The Ashfire King suffered from second book syndrome - I just didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. Despite the brief recap at the start, I struggled to get back into the world and the story. It did start to pick up a bit after the half way point as we started get to more chapters from Aisha’s point of view which I preferred but that is still a lot of story to get through beforehand. Aisha’s pov was actually my least favourite chapters in The Stardust Thief but I liked her character development in this book and the interactions with the ifrit in her head.

There is a lot of action to keep the pace up but I still felt like the story dragged and was overstuffed. Some interesting side characters were introduced in this book, such as Duha who was fun, but the majority didn’t make a large impact. I also found that I didn’t really care for Loulie or Mazen. Their storyline suffered from lack of Qadir - another reason why Aisha’s storyline was more interesting to me as he features more in hers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Chelsea Abdullah returns triumphantly to her 1001 Nights-inspired Sandsea Trilogy with The Ashfire King, the gripping sequel to The Stardust Thief. Picking up immediately after the explosive events of the first book, Abdullah plunges readers back into a world of ancient myths, jinn politics, and emotionally charged character arcs.

The novel wastes no time, opening with a storyteller’s recap before immersing us in the depths of the Sandsea, where Loulie and Prince Mazen find themselves trapped in the crumbling realm of the jinn. Their journey through twisted legends and hostile landscapes unfolds in parallel to Aisha’s desperate mission to rescue Qadir—Loulie's guardian and the titular Ashfire King—while navigating her own path of redemption and self-discovery.

One of the novel’s standout elements is its character work. Abdullah deepens the emotional bonds forged in the first book, evolving what was once a group of uneasy allies into one of the most compelling found families in recent fantasy. Loulie and Mazen’s slow-burn connection simmers with unspoken affection, while Aisha’s transformation from a vengeful thief to someone capable of trust is genuinely moving. Mazen, in particular, shines with his unwavering kindness, though Qadir’s absence is palpably felt—especially by those who cherished his dynamic with Loulie.

The narrative leans heavily on world-building, weaving in jinn lore, desert magic, and pirate-like adventures to create a vivid, immersive setting. The magic system, while imaginative, sometimes lacks the clarity or depth it needs to fully convince. Similarly, the pacing falters in places—particularly in the first act—and some of the action sequences feel muddled or underwhelming, with antagonists like Nabila lacking nuance in their motivations.

Still, the book delivers high-stakes tension, shifting loyalties, daring prison breaks, and a final act that upends the world as we know it, ending on another jaw-dropping cliffhanger. While The Ashfire King diverges somewhat from the central quest of The Stardust Thief, it expands the trilogy’s scope and deepens its characters in meaningful ways.

Lo peor que se puede decir de un libro es que te ha dejado indiferente y me temo que la novela de Chelsea Abdullah, continuación de The Stardust Thief ha seguido ese camino. Y no por que el libro no tuviera visos de ser una lectura interesante, trasladando a los personajes a un nuevo reino enterrado en las arenas nada más comenzar, si no más bien porque se pierde un poco la magia y el sentido de la maravilla que rezumaba en la primera entrega.


Chelsea Abdullah ayuda a los desmemoriados como yo con un resumen de lo acontecido en el primer libro, cosa que se agradece mucho aunque quizá no sea lo suficientemente extenso. La decisión de hacerlo aparte y no incluirlo en el propio tejido de la novela facilita que el comienzo de The Ashfire King no se haga pesado. Se incluyen también esos relatos externos que tanto dinamizaban el origen de la saga, aunque en esta ocasión son más cortos. ¿Qué ha fallado entonces? Pues que lo que era original y llamativo, ahora es un poco repetitivo y añadir romance a la mezcla no la mejora, más bien la vuelve algo más insulsa.

Abdullah ha pretendido caminar en la fina línea que divide la novela juvenil de la adulta y creo que la jugada no le acaba de salir. La perspectiva de los personajes, algunos con cientos de años a sus espaldas es un poco inmadura y aunque hacia el final del libro la cosa va mejorando, son muchas las páginas que no aportan nada a la narración. Quizá sufra un poco del síndrome del segundo libro, pero mientras lo leía mi mente divagaba a menudo y son casi 600 páginas de divagación. Algo ha fallado para no conseguir atraparme del todo.

La construcción del mundo sigue siendo el aspecto más atractivo de la novela, una ambientación desértica realmente atractiva, con una amenaza de desaparición que debería aumentar el ritmo del libro, aunque al final sigue siendo bastante pausado. La evolución de los personajes y sus relaciones, aunque existe, es un punto débil del libro, que quizá no dedica la suficiente atención a los diálogos que sustentan las maquinaciones políticas que sirven como motor de la acción.

Probablemente lea el último libro de la saga más por completitud que por otra cosa, pero espero que el colofón de una historia que empezó bastante bien me deje más huella que esta meta volante.

I loved the first book in this series so was extremely excited to be given an ARC of this and I was not disappointed at all. There's the same amazing sense of place and atmosphere, the same characters I fell in love with and the same fast exciting plot. I'm eagerly awaiting book three now!

I'm admittedly rounding up a bit on this because the last quarter of the book was so excellent. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel like it dragged in some places.
I cannot wait for the next book, as the ending was unexpected entirely. I have so much new love for Rijah, Aisha/the Resurrectionist, and of course Hakim. Also the little Ashfire bird!

What a treat the final book is shaping up to be!

DNF @ 40%

I really enjoyed The Stardust Thief back when it came out in 2022. While I appreciate the author providing a plot summary, it didn't help me recall the details of the plot of a book that came out 3 years ago. I had enjoyed the mythology interwoven in TST, so I was interested to see where the plot would go. Unfortunately, The Ashfire King turned out to be mind numbingly boring. This is a book that clearly suffers from the second book syndrome. Whatever little attachment I had formed to the characters in book one wasn't there 3 years later and I don't usually reread books for their sequels unless they were absolute 5 stars. The Ashfire King is quite a long book and unfortunately, I don't have the time and energy to make my way through this, since the plot is moving at an excruciatingly slow pace.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4,25/5

The Ashfire King is the long-awaited sequel to The Stardust Thief, and we're instantly thrown into the events ending the first book. Loulie and Mazen are stuck in the Sandsea, where the jinn's realm engulfs them whole and catapults them into a world of false tales and centuries-old conflicts. Meanwhile, Aisha must come to terms with what happened to her toward the end of the first novel, while trying to satisfy her thirst for revenge.
This review will be spoiler-free, so make yourself comfortable!

The Stardust Thief's main focus was on the character and the mesmerising atmosphere that filtered through Mazen's stories and the relationships shared by the characters. I loved how the author handled the creation of bonds between the protagonists, it's impossible not to be fond of every one of them, regardless of their flaws. Yet, these very flaws make them far more relatable and well-written. The personal differences aren't a cause for conflict, but the characters learn to appreciate each other, growing page by page. If they were mere acquaintances during the majority of the first book, in this sequel, we witness the making of one of the best found families I've read.

Loulie and Mazen warmed my heart. The growing affection for each other is so obvious it's almost infuriating. But that's what I'm searching for when I want to read a slow burn. PERFECTION. Mazen is the sweetest, he's so easily lovable that I can't totally relate to Loulie.
On the other hand, Aisha had a remarkable personal growth during The Ashfire King. From a thief consumed by anger and grief, Aisha starts to understand the meaning of trust and friendship until her shift is glaring.

Unfortunately, Qadir's absence during this book, and the lack of his POV or his cute moments with Loulie, make themselves felt. Even though the found family and character development are all pluses, I suffered from the slow-paced chapters and the lack of action-packed moments. The action scenes felt confused and sometimes boring, even the main villains appeared flat, and their hatred (especially Nabila's) felt more like a tantrum. They want to save their land, but not one of them wants to cooperate, or even ponder the idea, since they share a goal.
Another minor point is the magic system. Some choices made by the author seemed a little bit forced, or at least they're not thoroughly explained. I loved the fascinating world inhabited by jinn, and the pirate vibes exuded by some events. I think the world-building is this trilogy's strongest feature, and it's mainly what caught my attention in the first place.

The plot strayed from the main purpose sought during the first book. A lot of secrets and long-lost tales are unveiled, and we learn far more about some of our main characters. Therefore, I believe this book suffered from this unexpected deviation from the initial end pursued by the characters.

The Stardust Thief trilogy remains an intriguing and enthralling novel for fans of high-stakes fantasy books with perilous quests and in-depth characters that grow throughout the reading. If you're a fan of The City of Brass and are looking for a novel with similar vibes, then you should give this series a chance!

‘The Ashfire King’ is a solid sequel to ‘The Stardust Thief’. I enjoyed getting to explore a whole new different world, which was rich in detail, and I liked seeing the characters continue to develop throughout their journeys. I would’ve liked the story to give me just a little bit more, but I’m hoping the last book of the trilogy will be able to wrap everything up nicely.

🌟 **3 out of 5 stars**

Before I begin my review, I’d like to thank @LittleBrownBookGroup and @NetGalley for providing me with an ARC I honestly didn’t expect to receive. I also want to mention that I had previously read *The Stardust Thief* as part of a German reading group on *LovelyBooks*. My final verdict back then was: *“A solid fantasy novel with great potential that wasn’t fully realized.”* So I already knew that the sequel wouldn’t be high on my priority list.

Still, when I saw *The Ashfire King* on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist. I was hoping for answers to many unresolved questions from book one — and despite my critical opinion of it, I was still curious to see what would happen next with Loulie/Layla, Mazen, and the rest.

**What’s clear from the start:**
*The Ashfire King* continues the sprawling epic that is *The Sandsea Trilogy* — a story about humans entangled in the chaos of their own conflicting ambitions, while wielding and being used by magical jinn.

**What I love about the book** is the beautiful, lyrical language. It brings to life a world reminiscent of *One Thousand and One Nights* — the imagery makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a giant bedtime tale told by Scheherazade herself.

But unfortunately, that’s also a downside. As with the first book, *The Ashfire King* is just too long. Many chapters could have been trimmed, and once again, *too much* is happening. I genuinely thought this was a duology and that this book would conclude the story. But nearing the final pages, with 50 pages left on my Kindle, it became clear this wasn’t the end — and that any kind of final showdown (Loulie/Layla, Mazen, Aisha, Qadir vs. Omar) would not be happening yet. The 544 Kindle pages felt more like 1,500.

Another issue was the narrative structure. Most of the story before the climactic ending felt like a mirrored reflection: Loulie/Mazen and Aisha/Hakim followed similar story beats in their own contexts. Since their emotional arcs also ended in similar places, much of the book felt too parallel and repetitive.

**Some positives:**
There *is* good character development — especially with Prince Mazen, who evolves from a coward into someone showing genuine bravery. His growing confidence and his deepening bond with Loulie give him more agency and importance in the story. He also gets to show off some stylish shadow and fire magic.

Loulie came back as the badass we met in *The Stardust Thief*. Her “sooner or later it’s going to happen” romance with Mazen progressed, but apart from that, there wasn’t much growth in her arc. I honestly expected more — perhaps a moment where they finally confess their feelings (it was so close!).

**What didn’t work for me:**
The divided party structure really weakened the story. The more separated the characters were, the more obvious the flaws in certain potlines became. Some just didn’t work on their own — they either weren’t strong enough narratively or felt underdeveloped. Unsurprisingly, Mazen and Loulie remained the strongest characters, while in comparison, Aisha and her djinn sidekick fell flat.

