Spin the Dawn is the best book in The Blood of Stars series by author Elizabeth Lim.
You’re looking for your next big teen fantasy series.

Project Runway meets Mulan in this gripping fantasy about a young girl posing as a man to compete for the role of royal tailor and embark on an impossible journey to sew three magical dresses, from sun, moon and stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the best tailor in this land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is a good marriage. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a famous seamstress, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life will be ruined if her secret is discovered, but she will take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. Just one note: Maia is one of 12 seamstresses looking for work.

Backstabbing and lies are rampant as tailors compete in challenges to prove their craft and skills. Maia’s mission is further complicated when she attracts the attention of the court mage, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see through her disguise.

And nothing could prepare her for the final challenge: sewing three magical robes for the emperor’s reluctant future bride, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the gods. Why. With this impossible task ahead of her, she sets out on a journey to a faraway kingdom, searching for the sun, moon and stars, and finding more than she could have imagined.

Immersed in Chinese culture, boiling with forbidden romance and shimmering with magic, this youth fantasy is 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 unlike anything else on the next shelf, but also enables rich storytelling and more nuances.

Spin the Dawn goes on sale when Mulan passes Project Runway. As a fan of both, I was eager to give this one a try. Maia’s father is summoned to the Emperor’s court to compete to become the royal tailor; Maia’s two brothers died in the war and the third was seriously wounded. An accomplished seamstress, Maia picked up her grandmother’s scissors and answered the call, dressed as a boy. At the palace, Maia competes with tailors with years of experience while trying to hide her true identity. But one man in particular – the sorcerer of the court – seemed to see right through her…

I like Maia. She is sympathetic and kind. What amazes me is how only the first third of the plot actually resembles Project Runway, the actual competition aspect of the book. The rest of the novel focuses on Maia’s epic quest to sew three legendary dresses: one with the laughter of the sun, one with the tears of the moon, and the last with the blood of the moons. Why.

• Spin the Dawn

• The Blood of Stars, Book 1
• By: Elizabeth Lim

Audiobookss audio player

Hi everyone, please be noticed that the Audio player doesn't play next track on IOS version < 15.6. If you are facing that issue, just upgrade your IOS to version 15.6 to fix it. Enjoy!