Book Review: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) by Elizabeth Lim

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Release Date: July 30, 2019 
Description:

" 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."

Wow, just...WOW. I haven't read a fantasy book in a while, and this one was definitely a great start of a new series! At first, I was drawn to it for its gorgeous cover, but the premise of the story is what truly piqued my interest. Not only does the story do well in delivering the Mulan elements (which are incorporated really well btw), but the story itself and how the plot was able to transition smoothly into other story arcs. 

Aside from the great plot are the great characters, especially Maia and Edan. It's pretty obvious that the romance would be between this two just from reading the description for the book, but what I really appreciate is that it was not a relationship that started off as an insta-love. It took some time and development, both from the plot and characters for it to development, which is great because it makes the relationship that much more deeper and complex. I truly hate it when characters instantly are drawn towards one another. That kind of love is too simple and overdone. Also, I adore the two MCs, not just for their chemistry, but as characters themselves. Maia is a strong, stubborn, and determined girl, which is necessary to even survive the events that she had to endure from the beginning of the story, to the adventure she had to embark on, and to the future events to come. I loved how the love for her family was able to carry her through such events, along with her love for Edan. Edan himself was also such a loveable character. I knew I was gonna like him the first time he teased Maia. His teasing, cunning, and arrogant nature, accompanied by his softer side, give great dimensions to his already mysterious character, as his life story/past is only revealed slowly throughout the book. Maia and Edan are great MCs and can't wait for what is to come for them in the next book!😁

Overall, Lim does a great job in delivering an amazing story that centers around a competition (who doesn't like that?). Not only does this competition create a good story, but it was also able to develop into a more complex plot once adventure was added into the mix. Although this book has left me wanting more, I am slightly disheartened that there will be quite a bit of waiting on my end until the sequel is released. Definitely worth the read if you enjoy a story that involves competition, magic, fantasy, adventure, and romance!

Overall rating: 5/5 😍