I was blown away by Elizabeth Lim’s Spin the Dawn.

When I first saw the synopsis, I was lured in by the first few words “Project Runway meets Mulan.” I was intrigued and fascinated, trying to imagine all the different ways it could be true. And now that I’ve finished? It was everything, and more.

I am fascinated by Chinese mythology, but weaved with fantasy elements and daring adventures, I couldn’t be happier that this book is around. Spin the Dawn is about a contest to become an Imperial tailor, and aside from becoming cut-throat, Maia disguises herself as a boy. Life is difficult, but this contest is even more trying. With a mix of politics, magic, and adventure, Spin the Dawn has become one of my favorite books of the year.

I love Maia. Not only does she handle life for her family, she handles anything that comes her way. I loved her tenacity and her determination, but I also love how complex she is. I had so much fun getting to know her. And the description of the garments that she made? LOVE! Edan was someone that stayed elusive, at least for me. I had such a fun time getting to know him, slowly peeling back the layers that is his character. He was filled with so much mystery, and I loved their adventure together.

This story is one adventure right after the other. The plot does not relax, slowly immersing you deep into the world and setting. I loved everywhere that Lim brought us, and all of the insane steps to get to where they wanted to go.

I highly enjoyed Spin the Dawn, and hope you will too!

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Coming up with enough words to do this book justice is hard. But I’m gonna try anyway.

Spin the Dawn is pitched as Mulan meets Project Runway. Personally, I couldn’t tell you if this comparison is completely accurate, as I’ve never consumed either of these pieces of media. (Yes, I’ve never watched Mulan. Pls forgive me, but I don’t blame you if you don’t.) But this is one of those books that doesn’t rely solely on these pitches to be amazing, as it’s an absolute delight.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, because I barely ever ready fantasy, especially high fantasy, as it intimidates me immensely. But wow, this was such a magnificent read.

As a character, Maia can often be a very frustrating character, and I constantly found myself being annoyed at her decisions and actions. But then I remembered her age and the circumstances she was facing, and my heart softened a little bit. She’s not a new favorite character or anything, but I can recognize her courage, determination, and drive, all elements that made her a compelling character to read about.

My favorite was definitely mischievous and snarky Edan, the Lord Enchanter, who is immortal and has lived over 500 years, but whose skin is as smooth as a porcelain doll’s. He’s a powerful guy with extraordinary magical abilities, and you don’t expect him to be a such an important servant in the kingdom, based on his introduction as a nosey intruder wearing fine clothes in the trial.

But he’s so much more than the guy with magic. The guy who helps the emperor be tall and handsome and helps him look like a leader. He’s Edan of a thousand names. Edan, with the color-changing eyes. Edan, who has a recipe, potion, and tea for every injury and situation. Edan, who likes to pretend he’s a goof who doesn’t have a single care in the world, when in reality, all he wants is to let go of his powers and be free. Edan, who is secretly soft and vulnerable and caring, who hadn’t let himself love anybody with the fear of hurting or damaging them.

He had so many different layers and I just loved how smart, intelligent, wise, and helpful he was. Somehow, he always made the right choices. The right sacrifices. He was such an amazing character, and I just need a million more books about his adventures.

Insert these two wonderful characters into the world of A’landi, and you have a novel full of fashion, judgemental old men (lolol), impossible quests, adventures, horse and camel-riding, fashion, deserts, mountains, evil barbarians, ghosts, demons, and dresses that come to life? It’s a wild rollercoaster ride I really wanna experience again.

Many times I got confused while reading this fantasy, but in a good way? Even though I’m not used to stories like this one, it somehow still worked. A’landi and its people jumped out of the page, and they were lively and they’ll be very hard to forget.

The book was divided in three parts: The Trial, The Journey, and The Oath. And it amazes me how well-executed the storyline is. At times, I feared that the pacing of the book would slow or nothing of importance would happen, but it was so action-packed. There was such a good balance of dialogue, adrenaline, character interactions, and romance, I’m truly in awe.

Speaking of romance, I kinda loved the romance in this? I know a lot of people don’t, which is totally fair and valid, but I personally really enjoyed it, as Maia and Edan had great chemistry. They just worked, ya know? I do think I would’ve liked it a teeny bit better had it been queer, but it was still great! (I headcanon my king Edan as queer and y’all can Fight Me, idc.)

