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The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
Fantasy

The Stardust Thief

Debut

We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Chelsea Abdullah, on your first book!

by Chelsea Abdullah

Quick take

Like a certain famous lamp, this novel will grant wishes for a perfect fantasy with dark magic and a dangerous quest.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_Action

    Action-packed

  • Illustrated icon, Icons_Series

    First in series

  • Illustrated icon, Icon_BasedOnAClassic

    Based on a classic

  • Illustrated icon, Icons_Quest

    Quest

Synopsis

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.

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Free sample

Get an early look from the first pages of The Stardust Thief.

Why I love it

We’re on the cusp of summer, which means longer days and endless sun and the unavoidable itch to travel somewhere. Well, look no further: Chelsea Abdullah’s The Stardust Thief will instantly transport you.

When Loulie 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. With no choice but to embark on this journey, Loulie is thrust into a dangerous world of ghouls, a vengeful jinn queen, and a malicious killer from her past—and while it’s not exactly fun for her (or any of the other characters) it’s exceedingly fun for her readers.

This enthralling adventure unravels in a vibrant world filled to the brim with glimmering magic and lovably chaotic characters. The ensemble cast provides different perspectives to engage with this world, and you’ll enjoy each one: the criminal merchant, Loulie; her jinn bodyguard, Qadir; the cowardly prince, Mazen; and the warrior thief, Aisha.

The Stardust Thief is a classic quest and is masterfully crafted, each element delicately constructed and intertwined. It’s the type of book you’ll want to read again and again. My advice? Devour it on the first read, then go back and savor it on the second. Just like with a good vacation, it’s the type of world you’ll never want to leave.

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Member ratings (13,053)

  • Kayla A.

    Greenville, NC

    This book was so fleshed out, and beautifully written. I felt Loulie’s sorrow and anger Along every step of her journey, along with Mazen’s at the end. I would love to read a reunion between them. 

  • Maggie B.

    Brookshire, TX

    Fantasy at its finest. I’m so in love with this book. The characters are PHENOMENAL. Qadir my beloved. I’d gatekeep this if I didn’t want the next one so bad & think this author deserves all the love.

  • Rhys L.

    Leander, TX

    Be warned you’ll be dying for the sequel only to find out it’s coming in 2023! I laughed, I cried, I cried a lot, and the characters made me want to learn so much more about them and this world. Love

  • Tami S.

    Washington, UT

    The world building is absolutely fantastic and there really is a magical feel. I loved the characters and was absolutely invested in them. The ending was written so well. Can’t wait for the next one!

  • Deanna K.

    Big Lake, MN

    So many twists and lies….and a refreshing take on other worlds and fighting. The fighting was refreshing because those who were wielding knives and whatnot were not necessarily masters of their blade