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The Sandsea Trilogy #2
The Ashfire King
A merchant and a prince trapped in the crumbling realm of jinn must figure out how to save one world to return to their own in The Ashfire King, the second book in the Sandsea Trilogy, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Bone Shard Daughter.
Neither here nor there, but long ago…
After fleeing a patricidal prince, legendary merchant Loulie al-Nazari and banished prince Mazen bin Malik find themselves in the realm of jinn. But instead of sanctuary, they find a world on the cusp of collapse.
The jinn cities, long sheltered beneath the Sandsea by the magic of its kings, are sinking. Amid the turmoil, political alliances are forming, and rebellion is on the rise. When Loulie assists a dissenter—one of her bodyguard’s old comrades—she puts herself in the center of a centuries-old war.
Trapped in a world that isn’t her own and wielding magic that belongs to a fallen king, Loulie must decide: Will she carry on someone else’s legacy or carve out her own?
Neither here nor there, but long ago…
After fleeing a patricidal prince, legendary merchant Loulie al-Nazari and banished prince Mazen bin Malik find themselves in the realm of jinn. But instead of sanctuary, they find a world on the cusp of collapse.
The jinn cities, long sheltered beneath the Sandsea by the magic of its kings, are sinking. Amid the turmoil, political alliances are forming, and rebellion is on the rise. When Loulie assists a dissenter—one of her bodyguard’s old comrades—she puts herself in the center of a centuries-old war.
Trapped in a world that isn’t her own and wielding magic that belongs to a fallen king, Loulie must decide: Will she carry on someone else’s legacy or carve out her own?
544 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2025
488 people are currently reading
20247 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Abdullah
8 books1,779 followersChelsea Abdullah is an American-Kuwaiti writer born and raised in Kuwait, where she grew up listening to stories about mysterious desert creatures and wily (only sometimes likable) heroes.
Consumed by wanderlust, she has put down roots in various states. After earning her MA in English at Duquesne University, she moved to New York, where she currently lives. When not immersed in her own fictional worlds, she spends her free time playing video games, doodling characters, and hoarding books she doesn’t have the shelf space for.
Consumed by wanderlust, she has put down roots in various states. After earning her MA in English at Duquesne University, she moved to New York, where she currently lives. When not immersed in her own fictional worlds, she spends her free time playing video games, doodling characters, and hoarding books she doesn’t have the shelf space for.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews
July 19, 2022
I find it terribly disappointing and indeed offensive to see someone rate a book at 1 star when the book does not yet even have a title or release date.
If you have a genuine gripe with an author by all means write a respectful review but to go about hitting authors with 1 star before they have had a chance to even get it to the shelf? This is not respect to the author or any of us readers who want an objective opinion not sheer fantasy.
This type of negative behaviour says far more about the person who did so than the standard of the book because as I say it still being birthed by the author.
Sadly I find myself doing the exact same thing on the other end of the spectrum in an attempt to be fair to the author and offset the harm that this person is doing, not just to this author but to many others.
An author gives so much of their time and energy in writing a book, please respect that.
If you have a genuine gripe with an author by all means write a respectful review but to go about hitting authors with 1 star before they have had a chance to even get it to the shelf? This is not respect to the author or any of us readers who want an objective opinion not sheer fantasy.
This type of negative behaviour says far more about the person who did so than the standard of the book because as I say it still being birthed by the author.
Sadly I find myself doing the exact same thing on the other end of the spectrum in an attempt to be fair to the author and offset the harm that this person is doing, not just to this author but to many others.
An author gives so much of their time and energy in writing a book, please respect that.
August 17, 2025
the strength of the world-building and immersive nature of the storytelling is what made me love the first book in this series and is what makes this sequel just as enjoyable. this does such a good job at weaving in inspiration from “a thousand and one nights” to create a journey filled with magic and myth.
the only thing leaving me slightly disappointed are the characters. its a pet peeve of mine when MCs are separated, so this is desperately missing the magic of loulie and qadirs friendship that made the first book so charming. mazens characterization also felt a bit off. and i found there to be an overwhelming amount of side characters, making me struggle to remember who was who. a character list would have been super helpful.
but overall, i think this follow up novel is faithful to the world that was created in “the stardust thief” and the plot has set up for what should be an exciting final book.
↠ 3.5 stars
the only thing leaving me slightly disappointed are the characters. its a pet peeve of mine when MCs are separated, so this is desperately missing the magic of loulie and qadirs friendship that made the first book so charming. mazens characterization also felt a bit off. and i found there to be an overwhelming amount of side characters, making me struggle to remember who was who. a character list would have been super helpful.
but overall, i think this follow up novel is faithful to the world that was created in “the stardust thief” and the plot has set up for what should be an exciting final book.
↠ 3.5 stars
Want to read
August 17, 2022Qadir baby, I miss you.
Loulie darling, I miss you.
Aisha queen, I miss you.
Mazen sweetie, I miss you.
”And I’m waiting for you.”
((Please don’t make me wait too long Chelsea… I miss them all! 🥺))
🔥 THE ASHFIRE KING 🔥 Fall 2023 🔥
Loulie darling, I miss you.
Aisha queen, I miss you.
Mazen sweetie, I miss you.
”And I’m waiting for you.”
((Please don’t make me wait too long Chelsea… I miss them all! 🥺))
🔥 THE ASHFIRE KING 🔥 Fall 2023 🔥
Currently reading
April 15, 2025Update 05/08/2024: Christmas came early this year because we now have a release date ITS FINALLY HAPPENING gotta survive till 15/04/2025
Every time I see the release date pushed back, my heart breaks a little.
Every time I see the release date pushed back, my heart breaks a little.
April 10, 2025
The Ashfire King is the long-awaited sequel to The Stardust Thief.
The plot picks up where it left off with Mazen and Loulie stuck in the jinn realm.
