Scan barcode
A review by abinthebooks
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
5.0
Retelling(s) - Mulan
OWN VOICES
Wow, what a ride! This book was phenomenal in so many different ways! I loved everything about this book, and I'm even going to be bold enough to say that this might be on my favorites of 2020! [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266] was pitched to me (and everyone else), as "Fashion Runway meets Mulan". If that doesn't sound amazing to you in the first place, my question is why?
The first part of the book held up to a Mulan retelling. The second part of this book took an unexpected and great turn. The second part of this book we follow Edan and Maia going on an adventure (I'll talk more about them later).
I mainly picked this book up though for the Mulan retelling aspect. Mulan is in my top 5 Disney Princess, (probably number three, right after the tie between Belle and Rapunzel). I've never actually read a Mulan retelling and my curiosity was piqued. Here's to say, I wasn't disappointed.
We follow a a first person point of view of our main character Maia. Maia's family has fallen on hard times. Her mother died when she was just a girl, and her three brothers are sent off to war. Her father was once one of the best tailors in the land, but now he's a shell of himself. Maia was the only person in her family with the skills for a thread, and needle. But she's a woman, and in her society woman cannot become tailors. As a young girl, her dream was to become the master tailor, the emperors tailor, and all her dreams a crushed until hope arrives at her doorstep. Her father has been called to court, to compete in a series of trails to become the master tailor. Maia knows her father is not fit for the task, and so she takes her fathers place, and poses as her older brother hoping to become the imperial tailor.
THE CHARACTERS
I first want to talk about Maia. Maia is everything I want in a female main character. She's feminist (but so much so that your drowning in feminism), she's brave and strong, and she'll do anything for the people she loves. I loved her. She was such a fun character, and it was so fun spending my time in her head.
I also wanted to talk about Edan, and the romance between him and Maia. Oh my god they are so fucking adorable, I cannot take them! Edan is such a fun, mysterious character, but he isn't your typical "brood" if that makes sense. Sure he's mysterious and secretive, but I just found his character fresh in a way. He was funny, and charismatic and super smart too. I'm going to grace you with some adorable quotes so hold your horses.
“But I would give up the sun and moon and stars if it meant saving him.”
“It was the tale of a boy, too. A boy who could fly but not swim. A boy with the powers of the gods but the shackles of a slave. A boy who loved me.”
AND
“She gave off a little neigh when I reached to touch her cheek. I fell in love with her immediately.
"You like her more than me," Edan pouted.
"That's not hard to do." I petted her mane again; then offered Edan a small smile. "But thank you.”
THE WORLD
Then I want to talk about the world! The world was so damn cool! I loved the magic system, and the certain things, and people who could wield it, plus the backstory of magic and the mythology for the gods and goddesses was so interesting. And the ancient Chinese culture woven in (see what I did there) was just so fun and interesitng,
THE WRITING
Wow the writing in this book was beautiful! [a:Elizabeth Lim|6926374|Elizabeth Lim|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1508017352p2/6926374.jpg] has such a way with words. Her metaphors melded in with her writing was so pretty, and I loved every second of it.
“Seize the wind," I whispered. "Don't become the kite that never flies.”
“Above, the stars faded behind the misty sky, and the sun fanned its light upon us. We melted into each other until the dawn slid into dusk, and the sun paled into the moon, and the stars, once lost, became found again.”
AND
“I'd battled ghosts and touched the stars. I'd climbed a mountain to the moon and conquered the fury of the sun.”
Overall, this book was phenomenal! Definitely check it out if you haven't already. i'm really excited for my copy of [b:Unravel the Dusk|36683940|Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572261457l/36683940._SY75_.jpg|58477276]
* * *
Me after reading this - So how much is the sequel you say? - REVIEW TO COME
OWN VOICES
Wow, what a ride! This book was phenomenal in so many different ways! I loved everything about this book, and I'm even going to be bold enough to say that this might be on my favorites of 2020! [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266] was pitched to me (and everyone else), as "Fashion Runway meets Mulan". If that doesn't sound amazing to you in the first place, my question is why?
The first part of the book held up to a Mulan retelling. The second part of this book took an unexpected and great turn. The second part of this book we follow Edan and Maia going on an adventure (I'll talk more about them later).
I mainly picked this book up though for the Mulan retelling aspect. Mulan is in my top 5 Disney Princess, (probably number three, right after the tie between Belle and Rapunzel). I've never actually read a Mulan retelling and my curiosity was piqued. Here's to say, I wasn't disappointed.
We follow a a first person point of view of our main character Maia. Maia's family has fallen on hard times. Her mother died when she was just a girl, and her three brothers are sent off to war. Her father was once one of the best tailors in the land, but now he's a shell of himself. Maia was the only person in her family with the skills for a thread, and needle. But she's a woman, and in her society woman cannot become tailors. As a young girl, her dream was to become the master tailor, the emperors tailor, and all her dreams a crushed until hope arrives at her doorstep. Her father has been called to court, to compete in a series of trails to become the master tailor. Maia knows her father is not fit for the task, and so she takes her fathers place, and poses as her older brother hoping to become the imperial tailor.
THE CHARACTERS
I first want to talk about Maia. Maia is everything I want in a female main character. She's feminist (but so much so that your drowning in feminism), she's brave and strong, and she'll do anything for the people she loves. I loved her. She was such a fun character, and it was so fun spending my time in her head.
I also wanted to talk about Edan, and the romance between him and Maia. Oh my god they are so fucking adorable, I cannot take them! Edan is such a fun, mysterious character, but he isn't your typical "brood" if that makes sense. Sure he's mysterious and secretive, but I just found his character fresh in a way. He was funny, and charismatic and super smart too. I'm going to grace you with some adorable quotes so hold your horses.
“But I would give up the sun and moon and stars if it meant saving him.”
“It was the tale of a boy, too. A boy who could fly but not swim. A boy with the powers of the gods but the shackles of a slave. A boy who loved me.”
AND
“She gave off a little neigh when I reached to touch her cheek. I fell in love with her immediately.
"You like her more than me," Edan pouted.
"That's not hard to do." I petted her mane again; then offered Edan a small smile. "But thank you.”
THE WORLD
Then I want to talk about the world! The world was so damn cool! I loved the magic system, and the certain things, and people who could wield it, plus the backstory of magic and the mythology for the gods and goddesses was so interesting. And the ancient Chinese culture woven in (see what I did there) was just so fun and interesitng,
THE WRITING
Wow the writing in this book was beautiful! [a:Elizabeth Lim|6926374|Elizabeth Lim|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1508017352p2/6926374.jpg] has such a way with words. Her metaphors melded in with her writing was so pretty, and I loved every second of it.
“Seize the wind," I whispered. "Don't become the kite that never flies.”
“Above, the stars faded behind the misty sky, and the sun fanned its light upon us. We melted into each other until the dawn slid into dusk, and the sun paled into the moon, and the stars, once lost, became found again.”
AND
“I'd battled ghosts and touched the stars. I'd climbed a mountain to the moon and conquered the fury of the sun.”
Overall, this book was phenomenal! Definitely check it out if you haven't already. i'm really excited for my copy of [b:Unravel the Dusk|36683940|Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572261457l/36683940._SY75_.jpg|58477276]
* * *
Me after reading this - So how much is the sequel you say? - REVIEW TO COME