Review | Spin The Dawn

Spin The Dawn

By: Elizabeth Lim

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

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. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Of course, Maia gets caught, and all hell breaks loose. She’s sent on a daunting, epic journey on behalf of the King and takes along a magical sidekick in hopes of making it out alive.

Theme Song

TL;DR

Spin the Dawn is a Disney fairytale wrapped up in an EPIC fantasy box. If you love Mulan, Cinderella, Aladdin, or any of the Disney classics, you’ll love Lim’s take with her Project Runway twist. Just know you’ll have to wait for Fall 2020 for Book 2!

The Good

Disney Vibes

There are MAGICAL GLASS SLIPPERS, a MAGICAL CARPET RIDE, and a high-key reference to a trapped GENIE. Mix it all together with the “girl becomes boy to get what she wants” trope and you have all the makings of an awesome Disney fairytale-esque story. Not going to lie, the first 12 pages or so are the first 5 minutes of any Disney movie, so prepare for the tragic backstory and lots of tears.

The Questing

It doesn’t take long for Maia to be discovered and for her epic journey to begin. I loved every second of her trials. They’re high-stakes, full of magic, and INTENSE. I felt like I was on my own quest to find magical fabrics for dresses. You won’t be disappointed with Maia or her tasks.

The Romance

This is definitely a slow-burner and I wasn’t disappointed with the lack of smut. There are kisses and swoon-worthy moments and I was here for all of it. It’s refreshing to have a YA book that has cute love stories without millions of smut scenes. The romance level is appropriate for the book and I was content with the cute overload.

The Bad

That Reveal Though

I was really sad that Maia was found out so early on. I would have preferred it to be true to Mulan – or even She’s the Man/Twelfth Night/Every other “Girl becomes Boy” story – to see how that would have affected the plot and love story. It was perfect just the way it was, but of course if there is one thing I am going to think about it’s the what ifs. 

The Ugly Truth

If you love fantasy, fashion, and/or fairy tales you will love Spin the Dawn! I would highly recommend bumping this up on your TBR list.

Talk To Me

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding it to your reading list soon?

Jacin Clay | A Lunar Chronicles Playlist

I’m back at it with another Lunar Chronicles playlist! This time, I’m featuring everyone’s favorite emo, Lunar Soldier Boy – Jacin Clay. If you’re looking playlists inspired by some of the other Lunar Chronicles characters, you can find them here.

The Breakdown

Jacin Clay is DEFINITION emo boy. He wears his hair in a pony, has a spiky attitude toward everyone, and has a secret soft side only for Winter. So, you can imagine that all his songs are based on my love of emos. Seriously, if you are an emo kid, let’s be friends.

“Know Your Enemy” – Green Day

All Jacin wants to do is protect Winter. And he will literally do whatever it takes, even working with people he doesn’t like – or betraying people he might.

Notable Lyrics: “Bringing on the fury
The choir infantry
Revolt against the honor to obey”

Vindicated, Dashboard Confessional

Every emo boy’s anthem. That is all.

Notable Lyrics: “Vindicated. I am selfish. I am wrong
I am right, I swear I’m right. Swear I knew it all along and
I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself”

She’s Out of Her Mind, Blink 182

OKAY – I seriously think there are tons of celebs out there who are writing songs specifically for TLC, because hello, Jacin is LIT-ER-AL-LY in love with a girl who is out of her mind.

Notable Lyrics: “I’m in deep with this girl but she’s out of her mind.”

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? What songs would you add? Do you have any playlists you’d want me to create?

Winter Hayle | A Lunar Chronicles Playlist

If you love fairy tales, Disney princesses, space, or all of the above, you should definitely read The Lunar Chronicles! If your favorite princess happens to be Snow White, you’ll love Winter – the final book in The Lunar Chronicles series and the main protagonist of this book. If you’re already a fan, keep reading to see what songs remind me of this Lunar Princess. If you’re looking for some of my other playlists you can find them here.

The Breakdown

Due to *reasons* (unsaid here for anyone who hasn’t read the series yet), Winter isn’t always all there. She’s often in her own mind, saying things others find crazy, but somehow manages to make friends wherever she goes. I tried to capture this with the songs I picked for her. Check out a few of my faves below.