Since it’s been years since I read the first book, I forgot virtually everything that happened, but thankfully, the author provided a detailed summary that helped jog my memory.
The pacing is well-balanced, with the action picking up in the second half. The characters go on quite the swashbuckling adventures.
The writing and world-building are as captivating as the first book. I could easily imagine this series as being adapted for the big screen.
They were brief, but the tales throughout were amazingly told.
We follow the same three characters: Loulie, Aisha, and Mazen. They all have great character arcs, but Aisha remains my favourite.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Orbit for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
The plot picks up where it left off with Mazen and Loulie stuck in the jinn realm.
Since it’s been years since I read the first book, I forgot virtually everything that happened, but thankfully, the author provided a detailed summary that helped jog my memory.
The pacing is well-balanced, with the action picking up in the second half. The characters go on quite the swashbuckling adventures.
The writing and world-building are as captivating as the first book. I could easily imagine this series as being adapted for the big screen.
They were brief, but the tales throughout were amazingly told.
We follow the same three characters: Loulie, Aisha, and Mazen. They all have great character arcs, but Aisha remains my favourite.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Orbit for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
March 2, 2025
4.0 Stars
I was quite obsessed with the first book in this epic fantasy series and so I was eager to finally continue. I enjoyed the magically take on the middle eastern setting established in the first book and enjoyed reading to the world. This second kivel continues with the same rich descriptive writing, filling out the surrounding world.
Once again, I found the characters well rounded and likeable so it was great to spend more time with them. There is some shimmering romance in this series which normally isn't my thing but I will fully admit that I got pulled into the tension between the characters.
If you enjoyed the first book you should definitely continue on. I slightly preferred the first book but I still enjoyed returning back to the world. If you are interested in this series, you will want to start back at the beginning with The Stardust Thief.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I was quite obsessed with the first book in this epic fantasy series and so I was eager to finally continue. I enjoyed the magically take on the middle eastern setting established in the first book and enjoyed reading to the world. This second kivel continues with the same rich descriptive writing, filling out the surrounding world.
Once again, I found the characters well rounded and likeable so it was great to spend more time with them. There is some shimmering romance in this series which normally isn't my thing but I will fully admit that I got pulled into the tension between the characters.
If you enjoyed the first book you should definitely continue on. I slightly preferred the first book but I still enjoyed returning back to the world. If you are interested in this series, you will want to start back at the beginning with The Stardust Thief.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 27, 2025
The softhearted Prince, Mazen, and the Midnight Merchant, Loulie, find themselves in the sunken jinn realm, a legendary place no human has ever set foot in.
Aisha—the thief who had betrayed, then saved them—stayed behind to carry out her revenge against the king who had lied to her.
Remember, there is no such thing as a single truth. There are just the stories we tell others, and the ones we tell ourselves.
Quadir (my favourite) takes a step back in this book (one of my saddest gripes) and despite the big revelations, he is sidelined.
Despite loving book one, it was more action and plot focused then character-driven. In this instalment, we get to see characters (especially Mazen) develop as he reflects on himself and how others may have perceived him and what he wants.
“I know what it’s like to keep living after losing everything,” she said softly. “It’s like sinking in the Sandsea. You don’t know when the end will come or if it will. And either way, it doesn’t matter, because there is no reprieve. You just sink and sink...” Her breathing hitched. “Until someone pulls you out and gives you a new purpose. But even then, the hole remains. You can build a new life around it, but it never fills. You continue living, but you never stop sinking.”
Again, I have to shout out the short stories contained in this book. They are vivid despite being merely pages long. They have a tale quality that makes me want a mythology short story collection by the author.
I did want more badass Aisha moments, but she seems more unsure of herself following the betrayal of book one.
One thing I didn’t get - how Mazen, the supposed pacifist, is suddenly great at fighting.
Arc gifted by Little Brown Book Group.
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Aisha—the thief who had betrayed, then saved them—stayed behind to carry out her revenge against the king who had lied to her.
Remember, there is no such thing as a single truth. There are just the stories we tell others, and the ones we tell ourselves.
Quadir (my favourite) takes a step back in this book (one of my saddest gripes) and despite the big revelations, he is sidelined.
Despite loving book one, it was more action and plot focused then character-driven. In this instalment, we get to see characters (especially Mazen) develop as he reflects on himself and how others may have perceived him and what he wants.
“I know what it’s like to keep living after losing everything,” she said softly. “It’s like sinking in the Sandsea. You don’t know when the end will come or if it will. And either way, it doesn’t matter, because there is no reprieve. You just sink and sink...” Her breathing hitched. “Until someone pulls you out and gives you a new purpose. But even then, the hole remains. You can build a new life around it, but it never fills. You continue living, but you never stop sinking.”
Again, I have to shout out the short stories contained in this book. They are vivid despite being merely pages long. They have a tale quality that makes me want a mythology short story collection by the author.
I did want more badass Aisha moments, but she seems more unsure of herself following the betrayal of book one.
One thing I didn’t get - how Mazen, the supposed pacifist, is suddenly great at fighting.
Arc gifted by Little Brown Book Group.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
May 6, 2025
My most anticipated read of the year did not disappoint.
Loved this as much as the first.
All the faves are back, but they're trapped in Djinn land and things are not going to go well for them.
This was super easy to fall back into - there's a wonderful recap at the start, cleverly disguised as one of the many stories told throughout the series, so getting caught up is easy and we can get straight back to the action.
There's further character development of our regulars which is quite rewarding, and there are some fun new faces which will hopefully have some more air time in the third book.
There's plenty of action, magic and storytelling, and the stakes are nice and high. It took a little bit for me to understand what was being asked of Loulie, but it was still easy enough to follow along.
There's a new threat in this story which was fun to follow, and there is a lot of grey in the characters so choosing sides is never easy.
