Also by this author: The Stardust Thief
Series: The Sandsea Trilogy #2
Published by Orbit on April 15, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy
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The magical sequel to The Stardust Thief, Chelsea Abdullah's unmissable debut that weaves a tale of myth and magic in a world steeped in Middle Eastern folklore, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Bone Shard Daughter
Praise for The Stardust Thief :
'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
'A thrilling adventure about found families, ancient magic and stories that linger' S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
' 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
'Abdullah transports readers into this rich world and literary heritage' Library Journal
'A marvellous plunge into a beautifully crafted adventure' Kirkus
'This powerful, intriguing adventure will leave readers eager for more' Publishers Weekly
'Abdullah is a gifted storyteller. . . [bringing] to life a rich world, rife with magic, where anything that can be dreamed up can happen' Booklist
The Stardust Thief was one of my favorite books back when I read it in 2023. Two years later, I finally got to return to the world I loved so much, and Chelsea Abdullah did not let me down. I smiled, laughed, chewed on my fingernails, and mourned my ripped-apart heart. The Ashfire King did something few other books have done in the recent past: It kept me awake. I fell asleep thinking about it, and my mind returned to it as soon as my eyes opened the next morning. While The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah does, in some respects, suffer from “second book syndrome,” I adored every second I spent in its pages. And if I must wait another two years for book three, I will cry.
There is SO MUCH in The Ashfire King. It picks up where The Stardust Thief stopped: Mazen and Loulie are now in the jinn world, leaving Aisha and Qadir behind in a vicious skirmish with Mazen’s elder brother and his army of thieves. Mazen and Loulie have their own mission to accomplish, while Aisha has another. Managing two almost completely standalone plots can be difficult, but Abdullah does this relatively well. I got lost a few times and had to reread chapters to remind myself of things. The author’s world was already multifaceted, and she added more elements in The Ashfire King. More elements to untangle, more to keep track of, and more to remember. But I cannot speak more highly of Abdullah’s writing style: It is lyrical, vivid, and almost flawless.
Every main character grows in The Ashfire King. I might not have noticed it as much if I hadn’t reread The Stardust Thief immediately before reading its sequel. Mazen becomes braver. Loulie learns to rely more on others. Aisha understands how to better accept herself as she is. And Qadir…Qadir faces his past mistakes. He stops running. The tension grows. Abdullah introduces readers to new characters who all go on journeys of their own, and she walks readers through the strengthening relationship between Mazen and Loulie. Yes, I found myself cheering for them to GET TOGETHER ALREADY, while at the same time, I didn’t miss—nor did I need the romance. The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah is just as beautiful with how it highlights the power of friendship.
Abdullah answers so many questions from book one while also setting up beautifully for the third book, and I need it in my life now, please. Because that cliffhanger had my heart plummeting to the earth’s core. Some series, I dread rereading to prepare for the next book. That will never happen with “The Sandsea Trilogy.” Each time I dive into Abdullah’s works, I lose myself in her masterful storytelling as if it’s for the very first time.