blazealmighty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
joareads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
Threads that Bind is a fun, adventurous story set in a world where the descendants of gods have their powers. Io and her two sisters are descendants of the Fates where one weaves, one draws, and one cuts the threads that bind people to others, places and objects.
In the city of Alante which has climbed high to avoid the floods that befall it, a string of murders brings Io and her fate-thread together - her soulmate. Using her private investigator skills and Edei's status and knowledge as the right hand to the Mob Queen, they must work together to determine who is behind the murders.
There is so much going on in this story! A city half-submerged in floods after a climate catastrophe, descendants of gods with their powers and all the different types, a strained relationship between Io and her sisters, a murder mystery to solve, a soulmate that Io tries desperately to ignore... It's packed full of adventure, explores sisterly relationships and keeps you guessing as Io and Edei set out to solve the mystery of why people in their city are being murdered.
The concept of the threads that form between people and other things which can be manipulated or even cut was so interesting to read about! It's very descriptive and the Quilt where threads can be seen and followed was fascinating - I loved the magic system in this story.
Io is a great protagonist; she's clever and daring, feels deeply and cares for others despite living in a city which hasn't really cared about her. She uses her abilities to help others but ends up entangled in one of the murders in Alante which sets her on a path of finally meeting her fate-thread who is also a wonderful character. Edei was sweet and loyal and I enjoyed how their relationship developed throughout the book. All of the characters were well thought up, each with their own distinctive personality.
Despite there being a lot to take in at the beginning, it's done well through engaging writing and a mysterious plot, the fantastic characters keeping you easily entertained.
Inspired by the Greek Gods but coming from a different angle, it's imaginative and thoroughly enjoyable with a lot to like.
tieflingreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- 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
5.0
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
danielle_16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Absolutely incredible. I can’t believe we were left on a cliffhanger! Book 2 can’t come fast enough!
zngzag's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
kayla_king's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, and there were parts of it that I did enjoy. However, I almost abandoned it several times and really had to push myself to finish. The world and magic were so interesting, but I feel like they were introduced in a very clunky way. The characters felt one-dimensional. The romance aspect was not compelling to me at all, and had me rolling my eyes several times. Other things did too - like when our protagonist is hiding from someone in a bed, and the enemy pulls back the curtain and looks at the bed but doesn't see her??? This is the overall impression I have - really cool concept with a clunky execution. I tend to always finish YA books feeling "meh" so maybe I should just stay away from them in the future.
nitnya's review against another edition
5.0
this book is somewhere between 4.5-5 stars so it gets a 5 star rating. i literally did not want to put it down but i had to for sleep. loved the premise and the descriptions and characters. i am sooo excited for the sequel. only reason it’s not a true 5-star is that i couldn’t imagine some characters in the beginning and some descriptions didn’t reel me in at first. overall, lovely book :)