Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a wonderful debut - Chelsea has done a fantastic job at retelling 1001 nights, and has created such an immersive world with characters that feel so real! The plot was so gripping, I couldn't put the book down, and I cant wait for book 2!

5/5!

This was kind of underwhelming honestly. Didn't love it as much as I wanted to. Nice idea and lore but boring plot and execution.

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
Published by Orbit, June 2022
ISBN: 978-0356517438
480 pages
Review by Mark Yon
Neither here nor there, but long ago...

Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp.

With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan's oldest son to find the artefact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen and confront a malicious killer from Loulie's past. And, in a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything - her enemy, her magic, even her own past - is not what it seems, and she must decide who she will become in this new reality.
This is the latest in a trend which sees a partial return (has it ever gone away?) to Arabian Nights type stories. I’m also thinking Bradley Beaulieu’s Twelve Kings (which I loved), S. A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad series, Tasha Suri’s Books of Ambha trilogy… not to mention the classics. It is a world of hot climes, desert sand, searing winds, manipulative sultans and villainous princes, not to mention a healthy dollop of magic and jinns.
This one hits the ground running. It’s, in essence, a quest story, with magician-thief Loulie and her jinn companion Qadir being forced into a seemingly impossible search for an ancient magical artefact. At the same time, there’s political shenanigans and power struggles, not to mention the return of a repressed magical group to keep our main characters busy.
This sort of story wins or loses on the strengths of its characters and here Chelsea’s do not disappoint. Loulie is by turns likeable, annoying, naïve and endearing, and this is emphasised by the friendly, bickering buddy-relationship she has with the ever-loyal Qadir. In addition, and as a counterpoint, we have the conflicted Prince Mazen, who has been sent with Loulie and Qadir to find the ancient relic, and Aisha, the young assassin-thief dedicated to protecting Mazen on his arduous assignment. The villains are appropriately villainous, and the different means of magic are imaginative, although not too dominant that their use devalues everything else. The romance therein is not wincingly gauche, nor too much for readers wanting adventure.
And then to all this we have ancient palaces, decrepit yet colourful markets, sandstorms, oppressive heat and vast deserts which creates an endearing setting. For those wanting a story that hearkens back to tales of Aladdin and Sinbad, this one dips deep into that rich seam of storytelling narrative of times long ago. This is deliberate – and emphasised by the point that we have tales within the storyline - that storyteller Mazen tells to good effect.
The story itself is fairly straightforward. Its young protagonists will be appreciated by those looking for a YA type tale, and the plot can be followed without too much twisting and turning. With a focus on the characters, the worldbuilding is not especially detailed beyond the main protagonists, but there’s enough there to give the reader the impression that they’re in an Arabian Nights kind of story. The bigger picture, of the relationship between humans, gods and jinns, is an interesting one, and a major plot spoiler (so I won’t mention it too much here.)
At times the author’s enthusiasm slightly derails the progress – reading that characters say things like “No sh*t” dented my sense of disbelief a little – but generally this is a book that overall makes the reader want it to succeed.
Whilst in the end the conclusion is not anything revolutionary - and a huge cliffhanger ready for the next book - the journey we take to get there is a lot of fun. This page-turner demanded I kept reading as much as I could until it was done.

I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and then I fell in love with Loulie and Qadir, the fascinating Middle East inspired world building, and the gripping plot.
It's a book that kept me reading and I didn't want to end as I was thoroughly enjoying it.
I can't wait to read the next book.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I absolutely loved the Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah and although it is marketed as an adult fantasy, I believe that it could work well as a KS4/5 (15-18) book club pick. Not only does it retell the Arabian Nights in a fresh new way, the writing is accessible and the pace is fast enough to keep pupils engaged the whole way through, so I definitely think that I will pick it as our first pick in September. We have just finished the Grishaverse and it will be nice for them to switch from a Russian inspired universe to an Arabian one. My pupils love a strong female character and Loulie is particularly enjoyable to read, I am sure they will come to root for her on her quest for the lamp. The cowardly prince and his fear of ghouls also offers comic relief and is relatable as a character too. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.

I simply adored The Stardust Thief. The world was so interesting and the characters so colourful that I couldn't put it down. I always enjoy exploring worlds that aren't really written about much and loved what Chelsea Abdullah did. I can't for the next book.

