Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Title: Spin the Dawn
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 9, 2019
Pages: 392
Source/format: Hardcover//Purchased
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

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

M Y  T H O U G H T S

"A Tailor's worth is not measured by his fame, but by the happiness he brings." Spin the Dawn, pg 7

Spin the Dawn is the first book in The Blood of Stars duology. Maia Tamarin was born to become a tailor with a needle in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other. She follows the footsteps of her father who is also a tailor. Hailing from Gangsun, Maia wishes to become a master tailor yet tailors in Maia's world can only be male. Women can become seamstresses but not tailors. However, Maia seizes the opportunity to pursue her dreams in the disguise of a boy to compete to become the Imperial Tailor.

After the death of her mother, Maia's father struggled to continue tailoring as he used to. No longer is his sewing the same quality as before and Maia helps as much as possible to keep the shop going. After moving to the coastal town of Port Kamalan, loss has fallen upon her through her brothers.

Maia perseveres through the imperial tailoring challenges appeasing Lady Sarnai. However, Lady Sarnai asks for an almost impossible task that can cost Maia's life. Readers can expect the competition to be fierce and there is a lot of backstabbing and sabotage among the tailors. Things get complicated when enchanter Edan is made known to Maia. Magic is something that Maia once never believed in but she has a change of heart when she arrived at the palace and she learns she can wield a small amount of magic through a pair of scissors. However, Lady Sarnai despises magic while Emperor Khanujin relies on Edan's expertise. Elizabeth Lim weaves her own version of Jinn into Spin the Dawn which works well.

Although Maia is headstrong, her heart is in a good place. She wants to let everyone know that women can do the same things that men can do. She wants to help provide for her family. Edan, on the other hand, is mysterious. We don't know too much about his background or his past. He gravitates toward Maia and provides great wisdom. He is her helping hand despite how much Maia pushes him away. Fate entangles them in the long run and they grow to appreciate each other more. One can see that they grow very fond of each other.

Spin the Dawn has something for everyone. Whether people love reading about the competition or the journey to create three dresses of Amana, readers will enjoy the expedition and possibly the romance in the novel.

Lim created a mesmerizing Asian inspired fantasy world that fans of Mulan and folklore will adore. If you enjoy reading novels such as Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan and Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao, I highly suggest picking up Spin the Dawn.

The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: May 19, 2020
Pages: 517
Source/format: Hardcover//Purchased
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Ambition will fuel him.
Competition will drive him.
But power has its price.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined—every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

M Y  T H O U G H T S 

About one decade later, Suzanne Collins releases the prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. And this prequel, The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes, is about President Coriolanus Snow when he was a teenager living in the Capitol. Yes, it may be hard to pity or sympathize with the cruel and cold tyrant but it's important to understand how he becomes the Snow he is in Katniss's world. The novel gives us much insight into how society and the environment shaped him to become President Snow.

It is interesting to read how much Snow suffered despite him living in the Capitol. However, unlike many of the Capitol citizens, his family is poor after losing their wealth during the war. With his parents gone, he becomes an orphan. He lives with his grandmother and with his cousin, Tigris. While trying to maintain the family status, becoming a mentor in The Hunger Games is his only opportunity to go to university. The winning tribute's mentor will receive the grand cash prize!

Snow is cunning, manipulative and can be cold at some times but The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes shows that Snow once had love in his heart. The only thing he had left to win people over was his charm. Over the years, his heart shriveled and blackened as he put himself over others. He is quite the Slytherin and will do anything to succeed. Perhaps what he endured during his time mentoring the games has changed him. The Capitol not only pits against the people of the districts but it also pits against the people of the Capitol. Dr. Gaul, who is the Gamemaker for the 10th Hunger Games, plays with the hearts and minds of tributes as well as with the mentors. She conducts tests regarding nature vs. nurture and it's quite disturbing.

There are a lot of parallels that I find captivating within the prequel and also The Hunger Games trilogy which contribute to the history of the Capitol and the origin of the games. This novel might not be for everyone but I highly suggest it if you would like to read more about the context of The Hunger Games and the life of Snow. If you enjoy reading or learning more about the villains of books and movies, pick up The Ballard of Songbird and Snakes when you have a chance. Find out where Snow's loyalties lie.

Warning, spoilers will be mentioned for the rest of the review. Please do not read further if you have not read the book.

As part of a project before graduating from the Academy, Snow becomes a mentor to one of the tributes in the 10th Hunger Games. And you guessed it that Snow became the mentor to no other than the girl tribute of District 12, who goes by Lucy Gray Baird. Snow actually gives Lucy Gray a white rose when he first meets her. We find out how meaningful the white rose is. Snow always had the white rose with him in The Hunger Games trilogy. This is symbolic and not the only way to disguise the smell reeking from his mouth after he poisons people. In fact, his family grew lots of roses when he was younger. Also, he poisons others to make sure no one gets ahead of him. Sounds much like how he gave his mother's compact to Lucy Gray and Lucy Gray hid rat poison in it to kill some tributes quite quickly. This is very similar to how Katniss and Peeta planned to commit double suicide with poisonous nightlock berries. Poison is a reoccurring theme within the series.

The Hunger Games' rules were not the same as the ones we know of today. Yes, there are 24 tributes for the 12 districts but the rules with the drones, sponsors, scoreboard, etc were not created prior to Snow's presence in the games. Snow and his classmates were the ones who came up with these great ideas. These ideas are what kept the games running and having people staying engaged to watch the games.

So Lucy Gray Baird and Katniss Everdeen are both from the Seam but they are very different. Lucy Gray is part of the Covey, which is a group of musicians who travels around place to place. They just happened to be stuck in District 12 at the time around war and post-war. In fact Lucy Gray sings The Hanging Tree song after an incident with a District 12 Man accidentally kills three. Do you remember that song that Katniss sings? Yes, we finally find out the origins of this song! While Katniss can be unlikable, Lucy Gray is the opposite. Everyone loves Lucy Gray! With Lucy Gray's singing and personality, she shines! However, Lucy Gray is witty and resourceful like Katniss. They take advantage of what they have in order to survive. Their knowledge and resources help them in the games. Their main priority is to stay alive while hiding. They waited for the other tributes to kill each other off before they had to kill.

Although The Ballard of Songbird and Snakes isn't The Hunger Games, the novel is a good origin story about The Hunger Games and it sheds more light on Snow's past which helps with his character development bridging from the 10th Hunger Games to the 74th/75th Hunger Games.

Novel Notes: What Am I Doing at Home Edition

Hi everyone. Yes, I am still here. However, I haven't been in a blogging and a reading slump ever since maybe March 12th. As of now, I am working remotely until further notice. I have been immersed in the world of Animal Crossing since I received the game on March 27th in the mail as a birthday present to myself. And boy can I say that it was the best thing I bought in a long time! Not only did I find out that a lot of my friends have Animal Crossing but I met so many people playing Animal Crossing in geeneral. I love how I can visit my friends or my friends can visit me while we social distance. It's pretty much the best thing since sliced bread! I love how you can play at your own pace. There are mini-goals you can set for yourself but there is no rush to do anything by a certain time frame. It's very relaxing. I needed this. I needed to get away from the chaos of the world. I needed something that didn't require a lot of brainpower. Animal Crossing was the key to let me unwind. If you are playing Animal Crossing, let me know in the comments.

I am ready to read and blog again. Sure it took me a couple of months to unwind a bit. I mean it's hard to take in some much news regarding the pandemic. There is a sense of uncertainty. For those who don't know, I live in Massachusetts which is one of the states that have the most cases of COVID-19. Some parts of the country are reopening and it's nervewracking to see how some people are treating the virus. It's actually pretty crazy on social media.

Staying home was hard at first but now it seems somewhat normal at the same time. I am glad it's May and we are having less rain lately. I love the sunshine. I have been cooking more often and even subscribed to a subscription box for food which I thought I would never do in a million years. If you need produce to be shipped to your house, check out Imperfect Foods, Hungry Harvest or Misfits Market. I subscribed to Imperfect Foods and I got my first box a couple of weeks ago. I am loving the full box of fresh produce. Imperfect Foods also lets customers add on dairy, meat, grains and other pantry items. You can choose weekly or biweekly boxes. What I love is that you can opt to skip a box if you have too much food to go through or if you are on vacation. I can say that my grocery shopping trips will drastically decrease now since I can rely on fresh produce being shipped to my home. If you need a referral code to save $10 on your box, here's the link.

