I had mixed feelings when it came to this novel. I really enjoyed the world building and I thought the world was well built and had unique elements. I also enjoyed the writing style of the author and I thought it improved the overall novel.
My gripes with this book came with the pacing with how the book was paced well in the beginning, but the end of the book seemed very rushed for me, and I feel like maybe if it had been a bit longer I would have enjoyed it more.
I also felt like the relationship wasn’t bad. It was better than most because I could see the relationship develop, and I could see the personality elements that brought them together, but overall I feel like it played a big part towards the end of the novel, and I wish they focused more on the plot and the protagonist over their relationship.
All in all, I enjoyed the novel, and it was a nice and quick read however I don’t see myself interested enough to finish reading the series.
I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book! Mulan is one of my favorite stories because it's about a girl on a personal mission to save her family and country! When I found out that this book was similar I was thrilled to get provided a copy. Loved it!

Practically born with a needle in her hand, Maia Tamarin was born to sew. Trained by her mother and father, she is as good a tailor as any man - for all the good it does for her. In Maia's world, steeped in folklore and tradition, positions of power will never belong to women. When a one-in-a-million chance to travel to the palace to vie for the position of imperial tailor arrives at her doorstep, Maia won't let her woman-ness stand in her way. Dressed as a boy, she leaves her home to prove to the world what she's capable of sewing - but in the end, she'll do so much more than that.

I enjoyed much of this - the East Asian overtones, the girl-as-boy plot, the thread of romance, enough that I really was always happy to read and find out what happened next. My brain caught several plot holes, though, and threads that got lost, things seemed too strangely convenient and sometimes time went by WAY to fast and other times they sat around for actual DAYS but then still ended up where they wanted to be at the exact actual MOMENT they needed to be - stuff like that pulled me out of the narrative a bit. Her teenageryness was annoying sometimes (but hey, accurate!) and I wish I'd known it was the beginning of a series because holy cow is it a cliffhanger ending. There's your warning. It feels like I'm mostly finding it's faults but it was a good story, especially for those who enjoy the creative arts - the magic and the sewing add a really interesting twist to your average fairy tale journey.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. I have to thank them because this book was phenomenal! This has jumped up to the top of the list of my favorite YA fantasy novels. Spin the Dawn was so unique and that is increasingly difficult in such an abundant genre. Spin the Dawn tells the story of Maia Tamarin. She helps her father in his tailor shop but as he has aged she has taken on most of the work. She is talented but stays behind the scenes for the most part because girls aren't tailors. When the emperor demands that her father or one of his sons comes to the palace to potentially be his personal tailor, Maia knows sending her father will spell disaster. Her brother isn't up to the task and can't sew a buttonhole. So Maia cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy (I won't ever get tired of this plot device). She doesn't want to ruin her father's reputation and cause him to lose their business. So this starts the our journey. The next portion of the book is a competition where Maia and a few other tailors compete for the honor of being the true tailor. Following some very entertaining and heart pounding moments and the book changes to focus on a journey of sorts as Maia must venture out to find some rare materials for her designs. Add in a touch of magic in the form of a pair of magic scissors and a young Enchanter and we have everything I never knew I needed in an absolutely epic fantasy. The book was written beautifully and the story is perfectly paced. I was sorry to see the book coming to an end because I've truly enjoyed it so much. I am very excited to learn that there will be a sequel in 2020.

Utterly predictable and tropey, but boy did I love it anyway. The only thing I wished was that Maia wasn't so stubborn and immature (although I know she's very young), and that she'd stop referring to Edan as a boy (he's a grown man, dammit!). Otherwise, the writing was well done, the story was compelling with a couple of interesting twists and turns, and I got seriously lost in the love story. I stayed up waaaaaaaaaaaaay too late two nights in a row because I didn't want to stop reading.

Can't wait to read book 2!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book for review purposes.

An evocative story set in a fantasy version of China, one girl stands out of the assassins and princesses in the genre. A talented tailor with her gender preventing her from moving forward, Maia is forced to present herself as her bother to compete in a contest for a spot in the palace. Drawing on familiar fairytale roles with twists, the trapped princess who wants more agency, the brave tailor finding her strength, and a lost sorcerer, Elizabeth Lim creates a lush story. This becomes stronger with the use of Maia's quest leading her across various landscapes and dangers, and all beautifully written.

In particular, the story structure is solid and set in three parts: the contest, the quest, and the aftermath. Each one riveting and strong with the chemistry between Maia and Edam growing and leaving readers waiting for the sequel.

This book is a great surprise for those who are tired of assassins and European-inspired worlds.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5 stars - review will be posted on my blog, http://pastmidnight.home.blog a month before book publication**

Thank you to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-arc book for an honest review.

I loved it.

And I wasn’t quite sure, even with the synopsis, what I was getting myself into. But the first few sentences let me know right away I was going to be taken on a magical journey and the story held to it’s promise.

The writing reads like a dream. It’s very beautiful and reminds me of a fairy tale – but with a twist. Maia Tamarin’s idyllic life is torn at the seams due to unfortunate life events and to help her family she poses as a boy to compete for the chance to become the imperial tailor for the emperor. It sounds like Mulan, but with fashion involved.

Here’s where things take on a Project Runway spin and yes, I used to love that show! 😬 So did I enjoy that part of the book? Oh yes! The backstabbing, the challenges, the fashion, and wondering who will be eliminated, makes for great drama.

Then there is the impossible challenge which takes Maia and the imperial enchanter, Edan, on a quest. I love how Maia and Edan’s romance builds. She is not impressed by him and he helps her because he is intrigued by her but it stays that way for awhile. Edan is snarky and flirty but she doesn’t put up with it. The relationship grows deeper as they open up to one another during the quest. Yet, after the impossible becomes possible, Maia makes a choice that has consequences for both of them.

I found the characters likable and memorable. Maia is strong, brave, and willful for her age. She loves hard – it’s present in her love for her family and for Edan. I hope in the second book she gets to appreciate her feminine side since throughout Spin the Dawn, she is living in a male dominated world and has to pretend be a boy. Even in her family she was surrounded by men – so I think it would be nice for her to have a female friend who knows she’s female. The only other female in this story who has a big role is Lady Sarnia, who is the emperor’s future wife. She comes off as a villain, but she is someone trapped in a man’s world also, so I hope she gets more of a spotlight in book two because there is more to learn about her.

This story was filled with emotion, magic, love and epic adventure. It was more than I expected and I can’t wait for the next book.

Okay I LOVED this book. It was such an epic adventure. It combined elements I love about classic fairytales I love and gave me something familiar and yet new. I loved every minute, and wow what an ending. We see a lot of character growth from several characters, and the ending leaves you waiting for the next book. Read this book and you won't regret it.

Spin the Dawn has been one of my most anticipated YA novels of 2019, as I was so excited to see a Chinese-inspired fantasy with a stunning cover. Although the book ended up not being what I expected, I still enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.

The book centers around Maia, an aspiring, a talented young girl who aspires to be a great tailor. The descriptions of her work, the embroidery and painting, were so lovely and vivid. I loved how driven and hardworking she was. The book is divided into three parts; the first part, the competition, was my favorite. I loved the suspense of seeing what the next challenge would be, what Maia and the other tailors would create, and what Lady Sarnai would decide. The glimpses of court intrigue were fascinating and I definitely felt pulled into this world that Lim creates.

However, the rest of the book, is pretty much just Maia and her love interest, Edan, on a quest. This is a fairly lengthy quest (as it should be, since it had to be difficult and dangerous) and it felt disconnected from the story that had come before. While I enjoyed the mythology weaved into the three parts of the quest, I had so many questions about the history and current state of the kingdom, and there were moments of revelation that felt less impactful than they should have. I'm also still wondering about Lady Sarnai, who I found to be the most intriguing side character.

Overall, Maia was a strong, realistic character, and I'm excited to see where the sequel takes her story. I would especially recommend this book for teens.

The story is engaging and the characters are so rich. I love the fairytale like quality of the writing. Some of the issues I had are typical regarding girl-disguised-as-boy work: namely, how it can come across as possibly insensitive to trans readers. Aside from that, very great story.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

The description on this does not do it justice!!! Sure, it def starts out like Mulan meets Project Runway, but then sweeps in some serious Aladdin vibes with a little dash of Swan Lake and a few odes to other fairy tales! It was epic from start to finish, and also gave me some serious Tamora Pierce vibes!! I loved it!!! I cannot wait for book 2!!!!!!!

Spin the Dawn is a good story, but it's not what I expected. It's hard to explain, like I wanted more of before she left home. More background I guess? Anyway, the story is engaging and original. I liked most of the characters. Overall it's a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the adventure of this book! It reminded me a little of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, if it had been influenced by Mulan. I loved the main character, Maia and she seemed very real. Over all, it was a great read!

Absolutely loved this book from the very first page until very last one! Will be posting a full review once I get my emotions over this baby under control!!!! Again, it was so good and so beautiful!

Pitched as Project Runway meets Mulan, Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim is a young adult fantasy novel inspired by Chinese mythology. Following the story of Maia Tamarin, a girl who longs to be the Imperial Tailor, we are lead through a Royal Competition for the title and honor. Unfortunately for Maia, only men can become tailors. In order to save her family and achieve her dreams, Maia disguises herself as her brother to take their father’s place in the competition. Half of the book focuses on this competition while the other focuses on Maia’s journey to do the impossible with Edan, the Lord Enchanter, by her side.

With an absolutely gorgeous cover designed by Tran Nguyen and an intriguing synopsis, I definitely had high hopes going in. And let me tell you, I was not let down! In fact, it ended up being completely different from what I expected and somehow all the better for it. The worldbuilding in this book is something that I could rave about endlessly, with it’s unique and beautiful magic and intricate culture. I also truly enjoyed the characters, even the Emperor’s bride-to-be. Maia was so strong and resilient all the while holding true to her beliefs. It made her my favourite character.

