Spin the Dawn was everything I could have hoped for and more. With a tag line like "Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars." it's hard to not get your expectations up.  How do I even go about formulating this whimsical, magical and romantic book into words?

First of all I loved how authentic the characters were to themselves. Never have I loved a headstrong and magnetic heroine like Maia. She knows she's great and she isn't willing to sit down and roll over (marry the bakers son? I think not!) just to keep the peace. I rooted for her from the very first page and watching her grow into the wonderfully magical tailor that she is at the end of the book kept me reading long into the night. Can we talk about Edan? Because hi, new book boyfriend alert right there. He was swoony and mysterious and full of shocking twists and turns. I fell head over heels for him just as Maia did.

The intricacies of this book astounded me as did the visualization Elizabeth Lim put into each scene, down to the tiny beading in those otherworldly dresses. No detail was overlooked and I marveled in it all. I'm not going into detail about the story as it best flows like a fairy tale as you read it and there are tons of spoilers if I did. But just know, this book is one of the best I have read this year.

This is not what I expected, but it definitely didn’t disappoint! Maia is the epitome of a strong, female character. Just like in Mulan, with no eligible male heir able to assist the emperor, Maia takes it upon herself to represent her family and restore honor to their name. In a time where women hold no power, she takes it upon herself to swallow her pride, dress like her brother, and hide her true identity from everyone else.

“And you?”
“The obedient one.”
“No”, Edan said. “You’re the strong one.”
The strong one. The one who held the seams of my family together.

But not everyone is deceived. The emperor’s Enchanter catches on to Maia’s ploy. Is he on her side or will he reveal her true identity?

I was definitely intrigued by the idea of a competition, sort of like Project Runway, but tailor-version. After the competition is over, Maia sets out on a new mission…a dangerous one that either she will succeed, or die painfully. This is the unexpected part since I thought the story would end at the end of the competition. But, alas! Another adventure!

"Yes, Sendo used to tell me fairy tales. How he’d love mine if he were still alive: the tale of a girl who’d sewn the sun, the moon, and the stars into three dresses, the tale of a girl whom a demon have vowed to possess.
It was the tale of a boy, too. A boy who could fly but not swim. A boy with the powers of the gods but the shackles of a slave. A boy who loved me.
It was a tale still being written."

I can’t choose a favorite character. I love Edan and Maia equally.

Spin the Dawn is a gorgeous, magical story of determination, survival, friendship, and family. When I first saw this book described as "Project Runway meets Mulan," I was immediately intrigued. I knew it would probably end up not being quite like that description, but I was still excited for what this book could be and I was not disappointed.

Spin the Dawn has a lot of elements that feel similar to other books--a girl dressing up as a boy, a competition of sorts that the protagonist must win, and, of course, plenty of magic and characters who you never really know if they're on your side or not. Despite these familiar elements, Lim managed to craft them all into a wholly unique and magical journey that felt fresh and exciting.

The story takes off when Maia enters a competition to follow her passion of being a professional tailor--a role that is usually left to men--in which the prize is to become the imperial. Once at the palace, things never completely go according to plan and Maia has not only the challenge of creating beautiful garments that pass the test of the Imperial Majesty's soon to be wife, but also the challenge of beating all of the other contestant, most of whom feel immediate rivalry towards Maia. I really liked how Lim handled this situation and had Maia react to the various pressures from those around her. She tries her best to stay true to herself and her morals, while also trying to survive the continuous sabotage of those around her. I really appreciated her strong independence and ability to handle a barrage of difficult obstacles that were constantly thrown her way.

Another prominent character that I found easy to become enamored with is Edan, the Lord Enchanter. I can't really say too much about him without going into too many details that could give way some spoilers, but he has a fairly important role in this story, especially when him and Maia leave to embark on a journey to find near impossible materials for some important dresses. Edan is one of those characters that seems tricky and never completely trustworthy, but is still entirely compelling. He remains fairly mysterious throughout most of the book and constantly has secrets to unravel, but his personality and motivations also are revealed as the book goes on and I really enjoyed getting to know him and seeing his relationship with Maia develop.

The world-building is also incredibly well done and I commend Lim for creating such a fully-fleshed and rich world. There is a lot of great mythology woven in that Lim has developed, as well as locations and culture that add so much depth to the story and characters involved.

