Gorgeous photo by @giota_the_reader!
Hello Fairy Family!
I hope that you’re all loving The Stardust Thief so far! It’s now day 3 and things are really getting interesting!
But before we start reading, we have our secret giveaway! What’s that? Oh, just a chance to get your next FairyLoot for free as a reward for reading! Doesn’t really get better than that! And your chances are so good too! We don’t really announce this anywhere else as we truly want the person from the readalong to win! If you’d like to try your luck, all you need to do is follow these steps!
- Take a photo of our edition of The Stardust Thief
- Include a hashtag #FairyLootStardust (very important!)
- Do all of this by the end of June 30th
- Mention down below in your comment that you have entered and include your Instagram handle (also super important!)
Good luck!
Today we’ll be reading from Chapter 27 to the end of Chapter 41, let’s jump in!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah, from chapters 27 to 41. Please only read on if you’ve finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
Mazen has a strong dislike for Ahmed… I feel similarly. Something feels off about him! Mazen says when they were younger his father would make him look after Ahmed and Ahmed would do all he could to escape Mazen and Mazen would end up in trouble. But now he has to pretend they’re friends.
Ahmed asks Mazen about the relic, the bangle on his wrist and appears placated by Mazen’s story of it being an heirloom, buuuut then points out his earring, the one Omar wears constantly since it was his mothers, is missing. Mazen lies and says he took it out during the storm to prevent it being lost and Ahmed acts like he believes it… but I’m not so sure he does.
Ahmed asks about the journey and Mazen brags and shows him the collar, the relic capable of possessing people and tells him of the journey. Whyyy are you doing this Mazen? I don’t trust this man! When Ahmed says he’s surprised Loulie hasn’t tried to barter the relic off him, Mazen takes his chance to find out more about how they know each other. Is he jealous?
Ahmed does seem very smitten on Loulie, but I’m not entirely sure she’s sold on him. Mazen doesn’t seem to think so either. Very strange.
When Aisha and Mazen visit a tavern later on, even Aisha spots something between Loulie and Mazen. He watches her with longing as she walks down the staircase. Aisha, of course, can’t keep quiet about this and winds him up telling him that his lovesickness is showing!
As Aisha and Mazen discuss what route they’ll take to their destination, Aisha opens up a little bit to Mazen. She lived on a farm until her village was slaughtered by jinn. Then she felt she had no choice but to pick up a weapon and kill jinn. Then suddenly Mazen bumps around frantically, saying he left something with Ahmed… Please not the relic, Mazen. I will be so frustrated with Mazen if he LEFT the relic behind!
Ah. Aisha searches his satchel once he leaves… the relic is not there.
Oh, Mazen. What have you done????
Mazen rushes back to Ahmed’s residence… then starts to hear voices. As he’s trying to get rid of the voices, he realises he can move his shadow? He pulls it over himself and hides within it… This is a strange turn of events? Any theories?
Back at Ahmed’s residence, he’s acting very strange. Then out of nowhere he’s asking his guests if they kill jinn to steal their magic or for blood or for the thrill. Welp. That’s Mazen’s hope that Ahmed isn’t prone to possession out the window. ?
When the noise of a heartbeat starts to grow, Loulie realises it’s coming from her compass and she’s thrust into a vision, or a memory. The memory is of hunters catching a jinn. The jinn almost seems to turn herself into a compass to escape the hunters, in a last ditch effort to guide someone – Qadir maybe?
Then Loulie is awake and knows the truth. Her compass holds the soul of a jinn, a life. Ahmed – or whoever inhabits Ahmed – tells her that now she knows how it feels for their kind to die. She isn’t a hunter though. She’s no jinn killer, her bodyguard is a jinn! Regardless, he holds a knife to her throat.
So… is Mazen still possessed? Has the shadow jinn from the start been inhabiting him unknowingly all this time? Wait… but Mazen is Omar, so is it inhabiting OMAR? He’s seeing the shadow jinn’s memories. Surely that means they’re connected in some way? Any theories, fairies?
When Mazen makes it to diwan, he finds Ahmed causing mayhem, accusing everyone of killing jinn. He holds Loulie by her collar and she’s limp, Ahmed is about to strike her when Mazen tackles Ahmed to the ground. No one can stop him though.
Now, Loulie is back up, threatening the jinn with her enchanted knives. They can decipher friend from foe (cool) so Loulie is not worried that she’ll harm Ahmed. Ahmed is getting away, and Mazen knows he should give chase, it’s what Omar would do. Mazen doesn’t believe in himself though, he thinks himself a coward. A coward wouldn’t have taken a possessed wali down to protect a certain Midnight Merchant though…
Aisha appears just in time and pries the collar from Ahmed’s neck. Mazen throws the collar to Loulie and tells her to neutralise it.
