The Stardust Thief (Volume 1) (The Sandsea Trilogy, 1)

Loulie is the Midnight Merchant. With the help of her Jinn-in-disguise companion Qadir, she finds lost Jinn relics and sells them to the highest bidder. The sultan desires the most well-known relic, a lamp containing a Jinn that grants the possessor any wish. He sends Loulie on this quest with his son, Omar, The Stardust Thief.

Omar received that title due to his many Jinn kills as well as being the leader of the Forty Thieves. Things aren’t quite what they seem, though, as Omar convinced his brother Mazen to trade places with him, also in disguise. Mazen, Loulie, and Qadir will battle ghouls, Jinn, thieves, sandstorms, and betrayal in this perilous quest, but they will also discover the truths about themselves.

What a beautiful, epic beginning to an incredible saga! It’s so well written, you don’t even care that it’s more than four hundred pages. I couldn’t put it down and was disappointed when it ended. I sincerely hope it doesn’t take too long to write the next installment. The desert comes alive in this story, with richly crafted characters and a landscape that has its own character. The storytelling is amazing and will sweep you away. It’s a must-read book!