Memorial weekend was a much-needed break from work. Even though I will be stuck inside for most of the time, I am hoping to enjoy the nice weather. Last year I was fortunate enough to travel to the Dominican Republic for a wedding and family trip. It was definitely an amazing time and I probably will flip through photos and watch some videos from the vacation. I don't regret any of the trips I went on in the past. With the pandemic, I am happy I traveled to the places I've traveled to whether it's for a wedding, for fun with my husband or even to a Harry Potter convention. Enjoy life. Enjoy the little things. Enjoy the big things. Just enjoy everything you are fortunate to have and the opportunities that are given to you. Don't take life for granted. Life can be short. Just remember to stay safe.

What have you been doing for the past couple of months? Have you read any good books, picked up a new hobby or found a new show to watch?

Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova

Title: Incendiary
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication date: April 28, 2020
Pages: 384
Source/format: e-ARC//publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.

Renata Convida was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a Robari, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata's ability to steal memories from royal enemies enabled the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.

Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown and helping the remaining Moria escape the kingdom bent on their destruction. The Whispers may have rescued Renata from the palace years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred--or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she turned "hollow" during her time in the palace.

When Dez, the commander of her unit, is taken captive by the notorious Sangrado Prince, Renata will do anything to save the boy whose love makes her place among the Whispers bearable. But a disastrous rescue attempt means Renata must return to the palace under cover and complete Dez's top secret mission. Can Renata convince her former captors that she remains loyal, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.

But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the entire fate of the kingdom--and end the war that has cost her everything.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Incendiary, which is the first book in the Hollow Crown series, starts off slowly. Renata is a Robari who has a special power to steal people's memories. She was kidnapped at a young age by the King's justice in order to harness her power and use it for the court's benefit. Renata eventually is able to escape the grasp of royalty and joins the radical movement as a Whisperer, one of the rebel spies working against the crown. The rebel spies seek to help Moria escape the kingdom. However, as a memory thief who leaves victims as a hollow shell once memories are stolen, people are wary to trust her. Justice Mendes and the Royal family of Selvina use Ren to dissolve magic users.

Zoraida Córdova immerses readers in a rich world with fantastic characters and an intricate story plotline. I would love to learn more about how the magic system works in this world and I hope to see more of the evolution of the magic system in future installments of the Hollow Crown series. Ren is in a difficult position where she can get killed fairly easily as she teeters on a thin line between helping the Crown or helping the Whisperers. Furthermore, when she has feelings for Dez, who is the leader of the Whispers, she needs to find where her alliance lies. This complex struggle of doing what is right looms throughout the novel and Ren needs to pave the path by herself.

Incendiary is about revenge, betrayal, figuring out who is trustworthy and fighting for your own rights. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the Hollow Crown series will bring.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Signs You’re a Book Lover

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and the meme moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. This week's Top Ten Tuesday asks bloggers to list their top ten signs that we are book lovers. The following signs are in no particular order. 

1. Always checking Goodreads for information about frontlist, backlist and just released books. This is the social media platform for book lovers! 

2. Using the library for books I cannot afford to buy. Seriously, everyone needs to get a library now if they don't already have one. The library is a great resource not only for books. They also have access to computers, other types of media, discounted museum tickets, workshops, author events and much more!

3. Having accounts for Edelweiss and Netgalley to read the latest e-ARCs. The catalogs are ridiculously huge! There are so many titles to choose from and I love how you can read upcoming titles before the general public. 

4. Talking about books with friends in person or online, especially frontlist titles where you definitely don't want to spoil things on social media. 

5. Participating in buddy reads. It's always fun to chat with someone about the book while you are reading. 

6. Attending book events at local bookstores. I love supporting local bookstores. They're the best!

7. Speaking of bookstores, I love to visit bookstores when I travel. I also like checking out libraries when I travel as well. 

8. Comparing the film adaptation to the book. Some of them are great, some are so-so and some are just horrible.

9. Purchasing items such as candles, enamel pins, etc that are book fandom based.

10. Collecting special editions of books I love. Who else collects special editions of books?

Do we share similar signs that we are book lovers? If so, which ones?

Unprecedented Times

I know everyone in the whole world is facing a lot of unknowns and things that are increasing our anxiety. I wanted to let everyone know that I am still here even though my blog posts have been sporadic.  Here are some things you can do to help keep your mind off uncertainties and the craziness of the world.

Talking a walk (if your state/country allows it) - getting some sunlight not only boosts your spirits but you get a nice fresh breath of air and you can get some Vitamin D. Pokemon Go or Wizards Unite anyone? Just remember the 6 feet distance away from people rule. 

