GOODREADS SUMMARY

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. 

MY THOUGHTS

The first thing I noticed about this book is the cover. It was really gorgeous and I barely paid attention to the description. So imagine my happiness when @definitelybooks sent me a review copy. Hooray!

Mulan meets Project Runaway is kinda’ overly exaggerated for me. Being a person who grew up watching Mulan so many times, it has no resemblance from Mulan other than Maia pretended to be a boy in behalf of his father. Other than that, it ended right there.

The story started good. The first part was really exciting for me, and I could barely put it down. With all the competition and the tasks given to the contestants and the obstacle Maia was facing with her contenders are really enough for me to be so into it. But then when second and third chapter had began, I started to drift off my reading pace. It started to become a little bit dull for me, there are some chapters where I find good, but there are also some scenes I got so bored. Specially am not very convinced on how a person will be able to capture the Sun, the moon and the stars. But then again I love Maia and Edan’s love story. The love story between Maia and Edan developed a little bit rushed for me, but still I could still feel the chemistry between the two. Its palpable even at the end of the book. So yeah, I may read the second book but not because of the story, but because I am so intrigued on how will the love story of the 2 character will go through.