Scan barcode
ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've never read any version of 1001 Nights but am familiar enough with some of the stories that I got the references. Really enjoyed the story and characters, can't wait to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Child death
marleywrites's review
adventurous
emotional
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
4.75
I am a member of the Official Qadir Fan Club for reasons what the hell and oh my god.
I had an inkling I was going to love this book, and I pushed it off for so long out of fear I wouldn’t love it, but then I read it and became OBSESSED with it. Now I can’t wait for the sequel, which won’t come out until November, so I’m sorta devastated.
I love Mazen and Loulie and Aisha and and and!! I’m really loving what the author did for Aisha’s story arc. It was amazing to see her transformation. Truly though, I felt like every character was transformed by the end in a monumental way. I really enjoyed that they all grew together.
Another thing I loved was the storytelling within the story. It was nice to step out of the actual narrative briefly to hear Mazen’s stories. I
I also enjoyed the magic system. I was mesmerized. All the plot twists were great, and that ending! I finished this book and just stared at the page in shock. I need book 2!!! And Omar’s secrets?? Omg??
Lastly, Qadir and Loulie’s relationship!!! I love them!!!! They love each other so much!!!! I love that they love each other without being in love. Platonic love is important too!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death of parent, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol
jessereadsthings's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting characters and world, but frustratingly the book was slowed down by unneeded moments that did not add anything other than a higher page count.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
dionaeau's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
I literally have no words for this book… I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was immersed in this wonderful world. I don’t think I have ever read half a book in two days since I was an adult, but I am so glad I did. This story and world is so rich and beautiful, I found myself wondering how I could be an ARC reader for the upcoming sequel. I am so glad this is not a stand alone. I am simply not able to leave these beloved characters and their adventure behind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Murder, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
shelbysarnelli's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I swear I did but too many times did I stop reading to look off into the distance with furrowed brows and go "what?"
Idk if I just need things to be very spelled out but I was confused way too much and there were times she was alluding to reveals and it wasn't enough information for it to click in my brain.
There was a couple plot holes.. like characters have exactly one motivation in life and then having the opportunity to fulfill that motivation in some way and them not taking it??? And it wasn't explained?? And like I can think off the top of my head some good plot reasons why they would change their mind but it was never explained.. that and a couple times characters knew things that the reader knew but they themselves would have no way of knowing but they did?? Like Im talking magic that no one has ever seen before being used against them and they knew exactly where it came from? What??
*stop here for spoiler free expierence*
My final gripe is aisha and qadir magically being alive after they were clearly dead and the ways they get revived are like valid plot reasons but babes.. you can't have 2 back to back it makes death feel not real in a story idk it just to me makes them coming back less impactful cause it literally happened twice
Idk I had a good time and I really liked the world building and magic system and the characters it was just that sometimes the execution wasn't 100%
Idk if I just need things to be very spelled out but I was confused way too much and there were times she was alluding to reveals and it wasn't enough information for it to click in my brain.
There was a couple plot holes.. like characters have exactly one motivation in life and then having the opportunity to fulfill that motivation in some way and them not taking it??? And it wasn't explained?? And like I can think off the top of my head some good plot reasons why they would change their mind but it was never explained.. that and a couple times characters knew things that the reader knew but they themselves would have no way of knowing but they did?? Like Im talking magic that no one has ever seen before being used against them and they knew exactly where it came from? What??
*stop here for spoiler free expierence*
Idk I had a good time and I really liked the world building and magic system and the characters it was just that sometimes the execution wasn't 100%
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Child death
kirstenf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement and Slavery
flyintothestorm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved it. I liked all the references to Arabian Nights joining them together in a new story with its own heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Torture and Confinement
memento_morri's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Child death
thebookcoyote's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
TW/CW: Violence, family death, death of a child, fantasy violence, murder
REVIEW: The Stardust Thief is the story of Loulie (Layla?), a merchant who sells magical artifacts and Mazen, a prince who is forced to travel with her on a mission to retrieve a magical lamp. It is the first in a planned trilogy.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. Reading the blurb on Book of the Month, it sounded interesting and I am a huge sucker for epic fantasy, which was what I hoped this would be. I also loved the ideas of story telling and the idea of a great epic fantasy taking place in the middle eastern world with middle eastern mythology. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed.
The first thing I have to say about this book was that it was boring. It droned on and on and on with nothing really happening. There is absolutely no reason that this book should have been even close to it’s 463 pages. A big part of the reason that it was boring was the complete lack of character development. I felt nothing for any of the characters. I really couldn’t have cared less what happened to any of them. None of them were friends, or close to each other, and none of that built over the ‘action’ of the story.
The second thing that really bugged me was the author’s complete lack of ability when it came to writing any sort of dramatic tension. Even in places where it should have been exciting, it just kind of fell flat.
And lastly, there was a lot of it that just didn’t make sense. More than in a lot of books, I found myself looking back to see if I’d missed something that could explain what was going on. If I had? I certainly couldn’t find it anywhere. I’m still very confused by the ending, and I’m not a skimmer, so I read everything.
I do not recommend this book, and I won’t be reading the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death of parent, and Murder