Reading a book - By reading you can escape to the depths of another world. Immerse yourself into a fantasy, horror, contemporary, thriller, sci-fi or even a non-fiction novel. There is a book for everyone. Try an audiobook if it's hard to focus reading. Libraries are providing many free digitally recourses like free e-books and audiobooks to borrow from. All you need is a library card. Check out Libby and  Hoopla. 

Playing video games - Discover new worlds through a video game. I am partial to playing Pokemon, Fantasy Life and Kirby but I am waiting for my copy of the latest Animal Crossing to arrive.

Playing board games - Tabletop gaming with your household is a fun way to interact with others and to bond. Play a favorite or try a new one. There are so many to choose from. 

Video conferencing - Meeting with friends and family virtually will help you stay connected with people face to face even if you cannot visit them physically. Many companies have lifted some pro capabilities. Check out Google Hangouts, Skype, Facebook video chat and Zoom. 

Online messaging - You can also stay connected with people online via various messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, DMing/PMing on Twitter or Instagram, or using Discord, Line, WeChat, WhatsApp, etc.

Crafting - Why not pick up a new crafting project or even a new hobby? I am hoping to start needle felting and learning how to do lettering sometime soon.

Cooking and baking - Stuck at home and you need to eat? Why not try a new recipe? Hone your cooking and baking skills while trying something new. Open up your palette to new dishes.

Watching TV - Whether it be movies or shows on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, regular TV, etc., enjoy a new movie or binge watch some episodes of a new series. Netflix has a Netflix Party mode where you can watch a movie or episode with other people remotely.

Cleaning - It's that time for spring cleaning, at least here where I am located. This is a good time to declutter your home space. With many people working remotely, help create a more ideal work and living space.

Deep breathing and mediation - Find those anxious parts of you and attend to your mental health needs. Take deep breaths, meditate, do yoga, listen to calming music. Apps like Headspace and Calm might be helpful

Listen to music - Music transports your mind and feelings to another place that is different from a visual mode. Jam out to your favorites, reminisce nostalgia or discover some new tunes.

Learn a new language - Always wanted to learn a new language? This is the best time to do it. There are lots of videos online and apps like Duolingo.

Just remember what Dumbledore mentioned in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." We all can find a silver lining. We can find that sliver of sunlight amongst the darkest cloud. We will get through these dark times. We just need to be patient and we need to work together. Just like in the Battle of Hogwarts, we must work as a team in order for good to prevail for everyone.

Image from Pinterest

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Title: Harley in the Sky
Author: Akemi Dawn Bowman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: March 10, 2020
Pages: 416
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

 Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.

After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

"I love the circus. I love the mystery, and the wonder, and the way every act transports my soul into another dimension. I love the way it makes me feel as if the world is in reverse and upside down all at once--like there's starlight beneath my feet and the ocean above my head, and every impossible dream can come true with a single whisper." - e-ARC, Harley in the Sky

Eighteen-year-old Harley works at her parents' circus but they into a disagreement about Harley's career goals and future. Harley wants to be an aerialist but her parents want her to go to college. Harley, feeling betrayed, ends up ditching her parents' circus for another circus. Harley does not run away to any circus but she runs off to a rival circus, Maison du Mystère. Harley wants to harness herself to become the best she can be and she feels like her parents are stopping her from reaching her full potential. However, quickly learns that working at a circus is hard work. It's not all about magic and love. Harley learns that there are people that can make her dream as an aerialist difficult at Maison du Mystère. She wants to learn but not everyone supports her. Some people actually see her as a threat. One particular aerialist feels threatened by Harley and is not super welcoming or helpful at all.

Akemi Dawn Bowman shows Harley's internal struggle with mental health issues as well as Harley's struggle to do what is best for her despite what her parents think. She is bi-racial and never quite feels like she knows where she belongs. Vivien, Dexi and Vas definitely have good relationships with Harley and I would love to read more about them. Bowman writes poignant novels with a strong plot and character development. Readers will feel emotionally invested when they read Bowman's novels.

Harley in the Sky is about self-exploration; it's about exploring who you are but staying true to yourself at the same time. It's about self-acceptance and following your dreams and figuring how to navigate internal struggles. I highly recommend this book if you love reading about circuses and self-discovery.