The writing was so lush and rich. Slightly flowery, but never, ever convoluted. Descriptions of settings, food, buildings, clothes, nature, and animals were all excellently done. I am dying to read more of Elizabeth Lim’s words cause that woman has talent.

My only complaint would be the ending? I do think it’s a good cliffhanger ending, as much as it fucking hurt me, but I truly believe, as many other people do, this could’ve worked better as a standalone. Just a few more hundred pages and a great resolution could have been done. But nevertheless, I’m still incredibly hyped for the sequel, Unleash the Dusk, and I am very much looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

I won’t speak on the Chinese or disabled representation, as I am not an ownvoices reader and don’t feel comfortable speaking about certain aspects when it’s really not my place. I have seen a lot of complaints about the disabled rep, but I have seen Elizabeth Lim took into account a lot of the early critiques of the ableist storyline (Maia fakes a limp and uses a cane whilst in the palace, Keton’s disability getting magically cured at the end of the story), but as I’ve heard, these elements were changed in the finished copy, and I’m glad.

Overall, Spin the Dawn is an enchanting tale full of heart, soul, and spirit that you must not miss, inspired by Chinese mythology and high fashion, and I, as an avid YA contemporary reader, highly recommend you check it out.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This was brilliant! I wasn't expecting to have so much fun with this book, but I did! It's basically Project Runway meets Mulan, with a second act entailing an epic hero(ine)'s quest. I cannot WAIT for the next book, and I've been recommending it to many teens at the library!

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim was pitched as Project Runway meets Mulan and believe it or not, for once we have a YA blurb that is completely accurate! Or at least, it perfectly described the first half of the novel. However, I was just pleased to discover that this was a story that evolved as it progressed, transitioning from a seemingly insurmountable challenge for our protagonist to a thrilling adventure that takes her on the road, complete with an extraordinary quest and a sweet romance.

Split into several distinct parts, the book first introduces readers to Maia Tamarin, the only daughter in a family of tailors who had to take on duties of taking care of her family after her mother died and her father grew weak and old. The situation only worsened with the Emperor’s war, in which her two older brothers were killed, while her youngest brother returned home alive but broken. Soon after peace was reached, a messenger from the palace arrives at their doorstep with orders for their family to send a representative to work for the emperor, but of course neither Maia’s father nor her brother are in any condition to do so. Problem is, Maia knows she’s perfectly capable doing the job, being quite the accomplished dressmaker and seamstress herself, but of course girls are forbidden to fill the role. Instead, she takes matters into her own hands, disguising herself as a boy to travel to the palace, posing as her injured brother.

Once there, however, Maia realizes how she had been misled. The invitation extended to her family was not for a position to work for the emperor, but for a competition to choose the best candidate for the role of palace tailor, judged by none other than the emperor’s bride-to-be, Lady Sarnai. Together with eleven other contestants, Maia must take on multiple challenges, creating the best clothes for her using what limited time and materials they have. The future empress is also a shrewd manipulator who likes to play games, bringing unwanted attention to Maia when all our protagonist wants is to keep a low profile. Aside from the fact she is a girl, Maia is also hiding a pair of magical scissors given to her by her father, and both secrets could get her killed if discovered. Worse, as the final challenge, Lady Sarnai has demanded three magical gowns made from the laughter of the sun, tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. To accomplish this task, Maia must put her trust in Edan, the court’s enigmatic magician who is the only one to figure out her true identity.

Readers who enjoy seeing a bit of everything in their YA are sure to be in for a treat. Court intrigue and palace politics are rife in the first half of Spin the Dawn, while the second half of the novel follows more of a quest narrative, focusing on Maia and Edan’s journey to fulfill Lady Sarnai’s wishes. I wish I had been better prepared for this drastic shift because the two parts are so dissimilar that they may as well be two different books, and I’m not going to lie, I think I was having way too much fun with the “Project Runway” aspect of the story! Even after finishing this novel and enjoying it overall, I still think the first half was my favorite part of the book.

