This book had so many twists that I did not see coming.
I love a good Djinn story and this one did not disappoint, I cannot WAIT to read the next book in the series.

Read this quite a while ago and forgot to leave a review here but absolutely loved this. It was one of my favourite books I read in 2024. This was a world i missed the second I closed the book. Chelsea is a new auto buy author for me for sure!

An epic fantasy adventure in the tradition of the genre, The Stardust Thief uses mythology and solid world-building to draw the reader into a story inspired by One Thousand and One Nights.

Though the writing and plot were engaging, I found that there was just a certain spark missing that could have elevated this above its competitors in the YA fantasy genre, especially those released around the same time. Told in different perspectives, the magic and setting were original but also not too that unique.

The book turned out to be very average for me, and though it ended on a cliffhanger I will probably not continue the series.

This world building was incredible! It’s YA but feels suitable for all audiences. It felt magical and whimsical, but also got so intense! I LOVE the quests trope and this absolutely paid off, and the main characters were fantastic. Highly recommend.

I was intrigued by this title and was excited to dig into it on a rare day off... I just couldn't get into it.

I think the idea is really exciting but there is just something clunky about it which I'm not enjoying at the moment. It isn't a complete write off and I will give it another attempt in the future but for the moment... not for me

A young merchant specialising in selling illegal magic captures the sultan's attention and is coerced into a perilous journey that no one has yet to conquer. With the aid of her jinn bodyguard, Loulie al-Nazari, also known as the Midnight Merchant, is forced to traverse the desolate deserts in search of an ancient lamp that can restore the lands, but at the cost of sacrificing all jinn. With no alternative but to comply, she embarks on this treacherous mission with the sultan’s eldest son and guard, who harbour their secrets, to survive ghouls, vengeful ghosts, and a killer from Loulie’s past. The jinn and their magic are a treacherous mirage, and it’s up to Loulie to weather the storm or risk losing everything she holds dear.

This book was probably one of my most anticipated reads for 2022, and I’m annoyed at myself for finally taking so long to read it. Loulie al-Nazari is a street-smart businesswoman who collects magic-infused items and sells them to the highest bidder. Her patrons are unaware she uses the help of Qadir, a jinn who found himself led to Loulie at a young age, not long after her village was massacred. Since then, they have made themselves a great pair, using Qadir’s help to make money by selling items most adventurers dream of discovering. But her skills have not gone unnoticed, and the Sultan calls upon her to search for an item that has led many to their deaths. Mazen, son of the legendary storyteller and the Sultan’s youngest, finds himself in a predicament when his oldest brother, Omar, catches him sneaking out of their guarded palace to listen to the local storytellers. When his father sends Omar to accompany Loulie, Mazen, who is wearing magic jewellery, hides his true identity. He joins her instead, guarded by one of Omar’s Forty thieves, Aisha. Thus begins the journey with four polarising people who can only hope they don’t kill each other before the jinns can.

The Stardust Thief is delightful and compelling and an all-around chaotic story. My expectations were indeed high for this. With vivid prose at an exhilarating pace, Abdullah takes the entire cast on a journey almost akin to hell and back. The changing perspectives are opposites but equally entertaining. I nearly felt bad for Mazen’s chapters because I thought Loulie’s POV would be the more substantial chapters, but the inept prince holds his own, considering his travelling partners include a jinn, a merchant and a member of the Forty Thieves. Aisha, our thief, as mentioned earlier, is an exciting addition whose perspective I found to be some of the best chapters in the book.

The main issue I had with the story is that it spends so much time developing the characters and the world around them that by the time the plot has to take precedence, the end result feels rushed. The story feels like it ended much earlier than it should. At almost 500 pages, it felt like a huge disservice to the book to wrap up the ending so quickly.

In all, The Stardust Thief is a love letter to oral storytelling. It is a rich and gripping story that unfolds into an exhilarating adventure that closes its final chapter in an almost disappointing way, but nonetheless, I will be avidly waiting for the rest of Loulie’s story with anticipation.

