Scan barcode
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Lots of adventure and twists. I do think it dragged at times while going too fast at others. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
brittanyboston18's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Gore, Confinement, Death of parent, and Violence
lvjysunday's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
mallorypen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The characters and use of myth as a basis for the storytelling were hugely enjoyable. The jinn (especially Qadir) were interesting, and the relics with their powers and origin made the story feel like both a treasure hunt and a philosophical quandary about power.
That said, this novel had SO many twists and turns I had a rough time keeping everything straight. I liked all the plot points, but getting to them felt in some places awkwardly quick, and in others clumsy and slow.
I also feel like the characters’ relationships are being kept deliberately uncertain in a way that feels more like a book to read more books in a series (which idk if I would be interested in doing) versus building to real resolution.
That said, this novel had SO many twists and turns I had a rough time keeping everything straight. I liked all the plot points, but getting to them felt in some places awkwardly quick, and in others clumsy and slow.
I also feel like the characters’ relationships are being kept deliberately uncertain in a way that feels more like a book to read more books in a series (which idk if I would be interested in doing) versus building to real resolution.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, War, Domestic abuse, and 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
ishouldreadthat's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah is a debut adult fantasy novel inspired by the 1001 Nights. With a lovely setting, great characters, and a compelling plot, it's definitely one to pick up if you enjoy:
-Badass and clever women
-Hot jinn dads
-Cinnamon roll princes
-Friendships!!
-The power of storytelling
-Non-European settings
I listened to the audiobook for this one, and really enjoyed the narrators, but the editing leaves a lot to be desired (lots of repetition and strange cuts). I hope they go in and edit these issues, because it's a great way to read this book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah is a debut adult fantasy novel inspired by the 1001 Nights. With a lovely setting, great characters, and a compelling plot, it's definitely one to pick up if you enjoy:
-Badass and clever women
-Hot jinn dads
-Cinnamon roll princes
-Friendships!!
-The power of storytelling
-Non-European settings
I listened to the audiobook for this one, and really enjoyed the narrators, but the editing leaves a lot to be desired (lots of repetition and strange cuts). I hope they go in and edit these issues, because it's a great way to read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This. Was. Everything. Fans of the City of Brass Trilogy I have found our newest obsession. This was AMAZING. I’m literally speechless. So this is the end of the review. READ THIS BOOK.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, and Animal death
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, incorporatingScheherezade, 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.
First, to the good stuff. I liked how Abdullah intertwined the best-known Arabian Nights stories into her tale, incorporating
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.
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.