Still, once the transition took place and we were well under way with Maia and Edan’s road trip, I was quickly won over by the beautiful dynamic between the two of them. Theirs is probably the most well written and healthiest romance in a YA novel that I’ve read in a while, starting with the fact that Edan is such a likeable romantic interest free of all the toxic bad boy stereotypes and lame hang-ups. I also love a good girl-disguised-as-a-boy story, and I thought the author did a fantastic job with the trope. Maia was brave, smart, and deeply devoted to those she cares about, and her personality created a lovely chemistry with Edan’s. Despite a slight slowdown in the middle, I was still pleased with the general pacing of the story and the fact that the premise expanded in interesting ways with every major plot development.

But of course, what drew me to this book was the world. And by that, I don’t mean so much the world-building or the culture and mythology of the setting, though those elements were quite impressive as well. What truly captured my imagination was Lim’s descriptions of the fabrics, materials, and techniques involved in clothes making, and the fact that this entire novel had its basis in a competition that didn’t involve the contestants forced to kill each other brutally Hunger Games-style, yet still managed to provide a high level of suspense and excitement. A sewing contest is not something you get to see every day, and I was pleasantly surprised how well the concept worked with some light magic thrown in.

Needless to say, I was quite enchanted by Spin the Dawn, a delightful and unique YA fantasy written in an evocative, flowing style by the talented Elizabeth Lim. It makes me very excited for the next book, which will hopefully continue many of the positive trends.

Hello, gorgeous prose. SPIN THE DAWN was absolutely stunning. The pitch didn't do this justice. The world building was absolutely brilliant. I loved the magic system and the folklore. The dialogue was clever and oh my heart--Edan. Absolutely delightful and everyone should read it IMMEDIATELY.

A gorgeous Chinese-inspired fantasy set in a lush world with fully fleshed out characters. Not sure how much this story was similar to Mulan aside from our MC dressing as a boy, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. A gorgeous read!

Full Review on blog!

A fantasy adventure about a girl who dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land? Who spins three gorgeous dresses instead of being gifted three gorgeous dresses? Whose love interest is . . . well, not the prince?

These concepts alone drew me to the book. The clincher was the Chinese-inspired culture and comparison to Mulan. (Confession: I have no idea what is Project Runway, but this novel is also being compared to that.) Pretty much every asian (and non-asian) girl loved Mulan when I was a kid. Asian girls especially because Mulan looks like us.

While there are subtle elements of Chinese culture worked into the world, it feels like its own world with its unique history and mythology. The world building is kept to a minimum. For the most part, the focus is on Maia’s journey. Her goal—and the magic that goes with this—is unique in today’s fantasy works. It’s not often that you see a girl wielding a pair of magical scissors to create gorgeous clothing and apparel. I don’t know anything about making clothes, but enough details are included that it felt like Maia knew what she was doing and had a genuine interest in it.

I love how family plays a prominent role in Spin the Dawn without being physically present. Like Mulan, Maia dresses as a man to take her father’s role for an imperial summon. (Unlike Mulan, Maia already has an interest and talent in her art.) During her journey, Maia constantly writes back home and thinks about her family. They are a constant motivation for her to do her job well, and we even learn a bit about her family’s history through the story behind the scissors.

My largest concern with this novel is how easy the quest seems. Maia has to make three magical dresses: one from the laughter of the sun, one from the tears of the moon, and one from the blood of the stars. The prologue and synopsis make out the quest to be of epic scope, wrought with peril. While I knew the personal stakes, I never quite felt the stakes, nor did I ever believe Maia was in any true danger. She passes through each trial and threat safely and immediately, entering the next phase no worse for the peril she just faced. This didn’t feel realistic, nor did it leave me worried for her. I ended up skimming most of the action to see what happens next.

While this book takes us on a quest, in the end it feels like it’s about the romance. I like Edan. He’s dark and mysterious and scholarly and an all-around nice guy. He does have his vulnerabilities and hesitations about romance. However, he gets over his hesitations too quickly for someone who had good reasons for his concerns. Furthermore, Maia makes some very important decisions based on a love that maybe a few months old by the end of this book, and she doesn’t consider the potential consequences to her country and those she cares about back home. This I can understand because she’s young and naive and besotted. I would have liked to see the consequences for her actions besides the personal ramifications.

