reconcile his love for his father with the fact that his father is a cold-blooded murderer. Long days on horseback don’t suit him, let along attacks by ghouls. Traumatized by a jinn possession, he’s afraid and insecure, but when push comes to shove, perhaps his love of storytelling and his tendency to stay in the background is not as inconsequential as he thinks. What is power, after all, but being able to tell your own story?

The world building is amazing and immersive. It feels funny describing a book as “lush” when a good deal of it happens in the desert, but that’s the first world that comes to mind. Most of the world is desert, with areas of greenery coming as a result of violence. Wherever jinn blood falls on the ground, nature grows, from grass to trees to springs, which means that jinn hunters tend to drain their prey of blood, sometimes before killing them. The characters, especially Loulie, never fail to remind us that the lush green spaces are both beautiful and the result of someone’s painful death. The plot is delightful as well, playing with the theme of stories, about how a story can change from teller to teller and still be true. In the book, everyone has secrets, everyone is lying about something, but which of the stories they tell define them? And what does it mean to be strong? There are some truly delightful twists that had me gasping out loud – not to mention all the times I screamed “AISHA WTF” or “MAZEN NO” at my ereader.

“If there is to be only one more tale tonight, let it be the one about the storyteller who changed her fate with her fables. Let it be a story about stories and the power they have to sway mortal hearts.”


Overall, I can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy! While the ending is satisfactory, it’s still a bit of a cliffhanger, and all I know is that I want more of the characters I’ve grown to love!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The world feels familiar, yet not. Its evokes that love of lore, drawing you back into the spoken fairytales told my dear older relatives and community leaders. It envelopes you and urged to pay attention to details to see where real magic might be hiding itself.

There’s great use of alternating POVs, everyone feels distinct and separate but they way the chapters rotate off between them feels seamless.

Loulie is a striking character off the bat. She’s charming, a little sharp around the edges and gritty, but cunning. She’s as quick to turn taciturn or enchanting as the sands moving in this world. She isn’t super powered by any means, but she’s street smart and has had her steel courage forged by terrible trauma and the need for survival.

Mazen is the classic adventure starved nerdy prince who wants more than his gilded cage and recognizes the brutalities of his families’ position. He’s endearing in a naive way, but you can sense off the bat there’s more to him. He’s on the cusp of deciding whether he will fall in line with his family or break the cycle. He’s easy to cheer for and though he humbled, he doesn’t lose focus of wanting more, wanting better, and not succumbing to the nightmares and darkness of the world. He’s the sunshine the trio needs, sandwiched between a storm cloud in Loulie and unloveable mountain in Aisha.

Aisha was the runaway favorite for me though, as a Thief under Prince Omar’s band of djinn hunters, she felt the most layered. She brooks no bullshit and yet slowly she starts to transform. She’s prickly but within her are deep wells of emotion— loyalty, pain, even kindness.

The adventure immediately captivated my attention, though the journey into the sands felt a bit slow and meandering at times. There’s also a few other characters introduced that I wanted more from them and was hoping they would illuminate more aspects to Loulie and the others. That said, I loved that the folklore tales were woven in and made distinct with the darker pages- seemingly ripped from a scroll or parchment. The run ins with adversaries, both human and not were terrifying, bringing to bear all the consequences those folklores warn us against.

This was a wonderful journey that captivated me start to finish and brings a distinct voice to a genre that for far too long has been euro-centric. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Book 1 in this trilogy laid all the foundation needed to hook you and more, I need need need the next book in this wonderful saga.

Beautifully written retelling of the Thousand and One Nights with a brilliantly written protagonist. While the pacing felt a little wonky at times, I was so intrigued by the characters and the setting that it didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the story. Would highly recommend to any fantasy lovers looking for an interesting and unique new adventure.

I'm hopeful that I fall on the minority of reviews that found this to be just "okay." Based on the blurb and the first 200-ish or so pages, I was vibing with the book. Things went a little sideways for me once the "quest" portion of the narrative began.

This definitely read more as YA than adult at times. I feel that this series will draw a lot of comparisons to the City of Brass. Unfortunately, I think the Daevabad trilogy presented a stronger first installment as a series. All that being said, I would be interested in seeing where the story goes in book 2!

Disclaimer: An advance reader copy was provided by NetGalley via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Loved this one! The Stardust Thief is a retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights and I was just thrilled to receive a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story features an epic quest through the desert in search of a magical relic. This world was so well developed and felt *real* to me. The magic system is so beautiful.

The story is told from three points of view. The Midnight Merchant, Loulie, is headstrong and likeable. I found myself routing for her from the beginning. Mazen, the sultans son, is our sweet softie with a love for stories - who can't relate to that? And then there's Aisha, one of the forty thieves. Her contrasting personality of grey morals and uncertain loyalties made her POV feel super interesting and kept me on my toes.

Also, Qadir = best.

Overall, this is a good start! The Stardust Thief is a fantasy debut that incorporates a fresh spin on tales from One Thousand and One Nights, featuring a Middle Eastern-inspired world. Chelsea Abdullah weaves together an original plot with these familiar elements, including the magical lamp with a wish-granting jinn, the forty thieves, and a storyteller who prolongs her life with cliffhangers each night. She has also crafted really interesting lore and mythology centered around magical relics, objects with varying powers.

I appreciated that the main quartet of characters (who alternate chapters in this multi-POV book) were distinct, breaking certain generic molds: the female protagonist Loulie showcases business acumen as the “Midnight Merchant,” a famed trader of relics; Mazen is a prince who doesn’t initially exhibit the typically-expected bravado, and is instead a soft-hearted teller of tales who must confront some harsh realities by the book’s end. The close, familial friendship between Loulie with her jinn bodyguard, Qadir, was probably the most compelling and complex relationship.

I think the novel does struggle with some pacing issues toward the end. It does follow the familiar shape of the travel or journey plot, with episodic “pit stops” during the characters’ quest to reach the Sandsea, the lost world of the jinn; sometimes this can feel repetitive or jarring as we transition to the next town or location. The prose itself is strong and vivid, but I was surprised to realize that this book isn’t categorized as young adult; in hindsight, this makes sense because the characters are in their early 20’s or older, but something about the plotting (again, in the last act) made the story feel less nuanced than how it started. I also felt that the lore became slightly confusing and vague in the final chapters, but this book does clearly set readers up for the sequel, where hopefully these new twists will be explained or ironed out!

3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for a digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Stardust Thief is an adult fantasy-adventure book inspired by the stories of One Thousand and One Nights about a magic seller, a prince, and a thief on a quest to find a legendary enchanted lamp filled with jinn magic. The stories and themes within will be familiar as they are retellings, but this book gives them a new spin.

The story is told from the POV of three people: Loulie, the Midnight Merchant who comes with a jinn bodyguard named Qadir, Aisha, one of the High Prince Omar's Forty Thieves, and Mazen, the youngest son of a sultan who longs for adventure. Since the three did not know each other before this story started, they are each mostly dealing with their own problems and the relationships between them came off as somewhat superficial. As the story progresses, though, you can start to see bonds being formed, and I expect the next book will flesh out the characters and their relationships more. The guardian/charge relationship between Loulie and Qadir, though, was very sweet and compelling. It was obvious how much the two cared for each other, and it was nice to see a relationship like this where there is absolutely no romantic motivation. It was also kind of fun to have two girls and one boy as the trio, as it’s often two boys and one girl.

The real star of this book was the setting and atmosphere. This book was lush, vivid, and bright, and it was easy to imagine being there. One reason I love jinn based fantasies like this is because of the setting, and this book didn’t disappoint. The worldbuilding is good, and the mythology and magic systems are pretty well-defined.

The plot is a pretty straightforward quest style adventure, and there is a ton of action with no real lulls. The group had to make a trek across a desert, and each stop provided some sort of action, which resulted in a fast-paced story that kept the momentum of the book flowing well. The end of the book hooked me and made me really look forward to book two so we can further explore the world.

This book is billed as an adult fantasy, but it definitely feels more young adult. We don’t really get the character ages, but they are probably around 19. The only “adult” thing about the book is the occasional “shit” or “fuck” thrown in. There is no real romance, so no explicit sex scenes. This might change in the next books, but for now this book feels like it is in solid YA territory. The YA style, the fast pace, and the short chapters make this book super easy to read.

Overall I really enjoyed this and I am looking forward to book 2!

It was an enjoyable read and an interesting plot. The characters were well developed as well as the world!

Do you want to go on a quest?