As for the Ashfire King? He barely showed up. It was obvious who he was, but the reveal was delayed for too long, and by the time it came, it didn’t land with much impact. I think his presence could have cleared up a lot of confusion and added much-needed balance to the group dynamics.

I still question the choice of title — as with *The Stardust Thief*, I think the book should’ve had a different name that better reflected its focus.

**And then there’s the magic.**
It expanded, yes — but not in a way that made much sense to me. Characters suddenly had new abilities with little explanation, and I often couldn’t tell the difference between Ifrit and jinn powers. It felt messy and confusing, rather than a natural deepening of the world building.

**Final thoughts:**
When I read a sequel, I want character growth, deeper world building, and a plot that genuinely moves forward while leaving me hungry for more. Unfortunately, *The Ashfire King* struggled to deliver on those points. The first half dragged, many character decisions were frustrating, and the whole thing often felt like a giant info-dump.

Still, I’m looking forward to the final book — I *do* want to see how it all ends. Just like with *The Stardust Thief*, I had to fight my way through this book, but the core story still has enough pull to keep me curious. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take another three years for book three to come out.

Chelsea Abdullah returns to her 1001 Arabian Nights inspired Sandsea Trilogy in The Ashfire King. This volume follows directly on from the cliffhangers of the first volume – The Stardust Thief. It opens in typical style with a storyteller’s recap of the events of the previous book (both books take breaks for story telling throughout the narrative) before jumping straight back into the action (and there is plenty of it). Those who have not read the first book and don’t wish to be spoiled should stop here.
When The Ashfire King opens, the trader Loulie and her wrongly accused companion, Prince Nazem have been taken beneath the Sandsea into the land of the Jinn. There they have to navigate their own path between the jinn queen and the ifrit Nabila who are fighting a war over the future of the realm which is slowly sinking into oblivion. Meanwhile, resurrected thief Aisha is intent on rescuing Louie’s former bodyguard (and the Ashfire King of jinn) Qadir who has been taken captive by Nazem’s evil brother Omar.
And that is just the set up. As with the first book in this series, The Ashfire King is an action packed romp through shifting allegiances, magical set pieces, huge battles a prison break, sacrifice and deception. All of it loosely based on middle eastern desert mythology. It is basically everything readers could want from a fantasy inspired by the legends of the 40 thieves, magic lamps and the voyages of Sinbad.
The Ashfire King is a long book and there is a fair bit of setting up to do in its first quarter or so. But once its two parallel quests get moving it is, like its predecessor, compulsive and engaging. All of which builds to a massive shift of the status quo and a startling cliffhanger. It was a two year wait for this second book in the series, hopefully readers will not have to wait as long for the conclusion.

I loved <i>The Stardust Thief</i> and have waited impatiently for the second book in the series, though admittedly it's been a while and I was grateful for the little refresher at the beginning of <i>The Ashfire King</i>. It was worth the wait, I'm happy to report.

I really enjoy Abdullah's writing style and the way she builds her world, using established myths and mythical creatures but giving them her own spin. I loved reconnecting with our main characters. To absolutely noone's surprise Aisha remains my favourite, and I really love where her story is heading and how her character is allowed to develop. Just really enjoy morally grey badass women finally allowing themselves to also be just a tiny bit soft sometimes, because they deserve it. Loulie and Mazen are wonderful again as well, though there is not as much development where there characters are concerned. Their romance blossoms very very slowly (and honestly - I wouldn't even need it at all) and it's sweet enough while never distracting from the action. And this series remains an action-focused one, fast-paced, barely any breaks in the story. I admit I sometimes felt that I would have preferred a little breather in between all the action, but the pacing also makes this a really quick read. I read the entirety of it in two days, most of it in one sitting.