Ahmed – real Ahmed – is back and all he can do is murmur apologies. Loulie comforts him and Mazen lets everyone walk away. When they’re gone, he considers his injury. He assured them he’s fine and it’s only a flesh wound but when he checks… his blood is black. Ideal!
Loulie has a flashback to when Qadir first taught her about relics. He said they were enchanted by jinn, but left out the bit about them actually containing the souls of dead jinn. Understandably, present day Loulie is upset that Qadir lied to her and allowed her to make a name for herself essentially selling jinn souls. I’d be mad too. She confronts Qadir and he says he wanted to give her a purpose after she lost her tribe, her family. I’m torn. Qadir lied with good intentions, but that doesn’t make it ok. He tells her if she disagrees with the lifestyle now that she knows entirely what it is, she can relinquish it. Qadir feels he owes a lot to the jinn encased in the compass, she saved him, freed him and guided him. Loulie rightfully reminds Qadir that he does not owe the jinn her life. She knows he’s sorry, but she says she needs space and she leaves Qadir after he tells her he has bound the magic of the collar. At least that can’t do any more harm!
Aisha is furious that Mazen gave away the relic. She calls him a coward but I don’t think that’s entirely fair. Loulie can keep it safe, the magic is now bound, he’ll face the wrath of his brother eventually and I’m sure he knows that. Mazen decides he should probably come clean about the whole ‘black blood’ ordeal and shows Aisha. She orders him to take off the bangle and when he does, his blood is normal. Aisha isn’t too concerned and thinks it’s just a side effect of the jinn magic… but I feel like it’s something more sinister!
Aisha meets with Junaid, another of the forty thieves, and he’s to pass onto the king (Omar) what happened with the wali. She tells him to deliver the message that she can be trusted to watch the prince and the relic… Do we think she can?
Loulie wakes in a spare room at Ahmed’s residence and she’s not surprised when there’s no sign of Qadir. She knows their bond is stronger than a fight but she’s still hurt. Can’t blame her either, her empire was based on a lie.
She speaks with Ahmed and tries to comfort him, telling him it’s not his fault. Then Mazen arrives to apologise for his carelessness in leaving the relic. He also confronts Loulie on her “injured” hand. She tries to say she has jinn blood put to one side, she doesn’t give it all away, Mazen is sceptical but drops it. The last thing Loulie needs right now is for them to discover her bodyguard is, in fact, a jinn. Loulie leaves Ahmed with the promise that she will return and tell him of her adventures, but they both seem to know now that the engagement will not happen. He – through unspoken words – apologises that he could not convince her to accept the proposal. When they part, Ahmed looks defeated and Loulie tries to squash the sense of foreboding she feels watching him walk away.
They’re back in the desert, but the silence is suffocating and it doesn’t take them long to work out there are ghouls about. They eventually come across a campsite, and a messenger. He recognises the High Prince immediately, then addresses Aisha as the Midnight Merchant…
Aisha corrects him and Loulie asks if they could have sanctuary, He agrees and the tribesman starts telling them of desert gossip. They’ve heard rumours of a hunter who works alone. Dressed entirely in black. Loulie is immediately eager to know more, but the tribesman doesn’t know much else about him.
Later, Mazen is telling stories. He ought to remember that Loulie has witnessed him telling stories before and if he’s not careful, she may recognise that he is in fact, Mazen and not Omar. Oh… maybe not, Loulie just wonders if there’s always been such a discrepancy in his personality. The thought that he could be Mazen doesn’t even cross her mind. She eventually wakes from a nightmare and Qadir is beside her. Qadir wants to tell her a story about himself and his markings. One in particular, is a mark of shame. He committed a crime in his hometown and that’s why he was cast out and marked. He tells her of the compass, and that the jinn inside is named Khalilah. She was Qadir’s greatest friend.
Aisha wakes Mazen the next morning and warns him to be quiet. The ghouls are around. They stay quiet long enough for the ghouls to pass, or so they thought. Then a storm of ghouls appear. Mazen starts to notice things about Qadir, how he appears to shimmer and how flames appear in his eyes. Qadir tells them of his plan to ride into the centre of the mob, Aisha doesn’t want to (lol who WOULD?! I would definitely object!) but they follow Qadir regardless.
I’m not crying. I’m not crying. I’m not crying. QADIR!!! He’s gone, fallen into a pit of iron blades. I’m heartbroken. He was all Loulie HAD!
