The Ashfire King

Reviews

Praise for The Stardust Thief: 

"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 The 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 A Far Wilder Magic

"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 as “Aladdin,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” and the framing tale of Scheherazade, but then charts its own thrilling territory...A marvelous plunge into a beautifully crafted adventure." —Kirkus

"Abdullah’s ambitious debut, the first in the Sandsea Trilogy, weaves an intricate tale that draws from the legends of One Thousand and One Nights to create something entirely new...Lush descriptions bring the setting to life, while the focus on myth and storytelling contrasted against the characters’ harsh reality adds to the sense of mystery and enchantment. This powerful, intriguing adventure will leave readers eager for more." —Publishers Weekly

"Abdullah writes stories like a sparkling, burning thing painted against the pitch-black night, ever out of our reach. Gently touched with lyrical writing, Abdullah’s talent is making you feel like magic exists." —BuzzFeed Expand reviews