I like a fast-paced fantasy; if it's filled with an interesting magic system and an amazing group dynamic, count me in. I didn't want to put down this novel. It had me under its spell till the end. The magic system was something we've seen before, but it was explored differently in this novel. A few things were predictable, but the seamlessly flowing prose didn't let my mind waver for the never-ending twists or deaths that kept coming my way. Altogether, the Stardust Thief is a good start for an epic series.

(Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the free eARC of the books!)

This is a wonderful, epic fantasy with memorable and layered characters at its core.
An Arab fantasy which draws inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights but what I found really interesting about it was the unique way these tales were adapted into the storyline.
The story follows Loulie, the Midnight Merchant who sells magical relics, and her bodyguard Qadir who is keeping big secrets from her.
There’s also Mazen, the sheltered prince with a penchant for storytelling and his bodyguard/escort Aisha bint Louas with dangerous secrets of her own.

The writing was wonderful. The story started at a slow pace which I enjoyed, as we got to know the characters and I’m all for well developed characters. Then came the high stakes and the peril and the magic and a vengeful buried jinn Queen and many secrets unfolding.

The characters were what really made this story such an enjoyable read for me. The fact that this is the first of a trilogy allows for so much more time for the characters to go on their own introspective journeys and the ways their relationships and interactions developed in this book alone was so interesting so I can’t wait to see where it will go in the next instalment

First of all, I think it's important to note that I haven't read anything for pleasure in more than a year, so it was vital to me that I choose the right book to read, a book that will motivate me to go back on reading, and I CHOSE THE PERFECT BOOK in The Stardust Thief. Now I'm back to reading. So yay!!!

source: giphy.com

The book starts a bit slow, and it took me at least 5 chapters before I decided that I will keep reading. Thankfully, I didn't give up on it too soon because, after chapter 5, things really got interesting and intriguing. I was deeply invested in the story after that thing that the two male characters did. All I could think of was how interesting their journey they would be.

And it was interesting. The whole book is filled with intrigues, secrets and revelations and magic. I loved how everything unfold, every revelation and every conflict. The plot is just perfectly constructed that I never had a feeling of skimming even one page of the book. What I love about the story is that it's equally plot and character-driven. There are so many things, and challenges, that were thrown to the characters and each time, they work, THE WORK, on how to get out of those conflicts. I love that. I love that they don't know right away what to do, and that makes the threats more real and intense. Aside from those challenges and hurdles thrown in the characters' way, they already have difficult and complicated lives, to begin with, so that makes their story more interesting to follow.

The characters are all interesting. I consider everyone main character even though the story is only told from three points of view (Loulie/Lyla, Aisha, Mazen) Loulie is in the center of the story. Her parents were killed when she was a kid and was raised by a jinn since then. She's known as the Midnight Merchant and considered a criminal as she hunts and sells illegal magic. Even though it's not a secret how her parents died, Lyla's past is still filled with mystery. Having a jinn as a guardian turned bodyguard is also very intriguing. But I love her relationship with the jinn, Qadir. Their father-child relationship is amazing. But I think even without Qadir, Lyla will thrive anywhere. She's so strong and brave and I wanna be like her when I grow up. LOL. But there's also softness in her, that I see once in a while throughout the book.

Mazen, prince Mazen, is someone I want to protect with my life. He's such a sweetheart, and even though the description of the book called him cowardly, I didn't see that. I just saw a boy who lacked experience of the real world and so it's understandable why he's often wary of things, and soft-hearted. He loves stories and is a born storyteller, which he clearly got from her mother. Out of all the characters, his development is my favorite. Identity is one of the biggest themes in this book, and so Mazen finding himself throughout the story is nice to see.

Aisha is a thief, and she's really good at it. Her past is also dark and she's out for revenge. She was the hardest to crack, even harder than Loulie and that's saying a lot. But like Mazen, I enjoyed seeing her develop throughout the story. Everything in her character development underwent a process until she opens.

My favourite aspect of the story is the magical relics. I find them very interesting and I want to collect them as well. That says the magic system and the fictional world itself are very well-done. The author really weaved a fantastic story, so magical and the politics isn't boring as well.

Overall, this is such an amazing debut novel and I can't wait to read book 2, especially with that ending. Also, Chelsea Abdullah is an author to watch for.

I love stories of Jinn and the various iterations of their lore. This was a unique version where Jinn have silver blood that brings nature forth in the desert and creates magic relics so they are thus hunted by the humans. It is also a retelling of a thousand and one nights and twists elements of that story into this

On the plus side, I enjoyed the character development - I liked learning about their history and motivations. So far I like Layla and Qadir (I want to know more about him - I still feel a little confused about his back story and how he came to be in the human world). The other characters are all a little annoying or vague and I’m hoping that changes in the next book.

