“Neither here nor there, but not so long ago…”

Picking up where The Stardust Thief ended, Loulie and Mazen, accompanied by the mercurial ifrit Rijah, have fallen through the Sandsea into the world that Qadir sealed off with his magic. But the jinn world is on edge, the magic bindings put in place to keep it separate from the human world are failing, threatening to sink the cities even further into the Sandsea. Loulie and Mazen are caught between two powerful ifrits, unsure who they can trust: the Queen of the jinn who wants the bindings repaired to protect what’s left of the jinn world, or the pirate Nabila who has her own intentions of wanting to break the bindings and restore the jinn cities to the surface world.

It’s always difficult for a sequel to capture the wonder of its predecessor but I felt like The Ashfire King did a good job in replicating that magic and introducing a new world for our characters to navigate. And it wasn’t just the world-building that expanded, the characters themselves have been fleshed out more thoroughly and grown beyond what they were portrayed as in the previous book. And in the fashion of Arabian Nights, the built-in stories peppered in throughout allow the reader to piece together the centuries of history and relate to the book’s central plot without it being too cumbersome.

Overall, The Ashfire King successfully navigated the quagmire of the dreaded second-book syndrome, wrapping up the central plot and growing the characters we’ve come to love while setting up the key plot points for the last book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I mostly enjoyed the first book of this trilogy, so I was happy to get the ARC of the 2nd book. If you liked the Stardust Thief, you'll enjoy this; it holds up. But some of my issues with the first book are still prevalent here. It's very plot driven rather than character driven, and you whip around this world so quickly it's hard to keep track of where everyone is. There are 2 plots in the book as the group splits up and goes their separate ways. Lots of new characters, so much so that it was sometimes hard to keep track. The 2 main characters, who are clearly destined for romance, don't seem to have a lot of chemistry. Mazen seems very young compared to Loulie and it just doesn't work for me.. And the plot device of characters being kept alive by magic is getting a bit tired.

Still, it's an entertaining read, and the writing is pretty good. I give it 3.5 stars.

When I read The Stardust Thief last year I knew I had found a gem of a new fantasy series. I instantly was hooked with the beautiful world building spun by Chelsea Abdullah that completely immersed me in a brand new world. The heart and courage of Mazen, the defiance and determination of Aisha, and the fight for change from Loulie all burrowed themselves into my heart, leaving the characters a part of myself. While the wait for the Ashfire King was painful, it paid off quickly by matching the first book in terms of plot and character arcs. Abdullah doesn’t even know what second-book-syndrome is: that is how far The Ashfire King is from such a state. I love how each of the characters grows and changes in TAK, as well as how the world and how it’s built expands around you as you read. Abdullah is a masterful storyteller and it bleeds through every word in the book. Any lover of fantasy or artful storytelling in general should read The Sandsea Trilogy as soon as possible.

As soon as I realized this was the second book of a series, I put it aside to read book one “The Stardust Thief.” I was so blown away by the story and the author’s way with words that I immediately jumped into book two! This book continues where the first leaves off and, although it’s a larger book, I flew through it. I was completely captivated by the world, the human/Jinn conflict, and the cast of characters. If you are a fantasy reader or just love a good story, you must not miss this one!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I'm so happy to have been able to read this sequel. I enjoyed The Stardust Thief so much and this book did not disappoint.

This took me almost a month to read but like in the highest form of flattery because I did NOT want this book to end. The fight scenes were top tier, the yearning building SLOW BURN romance was top tier, the villains and new characters TOP TIER. There seriously wasn’t a single thing I disliked about this book. It reminded me of why I fell in love with reading as a kid. I’m dying for book 3 already.

**4.5/5 Stars, Rounded Up**

The Stardust Thief was one of my favorite books back when I read it in 2023. Two years later, I finally got to return to the world I loved so much, and Chelsea Abdullah did not let me down. I smiled, laughed, chewed on my fingernails, and mourned my ripped-apart heart. The Ashfire King did something few other books have done in the recent past: It kept me awake. I fell asleep thinking about it, and my mind returned to it as soon as my eyes opened the next morning. While The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah does, in some respects, suffer from “second book syndrome,” I adored every second I spent in its pages. And if I must wait another two years for book three, I will cry.

There is SO MUCH in The Ashfire King. It picks up where The Stardust Thief stopped: Mazen and Loulie are now in the jinn world, leaving Aisha and Qadir behind in a vicious skirmish with Mazen’s elder brother and his army of thieves. Mazen and Loulie have their own mission to accomplish, while Aisha has another. Managing two almost completely standalone plots can be difficult, but Abdullah does this relatively well. I got lost a few times and had to reread chapters to remind myself of things. The author’s world was already multifaceted, and she added more elements in The Ashfire King. More elements to untangle, more to keep track of, and more to remember. But I cannot speak more highly of Abdullah’s writing style: It is lyrical, vivid, and almost flawless.

Every main character grows in The Ashfire King. I might not have noticed it as much if I hadn’t reread The Stardust Thief immediately before reading its sequel. Mazen becomes braver. Loulie learns to rely more on others. Aisha understands how to better accept herself as she is. And Qadir…Qadir faces his past mistakes. He stops running. The tension grows. Abdullah introduces readers to new characters who all go on journeys of their own, and she walks readers through the strengthening relationship between Mazen and Loulie. Yes, I found myself cheering for them to GET TOGETHER ALREADY, while at the same time, I didn’t miss—nor did I need the romance. The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah is just as beautiful with how it highlights the power of friendship.

Abdullah answers so many questions from book one while also setting up beautifully for the third book, and I need it in my life now, please. Because that cliffhanger had my heart plummeting to the earth’s core. Some series, I dread rereading to prepare for the next book. That will never happen with “The Sandsea Trilogy.” Each time I dive into Abdullah’s works, I lose myself in her masterful storytelling as if it’s for the very first time.

This book!! So much was packed in under 500 pages. I really feel like the continued world building, character development, and overall descriptive language are top notch. As the reader you really feel like you are in the sandsea and the pain and joy that the characters experience are your own. The ending was an unexpected turn in the plot and leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to see how this story continues!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this digital ARC.

The Stardust Thief was one of my favorite reads when it first came out. I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Ashfire King.

I found book 2 struggled, as most sequels do, with middle book syndrome. The awe of initial setup has faded and we're nowhere near enough to the climax of the overarching story, but the show must go on. This isn't to say Ashfire King was bad in any way. I thoroughly enjoyed the new world, character development, and addition of new characters. I have no complaints about the general story nor the characters. There was just too much, and not enough going on at all times. In my opinion, the multi pov of having Aisha doing her thing with her djinn and Loulie and Mazen doing their things strained the plot. However, I understand having multiple plots was necessary for setting up the next book in the series.

I'm absolutely excited for what the next book has to offer.

I absolutely adored this book—not just for the adventure, but because Mazen and Loulie stole my heart. Their dynamic kept me hooked, even when I found myself craving more depth in their emotions. The story moves fast, sometimes too fast, brushing past moments that begged to linger.

I wanted to sit with these characters, to feel the weight of their realizations and heartaches. Why has Mazen seemingly moved past his panic attacks over his father’s death? Where’s the raw, emotional reunion between Loulie and Qadir? And Aisha—does she feel the ache of loneliness, the absence of true connection? These questions simmer beneath the surface, waiting to be explored.

And please, please, let Mazen and Loulie have a real heart-to-heart in book three. The tension, the longing—it’s all there, and I need that romantic payoff!

That said, this book was still an absolute thrill. If you’re looking for a story filled with magic, intrigue, and characters that will stay with you long after the last page, this is one you won’t want to miss.

“I wish, sometimes, that I could still see wonder in the world the way Mazen does.”
“Some would call that naivete.”
“Others would call it faith. Mazen has always believed in the good in people. That belief is a rare thing, and all the more precious for it.”

This book is everything sequels should be. The characters? Richer. The adventures? Wilder. The villains and their scheming? COMPLEX. This world Abdullah continues to build is so unique and wonderful you can feel it through the pages. I loved this entire story through and through.

The worst part is now the wait begins for #3….

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC!

As always, I am in love with Chelsea Abdullah's characters, writing, and story. I absolutely adored The Stardust Thief, and I am SO glad to see Loulie, Mazen, Qadir and Aisha continuing their journey. Qadir is my absolute FAVORITE character in this series, but each character is extremely lovable in their own way. I really enjoyed the "mirror" universe vibes with them being in the land of jinn. Rijah was a great new addition to the cast of characters too... Without spoiling too much, the new setting, the new characters, and the TWIST!!!

I can't wait for the next book already! 10/10 would ABSOLUTELY recommend. I think it's time to do a full reread back to back now.

Oh My Goodness! The ending... NO! I have waited two years for this sequel and I requested it the minute I saw the author say the it was available. I was approved for it not even 5 minutes later. I was stunned. It did not disappoint. However.. now I need to wait for the next book! This book was every bit as engaging as the first and I cannot WAIT to see what happens next.


Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this digital ARC.

In the previous book, Chelsea Abdullah spent the story introducing the reader to each of the main characters. However, in The Ashfire King, we see a fully fleshed out world with new characters, opposing sects in the jinn domain, and a building conflict within the world at large. We are quite literally in the midst of one of “Mazen’s stories.”

I cannot wait to see the resolution in book 3!

This book seriously struggled with a case of “second book syndrome.” While that’s not always a bad thing, it is very difficult to power through when there is such a long time gap between the publishing of books one and two. With that being said, I truly appreciated the summary of book one at the beginning of this book! I thought that was a very neat addition to help bridge gaps for those of us who forgot. The characters, though they spend so much time separated, do have plenty of development occur during this book. Mazen and Loulie really begin to shine more which is nice considering that they are our leads.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me another round with this series.

I love Chelsea's writing, I think after the Daevabad series, this one fills that hole - easily. The characters are all stellar ranging from misguided to evil. The story is about humanity (unknown-st to them) vs the djinn world. The plot for the whos and whys are more drawn out and and understood.

But, WHY did I give it three stars? Lets be clear: splitting the party in D&D and in books is never really a solid choice, especially when different characters have different things going on.

This book suffered from the divided parties doing different things. The weakness in certain plot lines become more evident and you realize they either were poorly handled or weren't meant to be by their own. The strongest had to be Mazen and Loulie, because they are your two leads. The weakest was Aisha and her co-pilot djinn.

As for the Ashfire King, hardly showed up in it. Quite obvious who it was, but keeping the information on the down-low.

The ending and the last book sound like it will be a lot more exciting and crazy in terms of plot. It just felt like most of it was info-dumping and weak. I look forward to the last book but if I had to slog through this to get to that, then, well, it's a me thing and not any fault of the book.

It’s rare for a sequel to be as good as the first, let alone better, but The Ashfire King absolutely achieved that.

I’m completely enchanted by this series. The magic, the characters, the culture, the stories… it’s beautifully written and there was never a point where I was not completely engrossed. I really felt like I carried the characters with me even when I wasn’t reading. They’re the heart of the story, and this book saw some of the best character development I’ve read in a very long time. We learn so much more about the world of the jinn, and Qadir’s character, even when he’s absent, is ever-present — which was wonderful, because he’s my favorite!

Aisha, Mazen, and Loulie grow so much, and their varied perspectives really make the story’s horizon blossom in a beautiful way. I love all of their perspective chapters equally and fiercely — a rare thing in a multi-perspective book!

The ending has me on the edge of my seat. Waiting for the final book is going to be agonizing!

I have been waiting for this sequel for so long and it did not disappoint! I loved learning more about the world and the magic. My only complaint is that the next one isn't out yet!

I absolutely loved this book and was so glad to read it early! Usually with books that feature multiple perspectives, I love one perspective and hate the others, but this book was the opposite. I loved every perspective featured and each character had their own personality and struggles that contributed to the story. Every time it switched perspective I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! At about 70% I thought I knew how things would end and was pleasantly surprised that there were still some twists and turns and unexpected developments until the very end.

After a long wait, book two is finally here! The author not only delivers another amazing tale with characters that stay with you, but expands upon their world by delving into the jinn world and the complexities of it.