I ask this of you as a reader, as unfortunately for our main characters, they don’t get much of a choice - thrust as they are onto a dangerous expedition. Those sent out across the Arabian desert before to obtain this magic lamp have all failed. Of course, it’s hard to stay alive when you don’t know who to trust…

The Stardust Thief is a dazzling entry to a new fantasy series. It is at once familiar, having been inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, as well as unique, creating a new world with its own charms and magics. Every time it seemed as though the story had landed onto well-trodden tracks, a new turn of events would steer the plot right back into the unknown.

Despite all the world-building involved, this book has relatively quick pacing. Its style falls somewhere between the general genres of YA and Adult Fantasy. There are dark moments, but there is also hope. There is violence, but it never felt gratuitously described. There is mention of romance, but nothing explicit. (I would not mind some romance brewing in the future, but I know others prefer none, and I could see Abdullah going in either direction.)

The story’s main cast members are distinctive and interesting. They each have differing backgrounds, skills, interests and motivations. I appreciated how their skills, in particular, were presented in a consistent way. Our bookworm can tell a great story, but doesn’t know how to fight. Our warrior woman can stand her own, but can’t charm a crowd. And outmatched or outnumbered, any character is liable to be captured, or worse. This refreshing consistency makes sense and raises the stakes.

Of course, be warned - right when the stakes are highest, this book comes to a close. It doesn’t leave off in the middle of a scene, but the character’s obstacles are in no way overcome.

To be honest, I do think this book left me wanting more in added ways beyond just wanting more of the story. I could have used more depth to the world, the characters, and the conflicts. For example, there were some points in the story that felt there was action - an event occurred, and our characters had to solve an issue - but that by the end, little had changed. The characters and the story trajectory was much the same before and after the momentary obstacle.

That noted, part of this desire for more was precisely because this book has so much potential. I care enough about this world and its characters to want to delve deeper. This is just the first book in the series, and the trajectory was in the right direction, so I plan to read the sequel and see where Abdullah takes us.

One dynamic I would love to see explored in future installments is greater interaction between the characters. They all stand better chances of survival working together now, and I’d like to see them get closer, even if it’s not always in a positive way. While it made sense why this didn’t happen more in book one - most of them just met - having more interactions will help us get involved with the characters further. The interpersonal conversations, whether between Loulie and Qadir, or Aisha and her later partner, were my favorite parts!

RECAP: 4.5 stars from me - a worthy read!

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✨ An advanced reader copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review

Beautifully written with brilliant characters. Enthralling and exciting. Very much looking forward to the sequel!

In a world where jinn are real and deemed enemies of humans, Loulie Al-Nazari sells relics infused with magic until one she saves one of the sultan's sons and has to go on a perilous quest.

I liked the idea of the world. The presence of jinns added some scenarios with different magic that were really interesting to follow - I wished we had more of these scenes. I think that's my main issue with the book. Everything could be more. The world that the author created is filled with potential, but it never comes to fruition. The world became flat with only a few moments of spark when some jinn magic was involved. The characters were extremely one dimensional; the relationships really simplistic. The characters never proactively did anything, the plot kept happening to them and they just went along with it. And the magic is sometimes treated as a deus ex machina, removing all of the tension and the danger of the situation - eveything could be easily fixed by the magic, any situation. It's easy to predict the twists and turns after the first couple of pages.

The story feels geared towards someone that is beginning to read fantasy and transitioning from young adult fantasy to adult fantasy. By the end, I thought the book was painfully ok and completely forgettable.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

What a book! A debut novel that serves up many of the Arabian Tales but with the author’s own twist. I couldn’t put it down.

The story that is woven around the tales from One Thousand and One Nights is excellent … never dull and consistently moves ahead with good pacing and structure. But I think what I love most about this is the characters. It features a loyal, multi-faceted Jinn/bodyguard, a true cinnamon-roll of a prince, a kick ass mercenary with questionable loyalties and then there is Loulie. Loulie is in a class all her own. I love her for her strengths and weaknesses. She’s trying so very hard to avenge her family, live up to her own high expectations and to find a place where she belongs. I love that she has so many different sides but still is never unbelievable.

The author has a good hand with description, I love a book that makes me hungry! I need some roasted pistachio’s at the very least, and good tea to drink as I read. I have to say it is so refreshing lately to be getting so many fantasy books written for locations that are not European-centric. When I’m reading I love getting a description of a new form of dress or architecture that I’m not familiar with and need to look up. It opens up my mind to new cultures and we really need that at the moment.

I have high hopes for Ms. Abdullah. Her debut reminds me of the wonderful The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow that came out a couple of years ago in that this book and the author shows a LOT of promise. I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley.