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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Ashfire King is a stunning and heartfelt sequel to The Stardust Thief that had me on the edge of my seat, and had my heart pounding. A wonderful story of grief and loss, and the way those emotions become driving factors for different purposes.
The story picks up right where The Stardust Thief left off, but if you haven't had a chance for a reread, there is a brief summary of all relevant plot details included in the beginning of the book that was wonderful.
Being back with these characters felt like coming home. I loved seeing the way each character grew into themselves and became more confident and self-assured throughout the course of the book. All the new characters are just as wonderful as everyone I have come to love, and seeing our current cast be challenged and strengthened by these new additions was such a treat.
Mazen and Loulie's relationship is still one of my favorite aspects of this series. They are coming to rely on one another and are finding strength in each other which is fantastic to be able to read from both of their perspectives. This is the pace that I want all my slow burns to be at, and I love that while there are definitely feelings between them, they are both hesitant to act on them, especially while still trying to keep each other and their worlds, safe.
The Ashfire King builds beautifully upon the foundations built in The Stardust Thief. There were just as many twists and turns that kept me second guessing everything I thought I knew and kept my heart pounding. The three POVS weave wonderfully together to help build a more robust picture of the world Chelsea Abdullah has created. The world building continues to astound me, and grow even bigger in this sequel. This is the type of book that makes me question what kind of magic authors are weaving through their stories.
Truly a magnificent second book, however it does feel evil that there is not a single piece of information on book three yet, especially after that ending!! I knew I was going to love this based purely on how deeply in love I fell with The Stardust Thief, but it blew my expectations out of the water.
The story picks up right where The Stardust Thief left off, but if you haven't had a chance for a reread, there is a brief summary of all relevant plot details included in the beginning of the book that was wonderful.
Being back with these characters felt like coming home. I loved seeing the way each character grew into themselves and became more confident and self-assured throughout the course of the book. All the new characters are just as wonderful as everyone I have come to love, and seeing our current cast be challenged and strengthened by these new additions was such a treat.
Mazen and Loulie's relationship is still one of my favorite aspects of this series. They are coming to rely on one another and are finding strength in each other which is fantastic to be able to read from both of their perspectives. This is the pace that I want all my slow burns to be at, and I love that while there are definitely feelings between them, they are both hesitant to act on them, especially while still trying to keep each other and their worlds, safe.
The Ashfire King builds beautifully upon the foundations built in The Stardust Thief. There were just as many twists and turns that kept me second guessing everything I thought I knew and kept my heart pounding. The three POVS weave wonderfully together to help build a more robust picture of the world Chelsea Abdullah has created. The world building continues to astound me, and grow even bigger in this sequel. This is the type of book that makes me question what kind of magic authors are weaving through their stories.
Truly a magnificent second book, however it does feel evil that there is not a single piece of information on book three yet, especially after that ending!! I knew I was going to love this based purely on how deeply in love I fell with The Stardust Thief, but it blew my expectations out of the water.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Waiting closer to book three...I feel like if there is as much of a gap between books 2 and 3 as there was between 1 and 2, I will have forgotten everything and need to reread them all again.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Ashfire King is a worthy second instalment to the Sandsea Trilogy. This book starts off where The Stardust Thief left off. The beginning also contained a helpful recap of book 1, which was amazing. I’m happy I read The Stardust Thief only two months ago, because it didn’t take me long to get back into this world.
The Ashfire King is as adventurous as its predecessor, with more worldbuilding and exploring, and great characters. I only wished we would have seen more of Qadir. Another thing I didn’t really like was the pacing. The story was consistently slow paced without there being any real climaxes. This made me struggle to get through it.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend this series, and I can’t wait for book 3!
Thank you, Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Ashfire King started the best way a sequel possibly could: with a recap. Starting the book with a recap in the form of one of Mazen’s stories was brilliant, and so so helpful, and I wish more sequels would do this!
Overall, this was a good follow up to The Stardust Thief. The characters are just so endearing and interesting—although I do wish we’d seen more of Qadir! The world is so lush and so interesting, and in this book we get to explore the jinn world and all its magic.
I really can’t point to anything in the story that I didn’t like besides the pacing. It’s pretty consistently paced throughout, without there ever really being any strong peaks or climaxes. As much as I liked this, I struggled to get through it. Nevertheless, I would definitely still recommend this series!
Overall, this was a good follow up to The Stardust Thief. The characters are just so endearing and interesting—although I do wish we’d seen more of Qadir! The world is so lush and so interesting, and in this book we get to explore the jinn world and all its magic.
I really can’t point to anything in the story that I didn’t like besides the pacing. It’s pretty consistently paced throughout, without there ever really being any strong peaks or climaxes. As much as I liked this, I struggled to get through it. Nevertheless, I would definitely still recommend this series!
“To live is to persevere. For the world, and in spite of it.”
Despite how deeply I loved first book, “The Stardust Thief”, I still tried to temper my high expectations for the sequel before reading it…. But wow did I not need to do that!
“The Ashfire King” somehow went above and beyond what I hoped for!
Steeped in Arabian folklore, with its enthralling tales and mystifying creatures, the series brings to life those elements by building a world rich in enchantment and hidden wonder. In this installment, the characters find themselves exploring a new realm that uncovers unexpected secrets and long buried stories (about both the human and jinn realms) that unravel and connect the threads of both worlds.
I LOVE how transportive the book is, how it makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters, stepping (or flying) from one thrilling adventure to the next! The action and excitement are nonstop, making the book so easy to get lost in. But more than that, I was riveted because I rooted wholeheartedly for the characters.
The sequel digs deeper into the characters’ motivations and inner struggles. The new sides we see to Mazen, Loulie, and Aisha are so gratifying. And it’s in this book we see the dynamics between them really start to flourish.
I love how some of them (no spoilers) get closer, are able to be more vulnerable, and bring out the best in each other.
And overall, the interactions between the gang are so much fun! They’ve come so far since we first met them!
With exhilarating pace and alluring storytelling, “The Ashfire King” gives us foes (new and old), dubious allies, unexpected twists, a new arsenal of magic (one of which is unexpectedly adorable), and political machinations that connect the various story-threads and expand the plot to new levels.
In this sequel, the author manages to create a book that exceeds its predecessor while promising an even bigger and more exciting third book to come!
“The Ashfire King” releases April 15 !
Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the chance to read this e-ARC!
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
“Neither here nor there, but not so long ago…” I absolutely loved that this book not only started with a recap, but a recap that worked within the in universe storytelling structure. I do think that it would benefitted to have a glossary just for quick reference of terms as well, but maybe next time!
I think that this is an excellent sequel, and that those who liked The Stardust Thief are going to enjoy this as well. It expands on the world building in a huge way, and some of the characters get fleshed out quite a lot (hello, Mazen and Aisha). The pace is slow, but always engaging and purposeful, and I never found myself thinking that parts were filler.
I did like this slightly less than The Stardust Thief but only fractionally. I missedQadir as he was one of my favourite characters of the first book, and while a lot of this book was directly about him, his physical absense was felt - both by me and the characters. I also found myself struggling to get back in to the groove of the prose through the first 25% - it definitely wasn't bad, but I didn't get immersed as quickly as book one.
I also would have liked at least one more story. Good thing there is going to be a third book :)
3.75 stars
“Neither here nor there, but not so long ago…” I absolutely loved that this book not only started with a recap, but a recap that worked within the in universe storytelling structure. I do think that it would benefitted to have a glossary just for quick reference of terms as well, but maybe next time!
I think that this is an excellent sequel, and that those who liked The Stardust Thief are going to enjoy this as well. It expands on the world building in a huge way, and some of the characters get fleshed out quite a lot (hello, Mazen and Aisha). The pace is slow, but always engaging and purposeful, and I never found myself thinking that parts were filler.
I did like this slightly less than The Stardust Thief but only fractionally. I missed
I also would have liked at least one more story. Good thing there is going to be a third book :)
3.75 stars
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No