The Thread of Destiny

Evie Mei has literally been to hell and back. And while the trip to Diyu, the Chinese underworld, alongside Kevin was a grueling feat filled with endless horrors, nothing compares to the fact that she was unable to bring her mother back.

She now has the great responsibility to assume the role her mother once held: head weaver in the magical Guild. Spinning people’s fates sure seemed easier said than done, and now Evie finds herself buried in Guild duties while trying to maintain a strained relationship with her best friend.

What could make a 13-year-old’s life even more complicated? Escaped monsters from the underworld that broke through when she returned to Earth. A mysterious yellow fog that seems to be turning their city upside down and hinting at an approaching massive force they aren't prepared to fight. Not to mention the looming man who sent her mom to the underworld in the first place (and her aunt’s fiancé). Can’t a girl catch a break?!

Aimee Lim’s fast-paced conclusion to Evie Mei’s story is filled with her signature sardonic voice, explorations of grief and relationships, and thrilling action that will leave readers rooting for the young girl whose courage outshines everyone.

For Spindle of Fate (Book 1)

 "The Spindle of Fate took me on a delightful and creepy journey through the courts of hell with many laugh-out-loud moments. Evie is a spunky and relatable heroine who middle-grade readers are sure to love. I didn't want this book to end!"—Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestseller of A Magic Steeped in Poison

"With a perfect mix of irreverence and resourcefulness, twelve-year-old Evie Mei braves the delightfully gruesome Chinese underworld as she searches for her mother. Aimee Lim’s inventive debut novel threads Chinese folklore through this tale that is both a bittersweet coming-of-age story and a harrowing quest that had me hooked from the opening line."—Miya T. Beck, Author of The Pearl Hunter and Through a Clouded Mirror

“The Spindle of Fate is a stunningly woven story about family and finding strength in unlikely places. Aimee Lim's prose is sharp, witty, propulsive, and utterly original. A must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure, The Spindle of Fate is a triumph. The stakes couldn't be higher in this magical quest, and readers will delight in the characters met along the way. Seamlessly balancing laugh-out-loud lines with heart-wrenching moments, this is one of the best books I've read in years. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough."—Alex Aster, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lightlark

"Lim’s debut is a fast-paced, nail-biting page-turner featuring a likable narrator leaving her mundane life to take on a fantastical quest. The mix of gore, humor, and sentiment feels as if Pixar made a horror film, and the story is carried by a charismatic duo and their deepening friendship."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"This debut, which explores grief, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, and family dynamics, also has a lot of heart. An enthralling adventure."—Kirkus

"Fast-paced action and dark humor combine with Chinese mythology to deliver an engrossing fantasy adventure about grief and healing."—Publishers Weekly

"A relatable Evie Mei candidly navigates questions about bereavement: how to be brave for her family, how to find meaning in senseless tragedy, and how to reconcile her love for her mother with their strained relationship. Lim’s debut middle-grade fantasy will appeal to readers who appreciate a grim (and sometimes darkly comical) bureaucratic underworld and ask questions about how we learn to accept unavoidable grief."—Booklist

Product Details

ISBN: 9781250886224