I'd give this a 4.5. I will say that the first chapter was a lot of back story that had me putting the book down and not picking it back up for a few days. Then once I read chapter two, the story actually got started and I was into it from then on.
"Spin the Dawn" by Elizabeth Lim was such a lovely fairy tale story. It had elements of Mulan, Cinderella, and Aladdin and much more sprinkled throughout. It felt both familiar and original somehow and the romance was absolutely heart-wrenching. I loved Maia's character arc and I found her relatable and inspirational at the same time. The world was well-developed but the world building didn't weight the story down. It was well-woven within the context and it was always something I was interested to know more about, which can be hard to do.
I thought the writing was lovely and the story was just overall beautiful and enchanting for me. I feel like there aren't a lot of fairy tale stories out there that actually feel like a fairy tale—magical and beautiful and heart-warming and also dark and mysterious with powerless mortals facing the wrath of gods and monsters in a believable, overwhelming way all the the same time. They're usually one or the other, but somehow this book managed to be both and I really enjoyed it.

This book was such a breath of fresh air. I adored the main character, she was feisty and relatable. I also loved Edan, he was just broody enough, though he had that stupid "Must. Protect." trope.

The plot was well paced, the angsty romance was wonderful, I liked the plot. I cannot wait for the next book.

Wow this story was woven into the best of fairytales and adventure that i read since i devoured The Crown’s Game. We have a young lady that desperately wants to be the emperors tailor but that path is blocked to her since she is female. Then her father is given the opportunity and she strives off as a boy to save the honor of her family and hopefully to prove herself enough so she can achieve her dream.

At the heart of the story is Maia wanting to be the best she can be, to prove she just as good as the men in this field. Also is Maia discovering more about herself and the roots of her family. She meets this mysterious enchanter, she given the impossible task of weaving three dresses out of essentially fairytales, and also she forced to make an impossible decision at the end of this book one.

I can hardly wait for the next book i need to know how Maia and Edna are going to overcome this impossible obstacle that has been thrown in their path. I need to know how Maia does now that she woven these amazing dresses, is the emerpeor going to fulfill her dreams? Also how does Maia family do now that her brother been healed from his wounds and her farther does he continue in being able to make his shop thrive?

We don’t even have a blurb to tide us over tell the next book? Your going to want to devour this one it got great pacing, solid characters, and vivid imagery of the world this story is based in.

SPIN THE DAWN by Elizabeth Lim is a romantic and gorgeous book that is deemed Mulan meets Project Runway. Penguin Random House gave me the ARC via NetGalley for an honest review. This post DOES NOT CONTAIN SPOILERS.

A spoiler-review of the book will be published on Monday, July 15 on my blog #MediaGalReads so readers can have the opportunity to read the story and form their own thoughts and opinions.

Why I was interested: Growing up, Mulan was one of my favorite Disney Animated films so combining it with fashion made me really excited. I love fashion, and magical fashion is seriously the best.

Judge a book by it’s cover: The cover hints at the exquisitely beautiful story inside with hints at what is to come (including Maia’s magical scissors). I love the hand-drawn/illustrated look of it and having Maia on the cover as herself is a great addition.

What to expect: A romantic story, lovely magic, and a great quest. Lim cleverly spins different mythologies to create a gem of a book.

Why you should pick this book up: If you loved Mulan but wished it had more magic, then this is the story for you. If you love magical fashion or Project Runway, you will really enjoy this.

Want more?: I will publish a full review with spoilers on Monday, July 15 on #MediaGalReads, so enjoy the story and come back for a fun discussion!

Thanks for stopping by!

MG, #MediaGalReads
https://marenaelizabethgalluccio.com/blog/

Wow. Just... WOW.

I had so many expectations going into SPIN THE DAWN - it was easily one of my most anticipated books of the year - but Elizabeth Lim and her phenomenal storytelling SHATTERED THEM ALL.

Before I even get into the nitty-gritty about the story, let's talk about that cover. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?! The font. The wings. The EXPRESSION ON MAIA'S FACE. The gold embroidery. Pure perfection.

However, it's not right to simply judge a book by its cover. Luckily, Lim's writing is just as enthralling and whimsical as the cover art that graces it.

