Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

First, this book was an absolute pleasure to read. The plot twists were so unexpected and the narrative was so well-written that there was no moment where I found myself bored. I greatly enjoyed the different POVs throughout the novel and thought that they really added a significant dimension to the telling of this story.
The world-building felt so magical as well and the Arab representation was on point. The many nods to ‘a thousand and one nights’ were so fascinating to read and just contributed to the framing of this novel's plot.

The characterization of everyone in the novel was so well done and I especially enjoyed the morally grey discourses surrounding jinn and humans. P.S. I would die for Mazen, he is definitely my favourite character.

In addition, the way the relationships between characters progressed within the novel was so natural and occurred at a pace that felt neither too fast nor too slow. However, I will say that I wish there were more interactions between several of the main characters as in the beginning the group felt so divided that I didn’t even know if they were still travelling with one another at times.

After reading this book, I was left wanting more and I can say I will definitely be reading the next book!

Thank you again to Chelsea Abdullah, NetGalley and Orbit Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and Orbit Books for an honest review… AND OMG was this book a “home run”. I have read 95 books this year and this has by far taken the top spot out of all of them.
“The Stardust Thief” by Chelsea Abdullah a tale inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. Louie al-Naxari is the Midnight Merchant. She goes searching for Jinn relics and sells them for a profit all with the help of her faithful and loyal bodyguard…who is also a jinn! When she saves a cowardly prince she is off on an adventure, curtesy of the princes father, the Sultan. They survive many attacks to find the lamp that holds a powerful jinn inside to carry out the Sultans dubious plan. You want to know what this plan is? Then you got to read the book! You won’t be disappointed! This book took a turn that I probably should have seen coming, but I was so captivitated by the story taking it all of it in. This includes tales that are told to us the readers by the characters to give us more history and what they think are just stories themselves, that turn out to be real! I will be preordering a copy of this immediately for my physical collection and a digital copy to always have it with me. This will be a book I will go back to constantly for a comfort read!

THE STARDUST THIEF by Chelsea Abdullah is the first in what is sure to be a game-changing series. Full of lush prose and unforgettable characters, STARDUST THIEF takes readers on a true journey across the desert; turning classical elements on their heads with fresh takes and new twists.

FIVE STARS. A THOUSAND STARS. ALL THE STARS.

I don’t know how I am possibly going to be able to articulate my feelings about this book. This. Book!

This was an absolutely all-consuming adventure. I couldn’t put it down, and I mean that possibly the most literally I’ve ever meant it. Once I picked this up, I lost ALL interest in anything else I was reading. I disappearing into this masterfully created world.

This is a retelling of folk tales from One Thousand and One Nights. It pulled together vibrant middle-eastern mythology with lush world building and an immersive and fast-moving plot with lovable, distinct characters. This author uses every one of the book pages masterfully, and I’m shocked that it is a near 500 page book because it. did. not. feel. like. it.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been so quickly endeared to a set of characters as I was to Loulie and Mazen. Loulie is stubborn and clever, strong and caring, vulnerable and fierce-hearted. Mazen is the soft, starry-eyed, clumsy prince with an absolute heart of gold and a soul that seeks to create adventure and stories. He expresses himself with a tenderness that doesn’t belong in the world where he lives, but is fully himself all the same.

But don’t let this convince you that I’m reading just for these characters. The plot, the adventure, the magic, the action! There is not a moment of this book that drags, despite how elaborate this world is. This author also utilized multiple pov’s so perfectly, and it never felt confusing or as though the reader is being pulled in too many directions. I also absolutely adored Loulie’s relationship with her gentle but fierce Jinn protector.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. I’m completely enchanted and waiting at the edge of my seat to hear more about the next installment.

Many, many thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to read (aka devour) this title before publishing!

The Stardust Thief is one of those novels that sweeps you away from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until you hit that final page, desperate for the next one. It follows the adventure of a thief, a merchant, a prince and a jinn as they embark on a quest for a mythical lamp— a jinn relic with untold power.

Inspired by tales from 1001 Nights, The Stardust Thief is rich with lush world building and complex, fleshed out characters. I am not typically a fan of ensemble casts, but the use of multiple POVs added a depth to the plot that wouldn’t have happened without it. Each character has their own motivation and their own stakes, all revolving around the same primary plot. I found the emotional stakes to be the most compelling, especially because all of their stories revolve around loss, betrayal and identity, albeit in very different ways.

Much like the quest the characters embark on, the plot follows the same type of rhythm. Life and death moments of battle and chase are bracketed by slower, more emotional moments of building trust and storytelling. The Stardust Thief falls on that rarely found line between character and plot driven stories where the pace serves to both create heart-stopping stakes and nurture deep character growth. There was not much I didn’t love about Abdullah’s debut and genuinely think it will be met with resounding success come it’s launch. Needless to say, I can’t wait for the next instalment!

