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kell_xavi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Exciting, original, fantastic debut novel set in a coastal fantasy city where human descendants of Greek deities—otherborn—can wield unique powers, but are marginalized in their society. The setting is a complex web of gang-ruled territory, a police initiative to use otherborn as soldiers, and suspicious deaths by women who are nor quite alive.
Io is a winning character who half-willingly pairs up with Edei to investigate, and ends up in a good deal of trouble with a lot of buried things rising up to haunt her, her family, and the city of Elante.
A few places closer to the beginning come across as contrived and confused,where Io doesn’t investigate things it seems she would want to, or where her anxiety didn’t move naturally, or in how she thinks and speaks. And it ends on a blasted cliffhanger! But otherwise, this is a wonderful book, and I look forward to the sequel.
Io is a winning character who half-willingly pairs up with Edei to investigate, and ends up in a good deal of trouble with a lot of buried things rising up to haunt her, her family, and the city of Elante.
A few places closer to the beginning come across as contrived and confused,where Io doesn’t investigate things it seems she would want to, or where her anxiety didn’t move naturally, or in how she thinks and speaks. And it ends on a blasted cliffhanger! But otherwise, this is a wonderful book, and I look forward to the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Police brutality, Racism, Hate crime, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Classism and Animal cruelty
mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Writing: 4.25⭐️/5
The writing shone in certain sections. I particularly loved the way Hatzopoulou described and wrote about the threads. I also thought she commanded good control of her language while describing action and combat, leaving the actions clear. A few sections of the novel fell victim to a bit of a rushed feeling, but most of it was paced well with good control.
Characters: 4.25⭐️/5
I really loved Io. She maintained her strength without paying to the conventions of the “strong badass female protagonist.” I liked that she fought against her sister’s description and prescriptions of her and paved her own path. And, I really loved her reaction to her fate string. I loved how she kept her secret to herself and how both characters eventually gave into the determination of the string. Honestly, the characters were just deeply written and still fun to read about.
Plot: 4.25⭐️/5
Ah, a world in which fates are reborn and the threads that bind us remain visible to some. I loved it deeply, especially as it wove into a mystery novel, with Io and Edei investigating together in a world where magic and myths come to life. I think the end was a bit rushed, and the cliffhanger did feel a bit sudden, a bit forced, but overall, it was lots of fun to read.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of young adult fantasy
- Readers looking for a fantasy read with mystery vibes
- Readers looking for a solid book in a fantasy world
- Fans of Greek mythology reimaginings
Content Warnings?
- Death, murder, genocide, war, blood, gore, grief, gaslighting, emotional abuse, animal cruelty, violence, injury, injury detail, death of parent, confinement, transphobia,
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Would read the next one.
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Animal cruelty, Genocide, Gore, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Child death
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The first thing I have to say is that I might have enjoyed this more if I had taken notes. Because the world-building was some of the most creative and clever I have seen in a very long while - the idea of the other-born, the city-states, and the film-noir aesthetic were all really convincing, and just really cool overall. At the same time, though, I felt like author Kika Hatzopolou overcomplicated things (and when it was overcomplicated, it was underexplained).
The plotting was overall very good, but I think it did get bogged down in too many twists towards the end, making it confusing. I didn't really grow to care for the characters, which is a problem because I then subsequently couldn't really care what happened to them.
Overall, the good plotting and creative worldbuilding couldn't cover all the problems I felt this novel had. Which is a shame, because there was a good story in here.
The plotting was overall very good, but I think it did get bogged down in too many twists towards the end, making it confusing. I didn't really grow to care for the characters, which is a problem because I then subsequently couldn't really care what happened to them.
Overall, the good plotting and creative worldbuilding couldn't cover all the problems I felt this novel had. Which is a shame, because there was a good story in here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Genocide and Gun violence
Minor: Transphobia, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, and War
bookboxbabe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
um WOW. finally picked this up after getting it in two book boxes and i’m so glad i did.
the magic system is one of the most unique systems i’ve ever read in a fantasy book, and the characters all stole my heart.
i’m rooting for io and edei and can not WAIT until the sequel comes out
the magic system is one of the most unique systems i’ve ever read in a fantasy book, and the characters all stole my heart.
i’m rooting for io and edei and can not WAIT until the sequel comes out
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Hate crime and Classism
paracosim's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This might be the best book I’ve read this year. I was obsessed from start to finish, completely drawn in by the amazing worldbuilding and setting, then by the characters and their relationships with each other. And what relationships there are. There is little to no romance in this book—though I’m expecting it in book two—and it gave all the other relationships time to shine in its absence. The history between the three sisters was especially intriguing. And the diversity of the cast! There are nonbinary characters, Jewish characters, a trans woman who plays a major part in the plot, lesbians and bisexuals, and much more. So much more. And none of it felt shoehorned in or awkwardly placed, the way it does sometimes—like the author was just trying to check down a list. It felt so natural and normal. This is a book I’ve been recommending to anyone who will listen, and one that will haunt me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism and Death of parent
Minor: Police brutality, War, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
fronk10's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A good murder mystery with excellent world building and a fun mythos. I did find some of the twists a little repetitive, but overall a really enjoyable read. Despite the ‘fated lovers’ trope the two leads really felt like they had chemistry and would get along regardless. Intrigued as the where the next one will go, but I do worry the scope will get too big.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, and Gun violence
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, War, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Genocide, Police brutality, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Addiction, Deadnaming, Confinement, Abortion, Infidelity, and Death of parent
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with a digital copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, murder, gore, body horror, death, animal death, death of parent, emotional abuse, bullying, xenophobia, grief, abandonment, panic attacks, genocide, police brutality, infidelity, classism
--
If you know me then you know that I love anything along the line of a retelling and Threads That Bind is right up there with This Poison Heart for being a super clever and unique YA reimaging of Greek Mythology/Lore in a modern setting
The book centres on a girl who along with her 2 older sisters is a descendant of the 3 Fates. In this universe those who are descendants of deities harness some of their powers. Io our protagonist is able to see the threads of fate that span between people and the things that they love, as do her sisters, but her unique ability is that she is able to cut these threads.