I didn't have any major issues with this book, but on a minor note I did feel as though some of the perceived "near-impossible" challenges that Maia and Edan had to overcome didn't seem quite as difficult as they could have been, and some things felt a little too convenient. Despite this, there was still a significant sacrifice made at one point that really increased the gravity and risks in the story.

Overall, I've given Spin the Dawn 4.25 stars! I truly enjoyed this one and cannot wait for the next installment. This really stood out to me from other YA fantasy books and I look forward to reading more books from Lim (especially Magnolia Sword, which comes out this fall!).

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't put this book down! I loved all of the characters, which rarely happens. Maia is strong and fiercely loyal and Edan is full of secrets and tragedy. I already need the sequel.

An interesting mix of a modern concept set in a historical/fantasy setting with romance and adventure mixed in. The book blurb's description of it as Project Runway meets Mulan is pretty apt.
The first part of the book definitely reads like any reality competition on TV these days - contest of skill, cruel opponents, callous judges, intense time limits, limited supplies and budgets, unreasonable challenges... Obviously the main character is the underdog. Maia, only daughter of Master Tailor Tamarin, poses as a boy to take her father's place in an imperial competition to be the Emperor's new tailor. Then suddenly that phase is over - I for one was rather glad. It read a little too modern for me.
And then we move on to the adventure phase that reads a little more like a fairy tale quest. This part was more my style. Maia embarks on a quest for the Shansen's daughter, bride-to-be of the Emperor, in an ultimate challenge to sew dresses of the sun, moon, and stars. Aiding her on her quest is the Royal Enchanter, who is certainly more than meets the eye. An growing attraction forces the two into a constant battle of wills in order to fulfill Maia's quest despite the treats posed to their budding relationship.
The ending is quite the cliffhanger, and seems to hint at a much darker tale to come...
Anyone considering this book for teens, there are some rather metaphorically descriptive sex scenes, not graphic, but in some detail nonetheless. There are also a few hints at people having same-sex relationships, but there are not actually any same-sex relationships in the book, and no graphic content of any kind.
Ultimately an interesting tale, some nice world-building, a promising start to a series, and a fairly light read.

I was not sure what to expect going into reading this book. From the description and gorgeous cover my interest was peaked, but I thought it might just be a so-so Mulan retelling, but I was totally wrong! I do not feel like the description did this book justice and is in fact it is a bit misleading. 'Project Runway meets Mulan' okay yes, but it is way more than that. In fact, it almost reads like two separate books because of the drastic change of pace halfway through.

We meet our main character, Maia as her world is effectively falling apart which begins with the death of her mother. Her country is then thrown in the war in which she loses two of her three brothers and the third is crippled. Her father, once a great tailor, becomes depressed and can no longer effectively run their tailoring business and Maia steps in to take over. Because she's a girl, and girls are looked down upon in this culture, she effectively runs it behind the scenes until a representative from the emperor comes knocking looking for a new royal tailor. Cue the Mulan retelling as she poses as her brother and goes to the palace to compete to become the emperor's new tailor.

Based on the description I thought this whole plot line would take up most, if not all, the book. No my friend. Halfway through the book she's sent on a quest with the emperor's enchanter, Edan, in search to make 3 dresses from legend - and her story expands from there.

I immensely enjoyed the book. Honestly, the Project Runway part was the worse part (if I had to pick). The world is vibrant, immersive and full of culture. The plot was extremely entertaining and the character dialogue was perfection. I particularly enjoyed the sweet romance that develops throughout the story and loved the way the story ended - which of course I'm dying for more!

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<p>When I started reading this, I was immediately sucked in because of the magic and the fact that I loved the character so much! The only thing I knew about the book was that it was a fashion related Mulan retelling, and let me tell you... this was so much more than I expected!</p>
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<p>The storytelling was so beautiful and I loved watching Maia grow and become more confident in her abilities as a tailor. I absolutely LOVED the incorporation of magic! I never felt lost when it came to the world building, which for some reason seems to be an issue whenever I read a book with magic.</p>
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<p>Maia was an interesting character to follow, and I really felt immersed into the story following her and learning the secrets (and admiring the handsome men in the novel) with her! Her emotions flowed through the pages and I felt her homesickness and her passion and her hesitation and fear as she felt it! It's always amazing to me how emotions can be transferred through the written word, and Elizabeth Lim did an amazing job with that!</p>
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<p>Of course, the element of romance was so absolutely perfect! I loved the interactions between the characters and there was one point where one of my favorite tropes was incorporated into the story (can't tell you which one because that would ruin the fun!)! Of course, the whole "forbidden romance" trope was also incorporated and the bit of slow-burn romance really made the whole story so much more emotional and fun!</p>
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<p>While I already said how much I loved Maia, Edan the magician was also a really great character! I loved his wit and learning about his story (though it was frustrating at times having to wait for more information to be revealed)! Let me just tell you, I totally yelled JUST KISS ALREADY a few times!</p>
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<p>The plot was also really interesting! I didn't expect the second half of the story to go the way it did, so that was a really great surprise! AND THE ENDING?! LET ME TELL YOU-- I WAS BLOWN AWAY! The ending of the story came like a flood and I was completely thrown off and didn't know what to expect! </p>
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<p style="text-align:center"><strong>If you enjoy retellings, fashion, political and romantic drama, #ownvoices stories, mythology and magic, this is the book for you! If you love strong and three dimensional female characters, forbidden magic, dark and handsome and extremely snarky males, exciting competitions, and impossible journeys, pick this book up IMMEDIATELY.</strong></p>
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That Project Runway meets Mulan tagline is no joke.  That is exactly what I thought I was reading the whole first part of the book, but then it becomes something else entirely. 

I can tell you right now I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.  Maia is a great character and yes, as I mentioned she gives off a Mulan vibe. She’s strong and I did enjoy that while this clearly takes place in a time and place where women were just meant to marry, the men in Maia’s life acknowledge and respect her strength.  

And Edan, well he is another book boyfriend for sure.  He’s dark and mysterious without being broody. In fact, he is extremely charming and charismatic, and the comic relief that this book needs. (Can you tell I am a fan?)    

The story is great, I read this book in two days, so to say it kept my attention is an understatement.  There was always something happening, but never too much like I find in other books. The pacing was also great!  Everything was well thought out and nothing felt rushed.

While I love that I was able to read this book early, it does mean the wait for the sequel is even longer.  Because believe me I will be reading the next book!

Maia is a very interesting main character, and I did like the other characters as well, although they all paled in comparison to how much I liked her.

But she's also not a badass warrior.

Maybe that's why I liked Spin the Dawn so much, because after a million and one amazing, badass, over the top, Aelin wannabe main characters, Maia is refreshingly different. She's strong in her own way, but that's not the way that is consideredly traditionally 'strong.'

With a newly ended war, the Emperor has promised to marry the daughter of his enemy to bind the peace, and so a new imperial tailor is needed. A messenger arrives, demanding that Maia's father or brother go to serve the Emperor. But her father is old and frail, and her brother can hardly stand after being wounded in the war, so it falls to Maia to take their place.

Surprisingly, the actual competition - that pits Maia, disguised as her brother, against other master tailors - is only a fraction of the book. The rest of it is taken up by her journey after the essence of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars, which she will have to sew into three dresses.

That was the only thing I didn't love about this book. The pacing was, unfortunately, a bit off. During the competition, people were being eliminated so quickly that I don't think I could tell you any of their names if you paid me. And, to me at least, there never seemed to be any risk that Maia wouldn't win. If she hadn't won, there wouldn't have been any more of the book.

But outside of my issues with pacing, the story that it told was enchanting, if a bit romantic for my tastes. At first glance, it seemed that the love interest might be the Emperor, that's what I've come to expect out of YA, but instead, it's Edan, the Sorcerer. The romance is well written however, I can't fault it for that, I'm just more of a fan of plots than romance.

A slow, lackluster attempt at a Mulan retelling. I make the comparison only because, if I remember correctly, that's how this was originally pitched.

Here I think we might have another case of it's not you, it's me. Because while the writing itself was not bad, I struggled with this book the entire time. It was just downright boring to me.

I did not care about the characters, I did not care about the journey and the romance did little for me overall. But of the three the romance was probably the best part. Because at least we got some flirty banter and a few swoon-worthy moments. Still, that was not enough to save this book for me.

So if you're looking for a story that revolves around a Mulan-esque character that involves embroidery and is infinitely more interesting you're better off watching the Chinese drama Legend of Hua Mulan (2013).

I'm disappointed, to say the least, because I really wanted to love this. I was looking forward to a badass Asian heroine who would make me root for her. And sadly, for me, Maia is not it. I'm sure some will enjoy this slower paced sort of story, but I am not one of those people.

3.75 stars.

