Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA 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.
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.
Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey 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.
Review:
How could i not read book that’s “Project Runway meets Mulan?” In our recent move, we had to get rid of a lot of books. So many books were donated to the library. When I cam across this one, I read the blurb, and instantly was like, “well, I’ll have to read this one first!” I’m glad I held on to it. It actually was the book I was reading during the whole moving process. It kept me centered and less stress. Thanks, book!
Though, I think I liked the first half of the book more than the second. Normally, it’s the opposite. But, the first half of the book is more like Project Runway (one of my fav tv shows), and the second half of the book is more like the standard YA fairytale retelling. While I’m not familiar with many Chinese stories, or myths, and for all I know the one in here is made up, the second half of the book just read like so many other YA books that I almost put it down and stopped reading.
However, the fun dress making competition of the first half kept me inclined to keep reading. And I wanted to see how Maia would make the legendary dresses too. Though, that part isn’t written in too much detail. The second half of the book is largely focused on romance, demons, survival adventures and and trials. And I don’t hate those things! I’m just kind of used to them…I liked the freshness of the beginning, and I was hoping for that freshness to keep going. There was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the book, so I kind of need to find book 2 now…But, depending on how it reads, I’m not sure how long I’ll stay with it.
I find the world, the magic, and the mythology in this to be so cool. I’d like to see more of the magic I guess. And learn a little bit more of the rulers and the other tailors. Maybe that’s coming in book 2. All in all, this was a very good escape during a crazy, hectic time for me. So, I’m glad I had this book. I give it an 8/10.
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