There's also strong friendships and bonds which just make my heart melt. I feel so much for these characters.
Absolutely loved it - just as absorbing as the first with more magic, more action, and more fun.
Very keen for the last book in the series and already hoping there are plenty of spin offs!
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
Loved this as much as the first.
All the faves are back, but they're trapped in Djinn land and things are not going to go well for them.
This was super easy to fall back into - there's a wonderful recap at the start, cleverly disguised as one of the many stories told throughout the series, so getting caught up is easy and we can get straight back to the action.
There's further character development of our regulars which is quite rewarding, and there are some fun new faces which will hopefully have some more air time in the third book.
There's plenty of action, magic and storytelling, and the stakes are nice and high. It took a little bit for me to understand what was being asked of Loulie, but it was still easy enough to follow along.
There's a new threat in this story which was fun to follow, and there is a lot of grey in the characters so choosing sides is never easy.
There's also strong friendships and bonds which just make my heart melt. I feel so much for these characters.
Absolutely loved it - just as absorbing as the first with more magic, more action, and more fun.
Very keen for the last book in the series and already hoping there are plenty of spin offs!
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
April 3, 2025
I had a tough time ratings and reviewing this book for possibly stupid reasons. The Ashfire King is the very very long awaited sequel to The Stardust Thief. There was a huge gap between the first and second book, but it wasn't terribly hard to get caught back up. The Ashfire King is a mostly good book with some small flaws that prevented it from being a 5 star read.
Much like the first book, Ashfire focuses on action and adventure- taking the scope of a 1970s-80s fantasy while injecting it into complex and relatable characters. We have 3 major POVs- Loulie, Aisha, and Mazen.
Most of the book takes place in the world of the djinn, where our heroes find themselves trapped and unable to get back to the world that Omar is now ravaging at the surface. In a world abandoned by the Ashfire King, revealed as Loulie's faithful bodyguard Qadir, the world of Djinn is in a state of chaos as different faction leaders are in a constant state of war and unrest.
Meanwhile. Aisha chases Omar to extract her revenge on him.
The thing I love most about this series is the scope, character can travel across worlds, through wholly new cultures, and the universe truly feels baked and lived in. Chelsea Abdullah is a master at non overwhelming world building- she doesn't need to explain what every plant or food item is because her dreamy fairy tale universe operates very well exactly how it is- yet you still feel like you learn a lot about it and how it operates.
This is most certainly a middle book. with the primary focus not really being on our main villain- this is basically a very, very long side quest and COULD have been removed completely. Regardless, what I liked about it is that it still felt like there were critical stakes, and I don't mind if a story isn't relevant as much to the main plot if its still feels fundamentally interesting. One of the strengths of The Sandsea Trilogy is having this odd "Saturday morning cartoon" for grown ups feeling- I would comp it to a series like Trigun in this regard. So was most of this book strictly necessary? No, but it was still meaningful and fun.
Loulie was amazing as always, and Aisha easily had the story's best chapters and strongest character development. Focusing for a moment on Aisha's plotline, we REALLY get to know her in this book, and if you are partial to morally grey characters, I find her to be an absolute treat in this book- especially because she is our only eyes into a secondary plot.
Regardless, characters are where I struggled with this installment. Qadir, arguably the most popular character of the series, is missing for most of the book. No POV, not a lot of checking in. I thought his absence was handled well, but pulling your best character out of the action for that long certainly doesn't add to the book's positive traits.
Mazen was my second issue. I mentioned in the first book I didn'r feel his POV added much, and my opinion has not changed. Mazen doesn't really have anything to learn- he feels like Abdullah's pet character who is always morally sound, makes good choices, and his failures are cleaned up well. Hes boring, basically. His only character growth between two books is focused on learning to like- value himself more as a prince, and even that is not touched on much. Mazen is a character who the plot often happens to, not a character who drives it. When the coolest thing about him in 2 books is that in book 2 he gets a dope pet bird, thats an issue for me. I found his chapters boring yet again.
Additionally, Chelsea Abdullah's ultimate choice for who to put into a romantic relationship was...awful. I knew there would be romance in this book due to an AMA answer she has provided last year, and was hoping the slow burn would result in something cool. The character chosen for the romance (you can probably guess based on whats negative about this review) was awful, and any scenes meant to be romantic felt hollow and completely void of chemistry. Thank god its not a huge focus of the book, because it would be enough to turn me off the series.
Despite these flaws, I did really enjoy my time reading the Ashfire King. Sandsea series is basically popcorn plus- its all of the fun of reading genres that are meant to turn your brain off, but with the added benefit of really cool cultural elements, interesting characters, and excellent storytelling. This series is begging for an animated adaptation!
3.5/5
Much like the first book, Ashfire focuses on action and adventure- taking the scope of a 1970s-80s fantasy while injecting it into complex and relatable characters. We have 3 major POVs- Loulie, Aisha, and Mazen.
Most of the book takes place in the world of the djinn, where our heroes find themselves trapped and unable to get back to the world that Omar is now ravaging at the surface. In a world abandoned by the Ashfire King, revealed as Loulie's faithful bodyguard Qadir, the world of Djinn is in a state of chaos as different faction leaders are in a constant state of war and unrest.
Meanwhile. Aisha chases Omar to extract her revenge on him.
The thing I love most about this series is the scope, character can travel across worlds, through wholly new cultures, and the universe truly feels baked and lived in. Chelsea Abdullah is a master at non overwhelming world building- she doesn't need to explain what every plant or food item is because her dreamy fairy tale universe operates very well exactly how it is- yet you still feel like you learn a lot about it and how it operates.
