4.5/5 stars — a lushly artistic twist on Mulan

When I ask for strong female characters, Maia Tamarin is what I'm after. The main character of Elizabeth Lim's magical tale is a textile artist who dreams of becoming the emperor's tailor—a far cry from the action-hero standard of strength that's too often default for heroes. Maia may not be an expert when it comes to combat (although she does learn some hand-to-hand skills later in the book) but she's a powerhouse of perseverance, loyalty, and courage.

Lim's descriptions of the dresses and other clothing Maia designs for the contest to become the imperial tailor were engaging and her worldbuilding was superb. I loved the "quest" aspect of the story, in which Maia had to fulfill deliberately impossible tasks, because we got to see so much of the setting. (The journey also allowed for a lot of character growth and time to strengthen the relationship between Maia and her love interest. Overall, one of the strongest second acts I've read lately!)

I highly recommend Spin the Dawn to readers who enjoy fantasy, fairy tales, and stories that blend myth and magic. The bones of Mulan's familiar story are there, and Lim uses them as the base of an adventure with layers of action, romance, and intrigue. Fans of S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad series, Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, and Descendant of the Crane by Joan He will probably enjoy this book.

** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **