Threads That Bind is a fast-paced and thrilling read that will keep you hooked until the end. It has everything you could want in a YA fantasy: action, mystery, romance, humor, emotion, and magic. It also has a diverse and complex cast of characters who are flawed but likable, brave but vulnerable, loyal but conflicted. The author does an amazing job of creating a rich and immersive world that draws on various mythologies and cultures, with vivid descriptions and intricate details. The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and gasping. The romance between Io and Alex is sweet and passionate, with a lot of chemistry and tension. They must overcome many obstacles and challenges to be together, but they also must question their own choices and motives.

“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.”

Ironically, I started off HEAVILY disliking this book. It was a bit incomprehensible, and didn’t make sense, and the characterization of the main character was very stereotypically ya-ish.

But I’m so glad I stuck out.

Not only did the main character become incredibly more and something new and refreshing among most ya books, but the plot and the twist were done incredibly well, as well as the set-up for a possible book two!

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc! :)

This book...I don't know how to put in words how much I loved this book!
From the characters to the storyline and even the writing, I could not put this book down!

This suspenseful book is based on Greek mythology with a postapocalyptic feel. It has the perfect combination of murder, mystery, romance, and gods. The novel is original but it will appeal to lovers of mythology and retellings with its compelling and suspenseful plot.

This book was so good!!

Not only is the cover art stunning, but the story itself was very compelling. As a massive fan of the Percy Jackson series this was right up my alley.

Wow, that was good.
Like... Not going to lie, I just requested this book on Netgalley because well, THAT COVER! But also because I saw Greek mythology in the synopsis and I was like bitch, sign me up!
Well, this was, hands down, one of the most enjoyable, unique and refreshing YA fantasy books I've read in sooo long and I'd strongly recommend it to you if you're looking for a fantasy to hook you in.

The magic system is 100% the highlight of this book!
The whole worldbuilding behind it, that these other-borns come from the long lines of the ancient Greek gods, and so each one, depending on the line they come from, have a special unique set of powers was so fucking intriguing.
So like, they came flip a switch and, instead of seeing the real world, they see these threads/strings, in Io's case, and they can touch and manipulate them and whatnot, like that's such a cool concept.
I loved how every line has a unique power that has a different interpretation, like how the sleep god's line can see these violin strings like thingies, and by playing them they can bring you to sleep, etc.

I also very much enjoyed our cast of characters.
Io was a stubborn badass who works as a superpowered private investigator, and her power is that she's able to see the threads of people, but her specialty is that she can actually cut said threads, which is very fucking cool.
I enjoyed her character arc, especially once she got over her gaslighter bitch of a sister and actually started standing up for herself.
Edei, our love interest, was a very intriguing character to say the least. We don't get too much about him, but just enough to see how compassionate, kind and caring he is, and he can also whoop your ass if you tried to come for Io, which is the cherry on top.
The side characters were fun, sometimes likeable, and added just enough to the plot for me to not complain about how one dimensional they were, minus Bianca and Io's big sister whose name I've already forgotten.

I particularly liked how, while we had a romance subplot, that's what it was, a subplot.
This is a YA fantasy with a side plot of romance that never felt overwhelming like in those fantasy romance novels that are everywhere now.
I very much appreciated how small of a role it played in the book while also being just enough for us to ship Edei and Io.

The mystery element was quite interesting and kept me hooked throughout the story, which I appreciated.
It was fun, mysterious, and I personally couldn't figure out the culprit until the very end, when Io figured it out herself lol.
But! The reveal was in fact shocking, and then the whole final battle type situation was ridiculously good, and has me looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Strongly, strongly recommended!

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a spellbinding story filled with wonder, mystery, and drive, with characters complex, and a magic system that is both unique and complex, this story will leaving you wanting more.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Other-born are the descendants of gods and are gifted with various abilities. The descendants of the Fates are always born in threes who can work with the threads that connect people to various things in their life: one to weave, one to draw, and one with the ability to cut those threads. In the sunken city of Alante, the youngest of the three Fate-born Ora sisters, Io, uses her abilities in her work as a private investigator. She stumbles across a terrible discovery on her latest case – someone is abducting women and damaging their life-threads, leaving them as wraiths and setting them loose to kill. Determined to find the culprit, Io ends up working alongside Edei, a powerful gangster’s right hand, and also the boy who shares her fate-thread, her soulmate. Her investigation leads her to a suspect only to find her long estranged older sister Thais with him. The city’s violent past holds many secrets and Io is certain this is linked to one of them, but time is running out and she has to find the one responsible before it’s too late.

Anything based on Greek mythology is more or less an auto-add to my TBR at this point and this sounded like such an interesting mix of mythology and a touch of the modern so I knew I had to read it.

This was part mythology, part murder mystery, a combination I’ve never come across before, but it worked so well and made for a really fun read! The premise reminded me a bit of Lore in some places though the settings themselves were quite different. But this was certainly not a typically greek mythology retelling. There were so many modern elements woven in, particularly from a societal angle, describing a city where other-born are discriminated against and tracked, their abilities watched closely. Many of the issues parallel modern society a lot and I thought it was cleverly woven in. The world also had a distinctively dystopian feel to it as it described sunken cities, catastrophic wars and climate crises.

The world building was well done and the author did a great job explaining the unique magic system and the mythology behind the other-born and their various powers. I’m hoping the sequel will expand more on this along with giving the reader a glimpse of the world beyond Alante too.

The one thing that I would have found useful to have would be a glossary of some sort at the beginning of the book explaining the types of other born and their abilities and the various terminologies used throughout the story. I felt like the plot slowed down many times to explain various aspects of the world building which broke the consistency of the reading experience for me a little.

This was a pretty fast paced book overall and the narrative was easy to read and follow. There were plenty of action packed scenes but enough time in between them to focus on the plot and characters too.

Io was an interesting main character, a little morally grey. She had a constant internal struggle going throughout the book as she tried to deal with her feelings of guilt and grief which made her quite a complex character. Her relationship with her sisters was a complicated one and toxic at times.

I’m also interested to see how Io and Edei’s fate-thread will play into things going forward. There wasn’t much time to dwell on it in this book so it was only barely introduced, but I’m curious to see how this romance arc will progress, and indeed if there will be one at all. I’m not usually a huge fan of the soulmate plotline, but it was so well handled in this story.

I liked how the story felt like it was going to be wrapped up neatly and then threw in one last twist right in the final chapters that I didn’t see coming at all. I spent the last quarter of the book mostly trying to figure out how the story was going to end in one book. For some reason, I thought this was a standalone initially, so I read it with that expectation and the twist was even more unexpected due to that.

Threads That Bind was an intriguing start to this duology and it had a very unique premise. I’m definitely looking forward to picking up the sequel whenever it’s out and I would highly recommend this for fantasy fans!

I like the concept of Greek god descendants having certain powers in the modern world but parts were confusing to me. There are supposed "3s" born in families but there was a group called the Nine they were from the same family?

I had high hopes when I found out that Io, an investigator that can see people's "threads", had a fated love and that she would get to work with him and they would fall in love in the meantime, but we never really got that. In the end, we don't even know if he stays alive 🤷‍♀️.

There are also some wraiths... People that have a severed thread (that usually means they die) but are still alive and out to punish people for their crimes. They could have been made to be more scary.

Overall, it was an ok story and I'm glad I read it but not sure if I'll read the next book (since this is titled #1)

"Threads That Bind" by Kika Hatzopoulou is a captivating and emotionally rich novel that weaves together a tapestry of interconnected lives. Hatzopoulou's writing skillfully explores themes of love, loss, and the power of human connection.

The novel follows a diverse cast of characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. Through their individual stories, the author delves into the complexities of human relationships and the impact that our choices have on ourselves and those around us.

Hatzopoulou's storytelling is engaging and immersive, drawing readers into the lives of the characters and making them emotionally invested in their journeys. The author's prose is elegant and evocative, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere.

One of the strengths of "Threads That Bind" lies in its well-developed characters. Each character feels distinct and three-dimensional, with their own unique struggles, desires, and secrets. As their stories intertwine, readers are treated to a deeper understanding of the human experience.

The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, allowing for moments of quiet reflection as well as tense and gripping plot developments. Hatzopoulou skillfully keeps readers guessing, gradually revealing layers of the story while maintaining a sense of intrigue and suspense.

Furthermore, "Threads That Bind" delves into universal themes of identity, family, and the search for meaning. The book prompts thought-provoking questions about the ties that bind us together and the ways in which our lives are interconnected.

In conclusion, "Threads That Bind" is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that will resonate with readers on an emotional level. Kika Hatzopoulou's skillful storytelling and well-drawn characters make this book a compelling read, offering a poignant exploration of the human condition. Prepare to be moved by the threads that connect us all.

This is a mythology lover's dream! I love the stories woven together to create an intriguing tale. This was unique and captivating and I wholly loved it!

Threads That Bind is about Io, a private investigator with powers linked to the fates, who gets caught up in a supernatural murder investigation.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. The magic system really intrigued me, and it was even cooler once I realized that there were powers from a plethora of different gods and goddesses. I also loved that the mythology wasn't just one version of myth, but from several world mythologies.

Io was such an interesting and lovable character from the get-go as well. Her moral dilemma with her fate thread never annoyed me, even though those kinds of conflicts in stories often do. I absolutely loved her blooming relationship with Edei. I liked her complicated relationship with her sisters, because I think that ultimately it made the twist even more surprising.

Though I'm unsure if a sequel is confirmed, I really believe there will be one, and I can't wait for it! I have no complaints about this one at all and can't wait to see more from this world.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started Threads That Bind. As with most fantasy books, it took a while to get into the storyline with the massive word building. But I really liked Io's story and was fascinated by her "profession" as a cutter.

I will say that A LOT happens in this story and there were a lot of times when I was a bit lost. The romance sub-plot with Io and Edei was fascinating. Their connection was always so prominent.

I'm interested to see how this story continues. I typically find that book 1 of a series can be a lot of word-building and that book 2 usually has a more established storyline. Overall, I enjoyed Threads That Bind, even if I was a bit confused at some points.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Solid book if not slightly predictable. The magic system is well fleshed out and definitely my favorite part. I don't know how I feel about the murder mystery part because I always seem to figure it out welllll in advance of the big reveal. Still one of the better ones out there for sure! Excited to see where it goes next.

This was an incredibly unique book with a fresh take on fantasy. I absolutely adored it and I hope everyone gives it a chance.

Threads That Bind is a unique and imaginative fantasy with elements of Greek mythology. Io and her sisters are descendants of the Fates and each has their own special power that deals with a person's threads. Io is a cutter and has the ability to cut a person's threads, including their life thread. Io has made a living as a private investigator, using her power to help solve mysteries throughout the Silts. She has settled into a routine until the mob boss of the Silts asks for her help in solving a case of strange murders. Io is forced to partner with the person, unbeknownst to him, with whom she shares a fate thread. While the pacing is slow at parts and there could be more character development, overall, the book is well-written and I enjoyed reading it. Threads That Bind is full of interesting magic, morally gray characters, and quite a bit of intriuge and action. I'll definitely be recommending Threads That Bind to anyone looking for a unique fantasy read this summer.

An imaginative and interesting fantasy weaving in Greek mythology. I had thought this was a standalone but was surprised by the ending - now I’m anxiously awaiting the next book! Io is a descendant of the Fates and struggles with the consequences of using her abilities and the choices that she’s made. Her job leads her to investigating mysterious wraiths and must team up with her soulmate, whom she’s never met. Io’s relationships with her sisters is relatable and you can sympathize with her. Some parts of the plot moved a little slowly, but the last third of the book was very enjoyable and fast-paced. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the arc.

An easy 5 stars for this one! It took me a couple of chapters to get my bearings as it quickly jumps into the action but this story completely sucked me in and immersed me in a unique world unlike any I have read. Mysterious murders, rival gangs, a half submerged city reminiscent of Atlantis, godborn people with magic powers, a fated love, secrets, betrayals, and monsters - it kept me turning the page, hungry to find out the answers to so many questions. The story is fast paced, with many nuances that never leave you bored. I can't wait for book 2 and for everyone to read this so we can talk about it!

Thank you to #netgalley and @penguinteen for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

In a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city.

Descendants of the Fates are always born in threes: one to weave, one to draw, and one to cut the threads that connect people to the things they love and to life itself. The Ora sisters are no exception. Io, the youngest, uses her Fate-born abilities as a private investigator in the half-sunken city of Alante.

But her latest job leads her to a horrific discovery: somebody is abducting women, maiming their life-threads, and setting the resulting wraiths loose in the city to kill. To find the culprit, she must work alongside Edei Rhuna, the right hand of the infamous Mob Queen—and the boy with whom she shares a rare fate-thread linking them as soul mates before they’ve even met.

But the investigation turns personal when Io's estranged oldest sister turns up on the arm of her best suspect. Amid unveiled secrets from her past and her growing feelings for Edei, Io must follow clues through the city’s darkest corners and unearth a conspiracy that involves some of the city’s most powerful players—before destruction comes to her own doorstep.

Thank you to the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for this eARC for review!

50000/5 stars!

I absolutely DEVOURED this story!! This was such a refreshing world and plotline, with the perfect mix of retold mythology while also being made completely new by the mixture of climate change issues being a permanent fixture of the world/society, as well as it being a very contemporary/urban setting and associated political intrigue. The magic system!!!! I loved the various skills/powers Kika created to associate with each descended of the gods. It was never too complicated to understand, was vividly fleshed out and visualized during the action for the reader, and there was plenty of mystery/unanswered questions woven in for the reader to wonder about and want answers to in the following installments.
I loved Io as a character so much, and as the youngest sibling I could definitely relate to her experiences in some aspect (obviously the less serious aspects). Each sister had a very distinct personality and motives, as did the side characters throughout the story. The side characters were easily loveable and made me laugh so often! Edei was such a sweet, soft boy while also being serious and strong, and was the perfect balance to Io's impulsiveness and self-consciousness. The "chimerini" or chimeras were a cool and sometimes weird (in a good way) addition to the story and really set the world apart from other things I've read. I was NOT PREPARED for how this story would unfold and what would be revealed at the last 10%, and I'm now waiting on bated breath for book 2!

Thanks for the advanced readers copy, I've been anticipating reading this book. It was a little slow moving for me at first, but when the mystery started to unravel it got more enjoyable for me. Towards the end I was highly invested in io and the characters around her. With the way it ends, I know there is going to be a second book, so I can't wait for the sequel!