Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

35 reviews

dalek_caan's review

adventurous mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. It was unpredictable, imaginative and very well told. I found myself very engaged with most of the characters and enjoyed how each of the characters in the split perspective narrative had their own distinct voice. I would definitely recommend this book and anxiously await the publication of the sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Self harm, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment and Fire/Fire injury

stargazer_ley's review

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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

3.5

The facinating focus on Arabic cultures is a pleasant change of pace for me, however I found myself wanting a glossary to define certain terms. While context provided some measure of assistance, I would have preferred actually having the information (Google is exactly helpful when I don't know what I'm trying to find.) That said the characters and story were compelling and I found myself constantly having to mentally update my theories. It was overall a good book that I'm glad I purchased and I am looking forward to getting the next volume. :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Racism, Grief, Gaslighting, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Slavery, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death and Cursing

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, and Blood

Minor: Child death

cookiecat73's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book wasn't 100% my thing, but I have incredible respect for the author. The world and magic was cool and interesting, and character development was really well written, but it was the plot that blew me away. The twist were really well done and way they tied everything together was brilliant. It also gave you all the pieces you needed to figure things out for yourself (and it was incredibly satisfying when I did) whilst also providing explanations for anyone who didn't figure it out yet, but in a way that wasn't beating you over the head with it or talking down to the reader, it just felt like the characters figuring it out themselves.

Personally I had no real interest in the romance/crush aspects, and some of the torture/violence was a bit much imo, but my biggest issue was the fake-out deaths. If it was just Aisha's I wouldn't have much of an issue because there were still consequences, but Mazen and Qadir's I don't think serve any real purpose, and they made threat later on feel hollow for me. In general there are a lot of times where people sustain what should be serious injuries, but then they just recover? It made me feel like the characters would just be fine whatever happened, which made any times where there was meant to be danger and threat feel less meaningful and more hollow. Thankfully the plot and twists were really really interesting and well done, so I still was invested in the book, but I think if maybe those 2 deaths weren't there and some of the injuries either didn't happen or had more consequences I would have enjoyed it more

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Self harm, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual content

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!!

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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

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

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Torture and Confinement

elpk1313's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Chelsea Abdullah had some good ideas here, but in the end, this novel left me slightly confused and underwhelmed.

First, to the good stuff. I liked how Abdullah intertwined the best-known Arabian Nights stories into her tale, incorporating

Scheherezade, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and I'm sure there were many more stories woven in that I was unfamiliar with

. The first hundred pages or so The Stardust Thief are snappy and pacy in style, and I was thinking "oh, this is going to be a cracking good story."

It wasn't long after our narrators - Loulie, Mazen and Aisha (as well as Qadir) - set out on their journey (not a spoiler as it's in the official blurb) that I started to get confused. It was still incredibly gripping to read - but I was no longer as invested as I was in the beginning.

So what went wrong? For me, it was a number of things. A few plot holes which I couldn't rationalise to myself.  Too many convenient escapes where someone or something turned up at just the right moment. The characters felt too thin and weren't developed enough to make me care about them. I was confused about jinn lore and exactly how the magic worked. And I think it was too long, with twist upon twist until it became impossible to keep track of who knew what and when.

In conclusion, a strong start and some clever ideas, but the worldbuilding and character development left a lot to be desired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

Minor: Pregnancy

Many murders and violence occur through magical means.

kylieqrada's review

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.5

Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy is my shit! I loveeeeddd this! I did get lost a few times with what was happening and had to go back and re-read to catch on with the plot, but overall I really enjoyed it. Can't wait for the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Animal death