3,5⭐️

Writing a book based on Greek mythology is a hard task nowadays, but I'm down for every new variation people are ready to give me.

In Threads Thay Bind we follow Io, a private investigator, but also moira-born sister that like their ancestors can see threads of life. She is sent to resolve series of mysterious murders, under which awaits more troubling matter, connected to all gods' descendents in a post-gods world. Next to this, for Io awaits family conflict, as her older sister comes back to town with no notice, and we all know old habits die hard.

I've really enjoyed this book. It's not scared to get to the darker themes nor try to avoid action scenes that may be shocking. This mythology twist actually really grown on me, world-building is extremely interesting, especially when it comes to its history. Decorated with nice writing, it really is a delicious piece of literature cake.
I loved the danger flowing under Io's skin, how we don't really know what she's capable of and what she's destined to do. It was extremely nice to discover Hatzopoulou hadn't reveled all the cards of her.

If I had to talk about things I didn't like – it was romance for sure. Not my type of tea, unfortunately. I can appreciate it wasn't instant fall-in-love situation, but the whole plot with fate-thread was uninteresting. But bear in mind I dislike most of romance subplots that exists, so I'm not the shining example for this.
There's also the feeling as if the intrigue could have been deeper – not in the "let's get more people into it and show how much wider it reaches" way. I just didn't feel the connection, didn't really get the feeling of it.

Overall, if there are any mythology geeks out there looking for a not typical retelling of it, craving for action, investigations and detective style, get your hands on this title. You won't be disappointed!

This book was such a masterpiece, okay 😭 I don't know how to convey how amazing it was, but lemme try

💫 The world building and the world's mythology, ahh - this is what hooked me right at the beginning. This fantasy universe has a diverse set of cultures inspired by various mythologies, such as Greek, Egyptian, etc., and the author has formulated such a genius magic system that draws upon the powers of the original gods and other entities. I've been a hardcore mythology fan ever since I read Percy Jackson in middle grade, and this book was like book heaven for me.
💫 The MC!!! Io, the MC, is such a raw and relatable MC, her emotional journey and realisations over the course of the book was so cool to read 😭
💫 The slow burn romance was >>>>
💫 The plot is Io and her ship following an investigative trail across various (corrupt) power players of this world, and this mystery plotline + deductive twists were amazing
💫 The cliffhanger???!! The last few chapters were twist after twist after twist (each twist was a shocking blow, yes), and the ending was such a massive cliffhanger 🥲 how am I gonna survive until.book 2??

TWs - death, violence, gore, bullying/emotional domestic abuse by a parental figure

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Actual Rate: 3.5 stars
The plot is quite interesting, and the story is packed with action. However, I couldn't connect with the main characters, maybe it had to do with the writing style, that it was kind of over the top, maybe too much elaborated for the kind of reading, and the 3er person's POV didn't help much. I think this type of story needs a better inner connection with the characters to make the reader cares about them, A closer to writing I could say.
Still, is an entertaining read.

Threads that Bind is this unique mixture of Greek mythology elements - like the Fates and Furies - in this contemporary urban fantasy world. It feels both action packed and gritty in this world full of gangs, crime bosses, and old bloodshed. The world has to be one of my favorite elements. As Threads that Bind progresses, Io's world expands and has some shocking twists. It's one of those books where I liked it but after 75% I felt like Threads that Bind comes into its own.

I love this streak of really unique young adult fantasy novels I’m finding this year. I love a book with magic in a way I haven’t seen and this book definitely had that. The characters were great and complex. My biggest frustration as I put this book down was how long I will probably have to wait for the next part. Io and her sisters is a descendant of the Greek Fates and she has the ability to cut the threads of anyone. When she is on a routine private detective job she witnesses a murder that shouldn’t have been possible as the murderer’s life threat was severed but she wasn’t dead. The world building in this story was really good. It did make the story move a little slowly at times, but I appreciate the time to really make a realistic post-apocalyptic world where magic and the gods are woven into a world with gangs, prejudice, and now murder. I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up for the creative magic system.

Not my thing sadly.
The writing didn't grab me from the start, read a couple chapters and it just wasn't for me.

If you love atmospheric writing this is something you will really enjoy.

This book is amazing. I went into this not really sure of what to expect, but the lore is pretty easy to follow and super interesting, especially if you enjoy mythology. Io is a relatable character struggling with the trauma of her youth being raised by her elder sister while struggling with ostracization over her abilities due to her otherborn type is a brilliant moment anyone who ever faced prejudice can relate to. I found myself constantly on edge, rapt for that juicy ending I knew was coming and the author definitely delivered.

This book is such a cool concept! I hope there are sequels, because I’d love to dive further into this universe. The ending almost guarantees it. Though I felt like I needed more from this one, I believe the following book will be the depth I’m looking for. I’d also like to feel a stronger bond with the sisters. I felt as though I were just told they had a bond rather than felt that bond.

Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5

Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.


From the start, this book felt like it had so much potential, but it also seemed like it would be very easy for it to fall flat. There was so much going on. The plot, world, characters, a murder mystery and a magic system. There was a lot of potential for a high payoff, but also a lot of opportunities for some threads (haha) to get lost in the chaos. There was a very particular balance that needed to be struck and maintained throughout the book. As I read, I went back an forth often on whether the author was successful in doing so.
The book kicks off to a strong start. It is a little bit info dump heavy, however with such a unique and complicated world and magic system, that can be necessary. It was fleshed out with enough action that, for me, it never became too much. I was engaged, and I could feel myself being drawn in to the story. However, at around the 40% mark, I started to lose that engagement. It was at that point that I started to realize that amid all the worldbuilding and action, the character development had gotten left behind. I remained interested in the plot, and I wanted to know what happened and how it all played out, but as the action slowed down a little in the middle, the lack of character depth meant that there was nothing to pick up the slack and keep me actively engaged. I was not connected to Io, so I found myself losing engagement in the story. Even though I was curious as to how the mystery would play out, it wasn’t enough when the action wasn’t rushing forward at a mile a minute. I genuinely considered DNFing for a moment at around the 60% mark.
Ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t The pace picked back up at about the 75% mark, and the action was once again able to make up for my inability to connect with Io. I really, really enjoyed the ending. The plot was always the strongest aspect of this book, and it really shone in the final act. I was completely engrossed, unable to put it down. There were even some instances of Io’s growth and reflection that I enjoyed during this part. They fell a little flat, since I didn’t already feel connected to her, but I did, during those scenes, feel something where I hadn’t before.
I ended up giving the book four stars because of that ending. In the middle, I was really thinking it would be a 3 star read, but the ending was strong enough to override that. I look forward to the sequel, because I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

Io who is a “cutter of threads” works as a private investigator. She ends up teaming up with Edei, who is Bianca’s (The Mob Queen) second in command, to solve the “random” murders of women. Edei also happens to be connect to Io by a fate thread. While Io and Edie are working together to solve these murders, they reveal a lot of secrets and also make enemies. What Io also doesn’t know yet, is that you can’t always trust the people you think you can.

This book had a lot of twist and turns. I wouldn’t say it was predictable but I did have a feeling that Thais couldn’t be trusted like at all! I also want to point out that the “love interest” side of things just wasn’t doing it for me. There was literally no chemistry and it felt forced. I’m hoping since this book ended in a cliff hanger that maybe the “romance” will be a lot better in the second book or maybe just less awkward? I really liked the different fateborn abilities and that it was a great way to help build up the story.

All in all; I thought this was a fun read. The world building was great and I really love anything Greek Mythology inspired. I didn’t relate much to the characters like I typically do but it didn’t ruin the book for me. I still had a much of fun working through the mystery and all the magic.

4 stars!

I expected to like it, but I never expected to love it as much as I did!