This is most certainly a middle book. with the primary focus not really being on our main villain- this is basically a very, very long side quest and COULD have been removed completely. Regardless, what I liked about it is that it still felt like there were critical stakes, and I don't mind if a story isn't relevant as much to the main plot if its still feels fundamentally interesting. One of the strengths of The Sandsea Trilogy is having this odd "Saturday morning cartoon" for grown ups feeling- I would comp it to a series like Trigun in this regard. So was most of this book strictly necessary? No, but it was still meaningful and fun.
Loulie was amazing as always, and Aisha easily had the story's best chapters and strongest character development. Focusing for a moment on Aisha's plotline, we REALLY get to know her in this book, and if you are partial to morally grey characters, I find her to be an absolute treat in this book- especially because she is our only eyes into a secondary plot.
Regardless, characters are where I struggled with this installment. Qadir, arguably the most popular character of the series, is missing for most of the book. No POV, not a lot of checking in. I thought his absence was handled well, but pulling your best character out of the action for that long certainly doesn't add to the book's positive traits.
Mazen was my second issue. I mentioned in the first book I didn'r feel his POV added much, and my opinion has not changed. Mazen doesn't really have anything to learn- he feels like Abdullah's pet character who is always morally sound, makes good choices, and his failures are cleaned up well. Hes boring, basically. His only character growth between two books is focused on learning to like- value himself more as a prince, and even that is not touched on much. Mazen is a character who the plot often happens to, not a character who drives it. When the coolest thing about him in 2 books is that in book 2 he gets a dope pet bird, thats an issue for me. I found his chapters boring yet again.
Additionally, Chelsea Abdullah's ultimate choice for who to put into a romantic relationship was...awful. I knew there would be romance in this book due to an AMA answer she has provided last year, and was hoping the slow burn would result in something cool. The character chosen for the romance (you can probably guess based on whats negative about this review) was awful, and any scenes meant to be romantic felt hollow and completely void of chemistry. Thank god its not a huge focus of the book, because it would be enough to turn me off the series.
Despite these flaws, I did really enjoy my time reading the Ashfire King. Sandsea series is basically popcorn plus- its all of the fun of reading genres that are meant to turn your brain off, but with the added benefit of really cool cultural elements, interesting characters, and excellent storytelling. This series is begging for an animated adaptation!
3.5/5
April 17, 2025
The Ashfire King
by Chelsea Abdullah
The Sandsea Trilogy #2
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: April 15, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 14+
Escaping into the jinn cities, Loulie and Mazen thought they would be safe, only to find the jinn's world hidden under the Sandsea is sinking, the sky cracking.
Aisha and Qadir stayed behind, and Loulie doesn't know if her best friend is alive or if their betrayer finished what they set out to do.
This is the second book of the Sandsea trilogy, and I waited three years to read this, and was very disappointed in the recap. Sure, there was the blurb in the beginning, but it still didn't cover the important stuff! I remembered only a little of what happened in the first book, which I read in 2022, and even after finishing this one, I don't remember what the betrayer did, or some of the other things that happened, or the details of the world. It was as if the author expected me to reread the first book.... I don't do that unless the book was a five-star bomb, and that first book was far from that.
Even the jinn world was not described in much detail, and most irritating was the lack of differentiation between the Jinn and the Ifrit. That is a very important detail to skip.
Anyways.... I did almost DNF this one! The writing started off childish, as if the target audience was under ten. This book isn't suitable for readers under 14. There's just a little too much violence/torture. The characters were supposed to be adults, and the jinns hundreds of years old, but they all seemed to think/act like ten-year-olds, but thankfully, the writing did mature and the story finally became interesting and readable and by the ending, I was enjoying the story.
I do want to read the next book in the series, but I wonder if it is going to be another three-year wait, then a poor recap, and immature writing.
A very low...
3 Stars
by Chelsea Abdullah
The Sandsea Trilogy #2
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: April 15, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 14+
Escaping into the jinn cities, Loulie and Mazen thought they would be safe, only to find the jinn's world hidden under the Sandsea is sinking, the sky cracking.
Aisha and Qadir stayed behind, and Loulie doesn't know if her best friend is alive or if their betrayer finished what they set out to do.
This is the second book of the Sandsea trilogy, and I waited three years to read this, and was very disappointed in the recap. Sure, there was the blurb in the beginning, but it still didn't cover the important stuff! I remembered only a little of what happened in the first book, which I read in 2022, and even after finishing this one, I don't remember what the betrayer did, or some of the other things that happened, or the details of the world. It was as if the author expected me to reread the first book.... I don't do that unless the book was a five-star bomb, and that first book was far from that.
Even the jinn world was not described in much detail, and most irritating was the lack of differentiation between the Jinn and the Ifrit. That is a very important detail to skip.
Anyways.... I did almost DNF this one! The writing started off childish, as if the target audience was under ten. This book isn't suitable for readers under 14. There's just a little too much violence/torture. The characters were supposed to be adults, and the jinns hundreds of years old, but they all seemed to think/act like ten-year-olds, but thankfully, the writing did mature and the story finally became interesting and readable and by the ending, I was enjoying the story.
I do want to read the next book in the series, but I wonder if it is going to be another three-year wait, then a poor recap, and immature writing.
A very low...
3 Stars
August 19, 2022
Edit: 20 august 22: it has a cover!!! Eeek this is exciting
Carol L,
I completely agree at the lack of thought for a person with feelings at the recieving end of these ridiculous ratings.
After having read the first in this series I personally can not wait to read the rest! Chelsea Abdullah write faster please ;)
Carol L,
I completely agree at the lack of thought for a person with feelings at the recieving end of these ridiculous ratings.
After having read the first in this series I personally can not wait to read the rest! Chelsea Abdullah write faster please ;)
Want to read
August 17, 2022The cover? Stunning.
The title? Perfection.
The release date? Too far away.
But seriously, the audacity of the cover artist to make something so gorgeous when the book doesn't come out for so long... I feel personally victimised.
