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bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
“I want you to know that some journeys have ends, but not this one. This one will change you. Irrevocably." "Don't all journeys change you?" "It isn't the same." He leaned forward. "I, too, once journeyed beyond the stars." "What did you find?" His voice turned lethally soft. "That it's just the beginning.”
➽ This was the oldest unread book on my Kindle and I finally checked it out! I enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes by this author (the sequel ... not so much), so I was interested to see how I liked her debut novel. Spin the Dawn follows Maia Tamarin who is a talented tailor with a struggling family. Competing to become the royal tailor would help them out, but Maia has to dress up as a boy in order to be allowed into the competition. I don't usually like crossdressing storylines, but here it didn't bother me that much. I liked the focus on the craft of tailoring and what it meant to to Maia. As a woman, she's expected to marry and not open up her own shop, no matter how good she is. Disguised as her brother, she's trying to stand out against more experienced, wealthy tailors. The premise was interesting and I liked the challenges Maia had to overcome and the incorporation of magic in her craft. She's got a pair of magic scissors she doesn't want to use, as magic is still viewed with suspicion.
➽ I enjoyed the first half of the story the most, as it focused on the competition to become the royal tailor. It was suspenseful, as many competitors resort to sabotage and taunts in order to take down others. Maia doesn't have it easy and she constantly fears being exposed for her fake identity. To her ire, she also catches the attention of the Emperor's personal enchanter, Edan, who seems to see right through her. It was interesting to see the consequences of his powerful magic and how it kept him under contract to the palace. Since the story is set after a long war, there are also tensions among the people. Lady Sarnai is forced to marry the Emperor in order to secure peace between their nations and I wish we'd seen more of her, as she was an intriguing character!
➽ Unfortunately, the second half wasn't as engaging and didn't inspire me to keep reading. I would have loved this story more a couple of years back, but now I'm increasingly critical of YA Fantasy books. Spin the Dawn had a good premise and an interesting world, but I wish it had discussed the sexism and gender stereotypes that Maia faces more. It was more present in the beginning, but I would have loved for her to confront societal expectations and connect to how other women are similarly trapped like her. In the beginning, it almost felt like the story highlighted how unlike other women Maia looked/acted as the only girl in a household of boys. It gave off major 'not like other girls vibe' and while I'm glad those disappeared, the story could have focused on Maia's relationship with other women. In general, the story lost steam in the second half of the book, as it turned into a travel/quest story and I often find those boring. The focus also shifted to the romance and while it was cute, it didn't really stand out to me. I haven't heard good things about the sequel from people who loved the first book, so I think I'll just treat this as a standalone! I'm not invested enough to continue the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Grief
vivelarevolution's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
I loved this book when I was younger and I wanted to love it now. I mean, come on, magic and sewing and spinning and knitting! What could be more up my alley?
Unfortunately I found the ableism to be absolutely intolerable and the love interest to be frustratingly sexist. I hated how the main character pushed her disabled brother into taking "one step every day" while she was off on her adventure as if that isn't an incredibly fucked up thing to encourage a disabled person to do, and I hated that she (poorly) faked his disability in order to pretend to be him. I stopped reading when she got drunk and strange men goaded her love interest (who she was not in a relationship with yet) into kissing her and she kissed him on the cheek to attempt to satisfy this request without making herself uncomfortable and then he kissed her anyway. Like, what the hell? Also, I assume that her love interest is also a teenager, but there were some weird references to him maybe being immortal that made me wonder. I can't remember my first reading well enough to say for certain whether or not this relationship was straight up pedophilic.
Also, this is one of my more minor gripes, but why have the main character come out as a gay man while going out of your way to establish that her love interest knew her gender the entire time and therefore nothing about that relationship is actually queer? It's not funny or cute, it's just weird.
Also, introducing a whole (fake, but still) ethnic group as "barbarians" and then having the main character meet some and learn "they're not all barbarians"? That's sick.
Unfortunately I found the ableism to be absolutely intolerable and the love interest to be frustratingly sexist. I hated how the main character pushed her disabled brother into taking "one step every day" while she was off on her adventure as if that isn't an incredibly fucked up thing to encourage a disabled person to do, and I hated that she (poorly) faked his disability in order to pretend to be him. I stopped reading when she got drunk and strange men goaded her love interest (who she was not in a relationship with yet) into kissing her and she kissed him on the cheek to attempt to satisfy this request without making herself uncomfortable and then he kissed her anyway. Like, what the hell? Also, I assume that her love interest is also a teenager, but there were some weird references to him maybe being immortal that made me wonder. I can't remember my first reading well enough to say for certain whether or not this relationship was straight up pedophilic.
Also, this is one of my more minor gripes, but why have the main character come out as a gay man while going out of your way to establish that her love interest knew her gender the entire time and therefore nothing about that relationship is actually queer? It's not funny or cute, it's just weird.