Io uses her powers to work as a private investigator (honestly how cool is that?!!) and one day on a job she stumbles upon a woman who is walking around alive with her life thread cut, something which shouldn’t be possible..
This pulls Io into a wider mystery where she is made to work alongside Edei, the right hand man of the mob queen of the city who just so happens to be the person on the other side of her soulmate thread that she has been avoiding for years.
I absolutely loved this book and sped through it in 24 hours.
I was blown away by pretty much everything about the worldbuilding, from the gritty dystopian backdrop of the city and the various political tensions and underground gangs that pieced it together to the multifaceted magic/power side of things. It was fascinating that this whole deity element wasn’t just limited to Greek mythology but rather branched out to include other cultures and locations as well. Every new detail and addition just absorbed me more and more and there was some pretty great social commentary on class systems and identity there too.
The characters and their relationships were also a massive highlight. When books have complex and well written family dynamics you can expect me to be well and fully engaged and Hatzopoulou explored the relationships between the sisters at the heart of this story and how it shaped each of them, especially Io, so well! The romance also was so so sweet!! I find the soulmate trope can often feel cliché but the connection between Io and Edei felt so wholesome and right!
The leading mystery plot really keeps you guessing and on your toes and though there are some predictable bits it is all pieced together so well, particularly with how the various secrets and threads of history were unfolded. And following that ending I am itching to get my hands on the sequel!!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
**I was provided with a digital copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, murder, gore, body horror, death, animal death, death of parent, emotional abuse, bullying, xenophobia, grief, abandonment, panic attacks, genocide, police brutality, infidelity, classism
--
If you know me then you know that I love anything along the line of a retelling and Threads That Bind is right up there with This Poison Heart for being a super clever and unique YA reimaging of Greek Mythology/Lore in a modern setting
The book centres on a girl who along with her 2 older sisters is a descendant of the 3 Fates. In this universe those who are descendants of deities harness some of their powers. Io our protagonist is able to see the threads of fate that span between people and the things that they love, as do her sisters, but her unique ability is that she is able to cut these threads.
Io uses her powers to work as a private investigator (honestly how cool is that?!!) and one day on a job she stumbles upon a woman who is walking around alive with her life thread cut, something which shouldn’t be possible..
This pulls Io into a wider mystery where she is made to work alongside Edei, the right hand man of the mob queen of the city who just so happens to be the person on the other side of her soulmate thread that she has been avoiding for years.
I absolutely loved this book and sped through it in 24 hours.
I was blown away by pretty much everything about the worldbuilding, from the gritty dystopian backdrop of the city and the various political tensions and underground gangs that pieced it together to the multifaceted magic/power side of things. It was fascinating that this whole deity element wasn’t just limited to Greek mythology but rather branched out to include other cultures and locations as well. Every new detail and addition just absorbed me more and more and there was some pretty great social commentary on class systems and identity there too.
The characters and their relationships were also a massive highlight. When books have complex and well written family dynamics you can expect me to be well and fully engaged and Hatzopoulou explored the relationships between the sisters at the heart of this story and how it shaped each of them, especially Io, so well! The romance also was so so sweet!! I find the soulmate trope can often feel cliché but the connection between Io and Edei felt so wholesome and right!
The leading mystery plot really keeps you guessing and on your toes and though there are some predictable bits it is all pieced together so well, particularly with how the various secrets and threads of history were unfolded. And following that ending I am itching to get my hands on the sequel!!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Classism, Gore, Xenophobia, Body horror, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Genocide, and Police brutality
Minor: Infidelity
xapoptosisx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is really good, I loved the world and magic system, the characters just the whole thing. Those last few chapters were something else just wow and that last line I can't wait for the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Genocide and Gun violence
ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As a lover of Greek mythology and mystery, this book hit the spot! There was a lot of action and powers and mythological jargon. I personally would have appreciated a glossary ormap or some sort for all the different types of born-powers and born-families. Espciallly with how there are different terms for the same type of born based on the region/nation.
The romance between Io and Edei could use some more development; I hope to see more of that in the next book. Thais urks me in how she manipulates sisterhood; I hope Ava grows more into herself and stands up to Thais. Excited to see how the fight continues in the next book!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Cursing, Death, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Death of parent