Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Alfred A Knopf
Format/Source: Digital arc
From GoodReads: 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.
The Crazy Cat Lady breaks down....
...the plot...
This book is marketed as Mulan meets Project Runway, and it absolutely it. Well, it is for the first half. After about the halfway point, this book turns into something so much more magical. I literally mean magical too. I can't go into details without spoiling it.
MAGIC SCISSORS! Where can I get a pair? Because I just recently took up sewing and I really need a pair!
The world is built so you feel like you live in it. While I was reading it on my chair in my living room, I felt like I was with Maia. She made a sleeve for a shirt, I watched her do it. Sometimes it even felt like I was doing it by candlelight like she was. When she is on a long adventure, I am right next to her on my own horse. Now, seeing a world in my mind is very difficult for me to do. I was in this world though, and a part of me never left. I am still by Maia's side making clothes and hanging out with Edan!
...the characters...
What's not to love? Maia is everything I would love to be. She is brave, kind, and ready to do what she needs to for her family. Even after she endures so much. She tries so hard to do the right thing, even when she's wronged. When I am wronged, I want to rage and destroy the other person. She picks it up and moves on, and goes on to prove how amazing she really is.
Edan... oh my heart! He's a magician with a slight enemies to lovers trope. I literally need say no more! SWOON!
...the writing...
Beautiful, simply beautiful. I cannot believe this is a debut novel. Elizabeth has so intricately woven everything in this story. I don't think there is a single thing she misses. She's going to be an author to really keep an eye on.
...final thoughts...
This was one of my most favorite reads of the year. I am ready to read it again right now. I am going to need the sequel sooner rather than later!
TL;DR
A fresh debut author delivers a beautifully crafted story with a romance to die for! Spin the Dawn receives a well deserved 5 stars from me for a perfect debut novel. A little conflict, a lot of magic, and characters you wished you were best friends with make this a solid read.
About the Author:
Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, "Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that's kinda cool!" But after one of her teachers told her she had "too much voice" in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.
Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel -- for kicks, at first, then things became serious -- and she hasn't looked back since.
Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.
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