This book was...OK I guess? The prose was absolutely stunning and atmospheric, but unfortunately everything else fell a bit flat. Half the characters had aliases, the rest were going around impersonating each other, I found it really hard keeping track of who was who, and I don't really know what the story was really meant to be about, it was so convoluted. Unfortunately I'm not sure I will continue the series

"The Stardust Thief" is a captivating read that kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The book's enchanting lore and world-building were particularly impressive, adding layers of depth and intrigue to the story. As the narrative unfolded, I found myself eagerly soaking up every detail of the fascinating universe the author created. Moreover, the character development throughout the book was masterfully done. It was a pleasure to see how the characters evolved and grew, revealing new facets of their personalities and backgrounds as the story progressed. This added a wonderful layer of complexity and relatability to the cast. "The Stardust Thief" is a compelling adventure that skillfully combines rich lore and character depth, making it a must-read for fans of immersive and imaginative storytelling.

I haven't been on an adventure like that in a while. It felt like returning to familiar tales but with twists on them I didn't see coming. Tbh, the cover did not convince me, but it suits the story very well and since I kept hearing about it I couldn't stay away. Now I'm very curious, how this trilogy will continue...
A little bit to much worldbuilding for my taste tho.

This was a wonderful fantasy adventure story! The characters are likeable, the lore is interesting hut not everwhelming and I loved the conclusion of the book. Can't wait to read part two soon.
4,25/5

🌟 Unveiling 'The Stardust Thief': A Whirlwind of Magic, Intrigue, and Arabian Nights 🌟

Embark on an enchanting journey across the dunes with Chelsea Abdullah's "The Stardust Thief," a tale that echoes with the whispers of One Thousand and One Nights. As you step into this magical realm, be prepared for a ride influenced by the spirit of the Ember in the Ashes series, with twists and turns that will leave you spellbound.

1. 🔥 A Fiery Echo of Ember: The Sabaa Tahir Influence
For those who found solace in the pages of Sabaa Tahir's Ember in the Ashes, 'The Stardust Thief' is a literary kin. Abdullah weaves a narrative that bears the imprint of Tahir's influence, offering readers a fiery concoction of intricate world-building, complex characters, and the palpable tension that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

2. 🌌 A Tapestry of Perspectives: Multiple Points of View
Abdullah unfolds the story through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, creating a rich tapestry of voices that adds depth to the narrative. Each point of view, like a different facet of a gem, contributes to the overall brilliance of the story. Brace yourself for a literary mosaic that keeps you engaged from every angle.

3. 🕌 Arabian Nights Reimagined: The Alibaba Twist
At the heart of 'The Stardust Thief' lies a familiar tale retold—the story of Alibaba and the 40 thieves. Abdullah takes this classic narrative and breathes new life into it, infusing it with elements of magic, treachery, and unexpected alliances. Prepare to be captivated by a story that pays homage to the timeless tales of Arabian Nights.

Why Dive into the Sands of 'The Stardust Thief'?
🏜️ Magical Realism: Abdullah's world-building creates an oasis of magic in the vast desert, where the line between reality and illusion blurs.
📖 Character Mosaic: With multiple perspectives, each character is a brushstroke, contributing to a vivid and dynamic canvas.
✨ Classic Tale, Fresh Perspective: The retelling of Alibaba and the 40 thieves is an homage to tradition, but with twists that make it a new and exciting narrative.
🌠 Final Verdict: A Magic Carpet Ride of Fantasy
In 'The Stardust Thief,' Chelsea Abdullah invites readers on a magic carpet ride across a landscape where every grain of sand holds a secret. Influenced by the brilliance of Ember in the Ashes, the story unfolds with the allure of Arabian Nights. Are you ready for a journey where illusion becomes truth and stories shape reality?

📚 Pick up 'The Stardust Thief' and prepare for a literary adventure that will sweep you off your feet. Magic, treachery, and unexpected alliances await! 🕌✨ #BookReview #StardustThief #FantasyReads

This tale will sweep you away from the first page. You'll be swept away into an enchanting world filled with magic, that somehow feels like it's being spoken to you rather than read.

