Tag: spin the dawn

ARC, fantasy, Four Star Book, Uncategorized, ya

Spin the Dawn ARC Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

– Goodreads

Spin the Dawn was advertised as Mulan meets Project Runway, and that’s definitely what the beginning of the book was. It was fabulous!

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

I was hooked on Spin the Dawn from the very first page. When I started reading I decided to play that very dangerous game of, oh I’ll read one chapter before bed. So I did. And I didn’t want to stop!

Ask me to spin the finest yarn of thread, and I can do it faster than any man – even with my eyes closed. YEt ask me to tell a lie, and I will stumble and falter to think of one. I have never had a talent for spinning tales.

With a first line like that, how can you not be pulled in?!

Also, I loved Eden. He was my favorite character. He talks about how he’s not a morning person, he loves to read. I mean, book boyfriend, yes? I also liked Maia. She was strong and grew throughout the story. But she couldn’t hold a candle to Eden.

The pace of this novel was good. About 30-ish percent through the competition ends and Maia is set on an impossible quest. Or so they think. The rest of the story is her and Eden gathering items to make a gown with the suns laughter, a gown with the moon’s tears, and a gown with the star’s blood. The quest is eventful, dangerous, and exciting.

What I didn’t like:

There wasn’t anything specific I didn’t like. The plot was good, the pacing was good, I enjoyed the characters. I think it just didn’t hit the mark of the other books I’ve read this month. Just a personal preference thing, I think. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel!

Would I recommend?

I would! This was our first club read this month and I really enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to her future works!

Get Spin the Dawn here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |

Until next time…