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.
Jan’s Review
Wow this story was woven into the best of fairytales and adventure that i read since i devoured The Crown’s Game. We have a young lady that desperately wants to be the emperors tailor but that path is blocked to her since she is female. Then her father is given the opportunity and she strives off as a boy to save the honor of her family and hopefully to prove herself enough so she can achieve her dream.
At the heart of the story is Maia wanting to be the best she can be, to prove she just as good as the men in this field. Also is Maia discovering more about herself and the roots of her family. She meets this mysterious enchanter, she given the impossible task of weaving three dresses out of essentially fairytales, and also she forced to make an impossible decision at the end of this book one.
I can hardly wait for the next book i need to know how Maia and Edna are going to overcome this impossible obstacle that has been thrown in their path. I need to know how Maia does now that she woven these amazing dresses, is the emerpeor going to fulfill her dreams? Also how does Maia family do now that her brother been healed from his wounds and her farther does he continue in being able to make his shop thrive?
We don’t even have a blurb to tide us over tell the next book? Your going to want to devour this one it got great pacing, solid characters, and vivid imagery of the world this story is based in.
J.R.'s Book Reviews 