This book is described as MULAN meets PROJECT RUNWAY, and... that's actually a pretty great description. It has all of the wicked action and strong feminist vibes of MULAN intertwined with the delicate beauty and creativity of the artsy fashion show. I'd have never dreamed that the two could go so well together, but boy, they sure do.

Now, I'm not going to lie, I'm a sucker for all things "magical competition." Think: VE Schwab's A GATHERING OF SHADOWS (one of my favourite books of all time). It then came as no surprise that I absolutely devoured the first half of the story.

The second half, however, was no less incredible. The world-building! The (convincing and realistic!) dialogue! The strong, emotional, fantastically developed characters! (Um, can Maia be my best friend, please and thank you?!) Within the pages, Lim crafts a fantasy world as stunning as the sun in the sky, as elegant as the night's full moon and as awe-inspiring as the stars in the sky.

AND THAT TWIST AT THE END. (No spoilers, don't worry!) Just... wow. I did NOT see that coming! Book 2 cannot be released soon enough - I cannot WAIT to see how the cliffhanger at the end gets resolved!

I EASILY give SPIN THE DAWN five stars. Absolutely. I'd give six if I could. SPIN THE DAWN has instantly shot to the top of my list of the greatest books I've ever read, and I can't WAIT until I receive the privilege to read it again... and again, and again, and again.

What do you get when you mix in a bit of Mulan, a dash of Project Runway, and a sprig of the genie story from Aladdin? Spin The Dawn.

I wish I had the second book in the queue already because I'm broken after finishing this book and in dire need of the second installment, but I'll forego wailing to go into my review of the book.

The world was magnificent, a feudal Asian inspired setting, where females have little say in anything except for taking care of families. Maia Tamarin has a dream of one day being the best tailor in the country and become Master Tailor for the Emperor, except she is a woman and therefore it will never be—or will it?

Maia is a wonderful character who does grow by leaps and bounds but also stays true to who she is, too, which is a selfless individual who puts those whom she loves first and foremost.

Edan is a mysterious character, as the Lord Enchanter, this is supposed to be the point of them. They live for hundreds of years, and his job is to protect the emperor and therefore the country, too. But Edan evolves just as much if not more than Maia, and his clever, troublesome personality endeared himself to me.

The overall plot was truly enthralling—I picked this book up half wondering how Mulan and Project Runway could possibly be woven together, but it was done and seamlessly so by Lim. Do yourself a favor and pick this wonderful read up!

I received a copy of this book via Caffeine Book Tours for the upcoming blog tour in July! The full review will come soon, but here is a fresh, straight-out-of-the-oven (and non-spoilery) reaction to me finishing the book last night:

I'm a MESS. This book absolutely tore me to shreds and I need the sequel to feel whole again.

Half cutthroat tailoring competition (ala Project Runway, as the blurb suggests) and half traditional quest narrative, SPIN THE DAWN follows a headstrong Maia, disguised as her brother, into the treacherous grounds of the palace as an unlikely candidate in a competition for the role of imperial tailor. Maia is a brilliant and hardworking tailor, but as danger and magic lurk behind every corner, she's forced to make hard decisions just to survive.

And now for a smattering hodgepodge of thoughts because wow what are words anymore:

- I. loved. Maia. so much. Strong, female-led diverse fantasies are here to stay. I'm declaring this into existence. I will never have to read another book featuring a grapefruit of a white male MC of my own volition ever again. Edan also definitely carried a lot of the book with his enigmatic personality, and judging by the other reviews, I'm not alone in basically being heads-over-heels for this ridiculously charming enchanter oops.

- The world-building in this! was so good! I feel like descriptions in fantasy novels tend to make my eyes glaze over sometimes, but most of the book actually felt really grounded in details that you would like... actually notice. As a human being. With physical senses.

- The central romance had me swooning—and I think this aspect of the book works because I basically care way too much about the two main characters. There’s a lot of good examples of healthy relationships to be found here: from consent being a fundamental of their courtship, to taking down squicky romance tropes (such as one person deciding for the other that they would be better off without them). I’m very glad this will be in the hands of young readers who are just starting to form romantic relationships, is what I mean. ALSO I'm trying so hard not to spoil anything, but thank GOD this isn't a standalone book, my poor heart.

- I adored the magic in this! We don't actually know a lot about the in-and-outs of how it works because Maia herself isn’t an enchanter (and Edan’s pretty secretive about his own origins), but the glimpses we get into the role of enchanters in the kingdom absolutely hooked me. The system actually reminded me a lot of how magic works in the anime/manga series Magi too—especially the relationship between rulers and their enchanters.

Also, it should also be noted that early versions of this book contains a somewhat ableist sideplot, but I've been informed that it's been rectified in the final print.

ANYWAY TL;DR I really need everyone to pick up this book because. Um. If you couldn't tell from the 450ish words up there... I love it a LOT.

This is a wonderful debut! The writing is polished and full of wonder, awe and a rich world! I loved the competition aspect with Maia trying to become the tailor. Then the story gets so much bigger and it was quite the journey. I loved the chemistry between Maia and Edan and both characters feel so genuine and grow well throughout the book. The author really has great control on pacing on this epic journey of a story and I NEED all the food and fashion that's mentioned. I can't wait for this book to come out and I will recommend this for my library to purchase. This is a new release that people need to watch and pick up when it comes out. My review will be on my book blog and linked here once the post is live. A huge thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

*thank you to netgalley for the arc.

This was an .... okay read. It definitely won’t be memorable to me, but I would consider picking up the next book in the series (?)

I had quite a few problems with the overall plot itself, and from reading further into disabled people’s reviews, I have learned that there is some harmful representation of disabilities.

Spin the Dawn was definitely not what I was expecting, as I thought the entire plot was centred around the trials she had to face in order to because the imperials tailor, but that is not the main part of the book at all - it’s actually the journey of making the three dresses made out of the moon, sun and stars. I felt that the first part of the book(the trial) was, almost, unnecessary and did not add much substance other than setting up for the rest of the book. It felt disconnected to me, and like two different plot lines pushed into one story.

Although I felt the trial to be unnecessary, I did like the representation of Maia - she was portrayed as a strong, independent young woman who had a goal in mind and she had a reason to hide her true self. She was motivated by the thoughts of helping her family, and following her dream of becoming the imperials tailor. The second half, which follows her journey to create these dresses, loses her initial motive and completely centres around something else and this something else was much more juvenile, and brought the book down for me. I would have LOVED if Spin The Dawn was a family motivated story, but unfortunately, love got in the way of that.

Now, let’s talk about the love story. I LOVED the love interest and I so desperately wanted to know more about him. I want a spin off dedicated solely to him and his past, and everything about him. But, the love was a typical, ‘dislike to lovers but they didn’t really dislike each other and now they’re all the sudden in love with each other??’ type deal which wasn’t the best romance I’ve ever read, but I understand why it was there. I wish it didn’t hinder Maia’s character though, and unfortunately, it did for me.

Some highs - I was incredibly intrigued by the magic in this world, and wanted to know more about Enchanters and their goals/jobs to keep the world in order. I hope that in future books the magic is built upon, and the whole world is fleshed out a bit more.

Finally, the disability rep - in Spin The Dawn, Maia’s brother, Keton, comes home from war and his legs have been damaged so he is unable to walk. Maia pretends to be Keton when she goes to the trials, and so she acts as if she has this disability(walks with a cane with a rock in her shoe.) There’s also a part at the end of the story, which I won’t spoil, that I’ve heard is being changed in the final copy but just be aware that there was some harmful portrayals, and Maia acting as Keton has been viewed as harmful to some.

Spin the Dawn is a masterful story pitched as Mulan meets Project Runway. I agree with this for the first half of the book, but the second half was so much more powerful and complex. This book tells the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to compete to be the master tailor for the emperor. She must make three dresses: one from the sun, one from the moon, and one from the stars. This spurs an epic adventure that tests her skills and determination. And I think it's now one of my favorite story adventures.

There's something for everyone to love in this book: magic, love, long journeys, sacrifices, discovery, fights, and the power of a young girl who can beat the odds with her skill and determination. All around, the story kept me engaged and I finished it in three days because I couldn't put it down. The characters are wonderfully real, burdened by their responsibilities and the deepest wishes of their hearts.

I loved Elizabeth Lim's writing style and I wouldn't hesitate before reading another one of her books. I'm despondent that I have to wait for the second book of this series, though. I need Maia's story to continue now! Until then, I'll recommend this one to anyone who loves fantasy, Chinese culture, and fairy tales.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House) and NetGalley for the free review copy! This book will be released July 9th, 2019.

full review
In writing this book Lim has woven together classic stories from Chinese, Scandinavian, and Middle Eastern tradition to create a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable epic of a tapestry, enriched by vibrant characters, intricate detail, and thrilling storytelling. It is difficult to disengage from immersion in Lim's fantasy world, because she keeps the pace quick and flows from one plot point to another with facility.

It would be easy to compare the premise of this story to Project Runway and similar programs, but to do so would be to sell the book short. It is true that the main character must go to the palace to compete for the honor of becoming a court tailor, and that in order to win she must complete arduous and sometimes absurd design challenges, but that is only the beginning. It does, however, serve as an excellent introduction and allows Lim to incorporate the first of her classic stories: the legend of Hua Mulan.

With her father's heart broken and her brother incapable of sewing a strait seam, Maia knows she must be the one to answer the imperial summons, and in so doing she finds herself embroiled not only in a cutthroat contest where her rival competitors will stoop even to magic and attempted murder, but also in the political game between the emperor and his reluctant bride-to-be. Matters are further complicated by the interest the imperial sorcerer takes in Maia, and his insistence that she, too, will need to use the magic at her disposal, even though it feels like cheating, in order to win the title she covets - and survive! The contest is exciting and the challenges are fascinating, as are the descriptions of the contestants' creations, but once the challenge is finished and Maia is given another, apparently impossible, commission Lim looks to Scandinavian folklore for the next chapter of the story.

Maia's adventures beyond the palace walls as she braves foes both mundane and magical to gather the necessary materials to create three gowns out of legend expand Lim's fantasy world in new and intriguing directions, introducing more cultures and characters to the already richly-depicted world. Maia's developing relationship with her companion on this quest is lovely to watch unfold, and as more is revealed about his background it is possible to see the Middle Eastern influence Lim has brought in, although it is not until nearly the end of the book when we learn what story she has borrowed from in creating him. Figuring it out ahead of the reveal is satisfying. The ending leaves you wanting more.

This is a book that I recommend highly to fans of young adult fantasy. It does not read like the epic or grimdark fantasies which have flooded the market for the past decade, and instead delights in storytelling and interpersonal drama, making it a very easy, enjoyable read for those who like YA fantasy. If YA fantasy is not your cup of tea, you may be pleasantly surprised and enjoy this book anyway, but in my opinion this is an excellent example of how truly good YA fantasy should be written.

Review to be posted to Goodreads and retail sites, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, upon publication date, July 9, 2019.

I received this e-ARC via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the journey of Maia Tamarin, a talented tailor in a small town who just wants her work to be recognized and her family to be happy. The book is extremely fast paced, especially at the end where it is rushed, but Elizabeth Lim still manages to weave a beautiful story through her descriptions of not only the clothing that Maia creates but the places she visits. The concept and plot of the story is reminiscent of Mulan and Project Runway at the beginning but grows into so much more. The way Lim presents magic in this world is creative and I can’t wait to read more about it.

Maia is a very likable character and you can’t help but want her to succeed. Her only fault would be that she is young and naive and with that makes some rash and questionable decisions. I fell in love with the love interest (for spoiler reasons I won’t say who it is) but I also felt that his character could have been fleshed out better. I just wanted to know more about his story.

The one thing that frustrated me about this book was actually the love story even though I really liked both main characters. I’m not sure if it’s because I read this book in 2 days or because the story was so fast paced but I felt the love story was very rushed. It really took a long time for Maia to even warm up to him but within a couple months of that she is in love and can’t live without him. They are constantly doing the love/hate trope throughout the book which was frustrating as a reader and made the book feel like it was geared to a younger crowd. They are both self-sacrificing fools and are continuously putting themselves in danger to save the other which usually causes the fighting between the two. They are both talented, powerful characters and I felt it would have been better to have them work together to save each other. I hope to see this happen in future books.

I also hope to learn more about the minor characters in future books, especially Lady Sarnai. I was surprisingly drawn to her and wanted to know more of her backstory. I felt that her story was not explored enough and it made it hard to form an opinion on her character.

Overall I did enjoy this book and could not put it down. I did feel that it was geared to a younger crowd (I am 27 years old) but I still liked all the characters, just questioned some of their decisions. I look forward to future books in this series and seeing how the characters and they storylines progress.

SPIN THE DAWN was an absolute delight to read. The "girl disguised as a boy" trope is one of my favorite tropes of all time and coincidentally, this story definitely had some Mulan vibes that I appreciated. The characters, the plot, and the prose sucked me and I NEVER wanted to leave. Speaking of which, the prose was SO silky smooth. I liked the fact that this debut novel felt like two stories woven into one. It changed the pace and presented new challenges for the characters. I would love to see more from this world. 5/5

All I have to say is WOW. This was a phenomenal book and I couldn't put it down. It's the Mulan meets Project Runway story that I never knew I needed! I will gladly accept book 2 anytime now!

The writing is wonderful and I easily lost myself in the world that Lim created. The settings and descriptions are rich and colorful, a perfect fit for a story about a tailor. The lush, Asian-inspired culture and scenery were enough to make me want to travel to the places of their origins.

I absolutely adored the characters, the love story I didn't really see coming, and the bravery of the female protagonist. She's the powerful character we need to be reading more of!

I was provided this novel (as an advanced reader copy) by NetGalley. All views expressed in this review are my own. My review does contain spoilers, so please be aware of that before reading.

I want to preface this review by saying that this book isn't bad. Despite the synopsis painting it as a one-of-a-kind story, it was a stereotypical YA fantasy. That doesn't mean it's bad or you shouldn't read it, but my disappointment and irritation the farther I got into this book, as I began nit-picking everything apart, made it difficult for me to enjoy this book.

This novel is about a young girl who is a tailor in a seaside town. She dreams of one day becoming the imperial tailor, and when the previous one suspiciously dies, she is given the opportunity of a lifetime. However, she must compete against master tailors in order to reach her dreams, in a very Project Runway-esque scenario as the synopsis says. The hard part is that she must pretend to be a boy, as women aren't allowed to be tailors in this fantasy world. I doubt it's going to be that much of a surprise to find out that Maia wins this competition, despite not being a master. While it was nice to see her win, it was also a bit unrealistic as she was literally up against the best in the world (and she only won because of her magic scissors and because the last competitor was cheating; i don't really consider that winning fair and square).

Maia has a pair of magic scissors given to her by her father, that seem to do all of the work for her and make her feel like she's cheating. However, once her stereotypical love interest (we'll get back to him later) tells her that everyone's cheating so it's fine, she decides to use them. A lot of this novel hinges on Maia deciding to use these scissors against her better judgement, but we are never really told what they can do. Maia uses them for sewing, but then somehow knows that using them on some bushes will create a barrier against the people trying to kill her??

One of my biggest issues with this book is Maia herself. She is a tailor who hasn't seen much of the world, and doesn't know how to do many of the things that traditional YA heroines like Celaena know how to do. She has never ridden a horse before, but somehow perfects it. She has never been in a fight before, but manages to kill men twice her size (and with her magic scissor no less) (also I learned in Vampire Academy that Maia is stabbing someone in the heart completely wrong). It all just seems incredibly unrealistic. Maia wasn't the stereotypical badass warrior that many fantasy women are, and that was fine. It would have been better to see her use her wits or her sewing powers more frequently in order to survive on this quest, rather than only using her scissors at the last second (which again, Maia doesn't know the extent of the powers of, and yet somehow knows that it'll work??? please) and somehow morphing into a warrior-wannabe after 3 months of travel.

I wish that more of the book had been dedicated to the competition itself, which is what I had expected going into this novel. Less than half of the book was spent on it, so I was a bit disappointed by that. The subsequent journey to gather ingredients to make mythical dresses felt quite repetitive, and Maia wasn't an adventurer or a warrior but somehow became one when the opportunity arose. Also, Edan was there.

Edan is Maia's love interest. Of course they're forbidden to be together, because he's an enchanter bound to the emperor and she's parading around as a boy (and doing an awful job at that). When the goodreads summary tells you this book is for fans of Sarah J. Maas, they're not wrong; Edan is literally Rhys. He's 500 years old, for starters (which is oddly the same as Rhysand). He's tall, so of course Maia wants him. Maia and Edan spend over half the novel saying that they don't think they like each other (not even that they can't because it's forbidden) to suddenly talking about procreating together?? The pacing of their romance is senseless. They admit that they like each other, and then are dropping declarations of love all over the place.

Maia's characterization wasn't great, as mentioned above, but there were many moments in the book where things just didn't make sense. Maia is incredibly sick, and then is springing to her feet and running to Edan. Maia risks her life to go back to Edan, only to run away again when he tells her to. Maia wants to give up the dream she just achieved just for a man (GROSS), and in turn decides to take away his livelihood as well without even asking him.

There were many moments in this book that reminded me of other YA novels, which i have mentioned above, and even books like Twilight and The Hunger Games. Obviously, it is impossible to make a book that isn't in some way influenced by other works of media, but this book just wasn't for me. As I continued through the book, I highlighted passage after passage, taking notes in my irritation, and I just could not enjoy this book though I wanted to.

This does not mean that this book is bad; it just wasn't the book for me.

I absolutely devoured this completely stunning read that wove tales that became the most beautiful of stories inside my head,

This book as nothing like what I though tit was going to be. The blurb doesn’t do it justice at all. Maia is a tailor. The twist is that she isn’t allowed to be a tailor. She is secretly running her father’s business because he is too ill to do so. So when he is summoned to the palace things get tricky.

Maia enters the royal tailor competition disguised as one of her brothers and from there I was HOOKED. I couldn’t stop reading. This was one of the most addicting reads I have grabbed up in a long time and I need more!

Think the blurb, plus an amazing bunch of twists and a cast of characters that literally feel like you are watching a YA fantasy reality show. BUT SO MUCH BETTER!

SPIN THE DAWN is an unbelievably fantastic read with some elements of a high-stakes PROJECT RUNWAY, some elements of FLAME IN THE MIST, and a whole new adventure, romance, and captivating plot. Maia is the only daughter of a tailor in a kingdom where women are wives and men can have trades. Her three older brothers have talents that have nothing to do with the tailoring trade, and so, it is unfortunate that Maia is the one with the skills, but born female.

The kingdom is at war, and her brothers must go fight. Maia is left alone with her father, as her mother died when she was young. As her father is ailing, he cannot work and thus, they would starve. Maia instead takes on the work, running the shop and doing the tailoring. The war is barely ended with peace won by the emperor agreeing to marry the daughter of his rival. When the imperial tailor dies, Maia’s father is called to the imperial city to work for the emperor, based on some work Maia had done with her skill. Instead, Maia poses as her brother, Keton, and travels in his stead.

Once she arrives, she enters a contest with eleven other men who will compete at difficult tasks to become the imperial tailor. The competition is high stakes with short time allotments and increasingly strange requests (much like PROJECT RUNWAY)- as well as competitors who are willing to sabotage and maybe even murder to win. Reluctantly aided by the scissors gifted to her from her father and the imperial enchanter, Edan, Maia is eager to prove herself and her skills to win the competition.

However, her trials are soon to become even more difficult when the bride-to-be requests dresses of legend that would require Maia to undergo impossible tasks and face incredible odds to create them- but the alternative is too terrible to imagine.

What I loved: The world and character building in the book are incredible. Maia leaps off the page, as do the many other characters that appear- her family and the people at the imperial court- they are all so beautifully crafted that they are easy to imagine. With lyrical prose, this world blooms before our eyes as Maia must compete and then accomplish the impossible.

With the addition of a forbidden romance, this book completely enchanted me from start to finish. I loved it at the expense of sleep, and I have absolutely no regrets. With feminism, adventure, danger, and sacrifice, this book is simply gorgeous. The plot is unbelievably engrossing, and the writing style is simply perfect. Information is revealed in a seamless way to keep the reader engaged without bogging down any part of the story with details. With magic, myths, and romance, this book is other-worldly amazing.

Final verdict: Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Renee Ahdieh, Rae Carson, and Sabaa Tahir will revel in this incredible new YA fantasy. I highly recommend for anyone of any age looking for an extraordinary read. This book builds a new world and characters who quickly intrigued me and became close to my heart- readers will not regret picking up this gorgeously lyrical and lush YA fantasy/adventure!

<b> 5 stars</b>

Welcome to the world of <b>Imaginations</b>! A mixture of <b>Mulan, Aladdin, Cinderella</b> and it's full of <I>M A G I C</I> ! This is so Disney-like in one book and it's <b>fantastic</b> and you're in for a ride!


<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/11thnyggFkrmmc/giphy.gif" width="400" height="300" alt="description"/>

I swear this was written by a group of <b>Disney Imagineers</b> and they wouldn't it let published until near perfection. But it is perfect! If you're a truly a fan of Disney and Fantasy itself, this is for you!

Believe the hype people and you would not be disappointed!

I cannot wait for the sequel and this book is not even published yet!!

What a great start of a series! <b><u> I swear 2019 is the Year of YA Books. </b></U>
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<I>"It is the price we pay for our power."</I>
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<b>Project Runway meets Mulan?</b>
<blockquote>
<i>Uhmm.. okay... </i>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote>
<i><b>"Spin the Dawn is pure magic. Romance, artistry, and deep enchantment."</i></b>
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<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/yxZzO0ndEWQhZPJLbJ/giphy.gif" width="450" height="300" alt="description"/>

<b><u><center>Thank you NetGalley for e-ARC. Cannot wait to read this.</b><u>

This book exceeded all my expectations. It was an amazing fantasy, with a little bit of a retelling thrown in, and great world-building. I can't wait for the sequel. The description says that it's Project Runway meets Mulan, which is a pretty accurate combo actually. The retelling it reminded me of is Allerleirauh, or Thousandfurs. In that story, , the main character fashions three dresses - out of the sun, moon and stars. The main character of Spin the Dawn is the tailor, and she is the one who has to make these mythical gowns. I loved the entire setup before this as well. It almost felt like two separate stories. The contest between the tailors was story number one, and the search for the dress materials was story number two. They flowed well together, however. I was riveted the entire time. I definitely recommend this book - it's one of my favorite reads of 2019.

Billed as “Mulan” meets Project Runway, this is a wonderful blend of various stories, that moves beyond the opening premise of a young woman, Maia, pretending to be her brother to enter a tailoring competition to save her family’s honor. This first section of the book, centered around pleasing a foreign princess trying to avoid an arranged marriage to the suspiciously robust Emperor. Where this part of the book excels is in providing enough mystery about the motivations of each of the people in a position off power over Maia. Maia is faced with impossible tasks (think unconventional challenges of PR) and sabotage. She struggles to work through these challenges on her own, but is encouraged to use the magical scissors that she has inherited from her grandmother by the emperor’s enchanter, Edan, who has taken an interest in her. Like the Emperor, Edan too is wrapped in mystery. While it becomes clear fairly quickly that he will be the love interest for Maia to fulfill the fairy tale tropes that Lim is playing with, there is enough of interest in his circumstances as dictated by the magical world building to make up for what he may lack in differentiation from other YA leading men.

Maia is a strong character and her strength is allowed to come through in the first part of the book as an embrace of the challenges of care taking, a passion for her craft and practical cleverness. It is a pleasure to see her be allowed to keep these strengths (and for others to appreciate them) even as she hides her gender.

The second half of the book departs in a different more adventurous direction. Maia is challenged to create three fabled dresses using sunlight, moonlight and the blood of the stars. Here the tale takes on elements of stories of three impossible tasks, in a way reminiscent of the impossible journey presented in East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and the challenges of finding Donkeyskin’s dresses.

Edan joins her over the course of the journey and a relationship develops revealing much more of the world that Lim has created and what the role of an enchanter is within it. This journey allows Lim to more fully describe the world linking all of these different tropes together (including some from Aladdin) and her descriptions are a big part of what makes her writing come alive. In both the early tailoring competition and in the description of the various locales to which Maia and Edan travel, Lim’s work shines.

The book was consistently gripping and the pacing, despite the major shift in focus part way through, was strong though out. As this is the start of a series some questions are left unanswered. The mysteries of the first part of the book become clearer, though they are somewhat predictable, they are presented with enough complications to leave some doubt for the reader along the way.

I look forward to seeing what Lim puts forth in the next installment and what other fairy tale stories she weaves in.