Absolutely delightful and engaging — pulled me right through the story and into a magical world. Amal El-Mohtar’s review in the NYT was spot-on and much better than anything I could say here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an incredible and epic beginning to a series! This book was so wonderful and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

A Fantasy Adventure You Won’t Forget

If you want to be swept up in an adventure inspired by “The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights,” then Chelsea Abdullah’s debut novel “The Stardust Thief” is the book for you.

The Midnight Merchant, Loulie al-Nazari, and her jinn bodyguard are criminals who find and sell illegal magic objects. When the sultan blackmails her—“either die or go on a quest,” she chooses the quest.

Loulie, Qadir, her bodyguard, the sultan’s son, and Aisha set out into the desert to find the lamp. There’s magic, adventure, betrayal, illusions, death, and the desert with dangers lurking behind every dune.

What I Liked:

I loved almost everything about this book. How often do we get an Arabian story told by an Arabian author? Rarely.

Abdullah creates a magical world that made me feel as if I were experiencing the Middle East: the people, the sounds, the smells, the heat, the sand, and a relentless desert full of unimaginable dangers. This is an adventure story where anything is possible and the dangers are real.

The novel weaves the back stories of the Sultan’s family, Loulie, Qadir, and Aisha’s into the novel so organically that the stories fit together seamlessly, creating a thrilling sometimes brutal tapestry that reminded me of museum artifacts coming to life.

Also, this is a story about stories and storytellers. Some of the brief chapters have background pages that look as if they were written on parchment paper. The background stories of the jinn and their artifacts are fascinating.

Plus, the cover is gorgeous!

What I Wasn’t Crazy About:

The antagonist was a bit of a mustache twirling bad guy until the end when the reader learns more of his story. There are hints about who he is, but I would have liked a deeper character developed.

Sometimes the pacing sags and slows, but even this isn’t a strong critique as I enjoyed the characters so much that I didn’t care.

Recommendations:

Since I’m gushing, this section probably isn’t necessary, but I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy adventure.

It’s a fantastic adventure story, set in a culture we rarely get to read about, and Abdullah’s storytelling is excellent. Her writing will transport you to a magical world. This is the first book in a trilogy, so keep that in mind. The tale doesn’t wrap up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit books for an ARC copy of “The Stardust Thief.”

The Stardust Thief is an adventure story in a magical world of djinn.

The story centers on Loulie, a merchant who uncovers magical artifacts created by jinn magic, Mazen, a sheltered prince who wants freedom, and Aisha, a djinn killer/thief. These three were somehow grouped together to go on a quest for the sultan to uncover a powerful relic, a lamp that contains a powerful djinn. The story was told in three different POVs.

While I enjoy stories about djinn magic and treasure hunt adventures, The Stardust Thief felt like a slow read to me. I think the pacing of the story was a bit off and just didn't motivate me enough to push through (even though I did finish the book.) I like the three characters individually, but honestly there really wasn't much interactions among them during the quest, which I thought was a bit weird. My favorite character in the book is Qadir, Loulie's djinn friend/bodyguard, who actually didn't have his POV, hopefully he will have his POV in the next book! I know this is going to be a trilogy but also felt like the ending didn't reveal much to keep me going.

Thank you Orbit books and NetGalley for the free e-copy for my review

3.7 ⭐️ roundup to 4

What a fun and adventurous read! I enjoyed the fact that it was also a slight retelling as well. Hope to read more from this author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this adult fantasy debut from Chelsea Abdullah, enough so that I plan to continue with the series when the next book comes out. Orbit has been on a roll lately with great adult fantasy, honestly, and I haven’t been disappointed in awhile!
Abdullah is working in elements from several different stories of The One Thousand and One Nights, here, and yet the novel feels fresh. The magical world-building is what made this novel a standout for me. I’m a white girl who grew up in the 90s and was obsessed with the Disney movie Aladdin at one point, so I was delighted that this novel makes a bit of a gender-swapped nod to that particular story (sans Orientalism ofc.) The setting is very much grounded in particulars, and the women in the story are badass. I loved having the chance to read another adult fantasy novel by an American Middle Eastern woman, Abdullah’s point of view truly enriches the genre landscape and I’m very grateful for it!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Do you ever read a book and love it so much you don't quite know how to put it into words? That is exactly how I feel about this book. This was one of, if not my most highly anticipated read of 2022. With me being so excited for the book, I had high expectations - the book more than met them and the wonderful storytelling from Chelsea Abdullah absolutely blew me away. Considering this is her debut novel, she has certainly set the bar high for her future works, considering how much I enjoyed this book.

One Thousand and One Night</em>s are stories everyone has at least heard of. However, these stories are particularly well known and loved by people whose heritage derived from the Middle East - such as myself. These are stories everyone grows up knowing and loving and that are full of wonder and adventure. So to read The Stardust Thief - a new adult fantasy trilogy - based off these very stories? It was an honour to be able to read the first book prior to its release, and it felt every part as wondrous and magical and entrancing as the original stories to me. Whilst I had a feeling I would somewhat enjoy the book at least, given my heritage, I didn't know just how much. The result? I love the book oh so very much. The book captivated me from the start and brought me more joy than I could ever have imagined. In short: I adored it, every single page.

Worldbuilding in a book can make or break it for me. Chelsea Abdullah has more than made it. This world doesn’t feel fictional, it feels as real as ours. Abdullah’s words fly right off the page and surround me in this world that is so full of life. The descriptions were so vivid and beautifully written, my imagination was running wild picturing the vast deserts, the lively markets, the jinn relics, the costumes, the magic system - everything was so well crafted. Abdullah has also managed to find the perfect line between enough descriptions to feed imaginations, but not so much that it feels pretentious.

The characters in this book are everything. Despite how well a book is written, the characters need to be if not likeable, enjoyable to read about. And this cast of characters definitely are - and I am not being biased because there is a character who shares my name (although that did help and make me overjoyed!)

What I love about this cast of characters so much is that to me, none of them seem to be either 100% good or 100% bad. They're all people who are human just like me and you; sure you have your 'good' people and 'bad' people, but the way they're written is so real that they're not this clear cut. The 'good' characters make mistakes, do things to hurt others - be that knowingly or not - but you love them anyway. The 'bad' characters do awful things, but the way they explain the reasonings behind their actions, doesn’t make what they're doing okay, but you can understand what they are saying and their point of view. I wanted to meet the famous Midnight Merchant, Prince Mazen, Aisha Bint Louas and of course Qadir. I want to spend hours chatting to Ahmed and I want to fight the bad guys alongside our fierce gang! The characters all have depth to them, and they all have their own fair share of heartbreak. They're all tough and strong and courageous in their own ways, but it is also their vulnerabilities and heartbreak that makes them all that more real. In fact, these vulnerabilities actually make these characters stronger - having them does not make someone weak, it makes you human. It is because of all of this that I loved every single character so fiercely - I didn't actually want the book to end because then I'd have to say goodbye to them, after becoming so invested!

The story itself is fantastic. A retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, and in a way that feels new. It's dark and it's gripping (especially with the theme of jinn being hunted throughout the book). It has the magic, the wonder, the fantasy I love to read in books, yet still feels believable. Chelsea Abdullah's writing style not only brings the world and characters to life, but also the magic, the adventure and the jinn. From the first page, I was thrown headfirst into the story and I found myself racing through the pages, eager to see where this story was going. I found I'd have sped through so much of the book in such little time. I like fantasy. But a lot of the time it can feel like I am reading the same kind of stories. The Stardust Thief is a totally unique type of fantasy book that reminded me why I love this genre so much in the first place. It stands out against other fantasy books I've read before for all the right reasons. The Stardust Thief is a dark, action-packed adventure with surprises and plot twists that had me wide-eyed and unable to stop reading.

The themes interwoven in the stories brought me a lot of happiness reading this story. One running theme in this book is stories - or to be more specific, storytelling. The power of stories, storytelling and of course, the storyteller. Stories within stories is something I always love to read. Stories are magical - they're the reason I love books and theatre so much! So to read a book where this is such a prominent theme made me so happy! And the way the theme is carried out is beautiful. The Stardust Thief feels like a reminder of the power stories and storytelling can have, and how we should never forget that, nor the impact. There were passages where stories were being told, and I felt such a sense of calm come over me as I read characters weave tales right before my eyes, and as I felt the stories they were telling within their world come to life and impact everyone around them listening in.

The next theme I want to bring attention to within this book is identity. It is not only a physical journey these characters go on, but an emotional one that at some points causes them to really evaluate themselves. Throughout the events of the book, questions are raised regarding identity -what makes us who we are, how important is our identity, and how do we stay true to ourselves? I found this underlying theme really thought-provoking and had me thinking about what I thought of and how I viewed myself too, and what I would do if I found myself in their position.

The final theme I want to give a nod to is that of family. By now, I am sure everyone knows family is one of my all-time favourite themes in books, and this was no exception. There were of course strong family bonds - most of our characters’ motivations and what drives them is love for their family - be that good or bad things, you'll have to read the book to see and decide for yourself! I also loved how The Stardust Thief gives a beautiful example of how family does not always mean blood. It can be - and is - those who care, love and support you.

The Stardust Thief is a gem of a book and I feel so lucky and grateful I was able to read an e-arc prior to its release. I can't wait to read it all again and again and return to this magical world, story and characters I've come to love so much already. The Stardust Thief is a thrilling story that had me hooked from the very beginning and it was an emotional rollercoaster and a pleasure to read. And with this being the first book in a trilogy, I am very excited to see where this story is headed!

What makes The Stardust Thief all that more special for me is knowing this is a story based on Middle Eastern folk tales, set in the Middle East and written by an author of Middle Eastern heritage. Not only is it authentic, but reading this book felt like home to me. I felt so comforted and oh so very at home. That is nothing short of incredible, all thanks to Chelsea Abdullah's wonderful work.

One thing is for sure - The Stardust Thief is a story that has definitely impacted me, in only good ways.

THE STARDUST THIEF was a magical, mythical, and fast-paced adventure that I didn’t want to leave! The characters were all fleshed out beautifully and the world-building was transportive. I loved it!

The Stardust Theif by Chelsea Abdullah is the debut I've been waiting to see! It is so lush and immersive and is a great representation! The characters make you fall in love with them from the first page, and continue on throughout the story. Our main character has such a satisfying arc.

⭐️⭐️✨2.5 stars. I really wanted to love this book, but the blurb left much to be desired. It was painfully cliche and exceptionally boring. I really have no more words 😐

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved loved this! The setting is beautiful! The story is unique and gorgeous! This is a must have for all libraries serving teens and adults.

I loved the first installment in this fantasy trilogy that incorporates Arab mythology. I thought the different POV were well done and wove seamlessly with each other throughout the book.

I thought the way in which the magic was woven in to the story and how the people were able to access the magic was very interesting. I thought the book was a bit slow in parts as they characters traveled to each destination but it definitely picked up when they would encounter an enemy.

The relationship between Loulie and Qadir was so much fun. They supported each other and you can tell how much their relationship means to each of them. Mazen grew on me as the story went on. I liked that we could follow these characters on their hunt for ancient relic and that was enough. So many fantasy books also must become romances lately so I liked that this stayed away from that. Although I am curious to see if we move that way as the trilogy goes on.

I am also curious to see where Aisha goes into book 2. I felt like her sudden switch in loyalty was not explained or fleshed out well so I hope we see more of that in future installments.

This book was magical. The writing is lyrical and the setting jumps off the page. I don't see myself continuing the series just because YA fantasy is starting to interest me less and less, but I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good YA fantasy adventure. Some comp titles I may give are: "The Night Circus" for the lush atmosphere and "An Ember in the Ashes" for the angst.

While I was fascinated by the concept of this debut novel (jinn kings! Magical relics! Treasure hunters! Disguised royals! Badass female assassins!), I found myself struggling to get through it. Partly I think this is a timing thing for me, as I read it in bits and chunks during a very busy few weeks, but I also think there wasn’t enough atmospheric detail to really allow me to sink into the world. I did love parts of this book, but unfortunately the execution left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you netgalley for an arc!
Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, we follow The Midnight Merchant, a Prince, a Jinn, and a Thief. This is the perfect adult fantasy for beginners and for lovers of either character or plot driven novels, as it encompasses all. Following these characters through the desert to find an legendary relic was incredibly exciting, filled with action and heartbreak. My favourite part had to be the chapters where a story was told, bringing this world even more to life. An amazing debut novel to start the Sandsea Trilogy!

This book was such a mixed bag for me and I'm not sure how to feel about it.

The first 40% of this book was fantastic. I found the story and its characters really engaging and was excited to see where this book was going to go. The momentum was strong right out of the gate and I just knew this was going to be the next five star read that I wouldn't be able to stop blabbing about.

But then the journey part of the story began and the pace slowed to an absolute crawl. Anyone familiar with the fantasy genre knows how make-or-break a lengthy travel section can be and unfortunately, this was one of the instances where it just didn't work. Although the pacing picked up and there was lots of action at the end, by the time we reached that point I was so disconnected from the story that I didn't really care as much. I was reading to finish more than I was interested in anything happening on the page.

I did really enjoy how the author weaved the retelling aspects into her own original tale. The little breaks for storytelling felt welcome and interesting rather than disruptive, which feels like a difficult thing for an author to accomplish. Retellings can sometimes feel heavy-handed, in my experience, but this one felt well-balanced.

There was something off about the character building as well. It almost felt like the author wanted me to care about different characters than I actually did. Some of the characters I was most interested in ended up getting much less time and development, so while the author was focused on pushing someone else I just kept wanting to return elsewhere.

I don't want to give the wrong impression - this definitely wasn't an awful book. It was a fine book and I'm sure lots of people will really enjoy it. I just personally found myself a bit disappointed after such a strong beginning and my confidence level going in. I'm undecided on whether I will read the sequel, but I wouldn't rule it out. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for what Abdullah does next.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start off by admitting that since I have never read One Thousand and One Nights, I can't speak to how The Stardust Thief weaves in elements from the stories or any inspiration that might be evident in the text to a more knowledgeable reader. I can however talk about how much I enjoyed the book because WOW did I love it. At first it seems like a pretty basic "quest" type fantasy (and while there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, questing is one of my favorite trope) but the story unfolds into something more. Our main perspectives are three characters, Loulie- the famous Midnight Merchant- a young woman in the illegal business of selling magical relics, traveling with her jinn bodygaurd, Qadir. Then we have Mazen, the sheltered prince, living under the constant watch of his father and in fear of his violent, dangerous older brother. Finally we follow Aisha, a thief working under the command of Omar- Mazen's jinn-hunting older brother. I loved all three of these perspectives, it's rare when I read a book like this and find myself genuinely enjoying each shift in perspective instead of rushing to finish one so that I could get to a more interesting section. The relationship that they all develop as the story progressed felt natural, and while there were steps that felt a bit predictable in terms of character, it was never boring. I loved seeing the deep, familial bond that Loulie and Qadir shared, with my one complaint on that end being that I wish we had more flashback moments between the two of them to when they first started traveling together because I wanted to see how that relationship first began. I enjoyed seeing Mazen develop slowly from the frightened, hesitant, shelted prince into someone more determined, willful, and brave- his character moments towards the end of the book were some of my favorites. Aisha as well, had an excellent arc that I absolutely adored but can't speak much on without giving away spoilery details but suffice to say I loved where we left off with her character towards the end of the book. I think it's pretty obvious, but I absolutely reccomend this book. It had action, mystery, revenge, magic that is easy to grasp and fun to read about, and while the world definitely needs some more fleshing out, I'm more than sure that we'll get it in book 2 (which I am already looking forward to reading).

The Stardust Thief is a wonderful fantasy story with an expansive world that anyone could get lost in. The main characters are rememorable and the twists and turns as you read keep you on your seat. If you are in need of an epic fantasy story where our characters face dangers in the desert, this book is for you.

With the characters of Jinns and Thieves and Sultans - it would put you in mind of Alibaba and the 40 Thieves yet this story is so much more. There is intrigue, betrayal and secrets and a startling reveal that no one sees coming. A great debut novel By Chelsea Abdullah. I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy (less)

*3.75/5**

Overall I enjoyed the book, but it was not a favorite. I felt like I never fully connected with any of the characters and there were so many characters who played bit roles in the story. I really would have loved for more focused character development for the main characters and less side. I am planning to continue the series.