Spin the Dawn was pitched as Mulan meets Project Runway and if that doesn't have you immediately interested, then I don't know what will. I had so much fun reading this and I was hooked from the first page. Elizabeth Lim is an amazing author that will have you turning the pages rapidly to find out what happens next! I'm so excited for the sequel and it cannot get here fast enough!

Aside from being a page turner with just the right amount of romance, culture and action, Spin the Dawn is also a story that evolves from one part to another. This book isn't simply a story about a girl going through challenges to reach a goal, it's about a girl going through challenges to reach multiple goals and I am greatly appreciative of how this story has been executed. The writing is convincing and I could easily imagine myself in Maia's shoes. I really liked the ending of the earlier version of the ARC I read. Sure, it was a little too neat—too 'happily ever after' despite other parts, but I think that it was deserved. Though, I'm not saying that I don't like the ending in the finalized version of the ARC. I find it more realistic and it had a stronger impact on me compared to the previous version.

Also, I find the visual imagery Lim has woven into this tale gorgeous. However, despite the convincing and beautiful writing, I find the world building a little poor. I got so confused imagining the world even with the help of the illustrated map because my initial (and continued) impression of A'landi, the country Maia resides in, is that it's a fictional version/variation of China despite it's not Chinese-sounding name. Which means I pictured the large majority of society to be of Chinese descent—that the culture and religion and everything else to be Chinese in any way and degree. Instead, A'landi through the eyes of Maia appears to be teetering between a melting pot of sorts and a fictional Chinese land.

Now, I'm not saying that this notion of it being a melting pot isn't great. It allows the book to be of greater diversity and it has the potential to provide many various layers of complexity into a story (such as conflicting religious views, conflicting cultural upbringings and more). As a Malaysian Chinese, I can actually picture how A'landi as a melting pot would look like, and how characters whose physical appearances are not or only minimally described, would look like from their name. Unfortunately, names here are confusing, making it difficult for me to have a concrete image of the Spin the Dawn world.

Before I continue, please understand that this opinion is coming from someone who didn't read the entirety of the book synopsis before getting a copy (the first paragraph was already enough to convince me!). This means that I wasn't aware of Maia's name, much less her full name. You see, I believe names in stories identify specific individuals and things, and they are inextricably linked to their identities. A name can make or break something, especially when little to no other description is given regarding that something.

So, when you combine that lack of knowing plus the fact that I've already pictured A'landi as a fictional Chinese land. That before I've even read the book, I've already pictured Maia as Chinese because the blurb mentions Mulan and the cover art shows a pale Asian. This resulted in my confusion when I learnt of the names. According to the internet, Maia is of Hebrew origin. Her last name 'Tamarin' is also of Hebrew origin whereas the names of her brothers (Finlei [Gaelic], Keton [Canadian], and Sendo [Japanese, American, Scottish or English]) are of other origins. They don't sound or feel like they belong beside 'baba' and 'mama' which I read in Mandarin, and they do conflict a little with the "feeling" I get from Chinese culture. Moreover, it's gets all the more confusing when you consider the names of other A'landi locals such as Emperor Khanujin and Calu, Lady Sarnai and the shansen.

This conflict aside, I find myself in love with a lot of aspects in this book—like how it's more Mulan than Project Runaway, and how I can relate so well with Maia because of cultural similarities. She's not a weak, damsel in distress waiting to be saved by others, though she's not afraid to need help as well. She gets stronger as the story progresses, and I enjoy seeing her character develop. Besides that, I caught many allusions, references and more to other legends, myths and fairy tales and figuring out which was which made reading this book all the more fun.

In some ways, Spin the Dawn is the kind of fairy tale-like story I wish I read about while growing up. Not because Maia is a hundred percent the kind of person I'd like my younger self to grow up becoming like (she's great, don't get me wrong!), but because my younger self and perhaps others like me, desperately needed to see that being Asian—that being all that I am, is not 'lame'. That although we don't often see ourselves represented in Hollywood, every inch of us is just as beautiful and desired and we don't need to lose any part of our identity just to be 'better' or more 'accepted'.

3.5 stars

I did enjoy the majority of this book, but had some issues with the pacing of the romance. This wouldn't have been as much of an issue for me if the romance hadn't dominated the second half of the book. It was still a solid read, and I'm looking forward to the sequel, albeit hesitantly.

Thanks to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the eARC.

The story is captivating with enthralling writing and charming characters. Oh my gosh. Edan is one of the wittiest characters i have read in a while. His banter with Maia is such a delight to read. from start to finish, I was entertained with every page.

