Tell me, Elizabeth Lim, is this truly the end? I want more, damn it all!

I just finished reading an ARC for Unravel the Dusk, and I can’t confidently say that this is truly one of my favorite series to ever bless my eyeballs.

I’m really honored to have been apart of Maia’s journey. Her growth from an introverted seamstress to the Imperial Tailor has been full of so much triumph and struggle. I’m just sorrowful that it’s over… (unless it isn’t?! Please Lim, say there’s more to come??)

Honestly, there aren’t enough words in any language for me to properly profess my happiness and love for this book.

Also, I would like high definition prints of both of the book covers to plaster on my walls. My husband can deal. I would also love to see what the dresses of Amana look like. I just..

Can we get some film rights going??? Disney?? Please???

Book Reviews
Unravel the Dusk

I received a free eARC from NetGalley of Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim in exchange for an honest review.

6/19/20
Starting the book off, I liked how Lim very briefly went over what happened in Spin the Dawn and then continuing on seamlessly with the story. She didn't re-explain every character like some authors do, if anything she alluded to each character's role & current situation without going "this is her brother, this is her mother".
The army breaching the palace was my type of battle scene: short and to the point. I really hate when battles & wars drag on, so being able to read a sparknotes-type battle that says "this is what happened in general" is my type of battle!
I like how Lim shows the internal battle in Maia with the demon part of her brain trying to influence her. You get to see the "what I'd like to do" vs. "what I should do". I'm ¼ of the way in currently & I really want her to give in once to see what happens.

6/29
Excuse me while I mop up my tears over the last few chapters of this book! So beautiful! The ending of the book was enchanting and beautiful, so full of love! Makes me want to go hug my boyfriend, who reminds me of Edan by the way, and cry for hours.

I loved the first book in this duology, but I might love this sequel even more. This story follows our characters through the fall out of the trials and quests they completed in the first series. It is definitely darker but also has a lot more magic and suspense. The first book had a problem with feeling like two stories in one, but this one felt like a fully detailed and plotted follow up so we find out what happened after the cliff hanger ending before. I love the magic system and vivid settings. The magic dresses made in the first book are back and more powerful than ever. The villains are more cunning and the story has more twists. Overall, the stakes are raised and I was instantly transported back to this world to root for these characters. The journey of this story played on the magic and mythology while also showing new sides to the characters. I really really liked the ending which had me on the edge of my seat and then smiling when it was all over. I loved the Chinese culture and mythology which made this world so rich and vivid while reading. I wish more people would read these books. I highly recommend this duology, and it is "clean" enough for younger YA readers, while also being packed with suspense

Unravel the Dusk picks up where we left Maia: readying for the marriage of the Emperor and Lady Sarnai and Maia dealing with turning into a demon. Nonstop action and adventure follows clear to end of this sequel, leaving readers turning the page to find out what could possibly happen next.

I loved Spin the Dawn and was so excited to get my hands on an e-ARC of its sequel (which comes out on my birthday, July 7th!). I liked the slow build of the first novel and really digging into the characters throughout the book. The second books leaves that behind in favor of quick action right from the beginning. (Which is the only reason I'm giving it 4/5 stars.)

I really enjoyed reading the change in Maia as she fought for her humanity against the demon inside her. It was quite different from who we got to know in the first book.

Not to mention--Edan's back and fighting for their love.

Overall, I really enjoyed Unravel the Dusk and loved being back in the world that Lim created. I can't wait for her future books!

3.5/5 stars

SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE FIRST BOOK :))


I think I liked Spin the Dawn better 🙊 but I’ll elaborate I promise. I definitely recommend you finish this series haha, it’s still amazing… I just didn’t think it held up to the bar the first one set.

Recap: At the end of Spin the Dawn, Maia was able to survive and sew Amana’s three dresses, gaining a wish and the power of the dresses… but at a price. The demon Bandur touched Maia, cursing her to transform into a demon and guard the Isles of Lapzur. Edan, the emperor’s enchanter and the love of Maia’s life, took the curse from her to save her, but she used her wish to save him from that curse and from his oath to the emperor. She lied and told him she was ok so he would leave the palace and live his own life as she changed into a demon. She returned to visit her family and was able to heal her brother’s legs.

Now, Maia has to navigate and survive inside the palace, even as the threat of war looms over the land and on her shoulders, even as she feels the tug of the Isles grow stronger and her eyes glow redder, even as she misses Edan and the life they could’ve had together. Just as peace begins to appear on the horizon, agreements fall apart and secrets are revealed, leaving the land in shambles and Maia on the run. As she loses herself, her path becomes blurred, and her decisions will change the course of history - for better or for worse.

I’m going to be completely honest, I was the tiniest bit let down by this book. I feel horrible saying that because I did enjoy it and I know it’s good - maybe it’s just me?? I just feel like Spin the Dawn set the bar sooooo incredibly high - the pacing, the romantic development, the characters, the plot, everything is so well-executed that this one doesn’t quite measure up. But I’ll explain…

First of all, the pacing feels a little wonky in this one. When the book starts, it’s like zero to sixty in two seconds, but as it progresses to the middle half it slows down tremendously. And in the last fourth, it speeds up so fast it gets confusing and doesn’t spend enough time with important, climactic moments.

That combines with the fact that Maia is indecisive as crap - and then when she makes a decision, she doesn’t ever really tell us what the decision is?? It just felt to me like from the options given to her, the decision was pretty obvious, but she never really made a decision, so that piece of the story ended up way too drawn out. I’m not sure if that made any sense out of context, but for a good chunk of the book this frustrated me so much.

I still love Edan though!!! 😄 He is the sweetest little cinnamon roll I’ve ever seeeeen. His wholehearted devotion to Maia, omg she kinda doesn’t deserve him but it’s ok. And I still love the mythology, the culture, the romance - the plot aspects that carried over from the first one!

So ultimately, if it wasn’t obvious, this book made me super conflicted. I probably contradicted myself in this review, haha. I just don’t know if the things that irked me were just me and how much I loved Spin the Dawn, or if they’re actually problems the book has - or both?? Maybe y’all should figure it out for yourselves, who knows if I’m reliable 😂 I do recommend reading this if you read the first one; how could you not with that cliffhanger? But if you’re hesitating, I recommend you finish the series and get the loose ends tied up for yourselves :)

This was a thrill ride sequel to Spin the Dawn. Both the books in this series really set the tone for amazing young adult fantasy. The first one was a drink of water with Mai fighting to win a dazzling competition . This one was a raging inferno as she is forced to hold on to her humanity but also to embrace the demon inside. Each chapter was breath taking and in some ways heart breaking. I was swept away by it and was very very satisfied with the ending.

Wow this is a perfect sequel the Spin the Dawn.

Ever since she was touched by Bandur, she could feel the evil rising in her and she manages herself to not loose control of the magic. When she re-enters Autumn Palace on the brink of war, she wants to help protect the Kingdom. She now has two goals, to protect everyone she calls home, and to not turn herself into a demon. Maia deems to do the impossible with the 3 magical dresses she spun and her new powers that will help save the kingdom. But only so much can keep the evil contained!!

Much like book 1, this is also fast paced, character driven and made me love Maia even more. Her grievances and lessons from book 1, has made her more competent and bold. The ending surprised me and it will surprise you.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Knopf and Elizabeth Lim for the ARC. This review is my own and not influenced in any way!

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

Lim set an incredibly high standard with the first book of her young adult duology. <i>Spin the Dawn</i> was an incredibly fun, innovative take on familiar tales, wrapped up in a gorgeous Chinese-inspired setting. While <i>Unravel the Dusk</i> is not as strong a a book, it is still an enjoyable, fast read better than many out there.

The premise of the first book is that Maia is a gifted tailor, something women should not be. In a Mulan-like move, when her war-injured brother is ordered to court to sew for the crown, Maia disguises herself as a man and takes his place. Court intrigues ensue, resulting in Maia being sent on a quest to obtain impossible dress materials, all in the company of a very unpleasant enchanter. Of course, the enchanter becomes less unpleasant as the quest continues, and her blossoming romance with Edan is one of the delights of the book. That, and reading about sewing from such a magical angle.

And the absence of those two things is a reason why <i>Unravel the Dusk</i> suffers, especially through the Edan-less first half. Without going into spoiler territory, I will say that Maia bears a nasty curse and is in danger of losing herself. The book has lots of action and adventure and reads at a fast clip, but with little sewing, and no Edan around til nearer the end. Things get really good at the climax, though, as the awesome elements come together again. The end delivers some genuine feels.

Again, it's hard to judge a second book in a series when the first is SO GOOD. This one is still a full four-stars-out-of-five read and well worth reading. Everything does come together in the end.

"A long time ago, a foolish girl was asked to weave the sun, embroider the moon, and paint the stars, three impossible tasks she did not believe she could accomplish."

Unravel the Dusk is the second and final installment in author Elizabeth Lim's The Blood of Stars duology. Unravel picks up where Spin the Dawn left off. The book is broken into three parts each relating to the dresses that Maia created and now must use to defeat a dangerous enemy. One of the biggest storylines of Spin the Dawn was the competition to become the imperial tailor and the epic journey by protagonist Maia Tamarin to craft the three fabled dresses made of sunlight, moonlight and stars blood while also freeing her love Edan from his oath.

But the task resulted in Maia being cursed by a demon named Bandur who guards Lapzur, thus becoming a demon herself. The transformation is underway, but it is not yet complete. The story isn't just about finding a way to stop Maia’s transformation, but also saving her home, A'landi from being overrun by the shansen who has made a blood pact with a demon. When an attempt to unite two kingdoms with the marriage between Emperor Khanujin & Lady Sarnai backfires, war is inevitable. Without Edan’s powerful magic bound to the emperor, the shansen sees his chance to finally get what he wants with devastating consequences.

Maia finds herself trapped in both her secret vow to a demon and yet another war that could kill thousands if not stopped. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses everything dear to her. Her memories, her freedom, her humanity all tied to the 3 dresses which she created. Three dresses that only seem to respond to her when she puts them on. Maia knows that her new powers are what A’landi needs. Despite all she has to lose, Maia’s greatest concern is the future of the Kingdom, the Enchanter she loves, and her only remaining brother and father. The stakes were much higher in this story, and Maia is trying her best to cling to her humanity.

Maia and Ammi’s friendship was a welcomed addition even though Ammi tried hard to not accept Maia’s apologies into hiding her real identity from her best friend in the Castle. Maia’s relationship with Lady Sarnai is one of conflict and finally, I think, mutual respect and admiration. Sarnai is truly a badass and the kingdom of A’landi needs her to take control before everything is lost. Sarnai is also one of the few to know that Maia was female not her brother Keton. Because of Maia’s curse and the state of the nation, we didn’t get as much Edan-Maia time until the second part of this story. But what we do get, is satisfying. Especially the ending.

"A needle is to a tailor as a sword is to a warrior. It is not that different. But, the needle is not the only tool a tailor wields, and a sword does not make the warrior."

Maia has achieved the impossible. She was able to create dresses out of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, bringing their light into actual cloth and turning them into clothing. But this didn’t come without a great cost. With her country still on the brink of war, Maia must find a way to protect the people she loves, all while battling the demon that now lives inside her, the demon that came as a result of a deal she made. Can she overcome the darkness inside, and save her country from another devastating war?

I received an advanced reading copy of Unravel the Dusk in exchange for an honest review.

Unravel the Dusk is a fantasy young adult novel by Elizabeth Lim. It also happens to be the sequel to Spin the Dawn, which I read and reviewed last year. I actually also got an advanced reading copy of Spin the Dawn last year, so to get Unravel the Dusk this year made me feel like the luckiest girl alive!

So, I have something to admit to you guys. I only read Spin the Dawn once, and besides having vague recollections on the plot, almost everything else from the first book was a blank. It was hard diving back into this world, actually, since I’d forgotten so much about it. But after a few chapters, I was back in the groove, and could keep people and plots straight again. It was actually quite helpful that both books have pretty self-containing plots, even as some bigger plots do stretch to connect both books in the duology.

Oh yeah. I did say in my past review for Spin the Dawn that The Blood of Stars was a trilogy, but it’s actually a duology. That was my mistake, and I apologize for any confusion. But I was really pleased to realize that this was actually a duology rather than a trilogy, since lately I’ve been sort of craving shorter series rather than reading about 20 books just to finish a single storyline.

But anyway, I’ve talked about basically everything but Unravel the Dusk so far, and I really need to go back to the book!

I did mention that Unravel the Dusk, much like Spin the Dawn, has a plot that can stand apart from the first book. But that doesn’t make it any less compelling! Lim here is presenting us with two big struggles: one between nations and one taking place inside Maia. She’s in danger both inside and out, and having her constantly battling on two fronts made for a story that moved very quickly and left me wondering more than once whether it was possible for there to be a happy ending. And, of course, I’m not going to tell you whether there’s a happy ending here or not. That’s for me to know and you guys to find out when you read the book! I’ll just let you know that the ending really surprised me, and it was definitely unexpected.

The part I enjoyed the most about Spin the Dawn was how Lim was able to combine the stories from the world she’d created with Maia’s ultimate goal: that of creating the three dresses. The weaving of legend and magic into the plot made for an absolutely magical read, and I was hoping I’d see at least some of it in Unravel the Dusk. And, while the characters are pretty overwhelmed trying to contain other big evils, there are a few moments when Lim brings back the mythology and magic of the first novel, reminding the readers of them.

But there’s hardly any time to spend on them, as the plot moves pretty briskly forward. I was actually impressed by how much Lim managed to fit in a single book, weaving together the threads left over from the previous book into a satisfying conclusion (see what I did there?).

As for characters, again, we’re in Maia’s head, so we’re experiencing the whole thing from her POV. In this case, however, we’re also consistently torn, just as she is, between her true self and her demon self. It’s difficult for her to connect with the other characters, and I struggled to form connections with them as well. Of course, we do eventually get Edan back (he reappears halfway through the book, so don’t lose hope!), and we get a revival of the romance that really blew me away in the first novel. But it didn’t feel as strong in this one.

The focus was on Maia, and, I have to admit, I did end up admiring her more than ever. She was so strong and determined. She was willing to do so much to protect the people she loved. And she was loyal to a fault to the country that betrayed her and had basically killed two of her brothers in its tragic wars. She was flawed, of course, but a wonderful character to spend 300+ pages in, and one I think any reader could admire.

Unravel the Dusk was a satisfying conclusion to this magic and myth-filled adventure, filled with beauty and wonderful wonderful clothes. I’ve also heard that Lim is planning on writing other books based in this world, and I’ll definitely have to check them out once they are released.

Unravel the Dusk will be released July 7. You can preorder your copy from Penguin Random House today at this link.

“Seize the wind. Don’t become the kite that never flies”

Maia thought that her life would be easier after she managed to create the three magical dresses of Amma, but her life only seems to be getting harder. Torn between her humanity and the demon inside her battling to get out. She will need to rely on not just her own strength, but the strength of those around her if she is to survive, not just her inner battle, but the war raging around her. But to win, she may have to give herself over and become the thing she most fears.

Unravel the Dusk picks up almost directly after the ending of Spin the Dawn. Maia has managed to create the dresses, thus cementing the marriage between The Emperor and Lady Sarnai the Shansens Daughter, Edan has disappeared after his bond with the Emperor was severed, and Maia herself is struggling with what she had to do to ensure peace for her country.

This book was a lot darker than the first. We see a whole different side to Maia, she fights so hard to keep her demon side at bay, knowing that once it wins there will be no going back. Her humanity and kindness is strong enough to make her last longer than most, but she can see and feel the changes happening. Because we have the internal insight I found it easier to bond with Maia as a character and desperately hoped that her humanity would win out. She really grows in this book, much more than the first. Though she still has an overly positive outlook on life, we see her discovering the realities of war, and that even her with her magical dresses and demonic powers may not be enough to save the Kingdom.

As well as Maia we get many more strong female characters. Lady Sarnai is not afraid to fight for what she believes in, even if that means going up against her father and potentially starting a war. Her and Maia dont have the best of relationships, but we see a grudging respect forming between the two. Ammi, Maia's servent in Spin the Dawn is annoyed that Maia didn't trust her enough to tell her the truth, that doesn't mean shes going to let her go traipsing around the country alone though. For someone with no battle experience, Ammi does a fantastic job at raising Maia's spirits and her friendship and actions were invaluable. I loved the strength of the female characters in this book, even when they were not overly likeable you couldn't help but respect them.

Edan and Maia's relationship gets explored more in this book, but he only really makes an appearance around half way through. Their swoon worthy interactions were one of the main reasons I enjoyed the first book so much and not to worry, there are definitely more of them in Unravel the Dusk. Though we get sweet and sarcastic Edan, we also see the strength he gives Maia to keep fighting, he will do anything to ensure she doesn't become a demon. Even if that means fighting Bandur side by side. I enjoyed seeing his vulnerability in this book, after losing most of his magic he realises that he can't always protect Maia from everything and that she has a power of her own.

We get treated to some epic battle scenes in this book, both magical and just run of the mill sword fights. Filled with twists and turns and some truly emotional parts at the end, I went through a rigmarole of emotions. Never sure if the happy ending I so desired was going to come to fruition. We also get the inclusion of some Asian Folklore, and with this book relying heavily on myths and magic, they added a whole new depth to the story. Making it almost seem like this could be a folklore in and of itself.

I did feel at times that Maia was a little indecisive, and I found myself struggling to keep up with her decision making in parts. I also felt that the magic system could have been explained better. I can also see some people might complain about the ending being a little too neatly tied up, but I enjoyed that. It was a nice change to get a somewhat happy ending, and the author deals with loss and grief in other ways throughout the book.

Thank you so much to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book. I absolutely feel in love with spin the dawn and I was so excited to continue on with this series and I was not disappointed. I fell even more in love with this series and characters. I can’t wait to read more by her!

"Maia Tamarin proved her skill as a tailor when she wove the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars, but it will take more than a beautiful gown to hide the darkness rising up within her. . . . The stakes are higher than ever in this breathtaking sequel to Spin the Dawn, perfect for fans of Six of Crows.

Maia Tamarin's journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. Edan, the boy she loves, is gone - perhaps forever - and no sooner does she set foot in the Autumn Palace than she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor's bride-to-be to keep the peace. When the emperor's rivals learn of her deception, there is hell to pay, but the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing...glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red; losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It's only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, and in the meantime she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country."

I love the epic fableness of this series.

(5/5⭐️) “Everyone has a thread tied to someone—a person who’s meant to be by your side and make you happy.”

The stakes are raised in the stunning finale to the Blood of Stars dualogy. Maia is losing herself to the demon within. Every day is a fight against its evil. Some days she wakes up not knowing who she is, not knowing those around her. Even Edan’s face becomes a struggle to recognize. With each passing day that she stays away from Lapzur, she poses a greater threat to the people around her. Meanwhile, A’landi is on the brink of war. The emperor’s marriage to Lady Sanrai falls apart before it can be completed, and Sanrai’s father is out for blood. Maia is the only one who can hold everything together. Not only must she defeat Bandur to free herself from the tethers of the Island, but she must find a way to unite the people of A’landi. In so doing, she must make the ultimate sacrifice: herself.

Oh. My. Lantah. Unravel the Dusk broke my heart and stitched it back together. The cliffhanger at the end of Spin the Dawn was well worth it! UtD was a definite step above its predecessor, which was already great! While Spin the Dawn was very much a comfort read for me, this one kept me at the edge of my seat for its entirety. And the ending was so satisfying. With each word, Maia’s struggle to fight the growing darkness within her became more frantic. All I could do was turn the pages faster and faster to keep up with what was happening to her.

In Spin the Dawn, A’landi’s peace is at stake. In Unravel the Dusk, Maia’s entire being is at stake. It isn’t simply death she faces, but something far worse: transformation into a demon doomed to haunt the land. What could be worse than that? How about the lives of those she loves? Her father and brother. And Edan. Everything is at risk here. The game has changed.

“It hadn’t occurred to me until now that maybe the scissors had been sent to prepare me for this very moment. To show me how to trust the magic singing inside me, to turn my burgeoning darkness into light.” <<<THIS MADE ME WANT TO CRY>>>

Maia does everything she can to fight what is happening to her. Her struggles are admirable. There are several times where her hope is renewed, only to be shattered. Unravel the Dusk is an emotional rollercoaster. I cried a total of four times during the reading of this book. It was just so damn beautiful. The imagery, the metaphors, the unraveling of the threads of Maia’s humanity. There were some truly beautiful moments.

“What little I had left of my tailoring gift wasn’t for sewing with needle and thread, it was for crafting a future, stitch by stitch, for the people I loved. That future would hold tight, even as I unraveled. It had to, or else the choice I had made—the choice that Master Tsring had told me was inevitable—would be for naught.” <<<THIS ALSO MADE ME WANT TO CRY>>>

In terms of character arc, we see the completion of Maia’s journey, from where she started in the first book, to the strong woman she becomes in the second. We see the transformation in the decisions she makes at the end, especially in her ultimate sacrifice. She sacrifices to protect not simply the ones she loves, but the entire country. Her sense of duty is strong and ever-present in the choices she makes.

Edan is still Edan. Charming. I enjoy his character. We don’t see nearly as much of him in this story, but his love for Maia is constant.

“He pressed my hand against his heart. “You are not alone, Maia. Not now, not ever.””

