Hey everyone! Today I’m excited to participate in the Bookstagram and Creative blog tour for Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim hosted by MTMC Tours & PRH International!
Project Runway meets Mulan, this Silk Road-inspired fantasy is about a tailor who must sew 3 dresses of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars to save her kingdom! This is the first installment in The Blood of Stars duology released on July 9th, 2019 from Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Check below my tour stop and make sure to visit all the bookstagram & creative stops for a chance to win an international edition of this book + swag!
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim Series: The Blood of Stars #1
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers ISBN: 0593118448
on July 9, 2019
Genres: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 387
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon|Book Depository
Source: PRH International, MTMC Tours
I received this book for free from PRH International, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA 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.
…The Reader’s Review…
I’ve been waiting for the PERFECT words to come to write my review but I’m pretty sure that by now they aren’t coming. It’s okay, though. No words will ever truly express how much I LOVED and will forever love Spin the Dawn and how much I adored Maia Tamarin and the Lord Enchanter, Edan.
I can honestly say that 387 pages were not enough time with Maia (and Edan too). Maia is a new favorite heroine who I immediately wanted her to succeed. Her life is hard, and being a woman in A’landi makes it even more difficult for any independence or to pursue certain career paths. Growing up with a needle in one hand and a thread in the other, Maia always knew she wanted to be a Master Tailor. Unfortunately, this profession is not “fit” for a woman, thus having to live in the shadows of her father’s shop. With her bravery and determination to not only bring honor to her family but also to prove to herself that if there is someone that DESERVES the title of Master Tailor it is her, Maia disguises as one of her brothers to enter the competition of a lifetime.
“My whole life, I’d been told what I couldn’t do because I was a girl. Well, this was my chance to find out. The only thing I could do was take it.”
Maia’s character is definitely one of best things about the book, but the whole world-building and the journey to make the three magical dresses from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars for the final challenge in the competition is absolutely breathtaking! It’s magical and dangerous, but best of all, it invites the company of the beautiful Lord Enchanter who cannot help but be drawn to Maia.
But truly, the chemistry between Maia and Edan was FANTASTIC. Their constant banter/bickering was priceless, and in a way, a small taste of the enemies/unlikely allies-to-romance trope which is always a reader’s favorite! Also, Edan is so funny, smart, loyal and absolutely LOVABLE.
I fell for Elizabeth Lim’s writing last year when I read her Mulan Twisted Tale, Reflection. She has a way with words that quickly captures your attention and imagination, making it unbelievably difficult to stop reading until you reach the last page. She’s a natural storyteller and Spin the Dawn is proof of this once again. My copy is full of notes and highlights of favorite quotes and passages that I will always come back to reread to relive those beautiful (and often heartbreaking) moments.
I held the letter to my heart. “Seize the wind,” I whispered. “Don’t become the kite that never flies.”
Spin the Dawn is hands down my favorite read of 2019 and I’m fairly certain it will be the favorite of many other readers! It has magic scissors! Adventure! Romance!!! Plus the most fantastic heroine who would do all it takes to protect her own.
…The Bookstagram Setup…
I thought it would be fun to share a bit more about the bookstagram setup my sister and I created today for the tour! We had been planning for a few days WHAT to display, and ended up heading into our city’s downtown to buy a few fun props.
Vintage Old Iron + Pin Cushions!
While we were out looking for props, we stumbled into this Antique-looking Old Iron that we knew right on the spot that it would be PERFECT for our setup. We were not planning to look for one, it was just a pretty lucky find! These old irons used to work with hot coals. This one is just decor of course, but it does open up to store small items.
My sister Isabel made these pin cushions, we just bought the small boxes in the craft store and fashioned them into the pin cushions.
Maia’s Honeycomb Cookies!
Passing several bakers’ shops and tents, I spied sesame cakes and honeycomb cookies. The palace fed me well, but there was nothing like honeycomb cookies fresh off the griddle.
These honeycomb cookies are inspired by Maia’s favorite dessert! Fun fact: In Mexico, we have a similar dessert called Buñuelos and we love them too. So see? Maia should be our best friend! 😀
Old (magical?) Scissors + Fan + Spin the Dawn Enamel Pin!
Maia has a pair of magical scissors that are a family heirloom! Well, we used our mom’s super old scissors to match a little bit of family magic haha. ♥ And a Fan that we found on Saturday when we were prop hunting that matches the cover! Also featured the beautiful Spin the Dawn enamel pin that Elizabeth Lim sent to us. Plus measuring tape and twine!
Book Map in Spin the Dawn + Another Enamel Pin!
Last but not least, the beautiful book map included in Spin the Dawn! It’s so pretty and deserved to have a spot in our photo. ♥
And there you have it! See the complete photo in our bookstagram account: @thereaderandthechef!
INTL Tour-Wide Giveaway!
Head over to my Instagram account for a chance to win an international edition of Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim + swag! And don’t forget to check all the accounts/blogs participating for extra entries!!!
Tour Schedule:
July 15
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram + Blog
July 16
@Bookslovereaders – Bookstagram
July 17
@paperfury – Bookstagram + Blog
July 18
@erhibiscus – Bookstagram
July 19
@book_rambler – Bookstagram + Blog
July 20
@annreads – Bookstagram
July 21
@linathebookaddict – Bookstagram + Blog
July 22
@womanon – Bookstagram
July 23
@paperbacksandpen – Bookstagram + Blog
July 24
@giota_the_reader – Bookstagram
July 25
@Shaked_reads – Bookstagram + Blog
Hosted by:
About Elizabeth Lim
Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.
Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel — for kicks, at first, then things became serious — and she hasn’t looked back since.
Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.
I love this book too and your bookstagram set up is so stunning???
YAY! I love this book so much! And thank you so much, Hana! ♥