What makes this book different from all of the other books that I have ever read is the heroine. Maia is a tough and resourceful character that fights for the people that she loves. this was a beautiful book to read because Lim's ability to write beautiful imagery; so vivid was her imagery that I felt like I was actually there.

Between this book and the recent teaser that Disney dropped, I have so many nostalgic feels for Mulan. As soon as I finished the book, I fished out my Mulan DVD and basked in all the feels. Having said that, even though the synopsis makes the book sound like a Mulan retelling, I would say it is a very loose comparison. Spin the Dawn can be divided into two acts, and while the first is very Mulan-esque, the second act of the story is a very different yet equally amazing journey on its own, and the book takes you along a ride with an ambitious protagonist and a stunning romance.

Spin the Dawn is the story of Maia, a girl who dreams of becoming the imperial tailor. In a land where only men are celebrated as tailors, she takes the place of her brother and disguises herself as a man to partake in a contest that strives to select the next imperial tailor. As she faces each challenge, she is made to embark on a magical quest and falls in love with the most infuriating yet caring boy she has ever met.

The story is so rooted in Maia’s ambition, and I loved that. She never steers away from what she wants, and even when some of her illusions and dreams shatter as she learns more about the enchanting world she is a part of, the spirit of her ambition never fades. I loved how hardworking she was, and how the book took the time to describe her work process. My mother is a seamstress, and I grew up sitting next to piles of satin and silk while she sew the most beautiful clothes. I have seen the calluses in her hand, and have seen the magic that scissors and needles do. I felt like I was taken back to my childhood and the passion Maia had for her job was so inspiring.

Every time the book described one the clothes Maia made, I could it envision it front of my eyes. The writing is so vivid and descriptive, and as we leave the palace and go on a journey with Maia through desert lands, caves and magical realms, Elizabeth Lim’s writing bring everything to life. In the second act, Maia is made to go look for the laughter of the sun, tears of the moon and blood of stars. Each quest is thrilling and kept me on the edge, especially the last one, which gave me the chills.

The romance in this book is so beautiful. Maia and Edan have the most adorable banter, and I loved that Maia took her time to trust Edan. The romance initiates with friendship as it blossoms into love, and the slow burn made my heart sing. It is sex positive, their relationship is so much rooted in mutual trust and respect, and I shipped them so hard. They made me smile and almost made me cry, and I can’t wait to see what the sequel has in store for them.

The book is not without its faults though. The pacing is great – I felt like it was such a fast read – but the interesting pace in the first act was not necessarily the same in the second one. The quests were interesting, and I loved the development of the romance throughout the journey, but at times the book slowed down. I also felt like some secondary characters were not developed enough or simply did not need to be there. My biggest problem with the story is that Maia pretended to be her disabled brother, and I was really uncomfortable when I read about how she was pretending to limp and use a cane. I just did not think it was necessary, and I know that I would not be flattered to see someone pretend to have my disability by any means.

Having said that, I loved everything else about Spin the Dawn, and if you are interested in East Asian folklore and myths, love quest stories and prefer romance heavy fantasies, then definitely give this a go! The book is clearly written as the first in a series, and had a very intriguing ending that has left me in anticipation for the sequel.

This is a wonderful start to a series combining Mulan with Fashion Runway. I loved the descriptions of her magical scissors and of the tasks as well as the gorgeous dresses she combines. It also has elements of the version of Cinderella and the magical tree that gives her 3 dresses (probably my favorite of the versions). The main character is feisty and strong and willing to do whatever to protect her family, as well as struggling to find her own voice and what she stands for. A must read and am looking forward to the sequel!

Netgalley gave me an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

DNF @ 50%. I may have to finish it, though, because I apparently requested book 2 before I read this and received it, so I have to decide whether I'm the best person to review this book.

Woof. I was so excited for this book. I mean, look at that STUNNING cover! Also Mulan is deeply deeply important to me! The idea of the tension revolving around clothes-making was really cool! But yikes, was I disappointed from the first page.

The first chapter is so full of awful tropes, falsely building tension by being in the future and needing to ~save the MC's lover~ and honestly it was bad, bad writing. I decided I would give this book a chance, though, and kept reading.

Others have talked about the questionable fake disability and the homophobia, so I won't dwell on it here. But that came up for me as I was reading. The homophobia is a LOT. The disability is at least a little more understandable, but... not great.

The pacing was ENTIRELY too fast. We needed more time on the first half of the book, where the competition was happening. The eliminations of the other contestants were too fast. Maia didn't feel like she did anything worthwhile. Why was she so opposed to the scissors, especially once she learned it only brought out her natural talents? She was way too trusting of others, and others were way too trusting of her—the queen-to-be basically spilled her entire plan to an absolute stranger! I cannot tell whether the emperor's magician is like 5 years older than Maia or 20! Maia herself is such a whatever character; I liked the idea that her family knew she was going off, but that also happened so quickly that it felt meaningless. Really, the pacing is what made me put it down; it was breakneck, where it could have benefitted from more interiority.

I put it at 3 instead of 2 stars because after the first chapter the writing gets SIGNIFICANTLY better, also because whenever I review YA books I think about the actual target audience and whether they would like this. I think as a teen, I would have thought this was okay. So: three stars.

Thank you for the eARC

How can you not love this book? Gais, this is the best 2019 reads ever! I love the story, the characters, the plot and the writing. It was such an amazing read. Looking forward to the sequel! *I’m so excited!*

I'm so mad at myself for putting this one off for so long, because I loved it!

This book is described as Mulan meets Project Runway-which is definitely is for the first 150 pages-but then becomes so much more than that. I loved the blending of cultures and mythologies in here, and the main myth about the sun, moon, and stars was just so enchanting.

I also absolutely adored the romance, which isn't something I normally say. Maia and Eden just have such good banter with each other, and I loved how their relationship progressed to the point where it actually made sense when they told each other 'I love you.'

Elizabeth Lim's writing is fantastic as well, and I can't wait to see how she progresses in her upcoming books!

Overall, I loved this book, and I have no idea what I'm going to do until July when the sequel comes out!

Updated: 12/12/19: Still to date... THE BEST DARN BOOK I"VE READ IN 2019!

This book is more than words on a page. It's a journey, a truly enchanting journey! One I never wanted to end!

Who knew that when you combined eastern mythology, fairy tale retelling, and Elizabeth Lim, you could get a story just as good (if not better) than the original Disney production?

WOW! Talk about spellbinding! This book was like a scissors edge scrapping over my every emotion. There was never a respite from the incredible journey Maia was battling wholeheartedly through. Her self-determination and perseverance was raw and extraordinary. I loved every heartbreaking, breathtaking moment of it!

Project Runway Meets Mulan... SPIN THE DAWN is better than anything you could imagine.

How could I not fall in love with this book? With it's enticing forbidden love and impossible challenges, Elizabeth Lim created a masterpiece.

When our heroine, a gifted artistic tailor inherits magical scissors, little does she know what challenges she will face. Disguising herself as a boy in order to compete with the most talented tailors in the empire, Maia must push her talent and skill beyond her own expectations of what she can achieve.

Some may think this is all the story has to hold... a competition to become the emperor's new tailor. But, in fact, a mysterious palace, sabotage, lies, political espionage, and the need to determine friend from foe will continue to threaten Maia on her epic fantastic journey. Can the moon, sun, and stars align for Maia, or will her sacrifices, blood, sweat, and tears be for not?

Some people are disappointed when the story doesn't do the book cover justice. They will find they have nothing to worry about with Elizabeth Lim's wonderful retelling.

I completely enjoyed this first installment book! While laced through with familiar fairy tale themes and common tropes, the way they are combined along with the author's creative and beautiful writing style creates a wonderful fantasy book that I simply could not put down!

Part Mulan (dressing as a boy to save her ailing father), part East of the Sun, West of the Moon (traveling to the ends of the earth to complete an impossible task), but mostly a fun original story full of twists, turns, magic unusal, and unexpected true love. I highly recommend this book for fans of YA fantasy, fairy tale retellings, Mereceds Lackey, or Margaret Rogerson.

I cannot wait for book 2!

Mulan meets Project Runway? Sign me up! But seriously, I didn’t know what to expect when I started “ Spin the Dawn”. It….was… fantastic. I was literally hooked from page one. The characters were very developed. I lost track of space and time while reading because I was fully immersed. This is a diverse, well-constructed fantasy that will leave you wanting more. I cannot wait for part two!

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an automatic approval for work (I work at a bookstore). It did not mesh with my reading tastes, but I think there is definitely a market for this kind of book! Those who like teen fantasy and/or teen sci-fi might really enjoy it!

**For more reviews visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Legitimately, the best way to describe this book is Mulan meets project runway with a dash of magic added for flavor. Who ever came up with that is spot on, I can't even imagine a better way to sum this story up. Using skill and potentially magic to create outfits that should not even exist was so cool to see, I loved the cut throat nature of the competition and see the creations come together. It doesn't hurt to have a pair of magic scissors though...