“Dear Winter” – AJR

So, I’m pretty sure this song was written about Winter. Is AJR secretly reading Marissa Meyer books? Do they actually know a Winter?? I need answers, but I’m glad this song exists. It was made for her.

Notable Lyrics: “Dear Winter, I hope you like your name
I hope they don’t make fun of you
When you grow up and go to school, okay?
‘Cause Winter is a badass name”

Fireflies, Owl City

Winter loves animals and for some reason (you know, since she does tend to have conversations with things in the menagerie & hallucinates) I can totally see her in her room, imagining there are ten thousand lightning bugs trying to give her hugs.

Notable Lyrics: “I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep
‘Cause everything is never as it seems”

You’re My Best Friend, Queen

Winter just wants to be friends with EVERYONE. She even gets prickly Scarlett to be her friend, and if that’s not an accomplishment, I don’t know what is.

Notable Lyrics: “You’re my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh, you’re my best friend”

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? What songs would you add? Do you have any playlists you’d want me to create?

Cress Darnell | A Lunar Chronicles Playlist

The only way to follow up my Thorne Playlist from last week is obviously with Cress-Inspired music. Once again…let me express my love for anything related to Tangled, Rapunzel, or Flynn Rider. It’s my favorite Disney movie of all time and I. Will. Die. On. That. Hill. Rapunzel is one of the better fairy tales and I had so much fun putting this set together.

The Breakdown

Cress has been holed up in her space station, hacking her way through life. She has a bubbly personality, is incredibly shy, and only has rose-colored glasses when it comes to love, romance and her dashing hero. The songs I chose are definitely show off all of the above. See some of my favorites highlighted below!

When Will My Life Being – Mandy Moore

It would have been a crime not to include this song on Cress’s playlist. Imagine her stuck in her space station hair hacking computers, playing cheese, doing her exercises, and just being the best Rapunzel she can be.

Notable Lyrics: “And I’ll keep wonderin’ and wonderin’
And wonderin’ and wonderin’
When will my life begin?”

Be My Baby, The Ronettes

Cress is in love with Thorne and she listens to innocent, oldies loves songs daydreaming about the day she can make him hers. *SWOON*

Notable Lyrics: “The night we met I knew I needed you so
And if I had the chance I’d never let you go
So won’t you say you love me”

Crescent Moon, KT Tunstall

THIS SONG. It was the closest (and most amazing) thing I could find that reminded me of her sweet crescent moon lullaby. Just listen and tear up.

Notable Lyrics: “I’m a crescent moon
Looking for a place to lay my head and settle in
Never found a refuge up there in the sky
But never thought it would be you and I

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? What songs would you add? Do you have any playlists you’d want me to create?

Carswell Thorne | A Lunar Chronicles Playlist

I have seriously been neglecting my bookish playlists, so I thought I’d make a comeback and start off with one of my all time favorite f*ckboys – Thorne! He’s the cutest wannabe space pirate of the future. And, let’s be honest, I’m a sucker for anything Rapunzel, Tangled, or FLYNN RIDER related. Carswell Thorne can fly me to the moon any day.

The Breakdown

While Thorne doesn’t wear boat shoes or popped collars, he’s still the epitome of what it means to be a f*ckboy. He does his best to act hard and be the dashing, suave mystery man, but in reality he sits in his captain’s chair on the Rampion singing Taylor Swift, JoBros, Notorious BIG, and The Beastie Boys. Check out some of my fave picks and the lyrics that stand out to me!

Feel It Still, Portugal The Man

Thorne wants to be the Han Solo of the galaxy. He rebels against everyone and everything and walks to his own beat. *Swoon*

Notable Lyrics: “Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now…
Might be over now, but I feel it still”

Primadonna, MARINA

He also wants to be rich, famous, and loved by all. He knows he’s adorable & witty and definitely does want to kill everyone with his smolder. *Double Swoon*

Notable Lyrics: “Primadonna [boy], yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can’t help that I need it all”

Fly With Me, Jonas Brother

When Thorne finally realizes he loves Cress and wants to fly her to all the places she’s never seen before. But of course he can’t pick a normal song. It HAS to be the JoBros.

Notable Lyrics: “If it’s you and me forever
If it’s you and me right now…
If we chase the stars to lose our shadows…
So won’t you fly with me”

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? What songs would you add? Do you have any playlists you’d want me to create?