Unravel the Dusk – Book Review

Hello friends! It is a lovely, rainy morning in South Africa. Today I’m bringing you my Unravel the Dusk Book Review. I loved this book and you definitely need this duology in your life.

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Title: Unravel the Dusk

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Rating: 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Content Warnings: N/A

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Knopf

Date Published: July 7th 2020

Goodreads Description: 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. The boy she loves is gone, and 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.

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, but she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.

I received a review copy from Penguin Random House South Africa. All opinions are my own.

Review

Characters – 9/10

The only reason I didn’t give the characters 10/10 is because we didn’t see a lot of Edan. I loved Maia’s journey and her character arc. She really grows from the first book and she becomes such a strong person. I’m glad her growth happened independently of Edan, but I love their story so much.

We only got to see him for the first time about halfway through the book, which is fine, I just wanted a little more interactions between them. The ones we do get are super sweet and impactful.

We also got to see a bit more of the side characters in this book. Both Ammi and Lady Sarnai played a much bigger role. I still don’t like Lady Sarnai, but she did the right thing in the end and I’m glad for it. Maia and Ammi’s friendship was also a welcome addition and I’m glad we didn’t get the “I’m the hero I have to do things alone” trope from Maia.

Atmosphere – 10/10

War is never a pretty thing, and we’re painted a very vivid picture of the impact of war. This world felt so realistic and it was so easy to lose myself in it. The mythology and the lore made perfect sense and everything fit together so well.

Seriously, you need to read this book.

Writing – 10/10

Elizabeth Lim has a special way with words. She can make you feel all the emotions and make you believe you’re standing right alongside the characters. Her descriptions are not overly flowery but her writing is beautiful.

This duology is pure magic. Can someone make some sketches of the three dresses, please?

Plot – 10/10

I am a sucker for a fast-paced plot. I love action and adventure and I want to get there fast. The plot is super fast-paced and literally had me sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. When we do get quieter moments with the characters they don’t feel at all out of place and they add to the overall story in a really excellent way.

Intrigue – 10/10

I think it is safe to say that I could not put this book down. I actually had to force myself to slow down because I did not want this book to end. This might just be one of my favourite series now.

Logic – 10/10

I loved the magic system. It’s so unique and plays such an integral part of the story. If you took the magic out of this tale, the entire world would fall apart. The worldbuilding and the magic system are so well integrated. It’s entirely logical and I love that. Everything fits together so seamlessly it’s like Lim didn’t even try. She’s amazing.

Enjoyment – 10/10

Of course, I’m rating this 5 stars. You should most definitely pick up this book. And check out my review for Spin the Dawn here!

Let me know your thoughts on Unravel the Dusk (book review).

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