Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: July 7, 2020
Publisher: Knopf
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Maia Tamarin proved her skill as a tailor when she wove the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars, but it will take more than a beautiful gown to hide the darkness rising up within her…. The stakes are higher than ever in this breathtaking sequel to Spin the Dawn, perfect for fans of Six of Crows.
Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. Edan, the boy she loves, is gone—perhaps forever—and no sooner does she set foot in the Autumn Palace than she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace. When the emperor’s rivals learn of her deception, there is hell to pay, but the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing…glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red; losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, and in the meantime she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.
Story Locale: A fictionalized country based on China
"A long time ago, a foolish girl was asked to weave the sun, embroider the moon, and paint the stars, three impossible tasks she did not believe she could accomplish."
Unravel
the Dusk
is the second and final installment in author Elizabeth Lim's The Blood of
Stars duology. Unravel picks up where Spin the Dawn left off. The
book is broken into three parts each relating to the dresses that Maia created
and now must use to defeat a dangerous enemy. One of the biggest storylines of
Spin the Dawn was the competition to become the imperial tailor and the epic
journey by protagonist Maia Tamarin to craft the three fabled dresses made of sunlight,
moonlight and stars blood while also freeing her love Edan from his oath.
But
the task resulted in Maia being cursed by a demon named Bandur who guards
Lapzur, thus becoming a demon herself. The transformation is underway, but it
is not yet complete. The story isn't just about finding a way to stop Maia’s
transformation, but also saving her home, A'landi from being overrun by the
shansen who has made a blood pact with a demon. When an attempt to unite two
kingdoms with the marriage between Emperor Khanujin & Lady Sarnai
backfires, war is inevitable. Without Edan’s powerful magic bound to the
emperor, the shansen sees his chance to finally get what he wants with
devastating consequences.
Maia
finds herself trapped in both her secret vow to a demon and yet another war
that could kill thousands if not stopped. It’s only a matter of time before
Maia loses everything dear to her. Her memories, her freedom, her humanity all
tied to the 3 dresses which she created. Three dresses that only seem to respond
to her when she puts them on. Maia knows that her new powers are what A’landi
needs. Despite all she has to lose, Maia’s greatest concern is the future of
the Kingdom, the Enchanter she loves, and her only remaining brother and
father. The stakes were much higher in this story, and Maia is trying her best
to cling to her humanity.
Maia
and Ammi’s friendship was a welcomed addition even though Ammi tried hard to
not accept Maia’s apologies into hiding her real identity from her best friend
in the Castle. Maia’s relationship with Lady Sarnai is one of conflict and
finally, I think, mutual respect and admiration. Sarnai is truly a badass and
the kingdom of A’landi needs her to take control before everything is lost.
Sarnai is also one of the few to know that Maia was female not her brother
Keton. Because of Maia’s curse and the state of the nation, we didn’t get as
much Edan-Maia time until the second part of this story. But what we do get, is
satisfying. Especially the ending.
"A needle is to a tailor as a sword is to a warrior. It is not that different. But, the needle is not the only tool a tailor wields, and a sword does not make the warrior."
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