All in all, this was an entertaining read. I would be interested in reading book two. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy YA fantasy with a large dose of romance, an MC with a unique magic and interest, and an asian-inspired setting.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book! My full review + aesthetic board, as part of the blog tour run by @/CaffeineTours, can be found here: https://libraepaintspages.wordpress.com/2019/07/03/spin-the-dawn-blog-tour/

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "Spin the Dawn" by Elizabeth Lim. A truly beautiful work! I was fully invested in everything this book had to offer. The world building and characters are incredible. The story does have hints of "Mulan" and "Project Runaway" along the way but this story has so much MORE to offer then that! The story centers around Maia Tamarin, a young woman who has a true talent for sewing and helps her father with his shop. Her father is summoned to try out for the role as the imperial tailor for the emperor. Maia decides to go, pretending to be her brother since her brother does not have a talent for sewing.. Maia goes on the journey of a lifetime between fighting to win the role of the imperial tailor to traveling to distant lands, Maia has such a wonderful story and I am truly looking forward to the next installment!

Okay so quick back story before I start off this review…

Back when I was a kid, I had a knack for drawing stuff, most especially gowns and dresses. I can distinctly recall myself watching Elie Saab fashion shows way back when, and would later possess this drive to imitate or recreate them as sketches. Unfortunately, as time went by, my love for drawing dwindled down mainly because of lack of support. (I mean… I didn’t know that I was gay back then, and so my parents weren’t as lenient with me as they are now. They reprimanded me and said that drawing those kinds of stuff wasn’t something a boy should be doing and so I tried to find different things to busy myself with.) But needless to say that my love for elegant and opulent evening gowns and dresses never really went away. It was just suppressed and was later on awakened by Elizabeth Lim’s Spin The Dawn.

Pitched as Mulan meets Project Runway, Spin The Dawn tells the story of Maia Tamarin, an aspiring tailor, who dreams of becoming the imperial tailor of the kingdom of A’landi. But since she’s born female, all she’s supposed to hope to achieve is to find a good man to marry. But when her father is summoned by the palace to join a fierce competition by creating magnificent dresses and accessories fit for royalty, she has no choice but to pose as one of her brothers and take her father’s place.

I absolutely adored the way that the world of A’landi was built and improved. I appreciated how with every chapter, the setting just keeps getting better and better—from the imperial palace, to the dessert, to just about anywhere Maia went to. I was personally impressed by how well-written this specific aspect of the story was. To me, it felt like the world had such strong foundations, and the storytelling contributed to making the story a lot more vivid, and graphic—sometimes a little too unrealistic, but what can we expect from a fantasy novel, right? I really enjoyed accompanying Maia on her quests and to see her push herself to be the best she can be to see her plans through made my reading experience all the more special. For this aspect alone, Spin The Dawn already wowed the living heck out of me and I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing what different parts of A’landi we’ll all get to discover in the next installment.

The characterization in this is also commendable and I like how each and every character who were in the narrative actually played major roles in telling Maia’s story. I consider it a pet peeve whenever there are too many characters who do little to better the plot line of a story and so I really did appreciate the line up the readers are given here. From Maia’s brothers, to Emperor Khanujin and Lady Sarnai, to even the magical creatures Maia and Edan encountered during their quest, they all somehow, in their own small way, had important parts to play in the story. And in the end, everything paid off quite splendidly. I really enjoyed reading about Maia, and Edan, and to see our main character transform from a young girl to a fierce, passionate and inspiring woman in just a few pages delighted me in more ways than one, and I look forward to seeing and knowing more about them, again, in the sequel.

Another aspect that I really, really enjoyed was the star-crossed lovers romance between Maia and Edan. If any of you guys can recall, I’ve said in quite a few of my reviews that I usually dislike romance being present in fantasy stories. This is because it can easily take away the spotlight from the story being action-packed or magic-filled. But that just wasn’t the case for Spin The Dawn. Maia and Edan’s love story complemented the fantasy and action aspect of the story and I couldn’t have pictured this book to be so impressive and so well-written if it not for their romance. (I’m sorry, I’m a romance reader through and through! It’s a known fact!) The way they helped each other in every possible way to allow for Maia to create dresses that incorporated the goddess Amana’s children—the sun, the moon, and the stars—was both thrilling and, dare I say, romantic and I absolutely wanted more! Here’s to hoping that there will be more of Maia and Edan in the next book.