Loulie thinks back to the hunter who killed her tribe, the very same man stands before her now. Imad. A former thief of the sultan’s forty thieves. Now Aisha is hurt too, and Imad has them all right where he wants them. Imad strips Mazen of the bangle and now everyone’s secrets are outed once more. Omar is Mazen, and Loulie knows. Qadir is a jinn, and Mazen and Aisha know.
Imad is looking for Omar, but won’t tell Mazen why, but it seems like Imad intends to use his new prisoners to reel Omar in.
There is one thing Imad DOESN’T know though. Mazen can still control his shadow. He slips it over his head and sneaks out of his cell.
Loulie is paid a visit next. Imad seems to think she knows where Omar is finding his relics, but Loulie doesn’t have anything to do with it. Any answers Loulie does know, about the relics Imad found at the campsite, she will not reveal, and so Imad will not reveal anything either. He walks away and leaves her to grieve her loss in the cell, feeling weak.
This section… broke me. I am not ok.
Do you have any theories and what will happen? Let me know!
See you tomorrow for what is hopefully a less gut wrenching day four!
Love,
Shannon
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This section was very emotional ?.
QADIR ???.
I also entered the competition!
My IG handle is giota_the_reader
♥️♥️♥️
I am loving the reactions in this readalong!
I have entered the competition @thebookishstephanie ?
Scrolling down quickly past the spoilers to comment my ig handle @birthemari13
I have to do that now or else I’ll forget it.
I’ll reply to this comment once I’ve finished today’s reading. I’m excited!
Oh no, Qadir 🙁
I am left with many thoughts after this read and I’ll probably continue with the next part this evening.
I really want to know more about Qadir and Khalilah, that sounds like an epic adventure as well.
I have been thinking about Omar, and I’m not wondering if he will turn into a villain? Is he harvesting the magic from the jinn kills to turn himself into something? So many questions.
I’m sad now.
Qadir!!!! I can’t believe he is dead… I’m not okay with that… I really liked him.
Also, Aisha reminds me a lot of Inej, anyone else? I really like to get to know her better.
I really liked this part more than yesterdays and I’m really curious on how it will continue.
I entered the competition as well
My Instagram handle is babsisbooklife
Enjoying the readalong so far!
Entering the giveaway, my insta is @mirlyah
Absolutely loving the reaction gifs to this book!
I’ve also joined the giveaway! My Instagram handle is @thenextquest
Omg Qadir ???? did not see that coming. Truly devastated.
I also feel so bad for Ahmed. He definitely made a mistake but he’s gonna have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life.
Honestly, high key stressed about Loulie, Aisha, and Mazen. This whole showdown with Imad does NOT bode well.
Also, my Instagram handle is lennylovesbooks3 ! I’m going to post my entry in the next few days!
Question about that. Should it be a separate photo from my other FairyLoot62 photo entries? My scrunchie photo also includes the book and I was hoping to use that for this contest! But if they need to be separate photos then I will do that!
It doesn’t have to be a separate entry! You can put them together. ?
My photo is posted under lennylovesbooks3 !
Mazen is such a beautiful story teller! OMG IMAD! ? This is getting difficult to put down haha
I also entered under myfriendedmond on instagram ?
Why? That’s my only question.
Why Qudir? Maybe he becomes a relic? Hopefully he does so he can guide Loulie
I am not okay! Qadir is my favorite character and i adore the relationship he has with Loulie….I refuse to believe he’s gone. 🙁
I like Aisha though. She’s so tough and definitely someone you’d want to have around in a situation like this (granted, I wouldn’t want to be in any situations like this…lol)!
I despise Imad and now, I am wondering even more about Omar and what is going on there….
I am really loving this story!
Action really picked up this section! At first, I was leaning towards wanting Loulie and Mazen to be endgame, but now I am really liking Ahmed. I think that recent events may make him more of a hesitant killer in the future (hopefully), and that seems to be Loulie’s biggest hesitation with him. It also seems like Loulie and Aisha’s histories are very similar, except Aisha’s family was killed by a jinn, and Loulie’s was a human. What they chose to do with their histories is very different and telling. I am excited that Mazen has finally been revealed, and I am anxious to see how he handles this adventure without the mask of his brother. Yes, I am in complete denial about Qadir. Nope nope nope.
Ok Qadir and his horse’s demise wrecked me. I don’t think he’s dead for good though. He’s going to come back somehow..or so i keep telling myself.. also, im super proud of Mazen for taking the ghoul down and using his shadow to escape. His character has had the most development and i am enjoying it.
I also entered the giveaway IG: 333mayhem
Lots of dramatic and heartbreaking stuff happened in this section.
I feel so sad for Ahmed. He seems like a good guy and he will be traumatised & maybe even punished because of what happened with the collar.