The Stardust Thief
by Chelsea Abdullah
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
Orbit
Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.
Fantasy, Adult, Retellings, Fiction
Thanks to the author, Orbit, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Unfortunately, as much as I was anticipating this read.... I was ultimately disappointed. It was an OK read but underwhelming.
3 stars

I think a lot of aspects of the book were quite average but nice. The fantasy world-building was pretty straightforward without being too exceptional. The writing was okay without any major flaw. The plot was good while still being predictible. The ending was a little rushed/too fast-paced compared to the rest of the book. It was a good ending nonetheless and it keeps us on our toes.
While none of these elements had a wow-factor, they still made for a good read.

Loulie was a good MC: she has a strong personality, she's brave, she has an interesting story. The best part about her, tho, is her relationship with Qadir. Anyone who knows me knows I just LOVE platonic relationships and that extends to adopted-child/parent figure. I simply loved how much they cared for each other and how Qadir would always always have her back.

The best thing about this entire book tho is Mazen. HE. is. EVERYTHING. to me. He truly is such a LOSER, I never knew I needed a character like him before but I did. Seeing him panic, fall trying to flee, confused etc was not only very endearing but also such a mood. It made my reading so much fun.

One thing I can say for sure is that I am very looking forward to Book 2 and to seeing the world of the stardust thief expands beyond what we've seen.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4543771865?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

As soon as I saw this book being talked about on Twitter, I was intrigued. And I fell in love with that gorgeous cover on first sight. So it was never in doubt that would read this one and I was so happy when I got the arc. And since it’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy novel, I decided to go with this one and then couldn’t even sleep without finishing it.

Indian mythological stories like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana may have had the most influence on me, but the stories from A Thousand and One Nights were also a part of my childhood in one form or the other and I was delighted that we were gonna get a fantasy novel inspired by these lovely stories. And wow the author delivers. The world she creates is vibrant and alive and so beautifully described, that I was left in awe. As the characters marveled at the new landscapes they encountered on their journey, I could feel their wonder, their perilous journey through the desert almost felt palpable because I could feel the heat and sand, and I could also cherish along with them when they found a small oasis in between. I think it’s also been a while since I read a fantasy which was mostly a journey and I was excited to be on this ride, though the author immerses the characters and us in numerous horrors and life threatening situations. The pacing is perfect, with the conflicts interspersed with small moments of joy or contemplation, but there’s also a thread of grief throughout because everyone has lost someone. It really kept me hooked from the first page and I didn’t wanna stop.

And themes the author weaves through the story are very subtle but can’t be missed. Through the centuries old conflict between humans and the jinn, the author weaves a narrative of power struggles, oppression, prejudice and mass murders. As oral storytelling is an important component of A Thousand and One Nights, the author uses that framework to give us small stories as interludes where we get to know tales of human heroes and dangerous jinns and the legendary wars between them. But then when we are confronted with fragments of actual memories from the jinn, the characters along with us are left to question who is in the right and who is in the wrong - is everything that we’ve been told as history true or is it just the narrative that is needed for those in power to grow more powerful. We get to experience how beautiful the oral storytelling tradition can be and how it connects people across divides and provides them respite from their daily struggles, but we also see how these same stories can be changed and exaggerated over the years to keep up a false narrative and encourage more oppression. It was very interesting to see the author navigate the issue from both sides and letting us decide for ourselves who the true culprits are.

As wonderful as the world building and story is, the characters equally complement them. Loulie or the Midnight Merchant or Layla is a mysterious figure in the Night Market who is famous for trading forbidden jinn relics. She is someone who has been shaped through the terrors she encountered in her childhood and now wants to be able to live her life on her own terms. She shows a very tough and fierce exterior but she is also a young woman who just doesn’t want to show vulnerability and thinks she has to stand alone if she wants to survive. Hers was an interesting character progression, where she goes from an independent person to someone who is forced to take up a quest along with reluctant partners and she learns many truths and lies along the way that cut deep into her heart, but she also learns that sometimes it’s ok to ask for help.

She is ably supported in all her adventures by her jinn bodyguard plus father figure Qadir. Theirs is a relationship built on adversity and grief and both of them are reluctant to bare their souls to each other, but there’s also a deep trust between them. While Loulie gives him a purpose in life when he is running away from his past, Qadir also gives her a life that serves as an escape from her grief and protects her in any way he can. Their relationship is tested throughout the book with secrets and reveals and it might feel like on the brink of shattering, but it’s really too strong and wonderfully written.

Mazen on the other hand is a prince, probably even a favorite of the sultan, but he is struggling to live in the confines of the gilded cage created by his father. He strives to be free and has a wanderlust to travel around the world, and is also a gifted storyteller who would love to carry forward his mother’s tradition. But he is also someone who is scared of confrontation, unwilling to question things even when he knows they are wrong, and is most comfortable when is not being himself - but we see him gradually learn to be brave in his own ways, realize more truths about the world he inhabits and decide whose side he ultimately wants to be on.

Aisha took me a while to connect with. She is also someone who suffered a major loss but that has made her into a singularly determined killer and thief. She trusts her leader and is unabashed about hating the jinns but as she is forced to go on the journey with the rest of the characters, she gets confronted with a lot of information that makes her question everything she knows, and she is forced to decide what all will she do to survive and where does her true loyalty lie.

We also have multiple interesting side characters who don’t have too much page time but nevertheless leave impressions. Omar is very easy to loathe right from his first appearance and my hatred for him only increased as the story went, but the author even managed to make his arc more than just a one dimensional villain. We also meet a few of his side kicks who are equally cruel and horrible. And then there are the bookish and sweet Hakim, and the suave and charming Ahmed who were there for just a few pages but are unforgettable.

Huh !!! I’ve written too much, haven’t I?? But what to do, I loved this debut and I couldn’t shut up. It has everything I could ask for in an epic fantasy - inspired by some of my favorite childhood stories, gorgeous world building that feels so alive, an engaging plot full of quests and dangers, characters who you love immediately, and the power of storytelling as an art and as a tool woven through the whole narrative in an intricate manner. Definitely a contender for being my top favorite of the year and I can only hope the wait for the sequel isn’t too long and excruciating.

The Stardust Thief follows our main character, Louie, a merchant, Mazen, the “cowardly” prince, Aisha, the jinn killer, and Qadir, the mystery. These gang of characters make an unlikely pair as they venture into the desert in search of a lost relic.

I took way too long to finish this book in my opinion, when it was actually fast paced, which is something I enjoyed. The book follows a pacing and tone in which can keep a reader engaged with what is occurring in this universe. I found myself enjoying the world building, which I found as a decent setup for a first book. I am interested in seeing what Loulie and Mazen encounter given the ending.

I found myself liking all the characters, and I hope book two has more points of views than the three we were given now. This is due to the fact I feel every character, even the antagonist, have a reason for their being. I didn’t find myself disliking any character as well, which is strange for me!

Aisha’s realization was one I particularly enjoyed. She is a character I found who was always giving, not in the heart full sense, but in the sense that she was acting out of the expectation of others. This proved to either be her uprising or downfall, and I was proud with the decision she took in the end. I can’t wait to see what more comes of her character.

The plot twist really had my jaw drop… My shock was so evident and I felt for You Know Who. I can only imagine if that were reality, given how any person would deal with that outcome. For that alone, I leave this book at a 4.5.

Thank you to Chelsea Abdullah, NetGalley, and Orbit Books for an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

PS… I can fix Omar😅😅

One of my favorite things about reading new stories is falling in love with the world and characters created by the author and every so often there comes a book that makes me feel like I'm reading an actual fairytale - and that was how "The Stardust Thief" made me feel. I won't lie, this was one of my most anticipated books of 2022, and I am so happy to report that it did not disappoint. From the characters (my son Mazen, my darling Loulie, and don't get me started on my love of Qadir) to the setting to the adventure of finding the lamp that holds a trapped jinn king - I loved almost every single bit of it.

If I had a complaint, it is a minor one, and that it sometimes felt like a YA book rather than adult (and that is not an insult as I constantly read YA; this simply felt like it might be a good crossover book while I was hoping it would be strictly adult).

I truly cannot wait to have this book on my shelves so I can flip back through my favorite parts with ease. And with the ending?? 2023 is going to be the year of sequels that leave me screaming I can feel it. Definitely a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what other stories Chelsea Abdullah has in store for readers!

An enjoyable YA fantasy inspired by Asian history and mythology. There were some plot points that I thought were overly predictable, but then I realized they were given away in the blurbs, which I think spoiled the reading/reveals a bit for me. But overall a fun beginning to a new series.

An absolute masterpiece of storytelling and heart, with deeply nuanced characters set in motion through a perilous journey across wild adventures, unexpected wonders, dangerous magic, and coming to an ending that will rip your heart and make you obsess over the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

3.5

This book was a quick read and easy to follow. It reminded me of “City of Brass” at first, but it soon branched off. While I enjoyed the pieces of the story, I didn’t love the characters. Everyone was okay, yet no one stood out. I will probably read the sequel to see what happens next; I’m not dying for the next book though.

I really wanted to love this one but it just didn’t work for me. It’s not bad, per se, but it reads very generic. There was no point where I was excited to be reading the story, the characters and the world both felt formulaic and I had to bully myself into finishing. Ultimately I was left feeling ambivalent towards the happenings of this book, and thus will. not be picking up the second. The things I enjoyed about this book, are that the word itself, while not groundbreaking, felt lived in. I appreciated the fast paced sort of rollicking vibe of the narrative, and the character relationships—while somewhat defined by tropiness—were fun.

*arc review

Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review! This was another favourite from Orbit. While the story was a little slow to start, I adored how the author explored Arab culture in a fantasy setting and portrayed both romantic and platonic relationships between characters. The setting was probably the best part for me — southwest asia is often portrayed as a lifeless desert, but Abdullah showcased the diversity of the region effectively and beautifully. I can’t wait to follow this series.

The Stardust Thief is a tale inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. We follow a merchant, her body guard, a prince, and a thief on their journey to find a magical lamp.

The author really transports you to the desert and does a beautiful job of describing settings in lush detail. My favorite part of the story was the character development. I was instantly drawn to Aisha and loved to see her growth throughout the story.

The pacing of the story is a bit slow in the middle but it does pick up quite a bit in the last 75% of the book. I am really excited for how this book set us up for the next two in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Chelsea Abdullah for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

The stardust thief review

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying this book to me for free for an honest review.

The Stardust thief seemed like a very interesting book to me. I’ve loved the tale of the One Thousand And One Nights, and even in high school I read a spin off called Shaddow Spinners that I loved. This book seemed like even a deeper dive into this classic Arabian tale.
Let’s start with the pros because it’s short and sweet.

Pros:
Really pretty description. Lays out a clear picture of place, sounds, and colors. The author really sets the atmosphere of the book without making it overly done.

She also really pulls you into the story. Everything is constantly moving you and the stakes along the way are clear but not predictable since obstacles keeps getting in the way.
At its core it is a page turner and something that keeps you engaged the whole time.

And here comes my nitpicking cons which I’ll preface are just my personal opinion and my own taste in books that I like or dislike.

Cons:
Choppy dialogue with phrases and lingo that sounds more modern than the world where this takes place. It brought me out of the story in those moments, and didn’t feel true to the time period at all.

Some of the action scenes and dialogue were a little cheesy. It felt at times i was reading a book meant for an younger audience. But with the language in it (not intense but a few strong words here and there) I wouldn’t be recommending it to younger readers.


Some scenes were described confusing leaving me a little lost if things were actually happening or just happening in someone’s mind.
This could have just been me and my dopey brain trying to comprehend what the crap was going on but it seemed to happen a lot so maybe my dopey brain is fine.

Even though these people have been through a lot, there is not really any camaraderie. I don’t expect people to be best friends but when you’ve journeyed a long way and have been through so much you’d think it would bring everyone closer together but there’s nothing. No kind of chemistry between anyone, even platonic friendships.
I get that this is a series and things will build but book two will pretty much be building from nothing because nothing happened between anyone.

Overall I enjoyed it and like I said I’m nitpicking here so take everything with a grain of salt.
It was an engaging read but not a series I’ll be continuing.

This was an absolutely fantastic reimagining of the 1001 nights tales! A truly fresh story told from multiple povs of a jinn relic merchant, one of the forty thieves, and a prince. I loved absolutely everything about this novel. The setting was so vivid I could feel the sand in my face. The interwoven stories of folklore tales in between the story made for an exciting read. I cannot get enough of a character who appreciates the value of storytelling and Prince Mazen’s love for stories shines brightly through! The pacing of this story was great and allowed just enough glimpses at just the right times. Thank you so much to the publisher for allowing me to read a free ARC of this book, I cannot wait until the next book comes out!

The Stardust Thief
by Chelsea Abdullah
YA Fantasy
ARC NetGalley


Loulie and her bodyguard are criminals. Using the name Midnight Merchant she finds and sells the illegal items that were enchanted with magic by the hated and hunted jinn. But she is betrayed and the sultan orders her to track down a lamp for him. His eldest son goes along to make sure she does as she is told.

With characters and settings vivid, the story went along at a steady pace so it was a quick read. The blurb gave away Loulie's bodyguard's secret, which wasn't revealed until later in the story, so there was an oops. And in the story, they were walking, but she turned in the saddle... oops. But it's an ARC so hopefully it will be fixed before release.

The only other issue I had with this great story was towards the end when a whole lotta stuff was going on and new/only mentioned here and there, names were tossed right and left, and there was nothing to merge them with the story so I had a hard time remembering who was good, bad, alive, dead, human, jinn, horse, or sand... It was kind of a mess so it took away from the story because I had to stop and think about what was going on, re-read, (which I don't like having to do) so I could keep the facts straight. And then it ended in a cliff-hanger. (grrrr).

But it was still a good story and I'll look for the next in the series.

3 Stars

Thank you for allowing me to read this! I really enjoyed the plot and characters. It was a really interesting fantasy, which was a bit more unique than my recent fantasy reads. I think some of the characters and conversations could’ve had just a bit more depth, but not a deal-breaker since the plot was wonderful.