I received an e-copy of The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah from Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley. Even though I have been gifted this book for review, all opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable retelling of the One Thousand-and One-Night’s tale. If you enjoy retellings, then I highly recommend this book. This writing style was engaging and beautiful. The story kept me intrigued from the beginning to the very end with adventures and interesting cast of characters. Cannot wait to read more books by the author.

Thank you to the publishers for gifting me this novel to read and review.

2.5 stars
I was really excited to receive an eARC for this as the premise sounded fantastic. Unfortunately, it ended up being just okay and I can't say that it's a new favourite.
The story starts off strong and I was intrigued into where the plot was going to take us. Whilst it was largely fast-paced, the story plateaus a tad and I found myself getting quite bored. There wasn't anything about the plot that grabbed me plus I thought the magic system wasn't described in enough detail to get me invested.
Overall it was okay but I was hoping to get a bit more from this story. It's a lighter fantasy so it might suit someone who is wanting to avoid the denser stories within the fantasy genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I was intrigued by this but I'm left a little underwhelmed. While I did enjoy the book I wasn't wowed at all. I'm glad I had the audiobook as I think I would have struggled to get through this otherwise. While this could have been a me issue, I found myself not wanting to pick it up each day.
I'm unsure if I'll continue the series. Unless I give this a reread at a later date as I feel I didnt retain much of the story.

Wow what a read! I’ve never read a fantasy book set in this type of world and I’ve missed out! The beginning was a bit slow and I struggled to connect to the characters but then it licked up and it was so enjoyable to read! I did feel like it felt more towards the YA than adult fantasy, which I didn’t mind, but it’s good to be aware of it. It also ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared!!

Thank you netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning was a tad slow, but the rest was evenly paced, balanced between quieter and action-packed scenes. All of the characters grew on me, especially Qadir and Aisha.

I liked that the characters had to work for everything; they didn’t just instinctively know what to do; they had to fight tooth and nail every step of the way. It kept things realistic (as realistic as a fantasy novel can be).

The ending left off on a major cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see how the world expands in the next instalment.

3.75 stars

"The Stardust Thief" was a fun fantasy novel, but I think it could have shortened a little. Towards the end, the story was starting to feel a little too stretched out and exaggerated for my tastes.

While providing a thrilling read, filled with adventure, plot twists, and multi-dimentional characters, "The Stardust Thief" left me insatiable for the next instalment to come.

The wrold building and the mythology provided a lush backgroud for the story inspired by 1001 Night tales, a quest for a magical lamp with the cast of Louille, Maden, Qadir and Aisha. The chcarcters stood out, plot twists were well-executed (although sometimes overly complicated), and it was easy to keep interest in the story throughout the whole almost 500 pages of it.

There also were some things that felt off to me in the story. At first I was confused about the action scenes, mostly when they involved flying through sand tunnels, cities underground and essentally teleporting all over while escaping from danger, but after a while it was easier to picture. The amount of deux-ex-machina moments with just convenient timing was also a bit too much for it to be fully believable in every instance.

In the next installment, I hope the author will bring more complexity to the characters and their motivatuons, as well a deeper understandign of them, as it should in an adult fantasy novel.

Loulie enjoying her life as Midnight Merchant. This job allows her and her guardian Qadir travels around the mysterious deserts to gather supranatural creature's artefacts and get rich with its magics. Her skill attracted King's attention and being her to long and dangerous journey to found ancient artefact.

The premise of The Stardust Thief was intriguing me since early page. The Middle East inspired worldbuilding is rich and well describe but not overly. I personally love the insert about jinn history and Arabic Folktales. The plot is interesting but not offer new lore about jinn magics. The pace is enough to keep me engaging till the end. I not really sure about how effective the multiple POV1 at here, since I love Loulie and Qadir but dont really care about the others. The writing is enjoyable and easy to follow.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit from Little Brown for provided me with this copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.