Unravel the dusk is the sequel to Spin the dawn and there are ***SPOILERS*** in this review if you have not read the first book in the duology. Before you read anymore of this review I highly recommend reading Spin the dawn first.
Maia has survived her quest and returned to the Imperial Court - but she is not the same Maia who left. On the surface she appears successful, the dresses of Amana are a wonder to behold, and their arrival means that the marriage of Emperor Khanujin and Lady Sarnai can proceed. It is a delicate time politically, through their marriage Khanujin and Sarnai will bring an end to the war that has ravaged the land of A'ladi for the past five years. The dresses of Amana should help bring peace, but Maia soon discovers that only their creator can wear them - a discovery that comes too late to prevent disaster striking at the most inopportune time.
As if the threatened peace is not bad enough, Maia is separated from Edan - and she is slowly transforming into a demon. Her eyes glowing red is only the first step towards becoming a demon, but it is a visible and startling sign to those around her. As she slowly changes, Maia must fight against the voice of the demon growing inside her, a fight that gets harder day by day. As she struggles to resist her demon, Maia has to untangle what the change will mean for her and the dresses of Amana. Maia has fought all her life to be successful, to be accepted, and to find her place in A'ladi - and now she faces a future where she will be lost to darkness forever. As the final battle grows nearer Maia must find the strength to fight for all the things she loves - her family, her country, and her love.
As with Spin the dawn, Unravel the dusk is a challenging book to review because the best review would spoil the best twists and turns of the stories. I loved Spin the dawn and was looking forward to finishing Maia's story in Unravel the dusk and I was not disappointed. Elizabeth Lim has woven (no pun intended) a story that has all the best elements of a classic legend - an ordinary person who rises above what everyone expects of them, who makes huge personal sacrifices, and who ultimately finds their place in a world that was not prepared for them to find that place. There are villains, and their are heroes, and there are people who could be either - sometimes both. This is an epic story built on a well thought out mythology, and deserves to be read one after the other.
Hopefully this is not the last we have seen of Elizabeth Lim and her storytelling because it was a real pleasure to join Maia on her journey - experiencing the highs and lows, facing challenges and betrayals, and watching her find her place. Highly recommended series for teens and adults alike.
If you like this book then try:
- A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
- Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
- Graceling by Kristin Cashore
- Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
- The treachery of beautiful things by Ruth Frances Long
- Sea witch by Sarah Henning
- Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell
- Crown duel by Sherwood Smith
Reviewed by Brilla
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