“Reading Spin The Dawn feels like watching Mulan and an episode of Project Runway at the same time but with magic and much higher stakes. Maia’s story breathed life into a classic genre and it will have you gripping it’s pages from start to finish. Equal parts romantic, heart-stopping, and magically enchanting, Spin The Dawn will no doubt be an easy favorite for those who are on the lookout for diverse, fantasy narratives that lend a spotlight to POC voices and stories.”

I ended up giving Spin the Dawn 4.5 stars! Overall, did enjoy it but just had a few minor issues and didn't connect with it that much. I felt the beginning was a little slow but once I was past that I flew through the second half. I enjoyed the romance and liked the main character. The writing had really good descriptions and thought that the plot was unique. I am definitely going to be continuing with the next one. Thank you netgalley for granting my request!

5/5 stars

I loved this beautifully written fantasy that will easily be my favorite retelling of the year! I honestly wasn't prepared for how much I loved this one and it may be because it had a bit of several genres within the story.

<u>Synopsis</u>
Maia longs to follow in her father's footsteps as a tailor in the emperor's court, however she's a girl. When a summons arrives for her ailing father to be a court's tailor, Maia takes his place to gain the position in hopes of supporting her family. However, she discovers she must compete in a contest as one of twelve applicants. If that's not enough, the final challenge is impossible and will require her to journey to find the makings of three magical dresses.

<u>Pacing and Points of View</u>
The overall pacing was fast and consisted of Maia's entire point of view. I fell headfirst into the beautiful writing style and didn't surface to the real world for awhile.

<u>Characters and World Building</u>
The world in this story was beautifully built and had an otherworldly feel to it. I could see the scenery, costumes and landscapes in my head so easily. I would love for this to become a movie one day just to be able to get one glimpse of the magic! Speaking of magic, Maia and Edan's characters were so much fun to read and I love them so much! It was nice to see a different kind of strong female. One that didn't have to prove her strength with physical actions or fighting, but with good deeds and caring for her family. The scenes between Maia and her family or Edan were my absolute favorite scenes! The teasing, chemistry and wondering who's side certain characters were on kept me guessing and reading every page. I'm so glad this story will have a sequel so we can explore more of these characters different sides!

<u>Overall</u>
Overall, I really loved the first book in this new duology that was packed full of fantasy, beautiful world building, gorgeous writing and Chinese mythology. I cannot wait to read the sequel and anything this author writes in the future!

I'm so grateful that I was granted an advanced NetGalley copy. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's for allowing me the opportunity to read this amazing digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I seen that Spin the Dawn was a mix between Project Runaway and Mulan, I knew I needed to read it as soon as possible! I had so much fun reading Spin the Dawn. There are basically two different parts to this story, which I really liked. You have the competition and then the journey that Maia goes on to get the materials to make the dresses. I really enjoyed both parts of the story, but felt like the actual second part was overall the best. Maia gets to go on a crazy adventure and see different parts of the world that she never has before. There are quite a few obstacles along the way, but it made the story interesting and on the edge of my seat at times. I really enjoyed the world building and the descriptions of the different places that Maia had to travel; it made it really easy to envision them.

I loved Maia’s character so much. At the start she seemed a bit unsure of things, but continued to grow throughout the story as she experienced and learned more of the world. I really liked how much she loves her family and what she’s willing to go through for them. Edan was a fun character and I liked the relationship development between him and Maia. It did seem odd and a bit insta-love at times though. There are some characters that I hope we learn more about in the sequel, like the Emperor and Lady Sarnai. Even more about Edan would be great as well. I feel like not enough was written about them or what they went through in the past leading up to the events in this book. I think a lot of the focus was on Maia and her development, so I am hoping the sequel tells more about other key characters in the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed Spin the Dawn. I loved the magic, the adventure, and I had a lot of fun reading it. The ending was perfect and has left me wanting more!

