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kgeogheghan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
The story is told from three points of view: Loulie - a woman who can find hidden magical items, and sells them under the title 'Midnight Merchant', with her jinn friend and bodyguard; Price Mazen - the youngest of the Sultan's children; Aisha - one of the legendary 40 thieves.
The world building in this novel is beautiful. I loved the characters, and seeing the story unfold from their different points of view, each with their own unique voice - seeing their relationships grow and change as they learn more about one another and face the journey to find the magical lamp together. Some parts of the plot felt a little obvious, but the overall story was compelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of this book, but I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. It left me unsatisfied, with too many questions left unanswered. I didn't realize this book was part of a trilogy, so was hoping for sound resolution to the story. I also struggled slightly with keeping up with what was happening in the final scenes, as there was so many moving parts.
Overall, it's a great fantasy book, full of magic and mystery, and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The world building in this novel is beautiful. I loved the characters, and seeing the story unfold from their different points of view, each with their own unique voice - seeing their relationships grow and change as they learn more about one another and face the journey to find the magical lamp together. Some parts of the plot felt a little obvious, but the overall story was compelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of this book, but I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. It left me unsatisfied, with too many questions left unanswered. I didn't realize this book was part of a trilogy, so was hoping for sound resolution to the story. I also struggled slightly with keeping up with what was happening in the final scenes, as there was so many moving parts.
Overall, it's a great fantasy book, full of magic and mystery, and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
azrah786's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a proof copy from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, kidnapping, torture, murder, death, child death, death of parent, grief, confinement
--
If you’re craving an adventure in a whole new world then look no further!
Inspired by the stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief is the entrancing first novel in an all new trilogy that reimagines and entwines the tales and legends anew.
We follow Loulie Al Nazari and her bodyguard Qadir, a merchant and jinn (sometimes lizard companion) duo who make a living by travelling the lands tracking and selling magical relics – a dangerous occupation in a world where such items are illegal and where jinn are hunted for the magic in their blood.
Despite the outlawed nature of her trade her infamous reputation comes to the attention of the Sultan, who once she is captured offers her her life in exchange for her services to locate a lamp, an ancient relic with immense power. The company of the Sultan’s son and a member of the Forty Thieves is also part of the deal and so the 4 of them embark on their quest across the Sandsea desert and all the perils it has to offer.
**I received a proof copy from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, kidnapping, torture, murder, death, child death, death of parent, grief, confinement
--
If you’re craving an adventure in a whole new world then look no further!
Inspired by the stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief is the entrancing first novel in an all new trilogy that reimagines and entwines the tales and legends anew.
We follow Loulie Al Nazari and her bodyguard Qadir, a merchant and jinn (sometimes lizard companion) duo who make a living by travelling the lands tracking and selling magical relics – a dangerous occupation in a world where such items are illegal and where jinn are hunted for the magic in their blood.
Despite the outlawed nature of her trade her infamous reputation comes to the attention of the Sultan, who once she is captured offers her her life in exchange for her services to locate a lamp, an ancient relic with immense power. The company of the Sultan’s son and a member of the Forty Thieves is also part of the deal and so the 4 of them embark on their quest across the Sandsea desert and all the perils it has to offer.
"Some things are out of our control. You know that just as well as I. All we can do is make choices based on the cards fate deals us."
Fast paced and addictive, Abdullah’s narration immediately draws you in to a world full of magic, myths and mayhem that anyone who has ever enjoyed a previous rendition of these classic stories and mythologies will instantly warm to. However, the atmosphere and settings in this book evokes much more authenticity and I think this comes down to Abdullah’s love for her own culture as well as her love for stories and storytelling which shines through the writing.
The best multi POV stories are the ones that keep you hooked on all the character perspectives and for me this was definitely one of those. Loulie, Mazen and Aisha each have a distinctive voice and I found myself loving them all (and I love Qadir too of course.) It was particularly inspiring to see their perseverance through the challenges on their journey, the truths and lies that get uncovered on the way and also when coming to terms with their individual vulnerabilities.