If there was anything I would say I didn’t like, it would have to be the relationship between Edan and Maia. It came across as a little strange to me since he was so much older than her, as Maia is very young. Of course, I really enjoyed their banter. And eventually, the pairing did grow on me. Maybe because of Edan’s mysterious past being revealed.

I was so pleased to receive an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Spin The Dawn from Netgalley. I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy and young adult books.

Wow! Holy Moly! This book is so, so, so good. The story is complex and engaging. I loved the storylines and the characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Elizabeth Lim is an amazing author and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Bravo!
This is a five star read! Going on my keeper shelf and I will recommend this book to others!

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I am so glad I requested this book (and got it) because it was fantastic! It was described as kind of a mashup between Project Runway and Mulan, but it was so much more than that. I could see elements of each in the story (though, admittedly, I've never watched Project Runway), but they were just influences. This book wasn't a re-telling of Mulan, nor was it just a design competition. It became more complex as it went along, but it all fit. Elizabeth Lim is like her protagonist, Maia, artfully creating something richly beautiful and interesting. I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

Maia (18) and Edan (ha--that's all I can say) are wonderful together in all phases of their relationship--odd acquaintances, friends, and more. Their romance develops very naturally, though it kind of sneaks up on Maia. I love them together. But I also love them separately. Maia, who has always considered herself the obedient daughter, develops (or maybe finds) a formidable strength within her as the story progresses. Edan finds himself again, waking up from a long life of pretty much just existing. He is good, and I liked him. I appreciate that neither character had to be weak for the other to be strong, and each recognized the strengths in the other.

I can't say enough how much I liked this book. I'd put it in the same realm as The Wrath and the Dawn, An Ember in the Ashes, and other similar books. The writing is beautiful without being cumbersome. The characters are well developed. The story is obviously well thought out but feels like it just happened rather than being forced to unfold a certain way.

Note: Some mild swearing. Some brief, mild sex (barely there).

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Rich worldbuilding and a main character I could really root for. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the tailoring projects in the book, and the plot took some unexpected twists and turns that kept me hooked. I recommend this to fans of high fantasy, and will definitely be picking up the sequel!

Wow what a ride!

This book was really fun, and there's so much I loved about it.

First of all, I have to rave about the world building. I loved everything about it - deeply woven culture meets beautifully artistic magic. Really cool folklore and mythology. I'm DYING to see some fan art! Honestly, this alone made the book worthy of five stars. I never wanted to leave the world. And the story - pitched as Mulan meets Project Runway - totally fits. The first bit gave me definite Mulan vibes! But then the story takes on a TOTALLY new direction. In fact, I'd say it changes directions several times, and I definitely wasn't complaining (more below).

We start with Maia, who in order to save her sick father and provide for her family, takes her father's place by dressing like a boy to meet the Emperor's summons. At the palace, there's a competition to be come the Emperor's tailor - but the tailor must impress his fiancé first. But as the plot progresses, it becomes so much more. One thing after another, and all the sudden, Maia is thrust on a journey to craft three impossible dresses - one made of the sun, another of the moon, and lastly, one made from the blood of stars. (And don't worry - she isn't going on the journey alone. Wink wink.)

I did like the characters. Maia has the biggest heart - and she's tough! I especially loved Edan though. Some of you saw my status update - in the beginning, he totally felt like a baby Darkling! He's the Emperor's Enchanter, and has a soft spot for Maia. But as you learn more about him, he becomes more and more unique. I loved trying to figure out his mysteries! The only issue I had was trying to follow some of the character's motivations at times, but I'll admit I was pretty under-the-weather while reading this, so it might have just been me being a bit delusional.

I will say this book reads a bit younger - perfect for teens (which is the intended audience). So much of YA these days feels way older, but this one felt very appropriate for the audience. It reads very clean (meaning it's easy to follow) and the main character actually acts like a teenager (and I don't mean that in a bad way at all)! Honestly, this book was a breath of fresh air.

I received this book through NetGalley.

<i>Spin the Dawn</i> takes a myriad of genre tropes and spins them in an incredible way, resulting in a book that's surprising, fast to read, and immense fun. The back cover copy pitches it as Mulan meets Project Runway, and that's certainly an apt description of the book's first third; after that, it becomes a fresh take on a fairy tale romantic adventure.

Maia is the Mulan prototype, but instead of dressing as a boy to become a soldier, she disguises herself to compete to be the emperor's tailor. This competition is still a kind of war, though. Not only are her peers sabotaging her efforts, but the emperor's fiance is uncooperative and sets up impossible challenges--and then there's the fact that if Maia is outed as a girl, she'll be killed for lying to the emperor. When she finds out the scissors gifted to her by her father are magical, she doesn't want to use them; to my delight, she truly wanted to succeed by her own merits. I loved Maia for that.

Of course, there's a romance, too, and it's an incredibly well done one. I enjoyed how it developed and yikes, did the end deliver some major surprises.

I added this book to my list to consider for the Norton Award for next year. It's that good. I hope its release is heralded by lots of positive attention, and I'll certainly look for other books in the series.