Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim | Review

Paperback: 416

Publisher: Bantam Dell Publishing Group

Published: 2019

Language: English

Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars 

How would you feel if, as a woman, you are denied everything, from independence to a real job, doing what you love and most importantly, making decisions for yourself?

I, for one, would be quite mad. Last I checked, men and women are equally competent and smart.

This book sadly, doesn't see it that way.

Spin the Dawn is a retelling of Mulan's story and one done so well, I was left speechless at the end.

The story follows Maia Tamarin, a young seamstress who works happily in her father's shop. She is the only one amongst her siblings who showed any interest in their father's skill and the only one who truly wanted to learn it. 

So she did.

Now back to what I said, she is happily working in her father's shop, that is, until the day the imperial summons comes.

Just like in Mulan's story, her father is summoned by the emperor but in this case it is not for war. It is for a competition.

Now we know the drill, her father can't go so she has to in his stead. But what makes this story more fun is that she has to pose as her brother to be able to compete. 

As I said, this world is not fair to women so...

Mister, I'll make a man out of you

Sorry, wrong story. I got carried away 😅

But back to the subject. Maia poses as her brother to be able to enter the competition for the position of Imperial Tailor. 

And thus the fun begins 🤭 and the danger, but that's something better left for you to discover 😉

Okay look, if I have to pick only one thing I love about Maia, that would be her determination. Despite everything she's been through and everything she has to sacrifice time and again, she never relents and never complains. She takes everything thrown at her with her chin held high and turns them into lessons on how to improve and do better.

And that, my friends, is one hell of a character.

And don't even get me started on Evan, I was hooked from page one 🤭

The story is very complex and it can get confusing at times, but it kept me engaged the whole time and it was a struggle to put the book down even to go eat 😅 

I love Elizabeth Lim's writing style and the way she built the characters, the world, the magic system, everything. She turned words on paper into a full on animated movie with a real movie hot on its heels in my head.

AND I STILL DON'T HAVE SATISFACTORY EVAN FANARTS! That should be forbidden at this point.

But anywho, I don't want to spoil the book which I know I will if I go on more. So I'll stop here.

But guys, please read this series, both this and its sequel. They are so worth it, you won't regret a single minute spent reading this masterpiece of a duology!