Any time I pick an ancient mythology book, I always expect to read about the adventures of the Olympians, so this book was already intriguing to me by the fact that it focuses on the “minor Gods”, such as the Fates (I’m in no way calling Fates “minor”, it’s just the expression! - even Zeus and Hades were afraid of them). In “Threads that Bind”, there’s a sector in society denominated as “other-born”, that included all the citizens with lineage connecting them to different minor Gods, meaning that they are born with the powers of said Gods. We follow our MC, Io Ora, the youngest of three sisters who are “moira-born” - descendants of the Moirai (Fates). I don’t want to get very detailed about the storyline, because I do believe there’s a particular excitement in going into this book blindly. But you can expect a detailed world-building, with Greek mythology, gangs, politics and a fascinating magic system, all set in an apocalyptic world where water levels are extremely high and the rain is at times acid. It has many twists and turns, that keeps you always wanting more (I read this in less than 48 hours and it only took me this long because I had to work). Kika Harzopoulou's created such an outstanding world, with so many layers to explore, that I’m praying to all the Gods we get a book two!

Please! I beg you to read this book!

I’d like Netgalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for sharing an ARC with me in exchange for my honest review!

4.25 stars!

Before this book, I was really in a rut with YA and was almost ready to just give up on YA fantasy, but this was SO good. I loved Io, I loved Edei, and I loved the world this was set in. I'm a big Greek mythology girlie, but I loved how this book included other cultures and mythologies as well. I could picture the world as Hatzopoulou was describing it, and it also left me wanting to know more. The mystery was intriguing with good twists and turns and I'm so excited for the sequel. I think the only thing was that at times the pacing was a little off, but would definitely recommend this to people.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Tolerating wickedness seems to me just a slow kind of death."

I usually know how I am going to rate a book within the first 30%, but THREADS THAT BIND pleasantly surprised me by completely changing my mind.

Descendants of the Greek gods? Yes, please. That being said, I would have loved to see the magic system, albeit fascinating, more fleshed-out. A basic overview is provided, but how does it work? Hatzopoulou introduces the “quilt” and the "lines" that Io and the other moira-born can see/manipulate, but what are they? What are they made of? What is the history behind the descendants and where do they come from? Also, a glossary would have been very helpful when trying to keep track of the various other-born.

The world itself was well-illustrated, and it was easy to imagine Athens becoming Alante in the future. I appreciated the mystery. I found myself thinking about the book whenever I wasn't reading it, and after the aforementioned 1/3 mark, I didn't want to put it down. Other notable factors were the sisterly dynamics and the discussions around consent as it pertains to the idea of "fated mates", the latter being an interesting/refreshing take on the familiar trope within the genre.

The audiobook was fantastic! Mia Hutchison-Shaw's voice performance was spectacular, and I hope to listen to books read by her in the future. Thank you to Penguin Teen for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

This novel combined a few of my favorite things: mystery, mythology, and fate. I would have liked to see more explanation and character building, but overall, this was a great read. I will definitely be rereading this one at some point as well.

Review will be posted on IG at @ellie.reads.a.lot by the publication date.

Io is solving a string of crimes plaguing her city of Alante. Young women are going missing, only to turn up again as murderous wraiths - but with a twist. In this fantasy novel, there are mystical powers at play that allow for certain individuals blessed by the gods (Fate-Borns) to have powers beyond that of the average person. Using these powers, Io and her partner - who she is bound to by fate - but protect the city while exposing it's darkest secrets. This book is unlike anything I've read before and is excellent for those who grew up reading Greek mythology and, of course, Percy Jackson. The world is interwoved with Greek mythology and stunning settings, all while keeping you on your toes. The world building could be a little confusing at times, but this fast paced novel is excellent for the adventurous spirits out there.

Threads That Bind is a Greek mythology inspired book by Kika Hatzopoulou that follows Io, a girl with Fateborn abilities who works as a part time private investigator. When Io stumbles upon an impossible crime scene, she is sent on an adventure that will have her up close and personal with a lot of the city’s most influential people including the right hand of the Mob Queen who also happens to be connected to Io through fate.

One thing about me, I love when fate comes into play in a book. Fated lovers is a top tier troupe for me. So when I saw a fantasy book that follows a descendant of the Greek fates, I know it would be up my alley. And for the most part, I was correct! With an almost noir mystery, this book manages to pack a lot of magic and world building into a relatively short fantasy. I loved the way the author weaved the different kinds of magic into the story so that everything fit together well. I thought the story arc itself was really well done and I was intrigued enough at the end to be excited for the sequel.

