Review: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) by Elizabeth Lim

 

Spin the Dawn

(The Blood of Stars #1)

by Elizabeth Lim

July 9, 2019
400 pages

Goodreads      Indigo

Goodreads Summary:
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.

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.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.

 

Review

Spin the Dawn was incredibly enchanting! I managed to take my time reading this one and it was absolutely worth it. There was not one thing I didn't find enjoyable about the book. Each part of the story came together beautifully.

Spin the Dawn features a fierce competition full of rivalry and sabotage and an impossible quest complete with dangers and wonders. It was fast-paced and unique- two things I love when it comes to fantasy reads. I so appreciate a story where the events don't drag on.

Ms. Elizabeth Lim's world-building is phenomenal. The main character's hometown sounds small but humble while the palaces were appropriately extravagant. Following the journey Maia and Edan go on we got to see the more remote parts of the world. The harsh conditions they met and their frightening destinations were not without some beauties. The allures were ever present.

The mythology surrounding the sun, the moon and the stars was creative. They showed exactly how difficult Maia's final task was given the dresses were already tough feats to accomplish but the materials were even harder to procure. I welcomed the unexpected curveballs the story threw as they made the book even more intense.

Maia is the shiny star of Spin the Dawn. She has an iron will and the greatest love for her family. Maia was pushed to her limits but she faced the challenges head on and fought like hell to protect her family and achieve her dream. She's brave, determined and selfless. More than anyone Maia Tamarin deserves happiness but she definitely had her work cut out for her.

There is a romance in Spin the Dawn~ Maia really gets to know her love interest before anything happened between them. From fearing his magical abilities to understanding his origin, I was here for their gradual development!

Even though there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending I find myself not minding the wait. I'll be using the time to reminisce on the exciting developments from Spin the Dawn while daydreaming what Unravel the Dusk could bring!
 

*I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the ARC I received.