The title? Perfection.
The release date? Too far away.
But seriously, the audacity of the cover artist to make something so gorgeous when the book doesn't come out for so long... I feel personally victimised.
Want to read
June 26, 2024if the release date gets pushed again i’m going to do something drastic 🧍🏼♀️
Want to read
October 30, 2022November 2023, are you insane??????
April 7, 2025
It’s high time for book 2. It’s been about 3 years, but Abdullah fans are ready to dive into the Sandsea again (just don’t forget the pearl necklace).
If there isn’t some serious romance in book three, I’m sending my therapy bills directly to Chelsea Abdullah. 😩
3 Reasons to read/continue this series:
1. Abdullah dishes out world building that begs to be your next beach read.
2. If you’re starved for Arabic mythology driven stories (like me).
3. If “found-family”, clever & kick-🍑 female characters and stories-within-stories are vibes you like.
I will admit, I wished this book was more adult vs YA- only because I see multiple slow burns starting to take place and I wanted to see the 🔥🔥🔥🔥.
I will also admit, I struggled a little to imagine some of the more adventurous scenes, but it’s okay- I still had a great time in those chaotic moments.
Netgalley & @orbitbooks_us – TY for coming in strong and providing an ARC to one of my most anticipated reads this year. How soon till book three? 👀👀👀
I’m ready for a family reunion. >>>rubs hands together<<<
If there isn’t some serious romance in book three, I’m sending my therapy bills directly to Chelsea Abdullah. 😩
3 Reasons to read/continue this series:
1. Abdullah dishes out world building that begs to be your next beach read.
2. If you’re starved for Arabic mythology driven stories (like me).
3. If “found-family”, clever & kick-🍑 female characters and stories-within-stories are vibes you like.
I will admit, I wished this book was more adult vs YA- only because I see multiple slow burns starting to take place and I wanted to see the 🔥🔥🔥🔥.
I will also admit, I struggled a little to imagine some of the more adventurous scenes, but it’s okay- I still had a great time in those chaotic moments.
Netgalley & @orbitbooks_us – TY for coming in strong and providing an ARC to one of my most anticipated reads this year. How soon till book three? 👀👀👀
I’m ready for a family reunion. >>>rubs hands together<<<
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2025
started off a little rocky BUT this really picked up by the second half! i can’t wait for the conclusion, i just know it’s going to be amazing
Want to read
September 16, 2025What a gorgeous cover, it reminds me of an old tale that mama used to tell us about a bird that can heal people through song and tears.
April 16, 2025
4.5/5 stars
Was it worth the wait? YES. I was immediately swept back in as if no time had passed at all (partial thanks to the lovely recap).
An action-packed continuation with incredible world building and mythology. The stakes were even higher and had me riveted to each and every page.
I have a special place in my heart for all of these characters and they are the highlight of this series for me. The struggles and triumphs the characters faced made the story even more impactful and thought-provoking.
"To live is to persevere. For the world, and in spite of it."
That ending! Once again Chelsea Abdullah left us with a shocking cliffhanger that had me wanting to throw my kindle across the room. I will be impatiently waiting to see how the finale ends.
Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for an eARC.
Was it worth the wait? YES. I was immediately swept back in as if no time had passed at all (partial thanks to the lovely recap).
An action-packed continuation with incredible world building and mythology. The stakes were even higher and had me riveted to each and every page.
I have a special place in my heart for all of these characters and they are the highlight of this series for me. The struggles and triumphs the characters faced made the story even more impactful and thought-provoking.
"To live is to persevere. For the world, and in spite of it."
That ending! Once again Chelsea Abdullah left us with a shocking cliffhanger that had me wanting to throw my kindle across the room. I will be impatiently waiting to see how the finale ends.
Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for an eARC.
July 9, 2025
I remember reading the first book when it came out and absolutely loving it. I'd been anticipating the sequel since then and was hoping it'd live up to the wait. I'm very grateful there was a brief summary of the first book's events in the beginning as I didn't want to reread the first book just yet but didn't want to be confused.
This book was an epic second book. I enjoyed every minute and it was very hard to put down. The character development and tension were so well done and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book!!!
Content: some language, not as intense as the first book at all
This book was an epic second book. I enjoyed every minute and it was very hard to put down. The character development and tension were so well done and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book!!!
Content: some language, not as intense as the first book at all
May 23, 2025
Tout aussi bon que le premier. je me suis régalé ! Merci aux personnages qui font tout ! notamment Aisha Bint Louas - ma préférée depuis le début, pour son caractère et l'évolution portée à ce personnage 😍
April 26, 2025
Gorgeous world, but a slow return after a long wait
It’s been three years since The Stardust Thief, so going into The Ashfire King was a mix of excitement and hesitation. There’s a recap at the start, but honestly? It didn’t help much. I still felt disoriented for a good portion of the early chapters, struggling to remember key plot points and emotional arcs.
The worldbuilding is as rich and magical as ever, and the jinn lore continues to be a standout element. Aisha’s storyline with the Resurrectionist had some dark, tense moments—but I never fully connected to it emotionally. Which is difficult since she carried this book... And my two favorites, Loulie and Mazen, had strong potential, but their arcs dragged a bit, and the tension that made book one so gripping just wasn’t there this time around.
And look—can we talk about Qadir for a second? He was my absolute favorite in The Stardust Thief, and considering the title of this book is literally The Ashfire King, I expected him to have a much bigger presence. The lack of his POV—and his general absence—was frustrating.
The themes of power, rebellion, and legacy are interesting and do offer some strong moments, but overall, this felt like a classic middle book—wandering too much and lacking the punch of the first.
📝 Final thoughts: Still worth reading if you’re invested in the story, but be ready for a slow start, a bit of confusion, and not nearly enough Qadir. Not a bad sequel, but it didn’t quite live up to the wait or the promise of the title.
Thank you to Netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been three years since The Stardust Thief, so going into The Ashfire King was a mix of excitement and hesitation. There’s a recap at the start, but honestly? It didn’t help much. I still felt disoriented for a good portion of the early chapters, struggling to remember key plot points and emotional arcs.
The worldbuilding is as rich and magical as ever, and the jinn lore continues to be a standout element. Aisha’s storyline with the Resurrectionist had some dark, tense moments—but I never fully connected to it emotionally. Which is difficult since she carried this book... And my two favorites, Loulie and Mazen, had strong potential, but their arcs dragged a bit, and the tension that made book one so gripping just wasn’t there this time around.
And look—can we talk about Qadir for a second? He was my absolute favorite in The Stardust Thief, and considering the title of this book is literally The Ashfire King, I expected him to have a much bigger presence. The lack of his POV—and his general absence—was frustrating.
The themes of power, rebellion, and legacy are interesting and do offer some strong moments, but overall, this felt like a classic middle book—wandering too much and lacking the punch of the first.
📝 Final thoughts: Still worth reading if you’re invested in the story, but be ready for a slow start, a bit of confusion, and not nearly enough Qadir. Not a bad sequel, but it didn’t quite live up to the wait or the promise of the title.
Thank you to Netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me another round with this series.
I love Chelsea's writing, I think after the Daevabad series, this one fills that hole - easily. The characters are all stellar ranging from misguided to evil. The story is about humanity (unknown-st to them) vs the djinn world. The plot for the whos and whys are more drawn out and and understood.
But, WHY did I give it three stars? Lets be clear: splitting the party in D&D and in books is never really a solid choice, especially when different characters have different things going on.
This book suffered from the divided parties doing different things. The weakness in certain plot lines become more evident and you realize they either were poorly handled or weren't meant to be by their own. The strongest had to be Mazen and Loulie, because they are your two leads. The weakest was Aisha and her co-pilot djinn.
As for the Ashfire King, hardly showed up in it. Quite obvious who it was, but keeping the information on the down-low.
The ending and the last book sound like it will be a lot more exciting and crazy in terms of plot. It just felt like most of it was info-dumping and weak. I look forward to the last book but if I had to slog through this to get to that, then, well, it's a me thing and not any fault of the book.
May 17, 2025
A great sequel to one of my favorite books. I adore these characters (I wish Qadir had been in this one more!), and I especially enjoyed it once Aisha’s chapters became more frequent. Loulie and Mazen have such a great grumpy sunshine slow burn, and I love Aisha’s internal struggles (no spoilers). I’ll admit that I had a bit of a hard time understanding what was going on sometimes, especially in the jinn world, maybe because I had a hard time grasping the Sandsea and the geography. But I remember having the same issue with The Stardust Thief the first time through and understanding it much better upon reread, so I think it’ll be the same with this one. I also liked the inclusion of the marid in this one, who were only briefly mentioned in the first book, and the explanation of why Hakim is so good with mapmaking. And I loved learning more about the other jinn kings. Also, Mazen is a cinnamon roll and I adore him. There’s so much great setup for the final book, and I can’t wait to find out what happens!
P. S. Beware the birds.
P. S. Beware the birds.
March 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC!!
Ugh, I’m so obsessed with everything about this book. The characters, the setting, the plot…..just incredible. It truly transports you to another world. I find this series to be so different and unique compared to other romantasy books. Normally, sequels can be extremely disappoint but I did not feel that way at all about this one. Truly amazing.
The characters all had their own growth and journey and I LOVE the middle eastern folklore flair.
Normally I am not a fan of books with very little romance, so it is saying something that I still ate this up. The writing is just so good and the world is truly magical!!!
Here’s some favorite quotes:
“‘I know what it’s like to keep living after losing everything,’ she said softly. ‘It’s like sinking in the Sandsea. You don’t know when the end will come or if it will. And either way, it doesn’t matter, because there is no reprieve. You just sink and sink….’ Her breathing hitched. ‘Until someone pulls you out and gives you a new purpose. But even then, the hole remains. You can build a new life around it, but it never fills. You continue living, but you never stop sinking.’”
“‘That is a creature made from legendary fire, and you treat it like a domesticated animal!’
‘It likes sitting on my shoulder,’ Mazen said defensively.”
“Your weakness is not your incompetence or your cowardice. It is your inability to forgive yourself. I have failed, time and again, but so long as I breathe, I will not falter.”
Ugh, I’m so obsessed with everything about this book. The characters, the setting, the plot…..just incredible. It truly transports you to another world. I find this series to be so different and unique compared to other romantasy books. Normally, sequels can be extremely disappoint but I did not feel that way at all about this one. Truly amazing.
The characters all had their own growth and journey and I LOVE the middle eastern folklore flair.
Normally I am not a fan of books with very little romance, so it is saying something that I still ate this up. The writing is just so good and the world is truly magical!!!
Here’s some favorite quotes:
“‘I know what it’s like to keep living after losing everything,’ she said softly. ‘It’s like sinking in the Sandsea. You don’t know when the end will come or if it will. And either way, it doesn’t matter, because there is no reprieve. You just sink and sink….’ Her breathing hitched. ‘Until someone pulls you out and gives you a new purpose. But even then, the hole remains. You can build a new life around it, but it never fills. You continue living, but you never stop sinking.’”
“‘That is a creature made from legendary fire, and you treat it like a domesticated animal!’
‘It likes sitting on my shoulder,’ Mazen said defensively.”
“Your weakness is not your incompetence or your cowardice. It is your inability to forgive yourself. I have failed, time and again, but so long as I breathe, I will not falter.”
