3.25⭐️. Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

While I enjoyed The Stardust Thief a lot, this overall didn't click with me as much. The shifting of the main setting to the jinn realm below should have been an exciting development, but I found the plot of it all—running around breaking the magical bindings that keep the city sunken & dodging the present jinn queen—rather tedious and too drawn out. Going over to Aisha's POV when she's in the human realm feels like a relief at times.

That said, what I'd praise of Chelsea Abdullah's sequel is the strength of her characters. I continue to be heavily invested in Loulie, Mazen & Aisha (and Qadir, but he doesn't really factor in much save for the final act), regardless of where their respective journeys take them. Mazen's other brother Hakim and Rijah the shapeshifting ifrit from Book 1 are also great additions. I definitely commend the wonderful slowburn between Loulie & Mazen, and wish most fantasy series would follow this example. This is a romance that is so well-developed because the story focuses on them becoming true FRIENDS who grow devoted to each other first and foremost. The author doesn't bombard you with multiple insisting that they're attracted to each other; she shows you with how much they fight to keep each other alive, how they come to appreciate the other's strengths and presence, and how sensitive they are to the other's feelings that they'd do anything to cheer the other up. That as Book 2 closes and there's FINALLY the mention of possible emotions that they're feeling for the other, it feels earned.

While this sequel didn't enamor me, I'll still pick up the finale and see these wonderful characters to the end.

It took me a while to finish this book but I’m glad I stuck to it till the end. I had forgotten the first book so I had to go back for a quick recap of the events and the characters.

This book picked up right from where book 1 ended and also laid out the foundation for the next book.

The Ashfire King was heavily plot driven but had less twists than book 1.

The book followed the story of a sunken Jinn kingdom in the Sandsea and their ruler who drove them to this state and abandoned them.

In the middle of the human and Jinn war was a Pirate fighting to avenge the innocent Jinn who were killed as collateral damage.

Our main characters were spread out in different directions. Each of their narratives gave us a chance to guess where the story was headed.

The main focus of this book was on the bindings laid by the Ashfire King whose flashback was told through a couple of characters. Loulie and her gang were bent on breaking these bindings but their plans were waylaid by many factors.

Qadir was dearly missed for the good portion of the book but his reunion was sweet.

Initially, I found the book directionless; every one was scattered in different places and leading to different plot lines, but the plot picked up slowly. The magic was subtle but shined through the small details. It was a slow burn fantasy, both in terms of romance and the plot development.

With that cliffhanger ending, it’s best to see what our group of misfits will be upto in the last book.

Thank you Orbit for the DRC of the book!!

I loved the first book in this trilogy, The Stardust Thief- this epic fantasy in an Arabian setting featuring jinn ,the forty thieves and an amazing Merchant Loulie el Nazari. The book finished with Loulie friend and jinn, Qadir being captured by Mazen’s evil brother, Omar. Loulie and Mazen are trapped in another realm with a new jinn to protect them.
The main point of view characters are Loulie,Mazen and Aisha and they remain as captivating as the first book. This One Thousand and one Nights inspired fantasy, still has the stories with stories from the first book which adds an extra layer. The worldbuilding is intricate with crumbling, underground cities, flyting boats with rebel pirates, and more jinn mythology.
The book starts with a handy recap, but this is not a book you can read and jump into the series. There are few twists and reveals- some I expected and some that were unexpected.
My only quibble is there isn’t enough Qadir, the relationship between Loulie and Qadir was the highlight for me in the first book and the story suffered a little from his absence.
Perfect for fans of
Fantasies set in a middle eastern setting with complex plots.

This was one of my most eagerly awaited books of the year and it lived up to expectations. Sequel to 'The Stardust Thief', the story picks up from where the exciting conclusion of that book left off. But first there is a comprehensive recap of the plot of the first book, something that few fantasy authors do but is extremely welcome. It means you can get straight on with enjoying the new book without trying to desperately remember who is who, how magic works, and what happened in the previous instalment.

Again, the story is told from three perspectives, with separate chapters headed by the viewpoint character's name. Merchant Loulie has been transported to the submerged world of the jinn, together with prince Mazen who has been wrongly accused of his father's murder. They find a magical but deeply troubled world, where the magic that has preserved their cities safely away from humans is starting to fail. Should they align themselves with queen of the jinn, who seeks to protect the 'binding' magics, or with renegade ifrit Nabila, who is trying to destroy them? Meanwhile on the surface 'human' world, thief Aisha is on a mission to get revenge on her former mentor, Mazen's brother Omar. First she must rescue their ally Qadir, the legendary Ashfire King, who is locked in an apparently impenetrable prison.

The three narratives work well covering the whole story and making it feel cohesive despite the central 'team' of characters being split between two worlds for most of the book. All of the characters are very likeable and Abdullah introduces a host more interesting and likeable supporting parts as well as expanding on some of those introduced later in the first book, like Rijah and Amina. It's the perfect fantasy adventure, full of incident and excitement from beginning to end, but based on a solid emotional core that means you care about the outcome of all the fights, escapes, rescues, journeys etc. It also makes sense as a story, without the very complicated fictional political backdrop you get in some fantasy novels. I feel it's much easier to just enjoy this story without having to put in a lot of work understanding concepts and history, than it is in many similar series (such as the excellent 'Daevabad' trilogy for example).

Even though it's a second book in a trilogy, the story is complete and satisfying. Yes, it's clear things are left unsolved ready for the finale, as you'd expect, but it avoids the trap of feeling like nothing more than prep for the third book. It is a clear and discrete chapter in its own right and it wouldn't make sense for it to be included in the previous or the next novel. It's a rare example of a 'book 2' that is as strong as 'book one'. I can hardly wait for the third, although I will really miss the characters when it's over.

This series, starting with 'The Stardust Thief' is very highly recommended to everyone who likes fantasy adventure, particularly if you enjoyed the 'Daevabad' trilogy. Even in a genre full of good books, this one is worth prioritising.

The magic, the hidden world, the non stop action are all just *chef's kiss*

The Ashfire King is one of the rare occasions where the second book outshines the first book in every way!

I love the storyteller stories within the story we're reading and that we get a recap of The Stardust Thief told from a storyteller perspective at the start before diving into chapter after chapter or fights and confrontations. I don't know how many times I said to myself, "can't these characters get a break, can't I (as the reader) get a break?!"

Please don't leave us hanging for too long for the final book 🤞

✨ “To live is to persevere. For the world, and in spite of it.”

- The Ashfire King (by Chelsea Abdullah)

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Despite how deeply I loved the first book, “The Stardust Thief”, I still tried to temper my high expectations for the sequel before reading it…. But wow did I not need to do that!
“The Ashfire King” somehow went above and beyond what I hoped for!

Steeped in Arabian folklore, with its enthralling tales and mystifying creatures, the series brings to life those elements by building a world rich in enchantment and hidden wonder. In this installment, the characters find themselves exploring a new realm that uncovers unexpected secrets and long buried stories (about both the human and jinn realms) that unravel and connect the threads of both worlds.

I LOVE how transportive the book is, how it makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters, stepping (or flying) from one thrilling adventure to the next! The action and excitement are nonstop, making the book so easy to get lost in. But more than that, I was riveted because I rooted wholeheartedly for the characters.

The sequel digs deeper into the characters’ motivations and inner struggles. The new sides we see to Mazen, Loulie, and Aisha are so gratifying. And it’s in this book we see the dynamics between them really start to flourish.

I love how some of them (no spoilers) get closer, are able to be more vulnerable, and bring out the best in each other.
And overall, the interactions between the gang are so much fun! They’ve come so far since we first met them!

With exhilarating pace and alluring storytelling, “The Ashfire King” gives us foes (new and old), dubious allies, unexpected twists, a new arsenal of magic (one of which is unexpectedly adorable), and political machinations that connect the various story-threads and expand the plot to new levels.
In this sequel, the author manages to create a book that exceeds its predecessor while promising an even bigger and more exciting third book to come!

“The Ashfire King” releases April 15 !

Before I start, I just want to say, can we normalise putting recaps at the beginning of fantasy series? I always struggle to remember what happens in books, so having recaps seriously helps me out! I loved the way this one was done, and it really helped transport me back into this story and remember the characters and where they found themselves at the end of the first book.

I thoroughly enjoyed being back in this world and with these characters, who I realised I actually really missed. I love the world that Abdullah has created and the fact that we got to see even more of it in this book. Abdullah does an amazing job at world-building with rich description and captivating writing that it's impossible to put down!

The character development in this book was amazing, and I loved following them on the paths they found themselves on. Aisha is still one of my absolute favourites. She's an absolute badass, and I really liked getting to see her grow as a character.

Honestly, this is a great sequel, and this series is absolutely amazing. I really recommend picking this series up if you haven't already!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Remember, Mazen, there is no such thing as a single truth. There are just the stories we tell others, and the ones we tell ourselves.”

This is the sequel to The Stardust Thief which I loved & the sequel was even better! I devoured this book, it’s action packed from the beginning & I loved the character arcs of Loulie, Aisha & especially Mazen!
This picks up where book 1 ends & we get to see the jinn world & of course, chaos ensues.

Loulie & Mazen have to work together to get back to the human world but also help save the jinn world. I loved seeing Loulie learn to be more vulnerable and open up to Mazen. Her learning to trust despite her fear of losing those she loves.
Mazen, my sweet storyteller, grows so much, from being afraid to learning to be brave & fight for those he loves.
Aisha was also so great in this, her balancing her autonomy & independence with learning to rely on others. How she realises she is more than just the thief Omar made her.
They make such a great trio!

There are also hints of a romance that is so slow burn that they barely realise they’re falling for each other but had me screaming giggling kicking my feet!

I also loved seeing more Rijah & Hakim & of course Qadir. We learn a lot more about him too in this.

The build up as their storylines converged, how we see revelations & hints to that explosive ending where you finally think everything will be okay but then you read the last line and all you want to do is scream because there’s no book 3 in sight!

Anyways, highly recommend reading these books if you love found family, arabian nights inspired stories, jinn magic & the power of storytelling.

The anxiously awaited book two in the Sandsea Trilogy was everything I hoped for. The stakes are higher now the world has been explained and our beloved characters are experiencing more danger than ever. The growth of Mazen and Aisha especially captured my heart, and the growing relationship between Mazen and Louli was so sweet.
Chelsea’s writing is lyrical and weaves magic and storytelling into something that feels real, as if I could step into the page and find myself in the desert.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys magic, storytelling, found family and Middle Eastern inspired settings.

Neither here nor there, but not so long ago….
I loved this with all my heart, just like the first.
I missed this characters so much! The moment I got my hands on this book I was locked in!!
This follows where the first left off. At first it was a bit hard to follow since I haven’t read the first one in some time, but as the story when on it was easy to catch up.
The world building still continues to amazing me, especially this “new world”. I got much more connect to this new world than to madinne tbh. There was so much compassion and acceptance in the jinn than in humans, even despite of all the Jin’s went through. Once you dive into this new world the adventure and pace never stops (same as the first). It’s so action packed that you can’t put it down. All of the characters really, had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!
Speaking of characters, I loved the new characters in this book and how well they fit into this story and how smooth it was. But a character in special. I loved how we got to know more or Qadir story. But do not be mistaken, even tho we got to know Qadir story and some of his secrets I think he’s gonna surprises more.
I could talk of all the characters (but then we would never get out of here lol)
I’ll just say this, I loved how they came to accept and trust each other. How they’re friendships got stronger and they have each others backs. Just like family.
There’s so much more I wanted to say but then this would just be to long.
All I can say is, it was worth the wait. The reward was the sweetest and so well written.
I just know this whole trilogy is gonna have my heart ♥️

Chelsea, what have you done to my beloved Qadir? 😭

THE ASHFIRE KING immediately picks up where we left off at the end of THE STARDUST THIEF, with three of our main cast (2/3 the POVs) plunged beneath the Sandsea and in the ancient jinn country that sunk and the others scattered on the surface, all fighting to survive, reunite, and stop jinns and thieves from destroying their worlds.