If you are tired of the dark, gritty, and violent fantasies and want something to break up the flow, this is the perfect choice for you. Spin the Dawn is a lovely, sweet book.

The main characters in Maia's life are all well meaning and supportive. Edan, although mysterious, is a true cinnamon roll at heart. Maia is determined and dedicated to her craft. In fact, my favorite scenes in the book were the ones where she is sewing, knitting, or mending. She takes such care to craft beautiful clothes that I was always enraptured by them.

I loved the world building in it. I felt immersed in it without being overburdened. The quests to gather the three materials for the dresses was pretty neat actually and had the strongest writing in them. You could really feel the splendor of the palace grounds, the crackling heat of the desert, and the bitter chill of the cold mountains.

Although the plot can be a bit predictable at times and the romance a little too saccharine for me, the story is upheld by the steady and consistent pacing. If you were wondering about the Mulan aspects of it - the most familiar pieces of the tale are present in here but other than that the story becomes wholly its own.

It's a fluffy and fun story, good for summer or those needing a palate cleanser from all the heavy and dark books they've been reading.

eArc provided by NetGalley.

This is a fantastic fantasy book with a great cast of characters and well developed world. I would definitely recommend this one to fellow fantasy lovers.

Gosh, I really liked this one. While some elements of this (including the romance, sigh) will feel familiar to longtime readers of YA fantasy, what I truly loved about it was the magic system and worldbuilding. There was something warm, playful, and magical to it. I don't want to call it light, or even light-hearted, but it was such a welcome departure from the gritty, grim, bloody things I've been reading it. The best word for it is: FUN. I enjoyed cheering for Maia, and would love to see that magic of this world on screen some day.

Review for Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim


ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks for the opportunity to review this book!


All opinions are my own.

Trigger Warnings (TW): For violence, sexism, graphic depiction of breaking bones. Stay safe, my friends!

Summary:

"Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin.

There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job."

In Spin the Dawn we follow Maia, posing as her brother Keton, as she attempts to become the Master Tailor in the kingdom. She squares up against 11 other men who are all older and seemingly more experienced then she is, but she has a secret… a magical pair of scissors that help her create the masterpieces she dreams of in her head and her sketches. This incredible book is set in a Chinese-inspired kingdom and is so incredibly unique in its plot. However, the competition is only the beginning of the journey.


My Thoughts

Part One: The Trial
I really loved getting to know Maia during Part One. The contest itself is fascinating, and getting to read about how she and her competition handles the challenges is magical. Getting to watch her interactions with Edan were always entertaining as well. I would have happily read an entire book only centering on the competition, and a separate book for Part Two: The Journey. I was sad we didn’t get to see more relationship development between Maia and the other tailors, but what we did see was (mostly) so sweet and wholesome, and I had a great time getting sucked right into this story.

“The humming in my head was louder now. I looked down, feeling a strange trembling at my side. At first I thought it came from my scissors, but that was impossible, so I ignored it.

Then they started glowing.”
Quote taken from an ARC and is subject to change upon publication.


The magic in this book is unlike any that I’ve seen before. The setting reminded me of Girls of Paper and Fire, which I absolutely loved. They both have plots centering around a poor girl being sent to the kingdom for a task to gain favor with the king. In Spin the Dawn you get to see the kingdom, a competition, as well as Maia’s growth throughout her journey.

I will say that the pacing felt a bit quick for me. I would’ve happily read an entire 400 paged book about the competition and another book picking up where part two did. I think this is more of a personal thing, as I loved sinking into this book and its magic, but wanted more time to grow and love all the characters in both halves of the story.


Minor spoilers ahead
I felt that the romance was a bit rushed as well. It goes from being fairly juvenile to “I love you,” and getting more physical than I had expected it to, in a seemingly rushed manner. Don’t get me wrong, the physical scenes were very well done, and I enjoyed reading them, but I need way more time with characters to believe that they’ve fallen head over heels for each other.

Overall (TLDR)

4.25/5 Stars for me!
This magical Chinese-inspired novel centers around a young girl vying to become the Master Tailor of a kingdom in order to save her broken family from poverty. The magic within this story is unlike any I have ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and all of the characters within the novel. I would’ve loved to see this book split into two and expanded upon, if only to fall a bit more in love with each character. If you’re a fan of Girls of Paper and Fire I think that you will enjoy this as well. It was action packed and I devoured it within 24 hours! I definitely recommend this and I’ll be picking up the sequel as well.

Thank you again to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book!