"We're all afraid Prince. The only difference between a hero and a coward is that one forgets their fear and fights, while the other succumbs to it and flees."
Just as compelling are the character relationships which Abdullah has developed beautifully. The dynamic between the leading trio and Qadir is really fun, equal parts wariness and banter that eventually reaches a borderline found family feel and I can’t wait to see how this develops further in the rest of the series. I even found myself totally invested in the relationships with minor characters such as Mazen and his brother Hakim and even Loulie and Ahmed. However, the most endearing relationship which I know everyone will agree with is the one between Loulie and Qadir. I honestly love it so much when there is a wholesome platonic duo at the heart of a book.
What was also pretty great was the little interludes of story interspersed amongst all the action and carefully plotted twists and reveals at times when a character is recalling a tale from legend. This not only further celebrated the art of storytelling but also touched on the themes and idea of how key details in accounts and histories can be lost and consciously distorted over time.
All in all a fantastic and highly enjoyable debut and I can’t wait to come back to this world and continue to follow these characters on the adventures Chelsea Abdullah has in store for them next!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
I am excited to say that The Stardust Thief is one of my top fantasy reads of the year so far, and I personally cannot wait to see this book acquire the wide readership it deserves once published.
This book is a well-plotted, adventurous tale filled with breathless action (though some action scenes could be tightened up more), surprising emotional heft, and complex and sometimes-frustrating-yet-loveable characters with great character development- with my particular favorite being the enigmatic Qadir and his relationship with Loulie.
There are also countless twists here especially towards the end, and while some of them are predictable, the rest can be surprising and definitely contribute to the story. I love the magic system as well - in particular the relics and their relations to jinn - and many of the magical items are endearingly imaginative.
I see this novel as Abdullah's love letter to her culture and its tales, stories, and oral tradition. The way the author deftly weaves many Arab tales together into an interconnected whole while adding her own flair to them is enjoyable. And of course the novel is effortlessly diverse; it is simply so refreshing to see an Arab fantasy written by an Arab author.
In sum, I have only myself to blame for having to wait perhaps quite a while for the next book, because if The Stardust Thief is any indication, it is going to be a good one.
I am excited to say that The Stardust Thief is one of my top fantasy reads of the year so far, and I personally cannot wait to see this book acquire the wide readership it deserves once published.
This book is a well-plotted, adventurous tale filled with breathless action (though some action scenes could be tightened up more), surprising emotional heft, and complex and sometimes-frustrating-yet-loveable characters with great character development- with my particular favorite being the enigmatic Qadir and his relationship with Loulie.
There are also countless twists here especially towards the end, and while some of them are predictable, the rest can be surprising and definitely contribute to the story. I love the magic system as well - in particular the relics and their relations to jinn - and many of the magical items are endearingly imaginative.
I see this novel as Abdullah's love letter to her culture and its tales, stories, and oral tradition. The way the author deftly weaves many Arab tales together into an interconnected whole while adding her own flair to them is enjoyable. And of course the novel is effortlessly diverse; it is simply so refreshing to see an Arab fantasy written by an Arab author.
In sum, I have only myself to blame for having to wait perhaps quite a while for the next book, because if The Stardust Thief is any indication, it is going to be a good one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
laurareads87's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah is a great debut fantasy. Abdullah seamlessly weaves together stylistic references to A Thousand and One Nights, intricate and compelling world-building, interesting political dynamics, and an exciting quest story. The characters’ relationships are well developed and their motivations clear, and Abdullah’s use of multiple POVs is effective. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
My only complaint as a reader — and it’s really just expression of personal preference — is that I really wish the characters were more morally ambiguous than they are. The protagonists aren’t perfect, but they’re straightforwardly easy to cheer for, while the antagonist is unquestionably evil: they all feel a bit ‘safe’ in terms of character development, and this combined with the plot unfolding in an entirely linear fashion leaves me feeling like I would’ve appreciated more complexity.
While written for adults, I can see this book having crossover appeal for readers who prefer/enjoy YA; the human main characters are in their early to mid twenties. Though first in a trilogy, this book also works reasonably well as a standalone, with the ending clearly leaving room for the sequel but also feeling sufficiently conclusive.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC in exchange for this review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Sexism
poppywarphan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
5.0
The Stardust thief is a wonderful and enchanting fantasy inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights. The author did a fantastic job at subtly weaving the tales into the story.
DUDES WITH EARRINGS ALERT! 😏
It was so refreshing to have a male character who's not a muscular macho warrior. Mazen is ahimbo curious prince who loves stories. Loulie or Layla is the midnight merchant who sells relics (objects with magical powers). “I would rather marry a dust-covered relic than a man,” Loulie, mood. She travels with Qadir who is a dilf, her jinn bodyguard and father figure.
“You rely on me, but I also rely on you. We are a team, you and I.”
“You are the most courageous person I know, Loulie al-Nazari. Without you, I would still be aimlessly wandering the desert, lost in my grief. You are not weak. That is why I follow where you walk: because I trust you.”
“The compass led me to you, and it is with you I shall stay until destiny demands we part ways.”
Tell me this isn't the most beautiful thing in the world 😭.
Loulie is brought before the sultan, and he blackmails her into going on a quest to find a relic, to which a powerful jinn is bound. He appoints his son Omar, a jinn hunter, to supervise her. It is actually Mazen who joins her—in return for a favor from Omar—disguised as his brother (with the help of a relic), and Aisha, a badass woman as well as one of Omar's 40 thieves. They travel into the desert and face many dangerous creatures. At the end, we find out who the true villain of the story is, that fucks everything up.
We never really get Loulie's and Ahmed's backstory, so I'm missing a bit of context there. And to the Stardust thief, I hope both sides of his pillow are warm.
Can't wait for the next installment. I've recently finished The city of brass, so if you're looking for similar vibes I'd definitely recommend The stardust thief.
Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
DUDES WITH EARRINGS ALERT! 😏
It was so refreshing to have a male character who's not a muscular macho warrior. Mazen is a
“You rely on me, but I also rely on you. We are a team, you and I.”
“You are the most courageous person I know, Loulie al-Nazari. Without you, I would still be aimlessly wandering the desert, lost in my grief. You are not weak. That is why I follow where you walk: because I trust you.”
“The compass led me to you, and it is with you I shall stay until destiny demands we part ways.”
Tell me this isn't the most beautiful thing in the world 😭.
Loulie is brought before the sultan, and he blackmails her into going on a quest to find a relic, to which a powerful jinn is bound. He appoints his son Omar, a jinn hunter, to supervise her. It is actually Mazen who joins her—in return for a favor from Omar—disguised as his brother (with the help of a relic), and Aisha, a badass woman as well as one of Omar's 40 thieves. They travel into the desert and face many dangerous creatures. At the end, we find out who the true villain of the story is, that fucks everything up.
We never really get Loulie's and Ahmed's backstory, so I'm missing a bit of context there. And to the Stardust thief, I hope both sides of his pillow are warm.
Can't wait for the next installment. I've recently finished The city of brass, so if you're looking for similar vibes I'd definitely recommend The stardust thief.
Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
idealpages's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
The Stardust Thief is in my favourite books of 2022. It is easily one of the best fantasies I have read in a long, long time, and a phenomenal first instalment of a series that has me immensely excited for what’s to come. The fact it is a debut? My mind is blown. The characters, writing style, world building and overall plot were perfect. This is one of those rare gems I wish I could rate more than 5 stars. It’s perfect for fans of the Daevabad trilogy and those who seek an enthralling reimagining of tales found in One Thousand And One Nights.
Chelsea Abdullah’s writing style was very engaging and welcomes readers to cosy up and enjoy an adventure of a lifetime. I could see everything illustrated by Abdullah; it unfolded vividly in my mind like a big screen movie.
The magic system and world building were beyond enjoyable. With blades of fire, jewellery that allows shapeshifting and underwater breathing and so many more enchanted trinkets, I was truly in awe. I thoroughly enjoyed learning every facet of the setting; its backstory and present, and potential future. I fell more and more in love with the story with every sandstorm, myth and sword fight; I couldn’t put it down!
My “favourite” character kept changing throughout. The Stardust Thief is narrated by three characters; Loulie, Mazen and Aisha. Loulie is a merchant in magic alongside her very charming companion, Qadir. Mazen is a dreamer and the second born son of the Sultan, and Aisha is a renowned thief.
Each have a strong individual arc that is skilfully developed. They’re witty, resolute and a little misguided, but most of all, they’re incredibly endearing. All together? The potential is limitless. Their dialogue and dynamics were superbly established. I should mention for those who wish to know beforehand; there was little to no romance in this book. There’s chemistry between the characters, certainly, but no big romances (so far). Nevertheless, the relationships were great. I really loved Loulie and Qadir’s relationship.
It is a very rare feat for a series with multiple POVs to get me invested in every voice, but much to my surprise, I care very much about all three of our narrators. I wouldn’t object to the introduction of a certain jinn’s perspective, either. I am beyond excited to see where they go next (both individually and together).
Quite frankly, I am obsessed. In my more dramatic moods, I need the sequel almost as much as I need air. The ending!? Promising an even grander adventure?! Genuinely, I know the closing lines by heart.
Utterly captivating and rich, I feel like I’ve been up, down and around the world within these pages of complete adventure. The Stardust Thief is the kind of story that makes you look to the wider world and be full of wonder: it gives the gift of believing there is magic, full of shining possibility, just waiting to be discovered. Thank you Abdullah for writing this story; I would say The Stardust Thief is in my favourite reads ever, and I cannot wait for the sequel!
Thank you kindly to Abdullah, Orbit UK and NetGalley for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Chelsea Abdullah’s writing style was very engaging and welcomes readers to cosy up and enjoy an adventure of a lifetime. I could see everything illustrated by Abdullah; it unfolded vividly in my mind like a big screen movie.
The magic system and world building were beyond enjoyable. With blades of fire, jewellery that allows shapeshifting and underwater breathing and so many more enchanted trinkets, I was truly in awe. I thoroughly enjoyed learning every facet of the setting; its backstory and present, and potential future. I fell more and more in love with the story with every sandstorm, myth and sword fight; I couldn’t put it down!
My “favourite” character kept changing throughout. The Stardust Thief is narrated by three characters; Loulie, Mazen and Aisha. Loulie is a merchant in magic alongside her very charming companion, Qadir. Mazen is a dreamer and the second born son of the Sultan, and Aisha is a renowned thief.
Each have a strong individual arc that is skilfully developed. They’re witty, resolute and a little misguided, but most of all, they’re incredibly endearing. All together? The potential is limitless. Their dialogue and dynamics were superbly established. I should mention for those who wish to know beforehand; there was little to no romance in this book. There’s chemistry between the characters, certainly, but no big romances (so far). Nevertheless, the relationships were great. I really loved Loulie and Qadir’s relationship.
It is a very rare feat for a series with multiple POVs to get me invested in every voice, but much to my surprise, I care very much about all three of our narrators. I wouldn’t object to the introduction of a certain jinn’s perspective, either. I am beyond excited to see where they go next (both individually and together).
Quite frankly, I am obsessed. In my more dramatic moods, I need the sequel almost as much as I need air. The ending!? Promising an even grander adventure?! Genuinely, I know the closing lines by heart.
Utterly captivating and rich, I feel like I’ve been up, down and around the world within these pages of complete adventure. The Stardust Thief is the kind of story that makes you look to the wider world and be full of wonder: it gives the gift of believing there is magic, full of shining possibility, just waiting to be discovered. Thank you Abdullah for writing this story; I would say The Stardust Thief is in my favourite reads ever, and I cannot wait for the sequel!
Thank you kindly to Abdullah, Orbit UK and NetGalley for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Injury/Injury detail