Synopsis

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 RenΓ©e Ahdieh.
Review
βBecause of them, she gave us the world as we knew it. Day after day and night after night, she spun the dawn and unraveled the dusk.β
Β
4,5 stars
First of all allow me to thank @PRHGlobal/@prhinternational for my free copy! I had a fantastic time!
I know the synopsis compares it to Project Runaway and Mulan but the competition between the tailors made me think of The Great British Sewing Bee but with meaner competitors!
Okay letβs go backward: whatβs this book about?
This story is that of a young woman who helped her father, the best tailor in the country. Maia was a little girl when she sewed and embroidered for the first time, loving it and making her dad so proud of her!
Her three older brothers had other interests but Maia already had found he passion.
Years later when her mother died and when the war took her two older brotherβs life her father was devastated. It was Maia, the obedient and dutiful daughter who ran the shop and brought food on the table.
When an emperorβs eunuch comes to their shop requesting that her father enter a competition to choose the next imperial tailor she knows that her father is too weak to make that travel.
Yet no one refuses a summon from the emperor!
Maia always dreamt to prove what she could do.
It was so unfair that girls could not become master!
On a dare sheβll disguise herself and assume her younger brother Ketonβs identity.
But when she enters the competition, every betrayal and foul play will take place!
And the last task is an impossible one that will send Maia on a hard and incredible journey, accompanied by the emperorβs enchanter: Edan.
Now that you know more about the story, letβs get to what I loved about Spin the Dawn and why you should read it!
You should read Spin the Dawn if you love:
-Asian fantasy.
This universe was filled with magic, silkΒ garments taking us to the Silk Road, mesmerizing emperors, ghosts, demons, enchanters β¦.
–Strong yet discreet heroines.
Maia was βthe strong oneβ but without fanfare! She was a girl who was disguised as a man and she did not want to draw attention for fear of being unmasked! It would have been death penalty!
She loved sewing and embroidering in silence. She worked long hours without complaint, absorbed by her craft.
Dutiful daughter she wanted to protect her father and make her brother happy again.
Yet she was not without fire and she dared defying the enchanter, Edan.
She was far from a quitter when given a task and sheβll overcome hard trials to accomplish her task, hoping to save the empire.
-Powerful yet very human enchanters.
Edan was a very powerful enchanter. Very old but wearing the face and body of a young man.
Mysterious and vaguely menacing to Maiaβs eyes in the beginning heβll soon show a particular interest in the young tailor. No one can fool an enchanter and he recognized Maia for the girl she was and for β¦something else!
Edan is very closed off about his past for a long time, only showing his βbusinessβ face but when we learned more about his childhood heβll become more human, with a soft core beneath the enchanterβs bravado!
–A quest!
Of course as in many fantasy stories you have a quest, here Maiaβs ordeal. I will take her on a journey that will leave a deep mark on Maia, forever altering her future! You could nearly compare this to Herculeβs labors.
My only complaint is that I hadnβt realized this was part of a series and now I have to wait for the second book to know more!
I was afraid of the hype around this book but now I can say that all that fuss is deserved!
I had a wonderful time reading Maiaβs story and fight to prove that, yes, a girl can sew like the best male tailor!
Recommend it? Absolutely!
Have you read it? What do you think about asian tales?
Thanks for reading!
Great review! I’ve heard so many good things about this book! It’s in my TBR mountain, and I hope to get to it soon. It looks so intriguing, and I adore the cover.
Great review, Sophie! This one’s currently on my TBR list but I plan to get to it soon. I’m glad you loved it! I hope I’ll enjoy it as much as you did!
Me too Raven! I am curious to read your review π
I wasnt going to get this but you have just convinced me!!!!
Fingers crossed now Caro!
I got it!
I loved Edan so much!! But I was also surprised by how much I really appreciated Maia!! She really rose to the occasion both as a tailor, a woman and a cross dresser. π
Exactly! Rose to the occasion is the perfect phrasing for that courageous girl Dani!
I’ve had this one tagged to read since I heard about it because I just love the sound of the premise. And now, knowing you enjoyed it too, will bump it up my list. Thanks for the great review. π
You are most welcome Alexandra!!!
I loved your review. Sophie. You always make me want to try something new, something outside my normal reading box!
Thank you so much Laura!!!
Yay, I’m so excited to hear you loved this one too! I had such a great time with it, which is saying a lot because I am so picky about my YA books π I really loved Maia and Edan though!
I know you are picky with YA Mogsy!!! And yes I love Maia and Edan they are so right for each other!
I think we need more Asian fantasy books in the market! Great review!
Thank you Kaya! I saw that you loved it too LOL
This book sounds like a compelling read! Glad you enjoyed it π
Thank you Jayati!!!
Great review and I’m glad to hear this one lives up to the hype. The synopsis sounds so interesting so I’ve been wanting to read it if I can ever break out of the fantasy slump I’m in.
Fingers crossed for your slump Suzanne!
Great review, Sophie! I’m glad you enjoyed this book so much! I currently have it on my TBR list but hoping to get to it soon.
I wonder what you’ll think of it Raven!
I got this book today! I’m so excited to read it.
I hope you’ll love it Elysa!
When I first saw this book I figured it was getting hype because it was on the Asian Fantasy hype train, but the more I read about it the more I think it looks really great. I hope to read it sometime this year!
I hope you will too Katie!!
Awesome review, Sophie! This sounds like a fun read π
Thank you Jacquie! It was fun and moving too π
Glad you also enjoyed this one, Sophie!
Thank you Teri!!
Great review! I loved this book, too.
Thank you!!
You’re welcome!
I love the great British sewing bee and so for that alone I am definitely going to be picking this up! Great review <3
Thank you Maisy!! And I love the Sewing Bee too π