Review: Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars #2) by Elizabeth Lim

Unravel the Dusk
(The  Blood of Stars #2)
by Elizabeth Lim

July 7, 2020
368 pages

Goodreads Summary:

Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. The boy she loves is gone, and she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace.

But the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red, losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, but she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.

YA fantasy readers will love the sizzling forbidden romance, mystery, and intrigue of Unravel the Dusk.

Review

Spin the Dawn was a favourite for me last year so naturally I couldn't wait to get reading on the sequel. While I didn't love Unravel the Dusk as much it was still a beautiful read with just as much emotional intensity as its predecessor.

My biggest gripe with Unravel the Dusk was its pacing. It was slower than book one with moments where I felt like the story dragged. As a result I wasn't as invested in all the happenings. There were a few twists and surprises but I was most pleased to see that Maia and Edan weren't separated for long in the book. 

Once again Maia shone bright. She was an unstoppable force. Even though I found her self-doubts somewhat repetitive, her resilience and selflessness earned my respect. Maia fought hard and I couldn't be happier for her ending.

Unravel the Dusk was a solid finish for the journey that started in Spin the Dawn. The Blood of Stars duology is perfect for fantasy lovers who enjoy a little romance and magic with a lot of bravery in their reads! 

*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.