I'm not going to lie the cover is 100% the reason I first got interested in this, but then it came out and I have heard so many great reviews so I've been really excited to read. When I started it I couldn't help but just feel utterly dissapointed. The worldbuilding felt very clunky. It was a massive info-dump, and it was really hard to keep everything straight, and just remember. However, that definitely got better as the book continued, and by just pushing through things got clear on their own. It is a very complex world, and the way it was explained was just a bit of a letdown.
Like I said before once we actually get into the story this becomes a much better read. In fact once we got over the halfway mark I would argue this becomes an incredible read. It is just such an engaging and gripping story. It very much plays out like a mystery, but it is incredibly well executed. The way this book just makes you suspect person after person just to be wrong in the end is incredibly done. The actual reveal also makes a whole lot of sense, and made my actual jaw drop even when I did figure it out a little bit before it was actually revealed.
I also really liked the cast of characters. Io in particular was a great main character to follow. I wouldn't say she's morally grey, but she does live on the edge of that a little bit. She's grown up in though world and is though because of that. Eddie was also a great secondary character. I thought he balanced Io out greatly, and together they became a perfect team. I do think their romance is a bit underdeveloped. Despite this being a bit of a slower burn, their feelings for each other com out of nowhere to me. I just would have liked to see this develop a little bit more especially because I do really love their dynamic together.
However, the most important relationship in this book is that off Io and her sisters, Ava and Thais. It is the absolute crux of this book, and it is incredibly complex, slightly toxic even. I thought it was just so incredibly interesting, and very well executed. I can't discuss it more because of spoilers but I am extremely curious to see more of these three in book two after the events of this one. All of the other side characters in this book also really helped bring this book to live.
So yeah, in conclusion this was a couple of flaws removed from being a new favourite book, but it is still really good. I feel like most of those little flaws could be contributed to the fact that this was a debut. Therefore I am extremely excited to read the second book. Oh, and then we're not even talking about the cliffhanger this book ends on. I'm glad I'm late on the trend with this book just so I can delve into book two extremely soon. Highly recommend this one!

What a great read. I was sucked in right from the beginning. I thought that the magic system was one that I hadn't really seen before, and loved how it tied back to the three sisters of fate. I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for all of the pieces to come together. While I would have loved a little more show vs tell, this was a great read.

3 star read for me. I will be reading the next one. This just fell a bit flat for me, but the world and concept are so cool. I have been recommending this to my customers who love greek mythology.

*thank you Penguin Randomhouse for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

holy shit. talk about a fantasy with so much incredible depth in the magic system, the history of the world, and in the characters themselves.

This is a fantasy with a base in greek myth, and although it would have definitely been nice to have a bit more knowledge of greek myth coming into the story, Hatzopoulou does a great job of giving you what you need to understand the context of the magic system if you don't have any previous understanding of the different gods and what they did in the greek myths.

I absolutely loved the characters. I love the morally gray of the story. Can justice be black and white or are there crimes that are justified? Is revenge justified? When discrimination plays a role, are the parties who aren't in power never culpable for their mistakes and are the people in power always wrong solely for being in power?

The CLIFFHANGER hurt me. I am R U N N I N G to the shelves for Hearts that Cut immediately.

This is peak fantasy. Absolutely fantastically written. I'm so grateful that I was given access to this first book in order to review the sequel!

The Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou is a thrilling novel packed full of twists and compelling storylines that kept me glued to the page. The worldbuilding, narrative, and characters are all masterfully woven (a bit of a pun on the book itself) and heart-wrenching that I found myself writing down snippets to return to again and again.

Firstly, the world-building! Hatzopoulou has managed the near-impossible in the realm of fantasy by blending a multitude of global pantheons - monotheistic and polytheistic - together to create a new era of magic ruled by demi-god like characters. The rules of the world are clear and easy to follow. I found myself pleasantly surprised to realize that I was never confused over how the whole system works - once again, a bit of a rarity in a new fantasy world that I myself have yet to master - and Hatzopoulou skillfully lays information out drip by drip as the reader needs it. We are able to follow along with the main character, Io, as she works to solve a set of magical murders, unwinding the world at the same time as she unwinds the investigation. We also get to know the Silts, a slum in the main city Atlante of a post-apocalyptic world, as we are introduced to the political and social influences made up of gangs, corrupt police and politicians, and a deeply divided people struggling on the edges of destruction, xenophobia, poverty, and bigotry.

But we can only love a world as much as we love its characters; in this realm, Hatzopoulou once again rose to the occasion. Hatzopoulou does not disappoint in providing deeply complex and flawed characters from Io to her sisters to the mob-queen Bianca. I found myself loving and hating each person, gasping out loud as their secrets were revealed, and even cheering them on as they neared their goals. This book is also full of amazing queer representation and a wide diversity of races and ethnicities that almost feel familiar to us readers, even in a distant, corrupted world of the far-flung future. Their struggles are our struggles when it comes to difficult family and battling against poverty and oppression. My heart broke for Io as she navigated this world in her own way when the odds were so heavily stacked against her.

Overall, this book was a delight. I am actually glad to be able to review it after the book has been published, mostly because I was able to get the sequel from my local library the very next day when I had finished it. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and family!

high stakes fantasy, mythological retelling, and intricate magic systems, this book will simply take your breath away.

Hatzopoulou's "Threads That Bind" centered around the story of three fate born sisters, one to weave, one to draw, and one to cut. It followed Io, the youngest sister, and the cutter, as she tried to solve a series of horrific murders that have occurred in her city.
This book featured beautiful writing and amazing character dynamics, especially through Io and her sisters, who grew up in less then ideal circumstances. It also had a very interesting take on the idea of soulmates that I think was executed really well. The aspects of mythology were imbedded into the story so well, and even if you weren't familiar with the classic myths before, you would be able to follow along with the book.
The only down side is that by the end of the book, so many things were happening at the same time that it was a little difficult to follow along with the plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed "Threads That Bind" and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

HELLOOOOO fantasy!!! we are so back!!!!! this was positively phenomenal. i loved every character so much, they were truly so fleshed out and were the heart of this story. i know this is a first book in a new series and i need the next one immediately if not sooner!

Where to begin? I was drawn into the hype and that gorgeous cover … the promise of a crime thriller set in a post apocalyptic fantasy land … but this is pure modern YA and all the ick that implies. Against a murder plot we have a group of teens who have “things” for each other and can’t believe it. And “cutter” as the name of those with a special power in a youth-oriented read? Major oversight. The world building was hard to understand, with a lot of references to Greco-Roman myth … I fumbled through the names in my mind. The crime thriller? A peripatetic whodunnit that merely extended the length of the book. I’m afraid this one just wasn’t for me.

thank you so much to negtalley for providing me with a digital copy! all opinions are my own 😊

why is this book so underrated omggggg 😱😱
i wasn't understanding a word until it all started to make sense. the different other-born and why they exist was really cool, something i've never read about. i wish i could have a map of the city because i had the idea of the city but it would've been better to have a visual, but also the originality of the city sounded pretty awesome. and then EDEI SHOWED UP AND OMGGGG i really thought he would be like a super cool bad guy who enjoys being in the mafia but he ended up being super sweet and a delight to read about, i adored every time he was in a scene... he didn't deserve that much suffering tho.
the idea of the sister love and how the closest people you have can be the cause of great pain was something so interesting to read because BOY I REALLY FELT THAT 😭😭 i loved how Io was changing her mind and deciding she didn't have to live with that guilt, i truly liked the side characters and despised Thais from the very beggining. i honestly can't wait to read the sequel because the high stakes are huuuge and i need an ending now 😱😱

I was initially drawn to this book because of my love for mythology. i think my only concern is the world building. while i found it wonderful, i think if someone is coming in without a broad range of knowledge for the lore, they could get lost. i would suggest a glossary for the types of beings ine the book and/or edit minorly to give brief descriptions closer to introducing the characters. some instances felt like there was too much plot or exposition before properly introducing the lore surrounding them

otherwise, i loved the plot and the slow burn. aching for the next in series

Title: Threads That Bind
Format: E-book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: An Arc given by Netgalley for an honest review.

In Alante there are people called other-borns that have abilities. The population of Other-borns in Alante is one in a hundred. Io is a moira-born and can see the threads of fate. The is what Io calls a wraith killing other-borns and must work with her fated love to solve where they are coming from and why they are killing.

This story had a lot of potential. It lost me with all the repetitive phrases, the font changes, and all the random names of groups thrown into the story. I would reread and continue with the story but in physical form.

This is a unique way to create a fantasy world around a well known mythology. Sometimes it can be complicated, but it’s still absorbing. Io is a great main character and the ending is satisfying in some ways, but definitely sets up a second book. Sometimes books that are part of series don’t have an ending, but I didn’t feel that way here. I appreciated the romance without feeling it was the only part of the story. I’ll definitely read the second one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to. This story is so good you can't put it down

This book has a gorgeous cover and super cool premise--a mix of a murder mystery, love story, and sisterhood drama with some Greek mythology thrown in for fun. However, at times shifting focus between all those moving parts is a little distracting and disrupts the story's flow.

Io and her two sisters are descendants of The Fates and I wanted more information on them (and all the Miora-born, who have ancient talents) but we're immediately thrown into a mystery of who is cutting women's life threads and turning them into killer wraiths. This mystery is ALSO cool and leads Io to team up with a man to whom she is connected by her Fate line. Their developing relationship is a lovely thread (no pun intended) that runs throughout the book.

