The Stardust Thief

By: Chelsea Abdullah

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud, Sean Rohani, Rasha Zamamiri

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.

Critic 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—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—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—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—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—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—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

Nice imagery and character development

Enjoyed the book for its imagery and characters. As book 1 of series I was concerned it would be slow paced, but I was pleasantly surprised at the constant action and every changing locations. Fun read.

WoW!! #1 read of my year! Beautifully thrilling adventure!

Why did I wait so long to read/listen to this!?! What a magical and thrilling story! I loved the 3 main characters and I hope we get more of all 3. The bonds that formed through their impossible tasks forced upon them, the betrayals and sacrifices each one made… had my heart in a chokehold! Loved the ending and I can’t wait for more! The writing and world building was incredible. I felt like I was somewhere in the desert in Egypt or Sudan it was so magical. The Arabian nights song from Aladdin kept playing in my mind during the street markets scenes. And the magic of the mythical Jinns… incredible! I need more! 5/5 stars!! Just wonderful!!

Fantastic narration

I read this as a combo audio and book. This was a great book. Doing it both ways was fantastic. I loved the storyline and can’t wait for the next one.

This story sucked me in and didn’t let me go. I loved it all.

The narrator’s did a great job. The storytelling was my favorite parts.

Wow! Wow! what a masterpieces!

Wow! Wow!
what a masterpieces!
The audiobook is really fun to listen! It is so engrossing!

Absolutely enchanting!

Wow. I was spellbound the entirety of the book. Everything was top notch! I can not wait for the second book but I guess I’ll have to!