The worldbuilding has gotten more lush, the action more heart-pounding, and more mysteries are piling on top of each other. I didn't see the final twist (literally on the last page) coming, but I did manage to catch on to the others. The new characters don't bog down the book as we get to hear their opinions/POVs on the larger conflicts, they expand the world, and add extra personalities to grate against our main characters.

Mazen finds much freedom in being an unknown, getting away from his traitor Omar's reaches, and is charmingly enchanted by the jinn world. Seeing him build up his confidence in his storytelling and his battlefield wit is a joy to read. Loulie frets over the well-being of her kidnapped guard, Qadir, whom she doesn't know whether he's close to death or not, while cracking her head on how to get her, Mazen, and the Shapeshifter back to the surface. Her reckless bravery puts her in interesting positions and some of the best action sequences all feature her. Aisha, meanwhile (a character I was shocked to root for by the end of book 1), is busy trying to rescue Qadir, adjust to her new normal, and figure out what Omar's greater plans are. Her prickly personality is a nice contrast to Loulie's wariness and Mazen's wide-eyed optimism; ah, how I missed it. I like her internal turmoil over Omar's betrayal and her newfound state (ahem iykyk), learning to adjust to uncertainties and allowing herself to be a tad vulnerable.

I'm seated for the final part of our journey (it'll hurt me to see this trilogy end). CHELSEA PLS SPARE QADIR FROM MORE SUFFERING IN THE NEXT BOOK, PLEASE.

TLDR: a frenzic, tense instalment

P.P.S. FINALLY! I know why Chelsea called this "the bird book." Can confirm: lots of birds.

Thanks to Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Orbit for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first book, but this second one is also good; I had difficulties recalling the characters because the first book was so long ago, but I still enjoyed it!

Chelsea Abdullah brings in the second installment in the Stardust Thief trilogy to the next level. After establishing the foundations for the story in book 1, I often struggle with book 2, usually it makes or breaks it for me, but this one definetely made it. The mix of character development, with plot accellerating and the stakes increasing, Chelsea Abdullah has a potential to rise up to one of the great fantasy authors.

This book was everything a middle book in the series should be. Chelsea Abdullah weaves great world building and wonderful adventure. It’s easy to follow the plot and pacing of the story and the mysteries keep you entrenched and wanting more! Her description of the jinn world and even the new being encountered was well done.

I enjoyed Loulie’s growth in this book. It was great seeing her coming into her own and believing in herself and her abilities. I enjoyed her weighing the facts and making decisions based upon them. I understood the need for her and Qadir to be separated to encourage her enlightenment. However,I did miss their relationship.
Mazen is still the same mostly. I think his sweetness and stability is important to the story—that constant, unwavering bright presence. He has a certain emotional awareness that has greatly evolved since book 1 and adds to his trustworthiness. I do find a measure of juvenility in him compare to others characters even Loulie. In addition, there was a measure of convenience with him constantly having a plan or even popping up in particular scenes, and I believe it was written to push a certain subplot.
I love Aisha. Her willingness to acknowledge that perhaps there’s more to life than the lies that she’s been told. To realize that her past has shaped her but it doesn’t have to be her future.
Qadir has had quite a journey, and even from reading book one you get a sense of profound loneliness from him.
Overall, I enjoy how the author allows you to see the story through different lenses, and to understand that life isn’t always black and white. Also, these characters’ self reflection is done well. They are beings who have made mistakes and I do like the fact that many of them acknowledge those mistakes and strive to correct them.
I enjoyed Hakim in this story. I’ve been intrigued about him since the first book, and his character was a welcomed addition on a larger scale.
Lastly, while the book isn’t heavily enthralled in romance, it does have elements. Personally, I’m not as invested in the particular romance that has developed. I enjoyed the friendship immensely and thought that it was a refreshing change and was not surprised at the developing subplot. I just feel a disconnect with that regard to a romantic relationship between them and it’s not because of the slowburn.
Overall, I would highly recommend this series and look forward to the grand finale and any other books written by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books UK for this e-arc!

