A+ | There aren’t enough words in any language that I can speak — English, Tagalog, and German — that can describe how much I adored this book. It is simply spectacular, beautiful, lush, and stupendous. It is a million times these words. Elizabeth Lim’s writing shines and there is no rest in this novel. Maia is absolutely my favorite protagonist, hands down. And I didn’t think I would love Lady Sarnai more than I did in the last novel. It is everything I want in a book, but especially everything I want to see in a sequel/conclusion to a series.

This is a spoiler-free review as part of the Caffeine Book Tours #UnravelTheDuskTour. Make sure to check out the details for the international giveaway below!

— Review
Truth be told, despite the fact that I was incredibly excited to read this novel, I was also really fcking scared to pick it up. Books — sequels to be exact — have disappointed me in the past. There is nothing more disappointing than reading a fabulous novel in the series and then the sequel/conclusion turns out to be horrible.

But that did not happen here. Unravel the Dusk is a prime example of how you write a sequel and a conclusion. It is the sequel Spin the Dawn deserves.

This is one of the strongest books I have read so far this year.
I had to force myself to slow down reading this book because I both wanted to know immediately what happened next AND savor every moment. A struggle, I’ll tell ya. Honestly, come the end of the year, I won’t be shocked if I end up ranking this book within the Top 3 of best books of 2020. It is that good.

The worldbuilding continues to be strong.
It builds off what we know of the world from the last book. Elizabeth Lim’s writing and details sprinkled throughout the book bring this world to life. It is a lush world full of life, history, and magic.

The characters? Hands down some of my favorite of all time.
I mentioned in my ARC review of Spin the Dawn that I adored Maia, Edan, and Lady Sarnai. I still love them all. But I especially grew to love Maia and Lady Sarnai even more this time around. I can safely say that Maia and Lady Sarnai have both secured themselves onto my “Favorite Book Characters of All Time” list.

Both Maia and Lady Sarnai are strong characters in their own ways but are similar in that they both have a lot of love and passion within them. Again, without getting into spoilers, this book puts a lot of focus on love: love for friends, love for lovers, love for family, love for country, and love for their own talents/hobbies. How they go about facing the troubles that come their way are certainly different due to their personalities, however, both of them have heart and come to life in these pages.

I wrote in my previous review on how Maia felt so real and she has a clear personality. I stand by that. I mention how love is a driving force in this novel and it plays into how Maia acts throughout this novel. Her priorities have changed and it was cool to see this character fight so hard for love. I did like how things ended for her. I can’t say I’m disappointed with it.

And then we have Lady Sarnai who I can completely understand why people don’t/wouldn’t like her, but I just adore because she isn’t this one-dimensional female character we are meant to hate like so many female characters (especially in Chinese or Korean historical dramas). She continues to be that complex figure whose actions you’d love to hate, but are understandable given the circumstances. Again, I wish we had more from her as well, however, I was happy with how things ended up for her.

Was I sad that we didn’t get as much Edan-Maia time? Absolutely. However, the plot lines and the way they were executed made up for it. Still, the cute moments left me thirsting for more because I these two? Adorable. I adore them.

It is a testament of Elizabeth Lim’s writing that she can craft such a stupendous story with interesting and lively characters.
The writing here is just stunning. Having read her earlier works, I can see how much Elizabeth Lim has gown as a writer and storyteller. She is able to balance worldbuilding, characterization, plot, and pacing and it shines in her writing.

I wrote in my little updates in Goodreads: “This book is just nonstop one thing after another and my heart both loves it and can’t take it anymore.” I truly felt like she wanted to take my breath away with every page I read. I was at the edge of my seat this entire book. The stakes were much higher and it showed in the diction and pacing. The emotions sang in every page and I truly felt for Maia and her struggles as well as Lady Sarnai’s struggles.

I absolutely recommend this duology.
There aren’t many books out there that I can 1000% say I love with my entire being. The Blood of Stars series is one of those few books. I loved Spin the Dawn but it is Unravel the Dusk that has truly solidified my adoration for this series.

While I do admit that because I’m a Lady Sarnai fan, I’d like to see more from her and what her future holds, Maia’s (& Edan’s) story has come to an end and I am happy with it. Unravel the Dusk has an incredibly satisfying ending.

I cannot wait to see what Elizabeth Lim has in store for us next!

I’ve definitely gotten more critical of YA books over the years, but Spin the Dawn took me by surprise last year. It was enjoyable, unique yet familiar in theme, and had a good love interest that didn’t turn into a nasty love triangle. The ending left me quite excited for the release of Unravel the Dusk, where Maia Tamarin is slowly turning into a demon.

In addition to Maia’s personal plight, her kingdom is on the brink of war with the very people they were trying to make peace with. This is certainly a much darker book than the first, though by far the most interesting part is Maia’s internal struggle with herself. Her humanity is unravelling and she’s become a danger to those who care for her. Yet somehow, she holds on to enough of herself to know she must help save her kingdom, otherwise her brother and father will suffer along with the countless others who live there. Edan is much less present in this installment than in Spin the Dawn, though he does show up.

On to the plot!! Maia ends up taking the place of Lady Sarnai during her wedding to the Emperor after Sarnai suffers a close brush with death. This would be a tense situation to begin with, but Sarnai’s warlord father seems to be looking for any reason to declare war. Which obviously happens, so we end up with some harrowing battle sequences and Maia shows off her deadly magic. This is a battle between men, but the demons are the big players here and why Maia is so determined to hold on to her sense of self for as long as possible. She knows she’s her kingdom’s best chance at survival. Maia really gets to show off how strong and unyielding she truly is, having no male character to rush in and save her. It was really quite something and I liked that the ladies (not just Maia) had a chance to truly shine.

Overall, I thought this was a well-wrought duology that ended at just the perfect place. The ending had me tearing up a bit, which not many books can manage… it was just quite good. This isn’t quite a five star, emotional roller coaster leaving me with ALL THE FEELS, but it was certainly moving.

The sequel to an equally fun read. This was quite the adventure and an enjoyable YA read. It got a little fiery and a little darker than the previous title. I would recommend this to someone who enjoys fantasy and YA.

I really enjoyed reading Spin The Dawn but unfortunately I didn’t care for Unravel the Dusk all that much to be honest.
It’s really disappointing because just like I said in Spin the Dawn, I like the way Elizabeth Lim writes. So much so that I read Spin the Dawn more than once and recommended the book to so many of my friends, who LOVED it too but with Unravel the Dusk? I’m feeling rather indifferent.

**Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

“But hope was a valuable weapon, and we were sharpening its every edge.”

I’m going to come right out the gate and say that I did not enjoy Unravel the Dusk as much as I did Spin the Dawn. I know. It breaks my heart, but let’s get into why.

I really, really wish this has been a trilogy rather than a duology. Unravel the Dusk moved FAST. Too fast. When something needed to happen it happed right then. This book was a lot darker than Spin the Dawn, which I like, but there wasn’t time to enjoy and explore that darkness (hence why I wish it was a trilogy).

I was also hoping for more of an explanation of the magic system. Ghosts and demons played a bigger role in this book, but we still didn’t get any background on their abilities, limitations, etc. All of the rules for the magic we glazed over.

Also, I missed Edan. He was in UtD, of course, but I missed the character he was in StD. He was like a pretty ornament that had zero substance. His only personality trait was love for Maia. Which was BORING because he was such a babe in the first book.

While I am disappointed with some of the choice Lim made, I still enjoyed the book. I just really wish it had been a trilogy so it could have had time to breathe.

EXCUSE ME MA'AM???? Ms Lim had me guessing to the last second and I loved it?? Reading sequels is always a trip for me because I go through the process of trying to remember where everything left off, and Elizabeth Lim joins the list of authors who carry on so seamlessly that I find a great amount of joy and nostalgia, making me want to restart Spin the Dawn before I even finished Unravel the Dusk, just so I could experience it all again from the beginning. This duology quickly joins my annual summer rereads.

Watching Maia's journey as she faces the battle between losing herself to her literal demon and losing herself for the sake of all that she loves was such a heart-wrenching experience. Although they seem one and the same, this story picks apart the minute differences that make Maia an amazing protagonist. I was simultaneously reading this and R.F. Kuang's The Dragon Republic and I just thought it was so funny how Maia and Rin are both different and alike in their approaches to war and how they fight their demons.

I so deeply appreciated the expansion of Lady Sarnai and her relationships because of her similarities to Maia and yet the huge gap in their widely different upbringings. The tension and mutual respect was gorgeously illustrated and quickly became one of my favorite parts of the novel.

Overall, I fell in love with this book from the start because of the portrayal of what it means to fight with yourself. Maia is quite literally her own worst enemy, and although it's up to her to decide, having those who love her helps to keep her grounded

The first book was quite interesting and fun, but this book was a roller coaster of emotions and action. I really truly enjoyed it! It was absolutely heartbreaking to see the pain that both characters suffer but you still can
t help but be impressed and cheer as you read. It really was such a wonderful follow up and one I will be recommending to my students!

Much like the first in the duology, UNRAVEL THE DUSK is one part quest, one part love story, and one part folktale. The driving force of much of the plot is as one might expect: Maia Tamarin, tailor to the emperor and creator of the three heavenly dresses, is slowly turning into a demon. However, some wartime politics take the stage as, while impersonating the Lady Sarnai, Maia discovers that the shansen has some demons of his own. Literally.

This novel feels like a folktale in the best way, with most of the focus being on the quest and the love story, but with a bit left over for some wartime escapades (where magic saves the day, obviously). This is not a book that immerses you in the story, but rather a book that tells a story - and does it wonderfully. A delightful sequel that does not disappoint in the least.

You either liked the first book in this series; want to keep reading, than you will love this one because it is better than book one. However, if you on the opposite side of this case and you did not really enjoy the first one then this book will most likely not change your mind.

I read Spin the Dawn twice and I loved it so much. I couldn't wait to see what was in store for these characters next. But I feel like Unravel the Dusk fell short of my expectations. Half way through I stopped caring for the characters and just has no more interest in knowing how it was going to end.

Great story, I loved the first one better but overall it was good. It was slow here and there but it still kept me interested. But I still love Maia & Edan’s love for each other!❤️

This was really good! I was immensely invested in this book, and I simply couldn't put it down. And the ending was to die for, it was perfect!

Spin the Dawn was easily one of my favorite 2019 releases with its magical adventure and exploration of Asian mythology. It followed a tailor who had to create the dresses of the sun, moon, and stars to save her kingdom. The first book was full of magic, romance, and an exciting quest, so I had high hopes for the conclusion of the duology. This book focused more on the consequences of Maia's actions in book one, with the demon's strengthening hold on Maia and the overwhelming power of the dresses. Maia's transformation into a demon is more internal and leaves any external plot to be desired, as there isn't much real action until the last few chapters of the book. While I loved the general vibes/atmosphere of the book and the characters, I wish it was better paced like the first book.

UNRAVEL THE DUSK is an enchanting sequel and finale to a unique YA fantasy. Maia is a tailor who dreamed of being the imperial tailor. In the first book, she disguises herself as her brother to compete in a Project Runway-style competition. In this world with magic, Maia finds her path much more complicated when she is asked to create the mythical dresses of a goddess, Amana.

In this second book, Maia has completed the impossible task of creating the three dresses, but her kingdom is still in danger. The shansen and his demon are held at bay by the wedding about to take place between his daughter, Sarnai, for whom Maia had been tasked the dresses, and the ruler of A'landi.

Now, Maia is at war with herself and who she has been cursed to become. She must fight her anger and desire for vengeance to keep her heart and mind her own. At the same time, she seeks to protect her family, the man she loves, and the kingdom that is her home.