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Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim starts out exactly as its pitch promises: it’s Project Runway meets Mulan. Maia, daughter of a tailor who has fallen on hard times, longs to be known for who she is inside, rather than as the girl everyone sees on the outside. Aside from singing "Reflection" and getting a talking dragon companion, she really does follow Disney's Mulan pretty closely. She shears off her hair and answers an imperial summons to save her father. She's hopelessly naive. She's terrible at pretending to be a boy. A stuffy bureaucrat looks down on her, and a hot dude starts believing in her. Honor is mentioned.

Then Project Runway starts up, and there are cash prizes for winners and elimination rounds for everyone. Marrying Mulan and Project runway is a clever way to sell a book, but I found myself wishing Lim had either really leaned into the competition aspect or at least put a different twist on it. As it is, it follows the show fairly closely, but lacks a sufficient understanding of why reality competitions are successful.

So, a slight discursus: what makes reality competitions fun to watch? The subject matter is just one aspect, and it's actually not the most important. Sure, you personally might not turn on a cooking show if you're not into cooking, but you can easily get sucked in if others are watching. What keeps most people watching is the construction of narrative for multiple characters, the drama of the stakes (and not actually the interpersonal drama, except insofar as it defines a hero or a villain), and the description of the process by experts.

We only have Maia to root for, and while she’s a compelling protagonist, we don’t get the snippets of other people’s lives. Almost everyone else is a nonentity or a villain, with one rather lackluster exception, and people are dismissed in droves, not one by one. They’re all also established masters of the craft; while an imperial position would be nice, we don’t have a good sense of how life-changing it would be for anyone except Maia. We also don’t get too many examples of expertise. Sure, there are details of embroidery and weaving, but I would have liked to see more of Lim’s research show on the page (she obviously did her research, and credit to her for that).

However, Lim does understand that we want to see the products of the competition, the clothes. It actually doesn't matter that we can't literally see them, since she's very good at describing the clothing, her prose neither too brief nor too purple. She also understands that we want a snarky judge, one who knows a lot and also knows what they like. Lady Sarnai's whims may frustrate Maia, but they're spot on for the format, very Klum-meets-Cowell.

But just as things settle into absolute predictability, there’s a sharp left turn: Lady Sarnai decides she doesn’t want lewks, she wants the actually impossible. She wants dresses made from sunlight, moonlight, and stars. She wants Maia to become the tailor of legend who crafted the three celestial dresses, or die trying.

The story of the tailor who made the three celestial dresses should have been seeded earlier in the plot, since this feels like it was two books: the book that was cleverly pitched, and then the book Lim actually wanted to write. Once the competition is over (and it's over surprisingly soon), the Project Runway aspect never really comes up again. The competition is an excuse to send Maia on the journey, but a number of other excuses might have worked just as well, since none of the other competitors help or hinder her on her journey. The pitch is basically prelude to the quest narrative, which sends Maia off to retrieve “the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars.”

Perhaps because she spent a solid amount of time on the competition, the race to obtain these mysterious materials is straightforward. A little too straightforward. Things are difficult, but nothing really goes wrong until the very end. I’m torn about whether I like this or not, because it did keep the plot moving at a very consistent clip. On the other hand, everything felt inevitable rather than exciting.

Where Spin the Dawn won me over was in the charming dialogue and Lim's unique voice, which starts to come through more and more as the book progressed. I much prefer her original ideas and myths to her straightforward homages. She's creative and innovative, and I hope that she gains confidence to write her stories as she continues to publish. The magic spiders, hidden pools, labyrinthine temples and more are all brilliant details that make a rich and inviting world. And her characters, when given room to breathe, have so much potential. Edan, the sly sorcerer, and the other members of the court are far more interesting and complex once the tropes fade away.

There's a compelling political mystery going on in the background, which is a major reason I'll be eager to pick up book two. On it's face it's rather predictable as well: the emperor must marry the daughter of a rival to ensure peace. But there are huge questions about the cause of the rebellion, the motivations of the emperor, and the powers of his soon-to-be wife that really made things interesting. Why did the rebel leader resort to demonic aid? What really happened to the emperor's family that allowed a second and sickly son to ascend the throne? What part does magic play in all of this? Maia cannot really investigate since her status is so low, but her relative incuriosity was maddening at times. The war took a heavy toll on her family—doesn't she want to know more about what caused it?