On the downside I found the pacing a little slow and disjointed and it took me a long time to read. All in, I enjoyed reading this but I didn’t love it. I think it’s a good debut and introduction to the series and I’m curious enough to see how the story unfolds. 3.5 stars overall

DNF 20%

I really wanted to love this. The premise seemed promising and the book is blurbed by S.A. Chakraborty whose books I love... But I'm bored.

I expected more maturity from the characters but they act like teenagers. For instance, the kind prince risks his life to hear stories from an old man... It's what a child would do, not a 22-year old. The girl, whose name I don't even remember, doesn't live up to the praises she receives. She's easily tricked and relies on her jinn friend and his magic to accomplish something. She's undeserving of her reputation. Plus, she's quickly charmed by the kind prince whose name I don't remember either (looks like our friend the insta-love is on its way). These characters are shallow and used as plot devices.

The story itself is not thrilling. I can see the potential as to the relationship between the princelings but so far it feels random. There are no flashbacks or background whatsoever to explain why the characters are the way they are.

I simply didn't care.

I struggled to get into this book, it felt very YA in style to me, lacking layers that I've come to expect. I didn't find myself drawn to either the characters or the plot which made it quite difficult to get through. I'm not sure what it is about the writing that didn't grab me. I think if it had a stronger beginning perhaps I'd have been more into the second half.

Absolutely loved this story, a lush epic tale that weaves familiar stories from One Thousand and One Nights into an exciting new adventure. I completely disappeared into this book, the world-building was so immersive and the twists and turns of the story kept me gripped. I also absolutely loved the characters, Loulie especially, and her relationship with Qadir was one of my favourite elements of the book. I cannot wait for the next book, I'll be pre-ordering as soon as I can!

i received the arc from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

i really loved this! i felt so connected to all the characters and their relationships with each other were so interesting, especially because they change when betrayals happen. a lot of the characters are morally grey and both the humans and the jinn have “good” and “evil” characters. also really loved mazen and loulie ahhhhh i hope their relationship develops in the next book. i don’t give 5 stars lightly but i was never bored reading this so it deserves full stars!!

The story is told from three points of view: Loulie - a woman who can find hidden magical items, and sells them under the title 'Midnight Merchant', with her jinn friend and bodyguard; Price Mazen - the youngest of the Sultan's children; Aisha - one of the legendary 40 thieves.

The world building in this novel is beautiful. I loved the characters, and seeing the story unfold from their different points of view, each with their own unique voice - seeing their relationships grow and change as they learn more about one another and face the journey to find the magical lamp together. Some parts of the plot felt a little obvious, but the overall story was compelling.

I thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of this book, but I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. It left me unsatisfied, with too many questions left unanswered. I didn't realize this book was part of a trilogy, so was hoping for sound resolution to the story. I also struggled slightly with keeping up with what was happening in the final scenes, as there was so many moving parts.

Overall, it's a great fantasy book, full of magic and mystery, and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Gore, and Injury/injury detail

Neither here nor there, but long ago…
The Stardust Thief is a story about stories - their impact; their origins; what they mean to us.

When Loulie al-Nazari, the Midnight Merchant, comes to the attention of the sultan, she and his son are sent on an impossible quest across the desert. Accompanied by her mysterious bodyguard, and one of the infamous Forty Thieves, they set out to discover a hidden artefact and along the way learn an awful lot about themselves.

Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief beautifully weaves these classic stories into a web of intrigue, magic, and betrayal.
The characters were realistic, the story was immersive, and the magic was fascinating - I particularly loved the jinn relics and the way they were woven into the lore of the world.

I adored The Stardust Thief and I eagerly await the sequel - it is truly a fantasy novel not to be missed.

In The Stardust Thief, we follow Loulie, also known as the Midnight Merchant, who hunts and sells illegal magic with her jinn friend and bodyguard. We also get another perspective, that of Prince Mazen, a story lover who frequently sneaks out to explore life outside the palace walls. After Loulie saves his life, Mazen’s father, the sultan, blackmails her into finding an ancient relic that holds the power to restore a lost land at the cost of sacrificing all jinn. With no choice but to obey the sultan, she and a few others journey to hunt for the magic lamp.

The premise of this sounded great and I went in with high expectations - this story was average. I think the fact that this is a hyped 2022 release is the main reason I persevered with it.