Also, introducing a whole (fake, but still) ethnic group as "barbarians" and then having the main character meet some and learn "they're not all barbarians"? That's sick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: War
lags2much's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I really like the story but the pace is painfully slow. I wish the story were told in half the time. I’m very curious to learn how everything resolves but I’m kind of dreading the time commitment to get through the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Slavery and Torture
shannonvonpesach's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I didn’t dislike the romance but I did wish it was more of a slowburn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
sofieishere's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
iwinatcookie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
veeloucagraph's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Every time that a fantasy book with unique setting and interesting world gets squashed by a boring romance, I lose my faith in YA.
Mulan x Project Runway is a marketing ploy, the fashion competition disguised as a man ends before even the middle of the book and it turns into a romance fantasy quest. And to be fair, that would have been awesome if the love interest was not creepy and the romance didn't steal the protagonist's whole agency.
I don't understand why there is this pattern of being attracted to old men with boy faces that stalk you. Edan literally is 500+ years old and stalks Maia from the moment she leaves to go to the palace for the competition.
For a book that begins with a feminist approach, a woman wanting to prove herself as worthy as any man to become the Imperial tailor, she loses all interest in her passion as soon as she discovers the one for Edan. From that point, her dreams feel like a chore and all she wants is to be married to this man she's known for two months max, risking her life for him.
On that note, was her having these magical scissors really necessary? I struggled to form my own opinion on the matter but now that the book is over and we know she has magical ancestry, she has turned from a talented woman who wanted to be taken seriously to a chosen one. This defeated the whole purpose of equality and made her a magical being unbothered by others instead of a girl who wanted to fulfill her dreams despite society's disapproval.
Despite the book being diverse in its portrayal of Asian culture, characters, and a character who poses as a man, it has undertones of anti-LGBT+. The concept of same-sex love is scandalous, and the protagonist detests having to partake in any romantic actions with girls, so much so that she finds relief in posing as a gay man. Edan himself is rumored to find pleasure in *young* men, which made his character all the more predatory in the beginning, but the implication that he is a bisexual man is simply dropped and we are led to believe those were just mean rumors.
Now imagine how much more awesome the love story would have been if Maia had fallen for the Emperor and became best friends with Lady Sarnai. Having to sew the wedding dresses of your soul mate's wife who is also your best friend. Even better imagine this; having to sew the wedding dresses of the woman you love for her marriage to a man.
So much tension lost and ignored, Lady Sarnai could have been so much more interestingly written, but despite the glimpses of her delicate heart we settle for her being a snobby b*tch because... the Lord Enchanter 500+ years old who stalks you is more interesting to think about.
Mulan x Project Runway is a marketing ploy, the fashion competition disguised as a man ends before even the middle of the book and it turns into a romance fantasy quest. And to be fair, that would have been awesome if the love interest was not creepy and the romance didn't steal the protagonist's whole agency.
I don't understand why there is this pattern of being attracted to old men with boy faces that stalk you. Edan literally is 500+ years old and stalks Maia from the moment she leaves to go to the palace for the competition.
For a book that begins with a feminist approach, a woman wanting to prove herself as worthy as any man to become the Imperial tailor, she loses all interest in her passion as soon as she discovers the one for Edan. From that point, her dreams feel like a chore and all she wants is to be married to this man she's known for two months max, risking her life for him.
On that note, was her having these magical scissors really necessary? I struggled to form my own opinion on the matter but now that the book is over and we know she has magical ancestry, she has turned from a talented woman who wanted to be taken seriously to a chosen one. This defeated the whole purpose of equality and made her a magical being unbothered by others instead of a girl who wanted to fulfill her dreams despite society's disapproval.
Despite the book being diverse in its portrayal of Asian culture, characters, and a character who poses as a man, it has undertones of anti-LGBT+. The concept of same-sex love is scandalous, and the protagonist detests having to partake in any romantic actions with girls, so much so that she finds relief in posing as a gay man. Edan himself is rumored to find pleasure in *young* men, which made his character all the more predatory in the beginning, but the implication that he is a bisexual man is simply dropped and we are led to believe those were just mean rumors.
Now imagine how much more awesome the love story would have been if Maia had fallen for the Emperor and became best friends with Lady Sarnai. Having to sew the wedding dresses of your soul mate's wife who is also your best friend. Even better imagine this; having to sew the wedding dresses of the woman you love for her marriage to a man.
So much tension lost and ignored, Lady Sarnai could have been so much more interestingly written, but despite the glimpses of her delicate heart we settle for her being a snobby b*tch because... the Lord Enchanter 500+ years old who stalks you is more interesting to think about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
jasminechocklettslee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed most of the book, until we got a bit of an insta love moment and then from there, it became a bit too eye roll dramatic for my taste. It was a good retelling of Mulan and I liked the unique elements it brought but yeah, the romantic relationship became very cringe
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail