I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book was done so well! It picks up right after the events of The Stardust Thief and sent our protagonists on an adventure in a whole new realm.

I loved seeing Loulie and amazed discover more about themselves and find their inner strengths throughout the story. The journey to realize they were strong enough to overcome the obstacles, despite lacking any magic of their own made for an incredible plot.

Qadir hid so much from Loulie, and seeing all of his secrets unfold made you feel her frustrations, as well as being about a lot of the obstacles they faced when they tried to determine who they could trust. Omar is definitely going to have a bigger role in the next book, and I can’t wait to see what our heroes face in the future!

The second book in The Sandsea Trilogy by Chelsea Abdullah!

I devoured The Stardust Thief and was thrilled when I received an arc for the sequel. The Ashfire King was an immersive read filled with anticipation and mystery.

Right in the beginning there is a recap of the first book disguised as a storyteller’s tale and I loved that. It was a great refresher and brought you right back up to speed with what is happening.

We are reintroduced to the elusive midnight merchant, Loulie al-Nazari and forsaken Prince, Mazen bin Malik as they are again thrust into navigating an extraordinary undertaking. They find themselves trapped beneath the Sandsea where jinn cities lie fragmented under its magically fortified surface. The realm is in disrepair and amongst political unrest, war and unfamiliar magic they need to get out and she needs to find Qadir. New and old characters bring life to the story as we discover that above and below the surface of the Sandsea is tumultuous.

I want to say thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me access to this arc!

The stardust thief was became my favorite for a long time and I was dying for the sequel. Loulie has become one of my favorite characters from any book series. Jumping into the ashfire king was such a treat. These book have made me fall in love with “Arabian fantasy” books. I don’t want to dive into too much because it’s hard to talk about it without revealing spoilers the sandsea series has become my new favorite series and will probably be my favorite book 2025.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

Everything I loved about the first book holds true here!

The story draws you in immediately. It's a bit slow as everything unfolds but the clues are there. I had several moments of epiphany shortly before coming upon that reveal. But there are also things you probably can't predict or anticipate -- I know I didn't. This feels like a hard story to tell because everyone was separated for so long. Chelsea balanced the narratives masterfully.

I still love Qadir and Loulie and Mazen but now I get to love Rijah (they/them) and others, too! The character growth is subtle but noticeable. It's been a while since I've journeyed alongside a story as it's being written (I prefer to read fantasy series when they're complete) but it's a real treat to read this as it unfurls.

Please, go read this! It's lovely and beautiful and unique and magical.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Orbit, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Neither here nor there, but long ago…

The Ashfire King is the long awaited sequel to The Stardust Thief. This book picks up right where the story left off in The Stardust Thief, and is an exciting and engaging read throughout. Mazen and Loulie are trapped in the realm of the jinn, Loulie has learned the secret that Qadir has long held, and Aisha is seeking her revenge on the king.

I really enjoyed this sequel! I loved book 1 so much, the storytelling is excellent, sprinkled with humor, and really felt like an echo of classic Middle Eastern epic oral storytelling. Book 2 also gave the same wonderfully enchanting vibes. The story is rich and intricately woven, and the writing is easy to fall into. The plot is perfectly paced, with the second half really ramping up the action and leaving me on the edge of my seat. As the second book in a trilogy, this book doesn't fall into the typical trap of feeling like a filler book. We have some new and exciting adventures, and the story also moved the main storyline forward. I really loved the growth of all of our main characters in this book, especially Aisha. We have multiple POV's in this book as well, which helps to keep things engaging as we switch between the different characters and their individual stories.

I really loved this one so much, and I look forward to book 3! Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Orbit Books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own!

WORTH THE WAIT…MAYBE?

I have been waiting for this book for a LONG TIME. I loved The Stardust Thief and have been waiting to see where all of my favorite characters are up to. Did I love this as much as I hoped? No, unfortunately I didn’t. Definitely enough to read book three, this one was just harder to move through.

Mazen and Loulie are my favorite POV’s and I liked the journey they went on the most. There’s some good turns and rising levels of action as another quest begins. I liked the expansion of the world and magic systems and seeing some of those character arcs really blossoming.

Aisha had a good journey too and it did help set up some of the plot lines for book three. I like that this has complicated antagonists and that it’s hard to trust every person who walks on page.

I think if you enjoyed book one you would still enjoy this book. I think the turn from more action driven rather than character driven took away from some of the moments I was hoping to see turn up.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: AN ALMOST KISS
Violence: moderate – high

When I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, I was really excited to delve into this book and delve into the next chapter of this series. But as I got into this book, I found it a bit challenging to stay focused on the story and interested in what was going on in the book. It almost got to the point where I was wondering if I should power through it or put it aside unfinished and come back to it at another time. I did, however, enjoyed what I read, and definitely plan on re-reading it at a later time.

4.5 rounded up

I have been waiting for this sequel, and I was not disappointed! I loved being back with Loulie, Mazen, and Aisha on their adventures. These three characters grew so much in this book. I appreciated that each of them grew in their own ways and that they still have somewhere to go in their development. I also, really enjoyed the development between characters and how their relationships change as they change. I can't wait to see where they end up in the last book!

This book saw our characters entering a new world (the sunken jinn world) and I enjoyed the expansion of magic in this new realm. Some of the new magic was a touch confusing, but overall, I loved the new world-building.

What I loved most about this book was that the good and evil isn't clear cut. We--and the characters--don't always know who the "good guys" are and have to make choices that don't always turn out well. Chelsea uses stories within this story as a mechanic to tell history and lore in the world, and it is such a clever way of complicating the world (in a good way). Characters have their different versions of the same stories based on their own experiences and what they have heard over the years. This creates confusion in who is "right" and who is "good" for Loulie and Mazen. This makes the story all the more exciting!

I listened to the first book in the series and read this one, and the writing in this one seemed a little less tight than the first, but that could be because of the format. Overall, the story was a gripping one that I couldn't put down! A must-read fantasy series for sure!

Yes, you do need to read The Stardust Thief (The Sandsea Trilohy, Book I) before The Ashfire King but, good news, you have a couple of weeks. You should go do that. I mean, I worked hard on this blog post so finish reading it first, but acquiring The Stardust Thief is the next thing you should do.

Fantastic news: If you read it already, there’s an old school, comic splash-page recap at the beginning of The Ashfire King. Which is my new favorite book thing. They should be in all books we’ve had to wait more than like, three months for. In fact, I hereby command it. Sorry, I’m drunk with power, my nephew just finished Impossible Creatures and asked me to summon book two for him, genuinely believing I could do so. If only.

The Ashfire King is fantastic. I loved it. The world continues to build upon itself in that distinctive and wondrous way Persian and Arab stories do, “Neither here nor there, but not so long ago…” There are miracles and possible impossibilities and beauty and horror, all gorgeously described by Abdullah as we’ve come to expect from her magical keyboard.

I have one minor quibble and it’s one more to do with editing than with the writing or with the story: a lot happens in The Ashfire King and that’s great. It keeps the book exciting. There are a few points, however, were too many things are happening at once in this multiple POV tale or something that’s “currently” happening to one character is almost identical to something that’s already happened to someone else; both of these scenarios led to confusion on my part as the reader, of the sort that left me feeling like my brain was running on a hamster wheel. As a writer, I know how easy it is to lose sight of those when you know your story well, which is why editors exist; someone else should have caught those on one of multiple passes. Again, very minor and it shouldn’t stop you from reading an excellent book.

This story also had me thinking, especially as Passover approaches (and as I finally got around to watching Moon Knight - and having watched, I maintain Marc Spector/Steven Grant/Moon Knight should have been played by a Jewish actor despite the fact I would literally watch Oscar Isaac eat wallpaper paste. Yes, I know one of his parents is Jewish, but he’s never practiced and that’s key here) about colonizers. And that fact that anyone can be a colonizer. This is going to take me a minute, so follow, if you will. Or don’t, it’s up to you. Yes, I’m getting political in a book review, because I think this is important.

In The Sandsea Trilogy, humans have colonized the djinn in that they control those djinn who remain above ground despite the djinn having magical abilities for various reasons (I don’t want to spoil the story too much here). In Moon Knight, Marc Spector/Stephen Grant is colonized by Konshu, an Egyptian god (see, thoughts connect, I just needed a sec). That origin story bears a striking resemblance to the Passover story, in which the ethnic group mytho-historical sources label as “Jews” or “Hebrews” is colonized/enslaved, and later culled, by the Egyptians as ordered by the Pharaoh (maaaaaaaybe Ramses II). The reason I think Marvel should have cast a Jewish actor in the role is that the lived experience of immersion in the repetition of that specific colonizer narrative is integral to an understanding of the character, his internal struggles, and even his psychosis (he’s faced with drowning twice which also happens to Moses twice; once when his mother puts him in the basket and once when he parts the Red Sea. The fact that Marc Spector’s brother doesn’t survive that same danger is significant as well).