An amazing sequel, it was fun rejoining the world and all our favs and seeing what they are up to!
Chelsea knows how to write a damn good book!

My most anticipated read of the year did not disappoint.

Loved this as much as the first.

All the faves are back, but they're trapped in Djinn land and things are not going to go well for them.

This was super easy to fall back into - there's a wonderful recap at the start, cleverly disguised as one of the many stories told throughout the series, so getting caught up is easy and we can get straight back to the action.

There's further character development of our regulars which is quite rewarding, and there are some fun new faces which will hopefully have some more air time in the third book.

There's plenty of action, magic and storytelling, and the stakes are nice and high. It took a little bit for me to understand what was being asked of Loulie, but it was still easy enough to follow along.

There's a new threat in this story which was fun to follow, and there is a lot of grey in the characters so choosing sides is never easy.

There's also strong friendships and bonds which just make my heart melt. I feel so much for these characters.

Absolutely loved it - just as absorbing as the first with more magic, more action, and more fun.

Very keen for the last book in the series and already hoping there are plenty of spin offs!

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

4 stars

"The Ashfire King" was a really good continuation of the series and I think I enjoyed it a little bit more than the first part. Some chapters could have been tightened up a little more, but overall the pacing was really good.

The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah is a masterpiece of a book! I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't give it more stars. This book was literally perfection!

The Ashfire king opens immediately after the events of The Stardust Thief and book opens with a recap of the events that took place in the previous story. I always appreciate it when authors take the time to do this and this was beautifully written in the style of the stories that continue to be a large part of this trilogy.
As before we have the three main POV characters. I loved Mazen just as much in this book and liked the way he gained in confidence. Loulie on the other hand didn’t stand out as much as I expected. The character of the Midnight Merchant didn’t seem to have as much determination this time around. Aisha definitely showed the most character growth and probably had the most to deal with as she learned how to live with someone else in her head all the time. I really liked the way that she gradually realised that she did care for her companions. I was sorry in a way that the characters were split up as I love the dynamics between and felt like cheering when they were finally reunited. I also felt it was a shame that despite being the titular character. Qudir isn’t present in the story for most of the book. However I did love the Rijah, the shapeshifter jinn.
Chelsea Abdullah’s world building is simply amazing. The jinn world under the Sandsea is incredibly detailed and vivid. The contrast between the places where magic is still strong and the ones that have been abandoned is just brilliant. As before, the stories were woven into the book and I loved the way they gave us different versions of what had happened in the past.
The main problem for me was that the book was just too easy to put down. One of the signs of a great book for me is one where I don’t want to stop reading as I’m desperate to find out what happens next but sadly, thet wasn’t the case here. I’m interested in the story but don’t feel as involved with it as I am with some fantasy novels. It’s the middle book of a trilogy and I think it shows. The pace was fairly slow and although I was interested in what was going to happen, I never actually felt gripped by it. It was an enjoyable read but didn’t have the immersive appeal of The Stardust Thief for me.
Huge thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

🌙 I finished The Ashfire King arc, it’s the second book in The Sandsea trilogy. First of all, I’m absolutely obsessed! I already loved the first book in the series, but the second one It completely blew me away. From the very first page to the last one, the story is packed with action, twists, and incredible details. Chelsea does an outstanding job of expanding the world and introducing more characters, deepening the magic system, and building an immersive setting that makes you feel the story so alive.

🌙 One of the things I adore most is how the author integrates Arabic words into the story, making the world feel even richer and more authentic. It adds a depth that enhances the entire reading experience. Another aspect that makes this book really enjoyable is how the story unfolds through three different POVs. Each character’s pov allowing us to experience the world from different angles with different challenges it comes to make the journey feel even more tense.

🌙 This series is perfect for anyone who craves a thrilling mix of adventure, action, and magic where the stakes are raised not only through epic battles but also through the characters’ personal battles.
🌙 I rating the book 5/5 😍⭐️.

🌙 I want to thank NetGally, the author and Little Brown Book for the Arc of this book.