At the heart of the story though (and perhaps the part that gets the least narrative heft) is the relationship between the three sisters (particularly middle daughter Ora who is key to the plot but barely gets any scenes). The oldest sister helps introduce us to some much needed world-building, but again, it's hard to get to know her too. I guess I wanted more info on what it was like having those powers and how all three used them (we mainly see Io in action during the book.)

Don't get me wrong, I DID enjoy this book...A LOT. But I felt like it perhaps needed more editing. All of the plot elements were compelling and the world was cool to hang out in, but there was a huge amount going on, and it was frustrating that some of those elements didn't soar because we had to go investigate another wraith, etc. However for a debut series, having too many cool elements to focus on is good problem to have. Hopefully the next book will tighten things up.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me with an eARC of Threads That Bind in exchange for my honest review!

Even if not all the elements mesh together as strongly as they could have, I appreciate what this has to offer with its ambition and its worldbuilding. It takes a detective mystery that gives off a bit of a neo-noir vibe and blends it with YA fantasy and Greek mythology, creating a compelling and convincing landscape and magic system that's grounded in the story's themes of vengeance, justice, and destiny. I do think the characters and their dynamics can be more cliched than I would have preferred, so this keeps me from connecting with the narrative as powerfully as I want to. But Threads That Bind still makes for a solid read that I'm officially rating 3.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars. I'm looking forward to seeing what the sequel, Hearts That Cut, can dish out.

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Razorbill for the opportunity to read a free e-copy of this book for an honest review.

The vibrant and mysterious cover art for “Threads that Bind” caught my attention, but the story immediately drew me in and didn’t let go until the end!

As descendants of the Fates living in modern times, moira-born Io Ora and her two sisters have supernatural powers that allow them to see and manipulate invisible threads that connect people to the things and people they love. Their golden sight allows them to access the Quilt to reveal the threads running out of each person and where those connections lead to.

Thais, the oldest, is the thread spinner who can weave new threads to create fresh connections that didn’t exist. Ava, the middle sister, is the thread drawer who can elongate and shorten threads to strengthen or weaken feelings. Io, the youngest, is the thread cutter who can cut any thread to dissolve a connection – even to life.

The story follows Io as she struggles to find herself. Her parents both passed away when she was younger, so Thais raised her and her sister Ava. However, when Thais abruptly packed up and left without saying goodbye, Ava and Io only had each other left for support. But Io has a wonderful secret that only her sisters know about. She has a rare fate-thread that connects her to a soul mate – someone she hasn’t tried to find yet, but Io is comforted knowing that person is always attached to her.

Io uses her special abilities to work as a private investigator, but one job suddenly takes an awful turn, and she finds herself witnessing an unbelievable murder. Io is horrified by the event because the killer has a severed life thread that is used to strangle her victims. Having a severed life thread should mean the killer is dead, so how is the killer alive and possessing inhuman strength? Io wants answers, but they come at a steep price.

I devoured this book! I absolutely loved Io and felt a strong connection with her as she navigated loss, anger, guilt, betrayal, love, and friendship. Her emotions and reactions were sometimes surprising in a very beautiful way. It was a nice change of pace to have a heroine who was simply very curious and willing to take risks for others in need instead of just being filled with vengeance and rage.

I was a little confused to start because there was sooo much going on in the first half of the book, but most of my questions were answered before the book ended. I thought the pacing of the book was good. It would speed up and slow down at just the right moments. The slower scene in Edei’s apartment was one of my favorite moments of the book – the author’s writing was spot-on with how awkward and yet comfortable the situation was for the two of them. It felt very real and was beautifully done.

I definitely recommend this book to any teen, young adult, and adult who enjoy a modern take on Greek mythology with a captivating story. I can’t wait to read the second book!

This book took a bit for me to get into the world, but once it got me I was consumed. I throughly enjoyed the sister dynamics in this book. It is very much like how my sisters and I are in our family. All the relationships felt fully explored and our boy seems too good to be true. I am teriffied he is a villian. I am looking forward to the next book.

The premise and magic was very interesting. At some points the story was confusing and difficult to keep up with.

I absolutely loved this book! I am a huge fan of Greek myths, and I loved how the myth was woven into this story, it was so good. The characters feel so real, and I was attached to them from the start. I also really loved the integration of the different cultures that are found within the book, both in the city and the representation of different mythologies within the world of the book. I was so completely spellbound by this book, I finished it within a day. I simply could not put it down. The plot is so twisty, that every time I thought I had things figured out, another curve ball putting me right back at square one. I also loved the inclusivity of the cast of characters within the book. The representation across the spectrum was fantastic. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys stories rooted in myths, books with characters that will feel like your best friends by the end, or a twisty-turny plot that will keep you guessing right up to the end!