March 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I do not want to go too in-depth with this review as it is for the second book, but just know it is amazing and well worth the wait! I would definitely recommend doing a recap of the first book, seeing as it's been a few years since the first book's release. We get a slight recap in the book, but that is one thing I wish was brought out a little more, seeing as there has been such a gap between book releases.
The story is very action-packed, mainly taking place in the realm of the djinns where they are trying to escape to get back to the world that Omar is slowly destroying. They deal with the political strife in the djinn realm along the way. In the middle of the book, there was some filler information that could have been shortened, but I still enjoyed the ride.
The one major flaw I found in the book was the romance choice. It made sense but was not executed well and felt more awkward than anything. Overall, though, I have really enjoyed this series and can't wait for the final book! (Hopefully, it will not take as long this time).
I do not want to go too in-depth with this review as it is for the second book, but just know it is amazing and well worth the wait! I would definitely recommend doing a recap of the first book, seeing as it's been a few years since the first book's release. We get a slight recap in the book, but that is one thing I wish was brought out a little more, seeing as there has been such a gap between book releases.
The story is very action-packed, mainly taking place in the realm of the djinns where they are trying to escape to get back to the world that Omar is slowly destroying. They deal with the political strife in the djinn realm along the way. In the middle of the book, there was some filler information that could have been shortened, but I still enjoyed the ride.
The one major flaw I found in the book was the romance choice. It made sense but was not executed well and felt more awkward than anything. Overall, though, I have really enjoyed this series and can't wait for the final book! (Hopefully, it will not take as long this time).
May 9, 2025
The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah is the long awaited sequel to the Stardust Thief and it was one I was desperately looking forward to. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me in the way that the first book did.
Whenever I read a sequel, I look for character growth, the worldbuilding and magic system to deepen and my understanding of it to deepen alongside that, and for the plot to move significantly forward whilst also leaving me wanting more. I felt that the first half of this novel was incredibly slow paced and when trying to sum up what was happening, I struggled. The magic does evolve but unfortunately in ways I didn’t really understand, I couldn’t quite see how characters were suddenly having the ability to do things that they previously couldn’t do and how to distinguish between the powers of the Ifrit and the jinn. Yet for me, my biggest issue was the characters. We spend the majority of the book with Loulie and Mazen, and some of the decisions they made really frustrated me because they always landed them in further strife and had they thought about their actions for just a moment, a lot could have been avoided. It just didn’t feel like they had grown at all. We are also left without Qadir, which I found a real letdown because had he been there a lot could have been answered more clearly.
I know I’ve been quite negative here, but there were some positives too. For instance, I loved the descriptions of the Ifrit world, it was so magical and mesmerising. The interlude stories were amazing. There were also some seafaring adventures and a battle between gigantic marid creatures which was extremely thrilling to read—I love stories set on the sea. We also have some magical creatures and my favourite was Azhar the Firebird. Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed the chapters we get with Aisha, the assassin thief, this was a character who was my least favourite in the first book but became so interesting in this one.
Overall, there were many scenes that I enjoyed and found exciting in the Ashfire King but many elements which also left me disappointed. Believe me that really pains me to say.
ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy!
Whenever I read a sequel, I look for character growth, the worldbuilding and magic system to deepen and my understanding of it to deepen alongside that, and for the plot to move significantly forward whilst also leaving me wanting more. I felt that the first half of this novel was incredibly slow paced and when trying to sum up what was happening, I struggled. The magic does evolve but unfortunately in ways I didn’t really understand, I couldn’t quite see how characters were suddenly having the ability to do things that they previously couldn’t do and how to distinguish between the powers of the Ifrit and the jinn. Yet for me, my biggest issue was the characters. We spend the majority of the book with Loulie and Mazen, and some of the decisions they made really frustrated me because they always landed them in further strife and had they thought about their actions for just a moment, a lot could have been avoided. It just didn’t feel like they had grown at all. We are also left without Qadir, which I found a real letdown because had he been there a lot could have been answered more clearly.
I know I’ve been quite negative here, but there were some positives too. For instance, I loved the descriptions of the Ifrit world, it was so magical and mesmerising. The interlude stories were amazing. There were also some seafaring adventures and a battle between gigantic marid creatures which was extremely thrilling to read—I love stories set on the sea. We also have some magical creatures and my favourite was Azhar the Firebird. Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed the chapters we get with Aisha, the assassin thief, this was a character who was my least favourite in the first book but became so interesting in this one.
Overall, there were many scenes that I enjoyed and found exciting in the Ashfire King but many elements which also left me disappointed. Believe me that really pains me to say.
ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy!
June 10, 2025
I'm so sad that I just did not love this. I really enjoyed the Stardust Thief when it came out a few years ago. The pacing was a bit off at times, but it was a debut, and overall it was just a really enjoyable story, so I was excited for this sequel. However the slight issues I had with that book really morphed into larger issues here, and led me to just totally disconnect from the story.
First for me is the pacing. The first book was essentially an adventure story, and as such, I was ok with just kind of wandering the desert with our heroes as they figure things out. However, this story, which follows a lot of important action and reveals at the end of the first book, essentially kind of follows the same formula. Despite a LOT happening, nothing really feels urgent until close to the end of the book.
Moreover, characters who I was really excited to get to know that got less page time in Book 1 really didn't get more here (Quadir, Hakim). Aisha's story was by far the most exciting, but even then, it really took too long (well over 50% of the book) to get going and for anything meaningful to really happen. This is a 500+ page book, so I want to feel like the action is leading somewhere important, and I just didn't.
Finally, with the exception of Aisha, I struggled a bit with the characters and the character writing. This is adult fantasy, but for me increasingly it read like young adult, and two of the central perspective characters read like teenagers. I know they are youngER adults, but they didn't read that way to me. Both of them could have been 16 and honestly the story would have fit better. We are told so much about Loulie (she's legendary, she's adventurous etc) that doesn't actually fit with what we are SHOWN about her.
