Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Hi, I am Advik. I love to read, write, bike, swim, and watch TV.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim is the first book in the Blood of Stars duology. It has extremely strong worldbuilding, which is magical, creative, and venturesome. I expected a simple fantasy story, but this book surprised me with its emotional depth, high stakes, and romance.
This book follows the protagonist, Maia, who is strong and determined. At the start of the book, Maia struggles to keep her father’s tailor shop running and feed herself and her father. Maia enters a competition to become the imperial tailor by disguising herself as her brother. In this world, being a tailor is a man’s job and if Maia is caught, she will be executed. After winning the position of the imperial tailor, Maia does have time to celebrate. She is thrust into yet another quest to prove her worth. She is required to do a near-impossible task: to sew three magical dresses made from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. This journey takes her to every corner of this fantasy world, and on the way, she meets Edan, the emperor’s mysterious enchanter. Maia’s fighting spirit drew my attention the most, even when the odds were stacked against her. The tale intertwines fantasy with emotionally resonant themes while exploring a comprehensive world. Overall, this book was a powerful start to a romantic, action-packed fantasy series. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical quests and strong female leads