What I loved: This book is every bit as enchanting and lush as the first. We see even more history, mythology, and legends here plus high-stakes adventures that leave readers on the edge of their seats. It is a time of war, and there are battles but with supernatural tides that leave many in danger. The writing really transports the reader into this world, and the plot and characters are as beautifully woven as the dresses we can only imagine.

This book is also interesting for its comments on human nature and the battles we must fight within. Although in Maia's case this is a bit more pronounced due to her curse of becoming a demon, it raises some interesting themes about anger, thirst for vengeance, and the ways that these can change a person. This book is more introspective than the first, although there is still plenty of action/adventure, and it is every bit as much a page-turner. It's really beautifully well done throughout.

Final verdict: UNRAVEL THE DUSK is a gorgeously composed sequel to a lush and enthralling YA fantasy. Readers will appreciate the world-building, beautiful characters, and nail-biting action.

Pretty much my favorite duology of all time after reading this breathtaking book. Lim wove us back into the gorgeous land of A'landi and gave us Maia where we left her, in a position to lose herself to becoming a demon. The impending marriage of Lady Sarnai to the Emperor is upon the palace, the three dresses were made, now it is time to move forward to peace.

Of course, the journey of a hero/heroine never did go smoothly. Maia is dealing with things coming apart at the seams and desperately trying to keep it all together and achieve peace for her land and family while trying to ignore the demon inside.

The writing style is near perfection for this reader, I wanted to lose myself in this book and never return back to reality I was so invested in Maia's journey and her character growth from Spin the Dawn to the end of this is magnificent.

The ending was beautiful, and I'll leave it at that so I don't give away any spoilers. A Full review to be posted on my blog soon.

Thanks to Random House for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion. @PRHGlobal #partner #sponsored #ad @prhinternational

I think that this book was even better than the first in the series.

however, it took me a little while to get into this book. when I got to the middle section of the book I completely flew through it and it was so exciting.

This duo logy is centered around family, love, and magic.

The beginning of this book was very highly anticipated for me since the end of the last book left me wanting so much more of the story- more words, more EVERYTHING! So I was surprised when this book didn't stat off in the middle of action. The beginning was slow but soon built up speed with a larger battle around the middle. I think the slow start was why it took me a week or so to read. rather than consuming it in one sitting.
But the ending really came through. It was an excellent way to finish Maia and Edan's story and each of their arcs.

The one thing that bothered me was that the Crimson Crates were teases too many times.

I didn't enjuyt this book as much as Spin the Dawn but I am defiantly happy with how everything was wrapped up in the end.

An superb sophomore companion in this series. Much like it's predecessor, UNRAVEL the DUSK does not disappoint. Elizabeth Lim weaves such a lush wondrous tale of Maia's adventure. There's war, court intrigue, breathtaking descriptions of fashion, magic, and love. Lim is a master of glorious silky prose. She's an automatic buy for me now.

For the most part I enjoyed this conclusion the the story but I struggle to give it an overall rating. It was a good story and a lot happened, but I feel like something was missing. I'm stuck between a 3 1/2 and 4 star rating. I did really like how dark it got though.

The beginning of the book started off a bit of a bore to me but when it picked up, it picked up. I loved watchig the struggle going on with Maia. Though there were times that she said or did things that were not quite her, the will to save her country and people always won out.

We got to see a bit of Edan but it wasn't like the first book. Edan was barely there this time and wasn't quite himself. Of course Maia, going through what she was, didn't leave a lot of room for romance. At leaset in the end, it did show that they still cared deeply for one antother.

The dresses still played a part in this story, which was fun to watch. I'm not entirely sure how the magic worked but it was interesting to see how they interacted with Maia and other characters.

I do think that there really could have been another book to this series. There was a lot that could have been expanded on and explaned better that would have let the story play out a bit more, without all of the hustle in the second part of the book, but I'm ok with how it ended.

So, I started reading this and got 117 pages in but put it down for now. I did like what I read in the beginning but due to what's going on in the world, I'm simply not in the mood to finish this book right now. I'm still going to complete it one day since I loved the first book. But that will be another day through my library but thank you for the review copy from the publisher to read!