The story was interesting, but the pacing felt all over the place to me. The first 20% of the book was purely set up and then from the middle to the end it was so fast paced I could barely keep up with everything going on. I’ve only just read it but I feel like I need a recap already. Despite it being high stakes and nonstop action, the main focus of the plot became less interesting to me as time went on, however the ending was very good. I did find myself skim reading it after a while - this book is so long and so much happens that I felt lost and overwhelmed for a vast majority of it.

Something I really loved about the writing was the insertion of Arabic words and phrases that added authenticity to the story and made it that much more immersive. There were also some really great lines and quotes that stood out. I would say that this reads more young adult than adult - this isn’t a complaint but just something to be aware of if that is an issue for other readers.

The worldbuilding was remarkable with a very immersive and authentic atmosphere created by the author. I just know that future books will uncover more of this world which is something I’d be excited to see. It feels as though the author has put a lot of thought and care into creating this vibrant world and the lore within it.

We had multiple points of view in this book which I always love and it helped to connect with the characters. However, the only character I felt any noteworthy attachment to was Mazen. The other characters were fine, but didn’t stand out to me - they weren’t particularly different to anything I’d read before. Perhaps the sequel will change my mind. I did enjoy the fact that these characters were all very morally grey, however.

Overall this story is a wild ride full of adventure, magic and legends. There are stories within stories, many secrets to uncover and constantly questioning if all is what it seems. A wonderful debut from an Arabic author who has created a wonderfully Middle Eastern inspired story perfect for anyone who loves adventures.

Neither here nor there, but long ago. . .

The Stardust Thief is an Arab-inspired fantasy retelling of 1001 Nights. When I think of a good retelling, this is what I would think of. The author doesn’t merely take the original and add a few new names. No, TST is bold. The author ENTIRELY reimagines it in order to convey a new story while maintaining the cornerstones. To be honest, I was surprised to realise it was a debut novel!

WORLDBUILDING
The worldbuilding was what grabbed my attention first. Not only was the author’s writing wonderful and well-balanced, their ability to paint a clear and vibrant image meant I never struggled to imagine what was happening or how this world and its magic worked.

CHARACTERS
While I liked all of the characters, I really appreciated Mazen and Qadir’s characters the most. Mazen is notable for straying from the stereotypes of a ‘masculine protagonist.’ He is both a coward and a gentle heart. Despite this, we can see the strength that this brings. On the other hand, Qadir and his relationship with Loulie was one of my favourites. He was officially her bodyguard, but it was clear that he was so much more. It was wonderfully platonic and so well written which I appreciated since I don’t often come across such dynamics.

WRITING
The writing style is engaging, and it caught my attention from beginning to end. The way the stories were intertwined throughout the novel was great. Moreover, the plot twists were well-executed and pleasantly took me by surprise. The conclusion neatly concludes the first book and sets the stage for the second.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to continuing it!

[Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Chelsea, writing what would later become The Stardust Thief:

How can I make the reader feel the maximum level of distress?

Because this book was a whole journey. An adventure filled with mystery, lore, heartache, friendships and beautifully woven tales. I'm obsessed with how much talent the author has to be able to weave a fantastical world that you'd love to visit (I say visit because let's be real, your girl here would NOT survive in a fantastical world. No way).

As someone with a great appreciation of the tales of Arabian Nights, I obviously was invested in this story. I'd been saving every fanart the author commissioned unto my phone and made it part of my personality for months prior to release. I believe my expectations were met and I thoroughly enjoyed the world building, characters and the overall adventure and plot.

My only gripe is that I would've loved to know the characters for a bit longer before the events at the 60% mark occurred. Just so they would hit more emotionally. However, I will say that I thought the author was doing that whole "sike" thing that many authors do and while this was the case, I'm glad I didn't emote too early on.

I'll have a more in-depth review go up but for now, I'd recommend this for lovers of adventure stories, grumpy x sunshine dynamics, found family and stories within stories. Because that was genuinely one of the most fun aspects of the book. Oh, and there's a few jokes and funny moments sprinkled in. I can't wait to read the sequel 🥰 @Orbit, I'm here if you need me

This is fantastically written and the extent of the world-building is phenomenal. I have no doubt that this book will change some people's lives. I appreciated every aspect of this story but unfortunately still found it hard to stay totally invested, I think in part because it changed narratives so frequently and they felt a little bit disjointed to me and there was an awful lot going on.

There is a lot of action in this which is always good and it flows pretty well. I didn't feel overly connected to any of the main characters but they were all interesting and it was a diverse group.

Overall this book has a lot going for it and it's a great addition to the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.