Action & Adventure
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The Stardust Thief (The Sandsea Trilogy, 1)
Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, this book weaves together the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.
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 that has the power to revive the barren land-at the cost of sacrificing all jinn.
With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan's oldest son to find the artifact. 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.
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 that has the power to revive the barren land-at the cost of sacrificing all jinn.
With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan's oldest son to find the artifact. 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.
Editorial Reviews
"The Stardust Thief is a dream written upon a page-absorbing, lingering, and poignantly told. Abdullah weaves a sweeping adventure of tales within tales, while laying bare the ways those we love can both uplift us and break our hearts."―Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"A thrilling adventure about found families, ancient magic, and stories that linger...I thoroughly enjoyed it." ―S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"You'll be charmed immediately by the characters and pulled in by this exploration of how the stories we hear and the stories we tell ourselves-beautiful and heartbreaking alike-shape us. Perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty's City of Brass."―C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken
"Reading The Stardust Thief feels like being told a story on a long, moonlit night: intimate and wondrous. Filled with folkloric dangers and a lovable cast of characters, Abdullah's debut is by turns whimsical and thrilling. I was held under its powerful enchantment from the first page to the very last."―Allison Saft, author of Down Comes the Night
"Shimmering with magic, The Stardust Thief is a gripping adventure set against an immersive world. Abdullah masterfully crafts a tale, with equally chaotic and lovable characters, that reads like it is meant to be told around the fire beneath a starlit sky."―Aamna Qureshi, author of The Lady or the Lion
"Abdullah has created a sumptuous feast of richly layered classic tales, and characters who will have you hungering to unravel their mysteries. The Stardust Thief will transport you, enchant you, and revive your belief in the magic of storytelling."―Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun
"Sizzling with action and secrets, The Stardust Thief is a grand adventure with unforgettable characters, enchanting magic, and plenty of heart!"―Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage
"[The Stardust Thief] nods to such classic tales from One Thousand and One Nights <...
"A thrilling adventure about found families, ancient magic, and stories that linger...I thoroughly enjoyed it." ―S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"You'll be charmed immediately by the characters and pulled in by this exploration of how the stories we hear and the stories we tell ourselves-beautiful and heartbreaking alike-shape us. Perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty's City of Brass."―C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken
"Reading The Stardust Thief feels like being told a story on a long, moonlit night: intimate and wondrous. Filled with folkloric dangers and a lovable cast of characters, Abdullah's debut is by turns whimsical and thrilling. I was held under its powerful enchantment from the first page to the very last."―Allison Saft, author of Down Comes the Night
"Shimmering with magic, The Stardust Thief is a gripping adventure set against an immersive world. Abdullah masterfully crafts a tale, with equally chaotic and lovable characters, that reads like it is meant to be told around the fire beneath a starlit sky."―Aamna Qureshi, author of The Lady or the Lion
"Abdullah has created a sumptuous feast of richly layered classic tales, and characters who will have you hungering to unravel their mysteries. The Stardust Thief will transport you, enchant you, and revive your belief in the magic of storytelling."―Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun
"Sizzling with action and secrets, The Stardust Thief is a grand adventure with unforgettable characters, enchanting magic, and plenty of heart!"―Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage
"[The Stardust Thief] nods to such classic tales from One Thousand and One Nights <...
Readers Top Reviews
AbigailL. J. Benn
A beautiful new look on a world many will be familiar with, explosive twists, dangerous magic and real relationships, some details of loss and grief. A great reintroduction into the middle east fantasy and its mystical desert.
PipAbigailL. J. B
This is a very entertaining read and one that I couldn’t put down. I really love all of the characters, even the less likeable ones. I can’t wait to see how the story progresses in the rest of the trilogy.
Constant ReaderPi
Bottom line: Loved it! This book is a lush tale of magic, intrigue, treachery, loyalty, friendship, and adventure. Most of the tale is told through the view of the Midnight Merchant who in her mysterious robes dusted with stars goes forth to sell objects that are infused with magic in a land where magic is illegal. The Midnight Merchant, Loulie, travels the desert lands with her also mysterious bodyguard to find the objects and then to sell them. Loulie is a young woman who was orphaned when her entire nomadic tribe was massacred in the desert. The book is loosely tied to 1001 Nights with the Forty Thieves, Jinn, and references to the great storyteller of the Arabian Nights and her murderous royal husband. Those ties bring a bit of familiarity and perhaps a hint of veracity, but the tales told here are fresh and new. The world building is excellent with most of the information about the desert, the cities, oases, and the Sandsea integrated into the story. The reader is immersed into the world without a lot of exposition, and it works very well. There is violence, murder, and torture but the book is not overly gruesome or gory. The story is much more than the violence. This is a long book, but the pacing is brisk, and the pages turn quickly. I was sorry when I finished it. The book is billed as the first in the Sandsea Triology. Here is the bad news: the other books of the trilogy are not available yet. Here is the good news: much of the story line is resolved and the book does not end in a cliffhanger. Are there more tales to be told in this world? Oh definitely! And our author is just the person to tell them. I will look forward to the next book in the series.
LeyaConstant Read
This is such a great book! The world building was absolutely lovely. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Maree LaRueLeyaCo
I'll admit, I was first drawn to this book by both the connection to my first name and Scherazade's 1001 Nights stories. But Chelsea Abdullah has done so much more with that continuing world. I really like to how the jinn were described in their impact on the desert, magical rejects, and the Middle Eastern philosophy divorced from religion was really interesting. A lot of the attire and customs DO have to do with the environment and are not just from interpretations of Islam. Abdullah is from Kuwait and definitely knows the region and storytelling style really well and it shows. This reads very much like YA in how it focuses on young adults, morality of action, little cursing and no sexual actions at all. Could also be the setting, but I still get a YA vibe. Not bad, just noting. The lead jinn, Qadir, is a very compelling character. I really enjoyed the equal closeness and ambiquity of his relationship with Loulie. She's a strong heroine and I identified with her desire to be free and strong. The male foil, Mazen, is a bit more lackluster (1/2 a star off) in his whiny prince way, but he helps the reader learn about the world. But another 1/2 star off for not well defining the world. Is it JUST the desert? Is there an ocean? Who do they trade with besides small towns and Bedouins? Lastly, the prickly thief Aisha is a darker mystery with her own goals. I liked watching her grow along the journey, especially as she had to support Mazen and learn more about jinn. I'm definitely excited for the sequel--the story practically ends on a cliffhanger! I hope we get Qadir's POV and continue to expand the universe.
