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bibi_reads_writes 's review for:
The Stardust Thief
by Chelsea Abdullah
This book was my first introduction to retellings of the tales from A Thousand and One Nights. It felt magical and created a true sense of wonder from page 1, and was a fun break from faes and vampires. Despite the complex worldbuilding and lore, this multiple-POV story felt very easy to read. This is probably thanks to the short chapters and in-page folk stories that break the linearity of the narrative.
This book contains many things I love: an impossible quest, magical objects, reluctant allies, betrayal and heartache, and a cliffhanger ending. (And daddy Quadir, my love!)
Why only 3.75⭐ then? Most of the characters felt flat and I couldn’t connect with them. I also felt the pacing was off and there was too much exposition, especially when it comes to characters. Also, five “smiles that don’t reach the eyes” in a single book is just… nope.
Read my review for [b:The Ashfire King|60910208|The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy, #2)|Chelsea Abdullah|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660765872l/60910208._SY75_.jpg|96073773].
Pros and cons of the series so far:
❤️ Rich worldbuilding and intriguing lore
❤️ Strong female characters
❤️ In-page stories
❤️ Action sequences
❌ Too many Arabic terms
❌ Meh MMC
❌ Repetitive use of cliché phrases
❌ Pacing issues
❌ Lots of telling vs. showing
Romance/spice lovers beware: the romance subplot is sweet/green/clean, and it’s really not the focus of the story. It was fine by me, and the books were never marketed as romantasy novels, but I still thought I’d mention it.
Trigger warnings for the series: violence, death and murder (parent, child, etc.), grief, blood and gore, injury and injury detail, torture, fire and fire injury, genocide, physical and emotional abuse, kidnapping and confinement, toxic relationship, war, sexism and misogyny, animal death, panic attacks/disorders, hate crimes, slavery, sexual assault, etc.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes
This book contains many things I love: an impossible quest, magical objects, reluctant allies, betrayal and heartache, and a cliffhanger ending. (And daddy Quadir, my love!)
Why only 3.75⭐ then? Most of the characters felt flat and I couldn’t connect with them. I also felt the pacing was off and there was too much exposition, especially when it comes to characters. Also, five “smiles that don’t reach the eyes” in a single book is just… nope.
Read my review for [b:The Ashfire King|60910208|The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy, #2)|Chelsea Abdullah|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660765872l/60910208._SY75_.jpg|96073773].
Pros and cons of the series so far:
❤️ Rich worldbuilding and intriguing lore
❤️ Strong female characters
❤️ In-page stories
❤️ Action sequences
❌ Too many Arabic terms
❌ Meh MMC
❌ Repetitive use of cliché phrases
❌ Pacing issues
❌ Lots of telling vs. showing
Romance/spice lovers beware: the romance subplot is sweet/green/clean, and it’s really not the focus of the story. It was fine by me, and the books were never marketed as romantasy novels, but I still thought I’d mention it.
Trigger warnings for the series: violence, death and murder (parent, child, etc.), grief, blood and gore, injury and injury detail, torture, fire and fire injury, genocide, physical and emotional abuse, kidnapping and confinement, toxic relationship, war, sexism and misogyny, animal death, panic attacks/disorders, hate crimes, slavery, sexual assault, etc.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes