Spin the Dawn (Blood of Stars, #1)

by Elizabeth Lim

Kim Mai Guest (Narrator)

"Looking for your next big YA fantasy series? We've got our eye on this stylist blockbuster." --Entertainment Weekly

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.
     Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
     And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.
     Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.

"Spin the Dawn is proof that casting a wider net not only gives us a fresh story that feels unlike everything else on the shelves beside it but also allows for richer and more nuanced storytelling." —NPR

“All the cutthroat competition of a runway fashion reality show and the thrilling exploits of an epic quest… a stunning tapestry of adventure." —The Washington Post

"What an amazing creation! Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong. This is a white-knuckle read." --Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter

• ISBN10: 1984884530
• ISBN13: 9781984884534
• Publish Date: 9 July 2019
• Publish Status: Cancelled
• Imprint: Listening Library
• Edition: Bot Exclusive ed.
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 11 hours and 30 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[nora]

This is a YA fantasy retelling of Mulan if Mulan was a contestant on Project Runway and Project Runway was set in an alternate China. Maia is the best seamstress around, but only men can compete to become the emperors new tailor. You see where this is going and it's great.

But then halfway through the book the author decides she'd rather write a fetch quest storyline, and hits you over the head with an out-of-nowhere-I-would-die-for-you-romance to boot. Maia is so naive and Edan is SO old, I can't begin to imagine what they like about each other. Their chemistry is about as sensual as a rock in your shoe, and I wish I could go back to when I thought this story was only about a girl kicking ass in a sewing competition.

[zarahoffman]

Review to come next week.

[alisoninbookland]

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Don’t let the comparison to Project Runway turn you ways from this book. It’s only a small [but fun] part of the story.

Relationships are the best part of the story. Maia’s relationships with her brother(s) was very sweet. I don’t have brothers but I felt the interactions were very true to life and genuine. You could feel the love. Even Maia’s relationship with Edan grew on me. What started as annoyance bloomed beautifully into respect and eventual love. It didn’t feel rushed or out of place. I loved their banter.

I didn’t totally love how the story felt like two different books. The first part of book about the tournament for imperial tailor was thrilling and interesting. It ended up being such a small portion of the story when the summary made appear that the competition would be a bigger deal. Then our characters are sent on a long journey (which I always enjoy) to collect elements from (supposed) stories to create 3 legendary dresses. I think it was the right move because I ended up loving the journey more than the competition.

As usual, I want to know more about this world! I loved the bits of world building that came through and would have loved to see more. Give me more legends!

Thrilling adventure! Can’t wait for more.

[Mad Soul Child]

Кроме как "это было великолепно" и "я очень жду продолжения" сказать нечего. Книга одна из лучших прочитанных в этом.

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: 5 Stars
I feel blessed just to have been able to read this. I never wanted it to end. How magnificent and beautiful... my eyes are filled with tears. This is the type of book that, as I put it back on my bookshelf, made me want to twirl around and laugh and cry and FEEL. RTC

[ladygrey]

You know how some books you get lost in and don’t even notice the little things? This wasn’t one of those books for me. I had planned to wait until the while series was published and then binge it. But then my brother asked me if it was appropriate for my niece so I picked it up from the library to find out.

And I was paying too much attention to what might or might not be good for a 10 year old to read that I never got lost in the story.

To be fair, I don’t know that I would have anyway. The characters aren’t very deeply developed and the writing, while interesting at times, is pretty simplistic for my tastes. And maybe that’s why the main character reads young. I mean she’s supposed to be 16 or 19 but she sounded 12 to me, especially through the trials. I had to keep reminding myself she was considerably older but it never really stuck.

And Edan was amusing enough, but he didn’t have a lot of development either, especially for someone who’s 500 some-odd years ild.

The little things I couldn’t get over? They’re traveling with trunks and two horses. How dies that work? The horses are really big and can carry one on each side? Or like behind the saddle, which seems wildly uncomfortable? There’s no mention of them pulling anything to carry the trunks. And also, they keep stopping or kissing without any mention of them first dismounting. Once she jumps off her horse and then he takes her arm and he’s just standing there. Was he already walking? Was his dismount not worth mentioning? Then they’re traveling along and then they’re kissing in a way not feasible while astride separate horses and yet, no mention of dismounting or previously walking or anything that makes any sort of sense.

See, little things but they bothered me.

Also, it’s a little contrived. The first time Edan tells her to run away she just has to go back? But minutes later he tells her to run again and she does and of course as a result terrible things happen. I get it, as an author you needed terrible things to happen. But as a reader it just feels like Maia is being stupid.

[Chelsea]

Actual Rating - 4.5

A lot of YA fantasy is getting a little overdone but I fell in LOVE with Spin the Dawn! It was such an original idea and felt like a fairy tale I had grown up with. I love myself a good competition so starting the book with the goal to be the kings tailor was a fun beginning. It got very serious very quick and then turned into a quest of sorts to find the right materials to make these enchanted dresses?? Like yes?? Sign me up please! It was perfect!

The characters were all very interesting as well! They each had certain secrets that you were trying to figure out from the moment they were introduced. Why is the king so charming all the time? Who is this enchanter guy? What is up with the queen to be? SO many questions and it was a fun time trying to figure everyone out.

My only concern now is how is the rest of the series going to live up to this first book!

[layawaydragon]

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

WHOOO BOY! Time to meet Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim, a YA romantic fantasy.  The folklore and legends in this world feel so real. And I don't mean just because they turn out to be true...

About Spin the dawn:

IMHO: spin the dawn

I watched Top Model in the first couple of seasons and never seen Project Runway beyond memes & gifs, so I was nervous about the comparisons and honestly, didn't know how such a competition would work out in print.

All my fears were unfounded. There's plenty going on between all the different players with magic, cheating, and backstabbing ruthlessness. Plus the second half is the grand adventure outside the palace, which really changes it up.

"I dread reaching the end of my story, for it is full of knots that I haven't had the courage to cut free."

Okay, I know I just railed about the girl disguised as a boy trope with Crown of Feathers. Here's the difference: she was taught a bit about being a boy from a boy, and she didn't get away with it. It was also a much shorter time frame without such intimate or close contact.

There is a slow burn romance with a cursed magician that starts with frustrating sparks, sparring banter, and ends,...well....

"As you wish, Master Tamarin." He winked at me. "As you wish."

The only similarities between Maia and Mulan...

is that they runaway to disguise themselves as boys to help their family. Mulan is much more physically active and thwarting violent threats, while Maia's more about poverty and desperation and a bit of revolutionary ego.

"You're used to being underestimated, so you want to prove yourself. Don't let that be your crutch. Accept help when you need it."

The would-be empress Sarnai is not pleasant, to say the least. But I admire the hunting prowess and only wearing the skins of your own kills. There's definitely something interesting brewing there. And if someone says they hate yellow, don't fucking use yellow!! I'm sorry that's just RUDE and selfish uncompetitive nonsense. That is not how you play to win.

The only thing I can't cheer about is people acting like an accidental disability is the end of someone's life and then a sudden cure "fixes" them. I can't say it's wrong since I'm not personally wheelchair mobile, and maybe something I'm missing makes a difference. But I wouldn't go in expecting or hoping for good disability rep personally. YMMV.

"Then I ran down the steps, my heart heavy with Amana's blessing and my arms spread wide with hope--that tomorrow would spin a new dawn."

Holy shit that ending! No joke or hyperbole when I compare it to The Bone Witch's. Such a twist with impeccable timing and resonance. I can just hear the drums and feel the rush thinking back on it.

I'm really excited to find out the reason behind the civil war, more about the to be empress, and what other myths turn out true next. And WTF is the emporer's real deal.

 

Recommended for Fans of The Bone Witch, & Crown of Feathers.

About the Author:

Giveaway: (1) Spin the Dawn Copy

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This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon

[Ashley]

First half - 5 stars
Second half - more like 2 stars

I'm pretty disappointed about the second half because the first half was AMAZING. The first half fit Project Runway + Mulan perfectly; it was everything I hoped it would be. There was a super cool tailoring competition with seemingly impossible requirements (very Project Runway-esque), and I really enjoyed the palace intrigue.

The second half took a completely different direction. It was more like a magical quest, which would have been okay, except suddenly a romance took over the entire book. Everything I loved about the first half was just gone. The romance became the center of the main character's world and fuelled every decision she made. Then at the end she made a decision I pretty strongly disagreed with. I thought it was really inappropriate of her to "free" Edan from his oath as an enchanter. She basically took his magic away. That was HIS decision to make -- not hers. Although he mused about no longer being an enchanter, it still wasn't totally clear that he'd 100% make that choice. I mean, in the beginning he did choose to be an enchanter. So for her to just decide for him that he was going to stop being one was pretty shitty.

I probably will give the second book a shot, but I fear it will just be a continuation of the second half of the book and we may not see the style/vibe of the first half again. But I loved the first half so much that I still do have some hope.

[Beth C.]

That whole "Don't judge a book by its cover" adage? I do. A lot of the time. And this cover is what initially drew my eye to investigate further. Having read the synopsis, I was intrigued enough to start reading - and I'm so glad I did! A great story, with action and adventure and romance and magic...and djinn. But not the typical "genie in a bottle" that so many stories speak of.

And the main character, Maia, is a strong, determined, smart young woman who is only trying to take care of her family, and ends up taking on more than she expects. She shows that sometimes, being strong is just having enough determination to keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what may come at you.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me so much of an old-fashioned fairy tale - in all the best ways. I definitely will be looking forward to book #2.