"Spin the Dawn" by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn is the start of a new Chinese-inspired YA fantasy series (US publication date is 7/9/2019). The main character Maia Tamarin is the youngest child of a famous tailor. Her three older brothers are not really interested in sewing and besides all three of them end up going to war. Two never return and one comes back injured and unable to walk. Maia is a talented seamstress, but unfortunately, in her world, girls do not become tailors. So when a representative from the imperial court arrives to summon either her father or brother to sew for the emperor, Maia dresses up as a boy and journeys to the capital to compete with other famous tailors for the title of the Imperial Tailor.

I was skeptical about this book. So many YA novels are filled with tropes and are basically variations of the same rags-to-riches/nobody-to-a-hero story. Spin the Dawn does have the same overall theme, but it had several elements that I like in YA books and that instantly drew me in. First, it reads like a fairy tale, and is filled with luscious descriptions of exotic settings. Second, the main character is a spunky female who perseveres no matter the odds and always insists on making her own decisions. Third, it is a very fast read. At just over 400 pages, I finished it in less than 3 days. Finally, it has a slow-burn romance that many readers will appreciate.

If I have to pick a thing that I did not like about the story, it will have to be the ending. To me, the final resolution felt rushed and a bit illogical. If Maia was going to put a request in front of a powerful goddess, why didn't she word it in a way that would make her happy? Instead, the wish that was granted to her led to much bigger problems.... I am definitely curious to see what happens next, but am very worried about the direction the novel is taking. I think I would have been happy with a well-rounded stand-alone.

A very enjoyable read overall. 4 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.