Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim is a young-adult fantasy/romance novel that provides a coming-of-age story. The protagonist, Maia Tamarin, lives with her three brothers: Finilei, Sendo, and Keton. She had been one of the most reputable tailors of Port Kamalan. After the death of their mother, her father became an alcoholic, leaving Maia to handle the store. Her brothers, Finilei and Sendo, died during the Five Winters’ War, but Keton returned, limp and unable to walk. Many in town believed women should not work and were unaware of Maia's role in the shop. One day, Maia receives a royal decree summoning the finest tailors in the kingdom to find a replacement for the Imperial Tailor. Each family must send one male representative to compete for the role. Maia had always yearned to become Imperial Tailor and seized the opportunity. With her brother's help, she learns how to appear more like a man. Before leaving for the competition, her father gives her scissors that “were [her] grandmother’s” (Elizabeth 30). At the beginning of the competition, she realizes the other tailors are older and more adept. Maia must design clothes for Lady Sarnai, the emperor’s soon-to-be wife. In addition to the challenging tasks, sabotage occurs between the tailors. The scissors she brought prove to be magical and assist her with each challenge. Edan, the court enchanter, sees through her disguise. Nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: Maia and Edan must travel through the kingdom seeking mystical objects to sew three mythological gowns. During her journey, she admits her feelings for Edan.
How does Maia balance her emotions with her duties? Her conflicts reveal thematic concepts such as gender roles and identity. She must challenge the outlooks of the kingdom while truly discovering who she is. This book pleasantly surprised me. I did not expect to feel as strongly as I did after reading this novel. It provides emotional aspects that counteract the life and death stakes. In addition, Lim excels at crafting real expectations and outcomes in a fantasy world. The boundaries placed on Maia make her journey empowering to read. Although the conflicts are fantastical, they relate to ongoing debates and challenges individuals face today. For instance, the Five Winters’ War represents the struggles of families with deployed members and the political complications of power and governance. It is a story about courage, dreams, and challenges, encouraging new outlooks and ideas for readers. Overall, the novel captures the romance and fairy tale tropes and places a twist on regular young adult fiction.
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