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Spin the Dawn

On sale

4th March 2021

Price: £9.99

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Selected: Paperback / ISBN-13: 9781529362909

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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 Renée 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

Reviews

NPR
A fabulous fantasy . . . Sure to delight even the most jaded of fantasy readers
Washington Post
A stunning tapestry of adventure
Entertainment Weekly
Your next big YA series . . . We've got our eye on this stylist blockbuster
Gregory Maguire, NYTimes bestselling author of Wicked
Romance, artistry, and deep enchantment
Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter
What an amazing creation! Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong. This is a white-knuckle read!
Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl from Everywhere
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
Natasha Ngan, NYTimes bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire
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!
Booklist
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
Kirkus
With strong storytelling and characterization and a pleasing romance, this will have broad appeal

The Blood of Stars