Beneath his facade, you do see him struggle a few times, which makes him feel real. Edan is ultimately the one who keeps Maia’s sanity intact, especially as she begins losing herself. He’s always there by her side, fighting for her. I like that his love is reliable, constant. I think Maia needs that if she’s going to confront what ultimately faces her in the end.

I also appreciated Lady Sanari’s character arc. It ‘s a definite change. She goes from abandoning A’landi, to saving it. She confronts her father, a person she has hated and feared for many years. She even shows true signs of her humility when she doesn’t immediately kill him when she has the chance to. In the first book, it felt as if she had no redeeming qualities, and the reader was left disliking her, but that changes drastically in this book. I came to appreciate her...in time.

What a beautiful finale to a richly woven tapestry. The world Elizabeth Lim creates is stunning. It’s as unique as the gowns Maia creates. I applaud her for taking the fantasy genre and putting such a refreshing spin on it. I can’t wait for her next dualogy!

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @Randomhouse for a copy of the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Other places I have reviewed this title:
My blog: https://www.authormelissamitchell.com/post/unravel-the-dusk-blood-of-stars-2
My instagram: @melissa.nicole.mitchell
My goodreads account: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3401923014
I will also be reviewing on Amazon when the book releases.

Frist of all, thank you to Knopf for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I read an eARc of Spin the Dawn last June, and while I liked the book, I felt like there were two different books in Spin the Dawn: the trial to becoming the imperial tailor, and the trial for making Amana's dresses. The pacing was really off for me in that book, and it was really weird to have a sudden shift in the entirety of the book. So, I came into reading Unravel the Dusk with kind of low expectations. I wasn't really sure what to think going into it, but here's a bit of a surprise:

I enjoyed it more.

What held Unravel the Dusk together better in comparison to Spin the Dawk was CONSISTENCY. There wa a serious lack of flow in Spin the Dawn for me, so the flow of Unravel the Dusk really eased reading it for me. It was a fast read, and while I wish we could see more into Maia's mind, I think it was cool to see her evolution and transformation in this book.

What I lacked in book one, I think book 2 made up for. There was more character development, for Maia, Edan, and even Lady Sarnai. We also don't have to deal much with palace life, which is kind of a breath of fresh air. This book felt more like a marathon, a fight to the death, and part of me enjoyed that more than the mis-matched adventure in book one. So, overall, I definitely preferred Unravel the Dusk!

Yes, I liked it! And I can't wait for the third book.
The plot was great, but no spectacular, but the characters were amazing.

Super solid YA fantasy series, and a great sequel! The descriptions of the world and the landscapes is literal magic, and I am so in love with all of these characters! I can't get into many details because this is a sequel and I don't want to provide spoilers, but the second book did not disappoint and this is absolutely a series to keep on your radar!

Bullet point review
- I love that Maia fights for her family - she remembers them even when they are apart - and for her people and country. While there are times she acts on her emotions for an individual, there are times when she makes the hard choice, the choice to make a sacrifice, for the greater good. That said, I can't recall an instance where the sacrifice results in a the loss of the intended sacrifice.
- I love that Maia is a tailor and that her magic draws from her skills as a tailor.
- I like how Maia's fight leads her to fight on the side of people she doesn't like and how she can acknowledge the good along with the faults of a person.
- The magic is mystical. People know things that they shouldn't have known, and things happen that aren't explained. It's not clear how the magic works. In particular, one use of magic results in Maia's mind being lost. She makes this sacrifice knowing the price she's paying, but somehow she's able to still remember people and names she should have forgotten? The result: It doesn't feel like she paid a real price for the power.
- The enchanter has lived a long life (at least five hundred years), but he acts like a teenage boy.
- As with book one, this is an optimistic fantasy. Even when bad things happen, even when nobody knew how to cure Maia and she was sure that she would die (rather than become a demon), I was left feeling like things would get better, and Maia would have her happy ending. I never felt like the dangers she faced were terrible.

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.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Maia has completed her impossible task and created 3 fantastical dresses. It is now time for the royal wedding. The only catch is the bride-to-be is incapacitated and Maia must take her place to keep the peace between the two rival countries. Can she do the impossible once more and save her country, her family, and her true love from the magical evils that ravage her land?

A great conclusion to the duology. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and retellings. Maia is a wonderful lead character who is forced to make choices no one should ever face, and it is told in a fantastic way.