Does it suffer a little bit from middle-book syndrome? Yes, admittedly it does. It has, at times, a certain side-quest feel to it, though it does set up the central conflict and the third book very well.
I also really missed Qadir, who was the stand-out character of book 1 for me, but it made sense why he was sidelined for this book. I also felt that the one thing Abdullah keeps shying away from is actual heart-felt consequences - there's usually a cop-out for any of the more tragic events, which does admittedly work against the feeling of high stakes action. In the end, all will be fine anyway.

So yes, another great entry in a great series despite some personal issues I had and I can't wait to read the (I think??) finale and see where it all leads.

I tried so hard to lile this. I liked the Stardust Thief but this one just fell flat for me. DNF. 3 stars because nothing was inherently bad,

This book pulls you deeper into the story, leaving you with more questions and a desperate need for the next one. If you loved the first, this will take you on an even more thrilling ride, full of heart, magic, and twists you won’t see coming.

I had forgotten how much I love this series!
The ending tho!! Like damn, let a girl breathe!! I have to wait another year or more to know what will happen? What did I ever do to you?
Anyways, putting aside the fact that I will once again not sleep with how much I want to read what’s coming next, this was amazing!
The adventure, the twists and turns, the character developments, the world!
There’s literally nothing wrong with this book and I’m here for it!

This is the second book in the Sandsea Trilogy and follows up on the events in The Stardust Thief. The story picks up where it left off in the first book and sees our main characters split - with Loulie and Mazen trapped in the unstable Djinn realm, whilst Aisha is coming to terms with having her life restored by use of a relic, however this does mean dealing with sharing her body with Amina, the Djinn bound to the relic.
Loulie and Mazen's path lead them to trying to restore the Djinn kingdom from its subsidence into the Sandsea and return to the upper world. Quadir is still missing but his dagger holds some of his spirit and magic, which only Loulie can wield. As the dagger is the only instrument by which the four bindings holding the Djinn realm down can be broken, Loulie has choices to make about her alliances and her course of action. Mazen's role as a Storyteller is explored and is pivotal to the relations with the Djinn, Marids and other demon kind. The relationship between Loulie and Mazen blossoms nicely but at an appropriate pace to the story.
Aisha is a complex and flawed character but after her betrayal by Omar (brother to Mazen and now Sultan) all her values have turned upside down. She connects with Mazen's half brother Hakim (the Mapmaker) and they work together to save Qadir from Omar...that is a journey in itself.
The book overall had good pacing, the world is well developed with lush descriptions. The last third was action packed and leaves you eager for the third book to appear.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC, all views are my own.

This book continues the story of Loulie and Mazen, a merchant and a prince who are trapped in the jinn realm after Qadir saves them from Omar.
I love the Middle Eastern setting and mythology. The main characters remained very loveable.
I absolutely loved the first book, for some reason however, I found this book really difficult to get sunk into. I think it was the direction the story took after the first book that I didn’t love. I loved the expansion of the world and the magic, but I couldn’t connect to the new characters introduced as much as I did in the first book.
Overall still a great YA book, I just found it was causing me personally, to go into a reading slump

I have waited 3 years to read this book and it was worth every second. I love these characters, the worldbuilding and the gorgeous writing.

No doubt it’s a 5 stars for meeee! I’m really lucky that the publisher grant me the eARC because i’ve been waiting for the sequel. But now.. i’ll need to wait again for the last book😭
This book gives us more battle scenes which i love. And if i disliked mazen before, here i’m head over heels for him (after Qadir ofc!) eventho here we only get a bit scenes with him, but his reunion with Loulie just make my heart melts.
I think i have no more to say unless you all should read it!

Completely stunning, this was fantastic Ithink I loved this even more than Stardust Thief and I absolutely adored that. I loved the character development, how some get closer, we see more of their struggles, their motivations, I love seeing new sides to all of them. This is definitely not a filler or prep for the third book the way some book twos can be, this is a story in its own right and deserves its place in the trilogy. It definitely makes me want the final book even more

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.