Spin the Dawn

Elizabeth Lim

Jul 2019 · The Blood of Stars Book 1 · Sold by Knopf Books for Young Readers

About this ebook

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping fantasy about a teenage 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. And don’t miss Elizabeth Lim’s new novel, the instant New York Times bestseller, Six Crimson Cranes!

“All the cutthroat competition of a runway fashion reality show and the thrilling exploits of an epic quest." —The Washington Post

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 makes the ultimate sacrifice and poses as a boy to take 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 in a cutthroat competition 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 unthinkable final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the sun, the moon, and the 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 fantasy novel is not to be missed.

"This is a white-knuckle read." —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter

Ratings and reviews

3.5 stars — I both listened and read this book. This was another one of those books that while I couldn’t find fault with the narrator (and in fact I’ve enjoyed Ms. Guest in other audiobooks), I just had a harder time getting sucked in when listening. But when I would switch to reading, it just captured me more easily. Apparently there’s just certain types of stories that don’t work as well for me in audiobook format. I still listened to about a third of this one, on and off depending on what I was doing. And as I said, Ms. Guest’s narration was solid, if a bit slow (though I suppose I could have sped it up). I think her depiction of Maia might have made her even harder to like — the…whininess? came across strongly. As for the story? Some parts captured me IMMENSELY, while others left me wanting more. I think I appreciated the world that Ms. Lim built, and the magical concepts in the story. I was expecting something much more Mulan-esque given the blurb, but the only similarities were really in part one. After that I saw quite a few other fairy tale tropes come into play (3 impossible tasks, as well as others I won’t mention b/c spoilers). The story of Amana and the 3 dresses, and Maia’s quest for them (basically part two) was my favourite part of the story. I really felt how much Maia suffered for those 3 things, and it made my imagination come alive thinking about it. As for the characters? Ehhhh…again, there were parts I loved, but also parts that left me wanting more. Maia felt a bit one dimensional to me. I don’t know why, but I didn’t really connect with her — she felt kind of flat. I didn’t feel a lot of emotion, and what I did felt very petulant and self-centered…so okay, realistically YA. I just didn’t really root for her. And Edan was the typical YA love interest — a bit of a jerk, but secretly in love. I actually appreciated his story and his struggle more than Maia’s in the end. I also loved how he showed his affection and caring for her eventually, while Maia still felt like she kept her cards closer to her vest. All in all, I enjoyed myself. But AGAIN, I find myself uncertain whether I’m invested enough to read the next book. *shrugs*

I literally read this in a day. This story amazed me! Any fans of Howl's Moving Castle would love this story as it's rich with attractive enchanters, magic shoes, and so, so much more. I cannot wait for the next book of the series.

This Mulan retelling was so amazing! Maia is such a strong female character. I love the magic in this story. Edna is also a great character. He is mysterious and funny. I love them both. I cannot wait to read the next one. I recommend this book!

About the author

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SIX CRIMSON CRANES!

ELIZABETH LIM grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised on a hearty diet of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth was a professional film and video game composer, and she still tends to come up with her best book ideas when writing near a piano. An alumna of Harvard College and the Juilliard School, she now lives in New York City with her husband and her daughters.

Elizabeth is the New York Times bestselling author of Spin the Dawn, Unravel the Dusk, and Six Crimson Cranes. She is also a contributor to Disney's A Twisted Tale series.


Visit her at elizabethlim.com
Follow her on Twitter at @LizLim
Follow her on Instagram at @elimpix