Why is Mazen’s blood black? It seems to be linked to the bangle magic rather than the shadow magic. Creepy and ominous… it won’t be anything good.
I cannot believe Qadir is dead. I was so shocked. He is going to become a relic right? But will that just mean his spirit will dwell in an object right? Maybe his knife or sword thingy?
I hope they can escape from the hunter in black.
My IG handle is Jenthebookishbakernz I will post my photo before the deadline.
I love all the gif reactions lol
Yeah that massacre was intense.
Ohh thanks for the oppurtunity
@musingofasagittarius
Qadir is absolutely my favourite and this chapter broke my heart!
I will say, however, that the connection between Ahmed and Loulie seems kinda meh to me. Like I only believe that they have a connection because of how often she says they have a connection but aside from their major differences I honestly can’t think “ah yes he’s charming– that would do it for Loulie.” I don’t know… Maybe it’s just me.
Entered and my handle is madamepincers!
Okay, Qadir YOU COME BACK TO LIFE THIS INSTANT! I refuse to believe he could die just like that, that would be too sad T_T
I need my cute father-daughter relationship back and thriving, is that too much to ask for? Seriously though, what an evil plot twist! How can I just accept that he is gone??
I feel so sorry for Ahmed, unrequited love and on top of that; the burden of being known as a murderer even if he couldn’t help himself… I really hope we get to see more of his character, I find it intriguing how Loulie is drawn to him yet Mazen dislikes him so much.
Imad.. I wonder what his history is, and now I am sure there is something sus about Omar! Wouldn’t surprise me if he revealed himself as the real villain here, it’s very likely he enslaves Jinn or has something dark magic-ish going on, that black blood is definetely more than just a side effect?
I entered the giveaway! My IG handle is Julieaay. Loving this readalong so far… even though I am one day behind!
I’m really enjoying it so far! Entered the giveaway under the_bookish_coven
I entered the giveaway! @onemused loving the book so far!
I have entered for the giveaway!
My handle is @because.my.mother.read
Every time Mazen was slipping up, I was like “no dude!!”
I entered the giveaway @rygurl
Man, they really cannot catch a break! Poor Ahmed! He seems like he has such a good soul and I am not sure how he will come back from this. And then Qadir?! Please tell me it isn’t true, I cannot handle this heartbreak. He has to come back, he has to. He told Loulie to trust him so I am hoping that somehow he will come back.
Entered! My handle is stardancer2014
I’m running behind with the readalong but I’ve entered 🙂 I’m @sarah_the_reviewroom
Wow, so much happened in this section! Qadir’s death totally shocked me but I love when books kill main characters ? I reckon he’ll be back in a relic or something to help Loulie.
Imad is intriguing, can’t wait for more backstory there. There’s totally a lot of history that needs to be pieced together, I think Omar is going to be the big bad overall.
There was so much new information this section that was great but then QADIR! Whyyy. Loulie needed him! And almost more importantly (to me) how well we learn about what crime he committed or more information about Kahlilah??
With all the revelations about relics being jinn’s souls, I’m sure Qadir is coming back in some form. And I think Mazen’s shadow jinn relic is going to become pretty important.
I bet Omar killed all the sultan’s thieves when he became the King of Thieves and that’s why Imad is so set on vengeance. I can’t wait to read more and find out.
Also I entered the giveaway and my instagram handle is giggenbach.reads.
That Book ist making me Go through every Emotion right now. I am blown away!
Entered the giveaway under @vickymalwieder
Have entered! My Insta handle is @FaeFolkReads ?
Qadir ??? I’m so not okay! Super stressed about what’s gonna happen to the rest of the gang too
Entered the giveaway! @readbooksandmore
Gosh this book ???
I entered the Instagram giveaway, my handle is: cleric_girl
I love the mini recaps (and the gifs!) for each day! Also, really enjoying this book so far.
ig handle @celines_shelf
How could the author kill qadir ? I felt very betrayed.
I am enjoying the book so far and love all the stories thrown in.
I entered the giveaway with @evic.lit on Instagram!
I’ve posted on Instagram!! My account is @fantasyforeverafter <3
nooooo qadirrr :(((( that really took me by surprise not gonna lie. i’m adoring this book so far!! ig handle @celestial.reads.bujo
Enjoying the book a lot! My instagram is @book.storm_
I just finished reading and I found the beginning to be a bit tedious with the lengthy descriptions, but when it stared picking up at the end, I appreciated the world building a lot more hahaha. I found the plot twists at the end much more adventurous than the beginning, but that’s usually the case. And the world was so fascinating, with all the tales woven into everything. Loved it. Also my handle is @mia.s_books_
Finally free to do the read-along…only a little late!
I posted my photo!
My handle is: @bemysidekick