Spin the Dawn is a great series opener from Elizabeth Lim. It totally deserves and lives up to the hype surrounding it. To be honest, as soon as I heard it compared to Mulan, I knew it would be right up my alley. I loved getting to know this Chinese folklore inspired world, the whimsical and fairy tale-esque sense of magic, and the cast of characters. The detail in the world-building and in the descriptions of the clothing are marvelously lush. Aside from Lim's beautiful writing style, all of the characters are a joy to get to know especially Maia herself. She's competitively ambitious, determined, and devoted to her family. The romance aspect of the story wasn't my favorite, but honestly that's no surprise there as I was more in it for the competition and the awesome adventure, as usual. Overall, I have a feeling you'll enjoy Spin the Dawn, the first novel in The Blood of Stars series by Elizabeth Lim, if you like Disney's Mulan, Renée Ahdieh, and Leigh Bardugo. I can't wait to see where this series goes in the future.

Maia dreams of being a master tailor like her father. A dream is all it is though because only men can be master tailors. She will just have to be content with working in the shop with her father.

When her father is summoned to the palace, he is not well enough to go. The messenger will allow his son to go in his place. Maia must pose as her brother. It's the only way she will ever be a master tailor.

This book was a pleasant surprise! I thought it sounded pretty good, but I thought the romance would ruin it for me. The story was strong enough that the romance didn't take away from it. I loved the writing style. Maia and Edan are great characters. I will definitely read the next one.

This was a great adventure/romance/fantasy read. The description says Project Runway meets Mulan and that is what it is! (Throw a bit of Aladdin in there also) There are so many fantasies out there in the YA world and sometimes I feel like they are all too similar, but this was very different. The main character enters a contest to become the Emperor's master tailor and has to pose as a male because females are not allowed to have these kinds of positions. She is given an (almost) impossible challenge and goes on a mission with the help of an Enchanter. I read this quickly and found myself wanting to go to bed at night to read more. That's always a good sign! I will definitely be putting this in the hands of my high school students!

Fives stars: At last a imaginative YA fantasy that I loved.

Maia has been sewing since she could hold a needle. At sixteen, she is the one keeping her father’s shop running since her older brothers went off to war, and her father ailing father is no longer able to keep up with the demands. When a royal summoner arrives at the shop commanding Maia’s father go to court to compete to be the Emperor’s tailor, Maia takes a daring chance. It is forbidden for women to be the imperial tailor, but Maia has no choice, since her brother returned home injured and her father isn’t able to sew, she decides to pose as a boy and go in her father’s place. Once Maia arrives at court, she is faced with a daunting task. She must compete against twelve other tailors. Amidst backstabbing and treachery, Maia presses on, only to be faced with the most impossible task of all. To be the imperial tailor, Maia must sew three mythical dresses: one from the sun, the moon, and the stars. Can Maia achieve this herculean task and keep her secret or will she die trying?
What I Liked:
*It has been a long time since I have been impressed by a YA fantasy. I was thrilled when Spin the Dawn delivered a fantastic story with impressive world building, imaginative story lines, magic, impossible quests, unforgettable characters and a swoon worthy romance. I loved this one!
*Maia is a wonderful protagonist. She begins the story as a talented but overlooked tailor because she is a girl. Once she begins posing as a boy to compete in the contest, things get exciting. I loved her courage, her devotion to her family and her belief in her abilities. It was a tremendous journey, and I was thrilled with her growth along the way. I loved her! Then there is Edan, a mysterious and brooding hero. He has plenty of secrets, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about him early on. However, as the story progresses, his layers peel away and we learn some of his secrets. I truly grew to love him. He like, Maia, loves fiercely and he is loyal as well as courageous. I thought he was the perfect counterpart to Maia.
*The cast of secondary characters is just as delightful. I long to know more about Lady Sarnai and her lover as well as the old tailor who befriends Maia.
*The story itself is fantastic. There is rarely a dull moment. I loved the numerous conflicts, the adventure, the originality and so much more. This book is packed with action, danger, magic, romance and adventure. Grab it.
*The world building is excellent. The author creates her own world, but it borrows heavily on Chinese culture. I enjoyed the various settings from the desert, to the mountains and a ghostly realm. I enjoyed the descriptions, and I felt like I was transported to this unique world.
*The romance is fantastic. It starts out antagonistic, and then it moves into a hesitant friendship. The reader, like Maia, isn’t sure whether to trust the male suitor, but soon all that changes when he makes several great sacrifices to help her. I loved that this was a slow burn romance, and when it gets to that magical moment, it is perfect. I especially liked how each party was willing to make great personal sacrifices for the other. This romance was pure and beautiful.
*I loved that this book has so much going for it. There is excellent world building, myths, magic, action, impossible quests and an unforgettable romance. I can’t wait for more!
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Kim Mai Guest. I thought Ms. Guest did a tremendous job with the narration. Her characters voices are excellent, and it was easy to immerse into the story. I highly recommend grabbing the audiobook if you can.
And The Not So Much:
*Sigh.....the books ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. It isn’t a terrible heart stopping ending, but there is so much left undone, and I am worried about the fate of certain characters. I hope it isn’t a long wait for book two. Normally, a cliffhanger would lower my rating, but this was such an enthralling book, I gave it a pass.
*I personally don’t like the marketing comparison for this book. It is being sold as Mulan meets Project Runway, this book is so much more than that. It is imaginative, sophisticated and wonderful. Also don’t hesitate because this one is labeled as YA. It does not have a YA vibe to it at all.
*I wish there was more explanation on the magical aspects. Some people in the land feared magic. I think a little more explanation on the beliefs of the people was needed.