Of course, Maia is distracted by her budding romance, so I can forgive her somewhat. Spin the Dawn is heavy on the romance, which is predictable but still appealing. I am not a huge fan of the particular trope Lim uses to create the romantic tension, but this is a highly personal preference. I'll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers, but the romance doesn't end where you'd expect, even given the tantalizing prologue.

The concluding volume, Unravel the Dusk, has a lot of work to do to stitch up all the loose threads and streamline the plot, but I have faith that Lim will find her footing. This is a solid debut from an author who is more creative than she lets on. I hope she unleashes everything she’s got for book two: it will be a wonder.

4/5 Stars

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Publisher/Imprint: Knopf

Edition: e-ARC, 288 Digital Pages

Hardcover Publication Date: July 09, 2019

A Spine that Shines? Quite Well!

*This review is based on the e-ARC edition provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All quotes used in this review come from the uncorrected proof. These are my honest opinions. Thank you.*

Ask me to spin the finest yarn or thread, and I can do it faster than any man – even with my eyes closed. Yet ask me to tell a lie, and I will stumble and falter to think of one.
Maia, Spin the Dawn

Initial Thoughts:

Spin the Dawn FanI truly enjoy reading retellings, and Spin the Dawn is a pretty good one in my opinion. It is inspired by Mulan, but it is still its own original tale as well. Maia is the daughter of a common tailor. After her father falls apart from the death of her mother, Maia disguises herself as a boy and takes her father’s place in the competition to become A’landi’s royal tailor. During her journey, she must construct three magical dresses, one made of sunlight, one of moonlight, and one of the blood of the stars.

There is a lot to like about this book:

The prose style is elegant and descriptive.
The setting is Asian, and the mythology is Chinese-inspired!
The competition to become royal tailor is fierce!
Magic abounds in this tale – including a magic carpet, magic scissors, ghosts, and demons.
Maia truly loves her family, and that is what motivates her most of the time. Her devotion to her family is touching.
The romance is sweet and is not insta-love.

My whole life, I’d been told what I couldn’t do because I was a girl. Well, this was my chance to find out. The only thing I could do was take it.
Maia, Spin the Dawn

Characters & Romance:

The two characters at the heart of this story are Maia Tamarin and Edan, the Emperor’s Lord Enchanter.

Maia is a strong, determined young woman living in a society that keeps telling her what she can’t do. I love that her family background is well developed, and she undergoes great character growth throughout the story. She meets Edan while she is disguised a boy for the royal tailor competition.

As the love-interest, Edan is quite intriguing. His background is a bit mysterious, and we don’t learn everything about him in this book. But his predicament is quite interesting. (I can’t say more without spoiling a large plot point.)

The chemistry between Maia and Edan is believable, and their banter is endearingly funny. They seem to have a genuine trust that develops over a period of time. (Although, Maia does do something near the end that may affect that trust later on.) I truly think they make a great couple, and I am eager to see how their relationship will progress in the sequel.

“Seize the wind,” I whispered. “Don’t become like the kite that never flies.”
Maia, Spin the Dawn

Final Thoughts:

Spin the Dawn CranesWhy didn’t I give the book a full 5 stars? For one thing, it just didn’t suck me in immediately. A lot of the first half of the book is slower paced and feels like set up for the second half of the story. (But I did really enjoy the second half!)

Also, there’s one “villainous” competitor who kind of disappears in the second half of the book, when I had hoped he would continue to cause conflict. I mean, he does in a way, but is not very present in the second half because the “villain” becomes someone else. But perhaps he will show up again in the sequel.

Another thing I suppose I should point out is the disability representation. One of Maia’s three brothers returns home from a war with paralyzed legs. While I’m glad that there is disability representation, the book does sort of present the paralysis as something that needs a “cure.” Ever since I took a course about disability studies, I’ve just been more mindful regarding the different ways disability is presented in literature. This does not mean that the book is bad. I’m simply pointing out the manner in which the book includes disability so that readers can be fully informed.

Overall, I thought Spin the Dawn was quite creative and original, and I really enjoyed the second half. If you enjoy retellings, I would recommend giving this one a try when it comes out on July 09th! Happy reading!

*Content Warnings: A woman is stripped and flogged, and there is one sex scene between the two main characters (but not a very long scene and not super explicit).

h, it’s a lovely feeling when a book you’ve anticipated for quite some time is as good as you hoped it would be! I’m so thrilled to say that "Spin the Dawn" is just that.

