Deanna Raybourn excels at creating strong, sassy heroines with a flair for adventure, who aren't afraid to break from the confines of society's expectations and seize life (and love) whenever they get the chance. 
 Poppy Hammond certainly fits the bill. After her dramatic exit as a runaway bride, Poppy is restless and yearning, knowing only that she needs more in her life. The nice man who helped her flee the wedding is someone she'd like to at least thank for his efforts, leading to an impulsive escapade in which Poppy winds up in Damascus under an assumed identity... right in the midst of political upheaval, treasure hunters, danger and intrigue. Definitely all the ingredients needed to please a girl seeking adventure! 
 Sebastian is a heroic leading man, insultingly misunderstood by Poppy to start with, only revealing his true character and capabilities to her over time, as they plunge from one dangerous situation to another, fleeing across deserts, hiding out in old ruins, and evading bad guys with a flair that would put Indiana Jones to shame. 
 As in City of Jasmine, the Middle East of the 1920s offers just the right combination of beauty, danger, and old-timey espionage thrills to make Night of a Thousand Stars a romantic, exciting adventure story. The politics and history of the region in that tumultuous time are well-explained, but never in a way that's boring or instructional. Instead, the intrigue serves as an exhilarating backdrop to Poppy and Sebastian's growing flirtation and affections, and the two play off each other marvelously, displaying the mingled exasperation and amusement you might encounter in an old movie a la The African Queen. 
 While Night of a Thousand Stars works as a stand-alone novel, characters from the author's earlier works (City of Jasmine, the Lady Julia books) are referenced. There's no reason that you couldn't enjoy Night on its own, but if you're so inclined, I'd recommend reading City of Jasmine (and its companion novella, Whisper of Jasmine) first. 
 Overall, I found Night of a Thousand Stars to be a fun, engaging, romantic read. If you're a fan of romantic espionage tales, don't miss it! 
 Full review posted at Bookshelf Fantasies. Review copy courtesy of NetGalley.