“She gasped. It had been a long time since she’d felt his blood magic in her veins. Qadir rarely healed her. He did not believe in mending minor injuries- especially not the ones she suffered because of her own “rash” decisuons. The magic was an unpleasantly cold and prickling feeling beneath her skin, one that alternated between pain and numbness. Even more disconcerting: she could feel the torn tendons in her hand sewing themselves back together.”
The Stardust Thief
The Stardust Thief is a gorgeously written novel that’s inspired by the stories of One Thousand and One Nights. I loved it so much, the way it nodded to stories like Aladdin that after reading this I had to go and buy a beautifully illustrated copy of the Arabian Nights. I can’t describe how incredibly beautiful this book was!
Loulie is the Midnight Merchant. She finds and sells magical items for a price through the black market. These items are forbidden and illegal, but she makes a small fortune selling them. She obtains them with the help of her friend and bodyguard, a jinn named Qadir. Qadir has been stuck to Loulie’s side for a long time now. She doesn’t know why, and when she questions it, he doesn’t give her much to go on. (What I love about Loulie’s line of work is that most of the items she sells are kind of worthless, but people will buy anything for a bit of magic).
Loulie has maintained her secret identity for a long time. But she eventually gains the attention of the sultan, and when he discovers who she is, he orders her on a dangerous mission- to travel into the desert and find a long impossible magical relic- a lamp that is said to contain enormous power. If you’re getting Aladdin vibes, they’re there and absolutely incredible!
But what makes this story great isn’t just Loulie. She recently saved the Sultan’s son, Mazen. He’s a dreamer, a storyteller. His brother, Omar, is king of the forty thieves and not a nice person. When the sultan orders Omar to accompany Loulie on her journey, she couldn’t be more annoyed. Trapped into a journey she doesn’t want to take, Loulie sets out into the desert, risking her life for a sultan she doesn’t believe in.
Little does she know that there’s much more to everyone than meets the eye.
This book is so packed with magic, mischief and mayhem. It’s stunningly written, alternating between Loulie’s story and tales from the world of the Sandsea. I loved reading these stories. I would ABSOLUTELY love it if Chelsea Abdullah eventually wrote a book of tales set in this world. I’d read more than 1001, just saying. I really can’t recommend this book enough. I’m so excited for the second book which I believe releases in the winter.
Check this one out, you won’t be disappointed!
Of Worlds Forgotten 
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