I think my biggest issue with this book is just the character work. I never really felt connected to the characters in a way that made me care about them. The fated lovers part that I was so excited for felt forced and uncomfortable. I really liked the whole premise around the fate threads but it just fell a little short for me.

So while I enjoyed the story and magic itself, my attachment to the characters was lukewarm. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Greek myth stories but it a little burnt out on the ones that we have been getting a lot of lately.

3.5 stars rounded up!

I thought this book was a little too odd in ways I struggle to describe. The plot is perfectly normal and actually quite interesting, but the writing feels extremely distant like you are experiencing the story from a window of an apartment building across the street. I never quite felt like I understood Io or got in her head.

That said, the ideas are cool and the adventure was a fun one. I read this but wish I was more engaged when I did.

Pub Date: 05/30/23
CW: murder, death

I AM FUCKIN SCREAMING OMG THIS BOOK YALL I SWEAR.

I literally screamed when the email came through. This has been a major want to read since I found the book through booktok and I AM SO GLAD I got the chance to read this early. Thank you NetGalley and Razorbill for this amazing chance.

This concept was TOP NOTCH.

The execution? TOP NOTCH.

Soul-fuckin-mates? TOP NOTCH.

the cover is so absolutely gorgeous too it’s one of the things that immediately caught my eye.

Io and Edei are fantastic little creatures and I’m so glad I was able to meet them and know their story. I NEED BOOK TWO IMMEDIATELY. THAT ENDING?! I NEED MORE.

4.5 ⭐️

Let me tell you, I about screamed when I was approved for this ARC! I was SO excited to give this a try, and it did not disappoint.

“Threads That Bind” is an urban fantasy, with a magic system that is infused with Ancient Greek mythology. Those who are descended from the gods exhibit unique powers, and are looked down in a society that hates them. This story weaves a post-apocalyptic society with Greek fantasy and a super unique magic system.

Io is descended from the Fates, and wields the ability of a “cutter,” someone who is able to cut the threads that bind someone to what they love, including their own life. She uses her ability to solve small mysteries and help those in her community for a price, and is then tasked to team up with her fated love to solve a series of murders around her city.

This was very incredible! I just have to gush about the world-building really quick… the concept of a Greek mythological magic system was absolutely genius, and I found the magic system to be incredibly solid. The world was so vivid! Each group in the city was fleshed out, and the actual city (and its history) felt so real. I’m so impressed with how everything fit together and was thought out. Besides that, the writing of the city and its settings was just plain beautiful. I felt like I could vividly picture every description the author gave.

Another highlight for me: the relationship between Io and Edei. What an interesting concept to have them have a fate-thread. The romance and growing crush that Io had on Edei was so believable because of this, and I actually found their relationship to be so cute. It made a lot of sense to me, and I love how even though they were fated, it was still so incredibly organic.

Some other things I loved were the mystery aspect of this story, as well as the characters. The author did a phenomenal job with this story telling, and I genuinely want to reread this to see all of the details or hints that I missed on my first read.

All in all, I adored this, and am so excited for the next book in the series. If you enjoy YA mysteries, urban fantasies, or mythological-based stories, put this one on your list!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Young Readers/Razorbill for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

This feels like a book that learned all the interesting lessons from Crescent City but put it in a YA context, and heavily borrowed from Greek mythology to fill out the world building. It's a noir, but combines the gritty darkness of the underworld with the neon colored magic and levity of being a teen.

Io is a moiraborn private investigator, which means she can see the threads of fate that tie people to things and other people. She can also cut them. She has a soulmate, but has been avoiding him for the last year. Unfortunately, they have to team up to solve a series of murders in their neighborhood.

As a mythology lover, I super enjoyed the deep dive into the lesser known elements of Greek Myth (Fates, Furies, Muses, Phobos, Morpheus, etc.), but where the book fell down for me was the secret keeping. The big reveal of the horrible thing Io had done turned out to not actually be that bad, and the heel turn of a particular set of characters at the end left me confused. However, I was quite charmed by the world building and the magic system, and will definitely end up picking up book 2.

3.75/5 stars