Spin the Dawn is a book that grabbed my attention and kept me enthralled throughout. I loved this imaginative story with its unique world building, bold characters, captivating story lines, magic and a lovely romance. It has been a long time since I read and loved a YA fantasy, so I was thrilled to find this gem. If you want a terrific read, look no further, this is one to grab!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

This was just okay for me. We were told things rather than shown. The romance over took the plot and the magic was never explained.

They say this book is a cross between Mulan and Project runway and I can see what they were talking about. I definitely enjoyed my time reading it. The writing was ok, character development was good. The storyline felt solid for a first book in a series. Overall a good book. I didn't care for the romance though. As someone who reads a lot of romance books I didn't really find this particular romance to be believable.

Spin the Dawn brings the story of a girl who wished to be celebrated as a master tailor. Because she is a girl, she won't ever get that status, so when the Emperor calls for master tailors to participate in his contest, she goes in place of her brother. While there, the 12 tailors are tasked with challenges to impress the reluctant bride-to-be, and Maia, armed with a pair of magic scissors discovers that magic is real, and much more potent than she imagined. She is further tasked to create three wedding gowns for the princess, which would be from the myths of their kingdom, and to get the ingredients for those gowns, she would have to go on a perilous journey along the Silk Road and across the kingdom where she would be tested.

The comparisons to Mulan for this story seem premature, because aside from the cross-dressing in Chinese kingdom bit, it has nothing in common. It has, instead, more in common with Howl's Moving Castle and One Thousand and One Nights, as the story contains many motifs and inspirations from them. Maia's story can be divided into two parts - the contest and the quest, and they have different vibes in the story. While in the palace, Maia is competing against other master tailors, who aren't above sabotage or using magic; Maia, meanwhile, is hesitant to use her magic scissors which make what she imagines the creation to be, possible. In the quest, however, the plot tones down the magic subplot and shifts to adventure and romance, and opens up the story with a fairytale touch, and sets up things for the next book.

I liked the magic system and the tone of the story; the writing was also beautiful enough that I was engrossed in the plot pretty quickly; the story foreshadows a lot and a bit more obviously, though, which worked against it, because it had so much to gain from its twists. The romance is cute - Edan and Maia have tons of chemistry, and the banter is adorable; Edan is basically immortal but he is the opposite of the brooding mage you would expect, and Maia's exasperation with his flirting plays off well. However, as a romance, it didn't entirely convince me, even though I liked their dynamic well enough. The pacing was a bit faster than to allow the whimsy to set in, but with the timeline, I guess it couldn't be helped. The ending delivers a nice gut-punch of a climax, so the wait for the next book is sure to be a bit torturous.

Verdict: I loved the concept, world, and the storyline but the romance could have been written better.