Spin the Dawn

On the fringes of the Great Spice Road, 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. Then a royal messenger summons her ailing father to court, and Maia seizes her chance. Disguised as a man, she travels to the Summer Palace in her father's place to compete for the emperor's favour, and the coveted position of imperial tailor.

If Maia's ruse is discovered, her life will be forfeit. But if she wins, she will achieve her greatest dream.

Yet nothing could have prepared her for the challenge ahead: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's bride-to-be. One from the laughter of the sun, one from the tears of the moon, and one from the blood of stars.

Accompanied by the mysterious court enchanter, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise, Maia's journey will take her to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

“'Looking for your next big YA fantasy series? We've got our eye on this stylist blockbuster' Entertainment Weekly

'All the cutthroat competition of a runway fashion reality show and the thrilling exploits of an epic quest . . . a stunning tapestry of adventure' The Washington Post”

Your next big YA series . . . We've got our eye on this stylist blockbuster Entertainment Weekly
Romance, artistry, and deep enchantment Gregory Maguire, NYTimes bestselling author of Wicked
What an amazing creation! Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong. This is a white-knuckle read! Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter
Part epic adventure, part fairy tale, and part Project Runway, Spin the Dawn is a thrilling tale as rich as velvet and as exquisite as fine embroidery Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl from Everywhere
A stunning tapestry of adventure Washington Post
A fabulous fantasy . . . Sure to delight even the most jaded of fantasy readers NPR
Lim weaves an enchanting narrative, with all the magic of a fairytale and the guts and grit of an epic adventure. Diverse folklore, imaginative worldbuilding and a brilliant lead character who wields creativity as skillfully as a weapon - this is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy! Natasha Ngan, NYTimes bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

Beautifully written with a can't-wait-for-the-sequel ending, this breathtaking and
fast-paced Silk-road inspired fantasy from the author of Mulan-retelling Reflection (2018) is sure to enchant readers beginning to end

Elizabeth Lim grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised on a hearty diet of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth was a professional film and video game composer, and she still tends to come up with her best book ideas while writing near a piano. An alumna of Harvard College and the Juilliard School, she now resides in New York with her husband and two daughters.

Other books by Elizabeth include Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk, the New York Times bestseller So This is Love, and Reflection.

A tailor in disguise. Three legendary dresses. The competition of a lifetime. 'An amazing creation! ' Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping 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. On the fringes of the Great Spice Road, 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. Then a royal messenger summons her ailing father to court, and Maia seizes her chance. Disguised as a man, she travels to the Summer Palace in her father's place to compete for the emperor's favour, and the coveted position of imperial tailor.If Maia's ruse is discovered, her life will be forfeit. But if she wins, she will achieve her greatest dream.Yet nothing could have prepared her for the challenge ahead: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's bride-to-be. One from the laughter of the sun, one from the tears of the moon, and one from the blood of stars.Accompanied by the mysterious court enchanter, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise, Maia's journey will take her 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 Renee Ahdieh. Praise for Spin the Dawn 'Looking for your next big YA fantasy series? We've got our eye on this stylist blockbuster' Entertainment Weekly 'Spin the Dawn is proof that casting a wider net not only gives us a fresh story that feels unlike everything else on the shelves beside it but also allows for richer and more nuanced storytelling' NPR 'All the cutthroat competition of a runway fashion reality show and the thrilling exploits of an epic quest . . . a stunning tapestry of adventure' The Washington Post

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