This book was split into about three different plot points. The first was Maia taking on her brother's identity and going to the palace. There she was forced to compete with other tailor's, with the risk of being discovered as a girl and executed. The second plot took place when Maia was tasked with finding the materials necessary to craft dresses made for the Gods, by the reluctant bride of the Emperor. This is a road journey and my favourite part of the whole novel. It is in this section that Edan and Maia make their connections and you see character growth between the two. The final plot happens when the tasks are complete and Maia must now fashion the dresses while at the Autumn palace. The pacing of the first two parts works well, the descriptions of the world drag you in and Maia's craft is intriguing. When she ends up at the palace the reader is drawn into her distress of trying to become the court's Master Tailor. She is determined to support her family, to prove her worth and make her dreams come true. The plot is dynamic and the competition fierce and nail biting. You dislike many of the men and their underhanded tricks, how brutal they are; whereas Maia works hard to do her best, while also trying to help others. Maia is also determined to use her own abilities to win the spot, as opposed to using the magical scissors (as Edan continuously suggests). Her characterization makes her empathetic and honest, you root for her and her need to be recognized for her own talent. Maia and Edan are cute together, from their bickering at the beginning and calling each other names, to their blooming friendship and understanding of each others pain. As they journey that friendship develops trust. The tasks were exciting and I was often gritting my teeth, while hoping that Maia would succeed whatever mission she had to in order to acquire the materials she needed to make these impossible dresses. The writing was lyrical, the desert jumping off the page and the thirst of Maia scratching my own throat. It was not hard to feel as though you are on the journey with these two characters. Worried for their welfare, wondering how they could possibly win when all odds are against them, and knowing that if they do finish there is still no happy ending for them. The final part of the story I felt was just too different from the first two parts. The pace slowed, Maia's character development seemed to take a step or two backwards, and the connection that Maia and Edan shared was seemingly destroyed by her hypocritical actions. I found Maia not very sympathetic here, I actually found myself disliking her character. I loved the first 2/3 of this book, but I was so jarred by the path of the ending that I am not sure where my thoughts fall overall (I liked the book, just did not love it). I will have to read book two in order to see if these mistakes are righted, if the pace returns to what it once was, if the character development is fixed. I am also quite interested to see the developing role of Lady Sarnai, the prospective bride who ordered the impossible dresses. I wanted to know more, to figure out the motivations behind her actions. She seems angry with her father, but also to be stalling the wedding. What will she do now that her dresses have been fashioned? How will what happened pan out for her?
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