Which brings us to now. Now when, sitting in the congregation at a Bat Mitzvah, I heard a rabbi say in his sermon that, “Jews can’t be colonizers,” a moment I was reminded of at the end of The Ashfire King when a certain thing happens. A horrifying moment that shouldn’t happen, just as a people who have been repeatedly colonized should never colonize anyone else. To say we can’t, however, bullshit of the most ignorant and disgusting caliber. We have demolished lives and dignity and safety, we have stolen everything from fellow humans and if you aren’t speaking out against it, then there is something wrong with you as a Jew. The highest mitzvah you can perform is tikkun olam, healing the world. That doesn’t include murdering innocent people under any circumstances. Any. If you support what Israel is doing to Gaza, you are a colonizer. And if you don’t mention it at your Passover Seder, when we’re recounting our own colonizer narrative, then you have failed as a Jew.

So. Read The Ashfire King. And think about all those times you said, “Never Again.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing the ARC.

The long awaited sequel has arrived and it is just as amazing as The Stardust Thief. Thank you to the author for providing the helpful recap at the beginning to remind everyone of what happened in the first book.

The Ashfire King has everything that I loved about the first book: magic, adventure, lush, evocative writing and world building, lots of high stakes situations, plus the strengthening of the found family that had its tentative beginnings in book one. Loulie and Mazen are just interesting and multi-faceted as ever, and I love their dynamic even more in this book than I did the first. And the growing cast of characters provides just enough color to the world without overshadowing it or being overbearing.

This is becoming one of my favorite series and I cannot wait until the last one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

A perfectly adequate middle of the road book for the middle of a trilogy.

The Stardust Thief was masterful, and absolutely my favorite book of 2022. I'd eagerly been awaiting the follow up so I was disappointed that the sequel didn't hold my interest as much.

The Pros
-Abdullah's short stories within the novel are still as excellent and make me crave more mythology. I'd read an entire book just of those short stories.
-I love the idea that Aisha's tattoos are her armor. There was an entire passage about her applying new henna that was one of the most moving chapters for me.
-It was great getting into the psyche of our lead characters

The Cons
-I wanted more action. Our gang was split up in this novel and it wasn't for the best. The plot meandered-even though everyone was constantly on the go.
-I need Sir Lizard back. iykyk

This was one of my top most anticipated books of 2025 so I cannot begin to express how excited I was when I got the notification that I was approved for an ARC.

I have the memory of a goldfish so I was a little nervous going into this one without rereading the first book. Luckily the author totally came through and provided a recap of book 1 in the storyteller fashion. It was super helpful to me and I felt like I settled into the story right away.

This book was so action packed, like nonstop the entire time. I was kept on my toes or on the edge of my seat start to finish. The jinn realm was so interesting and it was cool to see all the variations of magic and politics of that world. No second book slump in sight!

I got a little confused on who was jinn and who was ifrit but in all honesty that’s probably my fault for not paying more attention to the names. There was less storytelling in this one than the first so if that’s something you really enjoyed just know that there’s less of it in this book.

I really enjoy these characters but I was desperate to see Qadir again. The reunion was worth it but he was my fav character in the first book so I really missed him for a majority of this one. Aisha grew on me a lot in this one she was great in the first book but oh my god I got so stressed for her and I was scared she would be killed off.

To be honest I don’t love the romance between Loulie and Mazen but it’s been obvious since the first book. I don’t love Mazen in general and something about his chapters just fall flat for me so I kinda wish we had a more interesting love interest… But at least I don’t hate him LOL

Overall I really liked this book. I still have a minor reading slump going on and I had some other commitments while I was reading this book so it took me a lot longer than it normally would have. Because of that I kinda had to reimurse myself in the book after taking breaks which was unfortunate. I think if I had a chance to read straight through at my usual pace it would have been an easy 5 stars but based on how I feel about it right now I’m gonna stick with a 4.5/5

Oh my gods I loved this so much. Reading this book felt like coming home. I love these characters and the world so much. The wait for this book was so long but it was well worth it. And I honestly cannot wait for the next book!!

Yay for authors who recap the previous book at the start so I remember what is happening!

This one starts off right after book 1, with Loulie and Mazen sinking into the Sandsea and the realm of the Jinn et al. (It probably would have helped if I'd reread book 1 as I forgot the nuances between the magical creatures.) Some of the description of this realm confused me as I wasn't sure when they said sea if it was a water sea or a sand sea as sometimes there seemed to be water but that might be a me problem.

Anyway. Our heroes need an army to overthrow Mazen's brother and free Qadir. The jinn Queen needs someone to break the bindings keeping the jinn realm from the human one. A bargain is struck, alliances are switched, and a bunch of sea fighting happens that I think was on a water sea but don't quote me. Oh, and there's the most adorable ashfire bird that I will die for, okay?

Aisha is also running around doing things, mostly to remind us of what's going on in the human realm. I kinda forgot about what Aisha's deal was so it took a while before I cared what she was doing. But it does all tie together by the end for those who are wondering.

I'm also happy to report that while there is a very slow burn romance unfolding, this is NOT a romantasy. It's a straight up Arabian Nights style fantasy and if you're like me and Aladdin was your favorite Disney movie, it is a delight. There's even a magic carpet ride. Just sayin'.

Sometimes middle books in trilogies can be fillers but I'm happy to report it was an exciting ride and ends on a suspenseful note leading right into book 3. I can't wait!

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.

I was excited to get my hands on this galley as I loved The Stardust Thief so much and have been waiting for this follow-up. However, I had a really hard time getting engaged with this book. It just did not hold my attention. The story jumps around a lot between narrator POV and while I usually don't mind that, I found it really disruptive in this story. I am sorry to say that this second installment was a disappointment, and I am not sure if I will pick up the third.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC!!

Ugh, I’m so obsessed with everything about this book. The characters, the setting, the plot…..just incredible. It truly transports you to another world. I find this series to be so different and unique compared to other romantasy books. Normally, sequels can be extremely disappoint but I did not feel that way at all about this one. Truly amazing.
The characters all had their own growth and journey and I LOVE the middle eastern folklore flair.

Normally I am not a fan of books with very little romance, so it is saying something that I still ate this up. The writing is just so good and the world is truly magical!!!

Here’s some favorite quotes:

“‘I know what it’s like to keep living after losing everything,’ she said softly. ‘It’s like sinking in the Sandsea. You don’t know when the end will come or if it will. And either way, it doesn’t matter, because there is no reprieve. You just sink and sink….’ Her breathing hitched. ‘Until someone pulls you out and gives you a new purpose. But even then, the hole remains. You can build a new life around it, but it never fills. You continue living, but you never stop sinking.’”

“‘That is a creature made from legendary fire, and you treat it like a domesticated animal!’
‘It likes sitting on my shoulder,’ Mazen said defensively.”

“Your weakness is not your incompetence or your cowardice. It is your inability to forgive yourself. I have failed, time and again, but so long as I breathe, I will not falter.”

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for the early copy of The Ashfire King. Below is my honest review.

I've been trying to wait patiently for the sequel to The Stardust Thief for a few years now. It was one of my favorite reads of 2022, and it was smashingly good. I know Chelsea Abdullah had some issues arise, not sure whether those were personal or publishing related, that delayed the book a little. But it was TOTALLY worth the wait.

This one picks up where the other left off, and finds our cast of protagonists splintered into a handful of smaller groups. As each of those groups push towards a reconciliation, the obstacles in their way begin to reveal much more important paths that they must follow that override their main goal of reuniting.

We meet some new goods, some new evils, some new villains, and some new heroes.

All in all, this one was a whirlwind (get it? Nabila and whirlwinds? Aww, read the book and you'll get it) of fun and adventure.

I am so glad she's working hard on the final book in the trilogy. I can't wait for it!

Five stars, highly recommended, but please read The Stardust Thief first. This is book two of a trilogy, and you kinda need book one's story first.

Following the events of The Stardust Thief, the narrative follows Loulie al-Nazari, a magic merchant, along with her companions—storyteller Prinze Mazen bin Malik and thief Aisha—as they find themselves in the Sandsea, the sunken realm of the jinn. Meanwhile, Loulie's jinn bodyguard, Qadir, once a mighty king, is missing. The group becomes embroiled in an ancient struggle between jinn factions, with the fate of multiple realms hanging in the balance. I loved being back in this world and I will miss the characters until the next book. I loved that they world was similar but different in comparison to book one.

✧₊‧˚⁀➷ 3.3/5 .ᐟ

pros .ᐟ far more interesting than tsdt. more plot-based, more action instead of just buildup, and a fascinating, highly immersive fantastical setting. everything is described very prettily, and the writing has improved since stardust as well. also, the lesbian pirate and her mermaid girlfriend are everything to me. the highlight of the series.

cons .ᐟ kind of boring characters? i was somewhat interested in aisha's arc in tsdt, and that's still true here, but loulie and mazen are so drab. and the politics are also questionable—no fantasy book about racism has ever been inserted with gandhislop and come out better for it. keep the ya with the ya, please.

i received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review.