But that is only the first part of the book, the second is best described as an adventure quest, which kinda sorta reminded me of the quest and side tasks that makes up the East of The Wind, West of the Sun fairytale. (there may be a Chinese equivalent of that tale but I am unaware of it). I love love love that story, but I will admit that I wanted the first part to go on longer because it was such a cool unique idea and I ate it up. The adventure quest was interesting, but very familiar, with a girl being sent on a task where she meets people along the way, some help some hinder.

The story had a LOT of complexities and so many moving pieces, at times I was almost uncertain of who to root for (besides Maia) because everyone else had some sort of ulterior motive or master who controlled them. The story was a mix of magic, hidden identity, court politics, spies, a dangerous competition, war, lies, questing, epic wonderful heartbreaking romance, scary demons, curses... and probably more that I am just not thinking of now. This was a very enjoyable read that I was not completely expecting and I need the next book to see how everything will play out.

This was such an awesome beginning to this series, and an even better debut!!! Absolutely loved the characters, the world, the spins, and the plot!!! Could not recommend it enough.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I was not sure how I would feel about this book when I first started to read it, but it just pulled me in and I had to read it all in one setting. I felt like I was right there along with Maia on her journey to become the royal trailor. Those three legendary dresses had me intrigued. The materials they were made out were impressive as well. The world was so detailed I had not issues picturing it all in my head. The love story did come off a little forced and pushy at the beginning but I found that it did develop the more the story went on. It was a very magical adventure and well done debut novel.

Excellent book that is horribly underserved by it's description as Project Runway meets Mulan. Like there is SO LITTLE there to compare it to those two things and in the best way! I loved that this book would have been a satisfying cute ending halfway through but THEN we get to the meat, the true character change, the good quest! I think the book was great but I think especially the second half was fantastic. I. Also very pleased with the ending and where it's allowing this series to go. Definitely looking forward to continuing this one

Disclaimer: I received this ARC courtesy of Knopf. I am grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC for my readers, but this will not influence my final rating. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and based solely on the book.

Buddy Read with the all powerful and magical Rendz from Reading With Rendz! Make sure to check her out!

Well, a buddy read that wasn't a complete and utter mess and actually brought some major enjoyment??? I'm taking this for a win. In the past, when buddy reading with the wonderful Rendz, I am been a bit of a party pooper - I mean, I one crowned those books so hard - so I was a bit scared for this one. A bit of luck and a name drop of two things I love - Mulan and Project Runway - was on my side, and there was enjoyment to be had!

The thing that I loved the most about this book was the world. I was in deep with this magical world, and I loved how lush and intriguing it was. It was steeped in magic, and it was totally immersive. The author created such an interesting atmosphere, and it was wholly complex and dynamic. There was a mix of historical vibes along with intricate magic systems and gods. I really enjoyed it, and both Rendz and I fully agreed on this one.

The characters were great as well. Rendz and I both really loved Maia. She was a great narrator, and she totally kicked so much butt. I loved how much she wanted to make a name for herself, and really cared so deeply for what she believed in. Rendz coined Edan a "tragic magic boy but also very charming" and honestly that is the best way to describe him. He's totally the cliche tragic magic boy, but he certainly had charm to him. Other characters were intriguing as well. Perhaps not as dynamic, but still good enough to be in the background.

The plot was interesting. Both Rendz and I agreed that the Mulan and Project Runway selling point really was so so accurate. The first part of the novel took me back to the wonderful PR days, and it was a shame there wasn't a Tim Gunn telling people to make it work. The second part of the novel was quite as exciting for me, but it did have some intriguing moments. The plot twist at the end totally got me and Rendz, and we are super eager to see what will happen in the second novel.

The writing was pretty good. Both Rendz and I totally marveled at just how much the mini excerpt that begins the story comes back into play. That is a perfect addition to the story and was really crafted brilliantly. I did like Lim's writing for the most part. The biggest issue that I had with the story was the pacing. I felt like the beginning of the story was so so so much fun with the competitions and everything, but I felt like it started to stall about 50% in. It just slowed down a bit for me, and I felt like it had a lot to go through before it picked back up at the end.

The romance was cute. Both Rendz and I admired the banter that was between. I felt like it might have gotten a little too cliche and cheesy at points, but it was good enough.

Overall, this was a really intriguing read with a brilliant world and great characters. The pacing was the ultimate downfall for me, since I did get a bit bored in the middle despite everything that it had going for it. Definitely lives up to its selling points, for sure.

rating: Jasmine because I think I messed a bit of the hype on this one
representation: Asian setting/main characters
content warnings: n/a

I absolutely loved this book!! I read this book in three sittings. It has everything I could want; adventure, romance, danger, you name it! It was well written in my opinion. I am very excited for the sequel.