I was incredibly engaged with the plot from the first chapter. I love how the author eases us into the main character, Maia’s, life, and the stories she weaves from it. I felt like I was just settling into the Tamarin family when Maia decides to disguise herself as a boy and go to the palace. The author sets up a wonderful story for Maia and truly shows the young women’s talent as a tailor but the hinderance she faces as a girl. I loved being at the palace and seeing this side of life that is completely unknown to Maia. I adored being introduced to each of the tailors she competes with and the interesting way magic is introduced in the book. However, you could definitely tell that not everything is as it seems and while I hoped there would be some conclusive evidence in regard to the emperor, things still seemed somewhat abstract by the end of the book. The story felt a little rushed though, not just at the end. The comp titles (Project Runway + Mulan) works but both sort of fall to the wayside toward the middle of the book.

As I stated earlier, I really do love these characters! When Maia is introduced to Edan, I loved their interactions. The way they grow together in friendship which blossoms into something more was really heart-warming. Edan is such a charming character and he truly cares about Maia. Again, not everything is as it seems so when we learn more about the emperor and his bride, there’s a feeling of “something’s not quite right but I don’t know what it is yet.” I adored Maia’s dedication to her family, and I loved how they had confidence in her and didn’t try to make her feel less because she is a girl. I’m really interested to know more about emperor and his bride, and I hope it is explored more in the second book.

I really don’t have anything bad to say here. I loved the non-Western world, the world-building itself, especially the whole idea of the laughter of the sun, tears of the moon, and blood of the stars. Things aren’t described simply, but we see through Maia’s eyes the colors of the world and the fabric, how precise she is. It really lends well to pulling the reader into the story, and I really don’t have a lot of bad things to say. This book was a solid read for me, and I’m glad I enjoyed it so much.

Also, this cover is gorgeous and most things on this cover are in the book so…

<b>At once wonderfully familiar and refreshingly new, <i>Spin the Dawn</i> is an #OwnVoices novel that is bold as the sun, elegant as the moon, and artful as the stars.</b> It is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and after a couple disappointing new releases, it has restored my faith in YA fantasy as a whole.

<b>The book is pitched as "Mulan meets Project Runway," but that's not entirely accurate.</b> The tale begins in the kingdom of A'landi with Maia, daughter of a once-talented tailor whose abilities declined as he grew older and grieved the death of his wife. Maia's three brothers fought in the Emperor's war, and while a truce was reached, two of her brothers died, and the third returned home crippled. When the Emperor's Imperial Tailor dies, he recruits Master Tailors to compete against each other for the newly vacated position, and because of her father's reputation, Maia's family is asked to send someone. Maia, realizing her father can no longer sew and her brother was never a good tailor to begin with, but also knowing a girl cannot be a Master Tailor, does the only sensible thing: she disguises herself as a boy, pretends to be her brother, and heads off to compete in a series of absurd challenges--embroider a shawl in a single day! Make shoes out of pottery! How about a paper jacket? There is backstabbing galore, the political stakes of the contest are higher than Maia thought, and for some reason, the emperor's Enchanter, Edan, has taken a keen interest in Maia.

But that's only the first ~40% of the book! The remainder is what happens <i>after</i> the contest. Maia is presented with a further challenge: to create three legendary dresses, made from the sun, the moon, and the stars. To do so, she embarks on a perilous journey with only Edan for company, knowing that the price for her failure--if she even makes it back alive--could mean destruction for the entire kingdom.

<b>This book did so much right.</b> First, of course, #OwnVoices novels are hugely important, and this fantasy in an Asian-inspired world, written by an Asian author, is a fantastic example of what magic can happen when a book of a non-Western cultural background is written well: old stories take on new significance, classic tropes get inverted, and our assumptions are frequently put to the test. (Great example: we assume that badass female protagonists need to be warriors, that domestic activities can't be rebellious? This girl's entire plot revolves around <i>sewing</i> and still manages to be gripping. That's pretty neat.)

Second, just the writing in general was fantastic. The narration was smooth and easy to read; it actually felt like listening to Maia telling her story, without sounding artificially childish or supremely pretentious like many YA narrators do. She is self-aware, prone to second-guessing herself (but not obnoxious about it), and perhaps most importantly, she is determined to earn her own success. Even when she has the opportunity to use magic to enhance her work, she insists on not doing anything that doesn't actually reflect her skill or the time and effort she has put into her craft over the course of her life. She obviously has feelings, and grief over her family's struggles plagues her, but her love for them and her determination to succeed really shine through. And the language itself is pretty but not overwrought, so you can actually read it quickly and not get tangled up in overly complex sentences and excessive jargon, a trap which far too many fantasy authors fall into.