Overall, I was prepared to give this one a fair shake because I really enjoyed the author's debut, and I'm always looking for more fun adult fantasy adventure stories, but it just didn't work for me sadly!
Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
First for me is the pacing. The first book was essentially an adventure story, and as such, I was ok with just kind of wandering the desert with our heroes as they figure things out. However, this story, which follows a lot of important action and reveals at the end of the first book, essentially kind of follows the same formula. Despite a LOT happening, nothing really feels urgent until close to the end of the book.
Moreover, characters who I was really excited to get to know that got less page time in Book 1 really didn't get more here (Quadir, Hakim). Aisha's story was by far the most exciting, but even then, it really took too long (well over 50% of the book) to get going and for anything meaningful to really happen. This is a 500+ page book, so I want to feel like the action is leading somewhere important, and I just didn't.
Finally, with the exception of Aisha, I struggled a bit with the characters and the character writing. This is adult fantasy, but for me increasingly it read like young adult, and two of the central perspective characters read like teenagers. I know they are youngER adults, but they didn't read that way to me. Both of them could have been 16 and honestly the story would have fit better. We are told so much about Loulie (she's legendary, she's adventurous etc) that doesn't actually fit with what we are SHOWN about her.
Overall, I was prepared to give this one a fair shake because I really enjoyed the author's debut, and I'm always looking for more fun adult fantasy adventure stories, but it just didn't work for me sadly!
Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 20, 2025
4.25⭐
Since it is less than a month till this book is released, it is time to officially review this amazing book!
I loved the first book in the series, so I was so happy to love the second book. This is a sequel to Stardust Thief, a fantasy series inspired from One Thousand and One Nights. This series has jinn, ghouls, magic, a magical lamp, and Arab characters in an Arab-inspired world. In this book, we are taken to more magical places like the underground jinn cities. Definitely would recommend this series!
↣ Loulie, Mazen, Qadir, and Aisha
Love these four main characters!! I still want Qadir's pov tho. Mazen and Loulie are such a slow burn, it's killing me. Multiple times while reading I wanted to scream at them. Like... JUST KISS ALREADY.
↣ Hakim
Hakim is the brother to one of the main characters, Mazen, and to the antagonist, Omar. I liked how Hakim had a bigger role in this. In the first book, he was a minor character, but in this book, he's now a supporting character. Hakim and Aisha were a fighting duo I didn't know I needed.
↣ Other characters
The Queen of Dhahab, Nabila, Ziyad, and Omar can all CATCH THESE HANDS cause I hate all of them.
↣ Tropes and Aesthetics
Arab-Inspired World
Found Family
Desert Setting
Magical World
Slow Burn
Characters Going On A Quest
*SPOILERS (I THINK?): One thing that confused me was all that talk about the bindings. Like... is it a good idea or a bad idea to raise the jinn cities to the surface?
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
-----------------------------------
I GOT THE ARC LETS GO🏃🏾♀️➡️🏃🏾♀️➡️
Since it is less than a month till this book is released, it is time to officially review this amazing book!
I loved the first book in the series, so I was so happy to love the second book. This is a sequel to Stardust Thief, a fantasy series inspired from One Thousand and One Nights. This series has jinn, ghouls, magic, a magical lamp, and Arab characters in an Arab-inspired world. In this book, we are taken to more magical places like the underground jinn cities. Definitely would recommend this series!
↣ Loulie, Mazen, Qadir, and Aisha
Love these four main characters!! I still want Qadir's pov tho. Mazen and Loulie are such a slow burn, it's killing me. Multiple times while reading I wanted to scream at them. Like... JUST KISS ALREADY.
↣ Hakim
Hakim is the brother to one of the main characters, Mazen, and to the antagonist, Omar. I liked how Hakim had a bigger role in this. In the first book, he was a minor character, but in this book, he's now a supporting character. Hakim and Aisha were a fighting duo I didn't know I needed.
↣ Other characters
The Queen of Dhahab, Nabila, Ziyad, and Omar can all CATCH THESE HANDS cause I hate all of them.
↣ Tropes and Aesthetics
Arab-Inspired World
Found Family
Desert Setting
Magical World
Slow Burn
Characters Going On A Quest
*SPOILERS (I THINK?): One thing that confused me was all that talk about the bindings. Like... is it a good idea or a bad idea to raise the jinn cities to the surface?
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
-----------------------------------
I GOT THE ARC LETS GO🏃🏾♀️➡️🏃🏾♀️➡️
May 6, 2025
middle book syndrome!! as much as I loveeeeee the characters, this was TOO LONG, or at least it felt too long. but I am still really excited for the next book, so hopefully, that delivers.
June 17, 2025
It hasn’t been all that long since I read The Stardust Thief, so it was pretty fresh on my mind, but now begins the wait until the final book makes it out.
I do really enjoy this series. I never quite felt like we were navigating new territory or blowing my mind with plot twists, but The Ashfire King is just plain fun. It feels like a proper adventure, and I kept thinking how good it would be as a video game, which probably isn’t far off the mark since the author’s blurb says she likes to play them. Seriously, it tracks, with a magical realm to explore, different characters wielding different magics, boss fights. Abdullah wrote a game plot, and I’m not mad about it.
I think this will be well worth the reread to recap when the third book rolls around.
I do really enjoy this series. I never quite felt like we were navigating new territory or blowing my mind with plot twists, but The Ashfire King is just plain fun. It feels like a proper adventure, and I kept thinking how good it would be as a video game, which probably isn’t far off the mark since the author’s blurb says she likes to play them. Seriously, it tracks, with a magical realm to explore, different characters wielding different magics, boss fights. Abdullah wrote a game plot, and I’m not mad about it.
I think this will be well worth the reread to recap when the third book rolls around.
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