In terms of the story itself, the pacing is quick without being rushed; at no point did I find myself getting bored or wondering when things would actually move forward again. And the story itself is an excellent fusion of Mulan, a game show, a "chosen one" quest, and a doomed love story (oh, yes, there's a nice rivals-to-lovers romance). There are a handful of ghosts and demons, but nothing too overpowering, and the ending manages to strike a balance between wrapping up this story's conflicts and throwing a wrench into things, paving the way for a sequel (which, incidentally, I am already anxiously awaiting--funny, given that this book technically isn't even out yet).

<b>Normally, this is the part of the review where I would list some of the cons of the book, but I'm struggling to think of any
</b> Some may say that the plot is somewhat predictable, but I think that would be missing the point. This book, in many ways, is combining several old stories with new elements, so of course some of it will feel familiar. For me, that familiarity was comforting without being annoying or uninspired, but I guess I could see people getting frustrated with that. I will also reiterate that the "Project Runway" element of the book really only lasts for the first third or so, which the blurb doesn't make clear. Please don't let the fact that it doesn't match your expectations detract from how enjoyable it is!

<b>In short, <i>Spin the Dawn</i> is a fairytale quest with a twist that proves there is still new ground to be covered in the realm of YA fantasy.</b> If you like awesome female leads, romances that don't overpower the plot, gorgeous descriptions of clothing, intrigue and deception, traditional three-step quests, delightfully sarcastic and charming men, magic that comes with a price, <i>Mulan</i>, and/or girls proving men's expectations wrong, this is definitely the book for you. Strongly recommended--I seriously cannot adequately express my love for it.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! This has not influenced my rating in any way.</i>

Spin the Dawn took me on a magical journey I was not expecting or ready for. I'll admit that I am probably in the minority and I did not love Mulan. I liked it and I enjoyed it a lot, but it was not a favorite. I read the description of this book and was just not sure I would love it, but that cover really drew me in and made me want to read it. I am so glad I got to read it and was given the opportunity.

Lim tells a beautiful story. This book had my emotions all over the place. I started it on a Wednesday night after the kids were in bed and I had to force myself to put the book down to sleep. I finished the next night.

Lim will fill your heart with love in this story, she will remind you that it's worth fighting to save your loved ones. You can find love when you least expect it. This story filled my heart with love and hope and then it ripped it apart, but left me with hope that love will find a way in the end. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

This is a book that speaks volumes about the power that females possess to change the world and love is a powerful weapon.

Project Runway meets Mulan is a perfect tag for this book! Y’all, I was extremely invested in this world. Lim paints a picture of fashion so alluring I wanted to see them in real life more than anything. I loved the competition in the first half and the adventure in the last! Both were very different and very interesting!

Characters. Maia was very likable and relatable. Her character progression was done very well. She was shy at first but then owned her skills. She was just a nice person to read about, without being boring. Edan was intriguing and mysterious. He was a good mix of cocky and sweet. The person I wanted to know more about was Lady Sarnai! She was straight up FIRE! I hope to get more of her in the next book! And the Emperor can go away. He’s so annoying.

World. There’s not really a magic system. It’s extremely rare in people and in enchanted items. It was interesting to learn about how the Enchanters were made though. I really enjoyed the China-like world. Lim did a fantastic job of giving detailed descriptions.

Plot. Very unique. I have not read something like this. Have I said I loved the descriptions of the fashion yet?! Lim writes like a dream! The first half of the book is very different than the last half. The first half was more Project Runway and the last half was Mulan. The journey Maia goes on to collect the magic she needs for her dresses is amazing! It’s the type of adventure I love! Magic, romance, danger, and an ending that leaves you wanting more.

Final Thoughts. The ONLY things I didn’t like were very minor. There was a time where Maia stabbed a creature with her scissors and ran but then they were with her later. Then another time where she left her cane at the Summer Palace but then randomly had it at the Fall Palace. Small details like that happened a few times. I loved this book. I didn’t really get the Sarah J. Maas vibe but I do agree that it’s like Renee Ahdieh! I highly recommend! I cannot wait for the next book! Also, officially obsessed with Lim’s writing!