Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group for an ARC of this novel it was one of my most anticipated reads for this year.
This book is beautiful inside and out. If you’re going to judge a book by it’s cover, choose this one because the cover truely reflects the story and all it’s beauty. This book is one of the best YA fantasies I have read, i loved the magic system and the way mythology was incorporated into the story. The characters in this book were all so deep, so very 3D and I felt like I could connect to them all. Io was a gorgeous main character, the way she navigated all her challenges was insanely riveting and I was kept on my toes the whole way through, i just couldn’t put this book down. This book was paced perfectly, with little clues being placed in the perfect spots. The mystery element in this book fit perfectly and I loved the way that the mystery led to character backstories being shared. The queer representation in this was also beautiful because it was just there, with all the characters being so so accepting of each other, it felt like reading the Grishaverse where being queer was never a crime, it was just something natural that happens. I loved the sister dynamic and the way they were three bodies one soul, i thought in the end that made the story so much more emotional. I am in love with Io and Edei, i think their relationship was told beautifully and oh how the ending of this novel has me wanting more because that fate thread was giving me anxiety and hope and made me feel every other emotion over them. I cannot recommend this book more, it is written beautifully, with beautiful characters, and an engaging story. If you’re a fan of the Grishaverse or The Secret Shanghai series i think you would enjoy this book immensely. I cannot wait to get my hands on the final copy of this and I cannot wait for a sequel (which I hope is happening).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Threads that bind is a beautifully woven story, exploring our connections and love for each other.

Like many other readers, I love books inspired by mythology, and there have been a lot of great Greek mythology-inspired books lately. Although Greek mythology informed the main characters’ environment, in this world, descendants of different gods from all regions of the world inherit some of their powers. I don’t think I’ve come across many stories that combine global mythologies in this way, so I was very intrigued by the worldbuilding, though its intricacy occasionally confused me. It was a bit difficult for me to remember various elements of their world’s history, which then made it more difficult to fully understand the characters’ motivations.

I liked the characters, and I liked that powers are inherited only by siblings—it opens up a lot of opportunities for dynamic relationships between powerful characters. Io, for instance, has a strong moral compass, which complicates her relationship with her oldest sister Thais, who left the city two years ago but suddenly reappears as a link to the case Io is investigating.

The pacing is where I think this debut fell short. At times, the info-dumping was heavy, which slowed the plot to the point where I started to lose interest. I would still read the sequel, though I didn’t initially expect there to be one, and I think the exciting ending could have come sooner.

The idea of descendants of gods living in the world with their powers is a story I can always get behind. I was genuinely surprised many times as Io figured out the mysteries set up around her. I am excited to see what will come next in this world as there is no way we're leaving it here

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy! I absolutely loved this myth-inspired mystery!

The gods are dead and only their descendants, the Other-born, with magical gifts walk the earth. Io and her sisters are the descendants of the Fates, well known in Greek mythology. Io can cut the threads that bind people to their loves and desires. It makes her dangerous, feared even by other descendants of the gods. It is currently how she makes her living, hired on as a PI to investigate crimes like adultery, thefts, or gambling. That is until she witnesses the impossible. A woman with a severed life thread, by all rights she should be dead, but she's alive and she is murderous.

The world-building was unique, though it was an info-dump to start. There is more than one pantheon on display in this book. I loved seeing the different aspects of how their powers related in regards to their daily lives. These Other-born are looked at with suspicion, they are sequestered in the poorest parts of the city, given unequal opportunities, and basically spat upon. It's a perspective that was once rare to get a glimpse of and I'm glad that so many are writing their stories, even in fantasy novels.

I truly enjoyed trying to solve this mystery with Io and with the MMC Edei. Now, now don't get too excited. This is very much a YA romance, so please everyone, behave. I thought of it like the Percy Jackson series but instead of an epic journey it's written as a who-dun-it? sleuth type of book. (Ok, look I've only read the first Percy Jackson book so don't come at me!) I was invested all the way through, had my own theories where I was sort of right, but loved the twists that kept on coming.

Mainly this is a book about overcoming your fears and anything else that holds you back. It is a book about power, corruption, and social issues. It is a book about love, fate, and about choice. This is a really good book.

I have been waiting for a book like this with this background in a long time. I will definitely buy this book when it comes out. I loved every inch of it. Every single inch!
Highly would recommend 💛

mild spoilers ahead !

"Fate and death tangled in a web of threads, and neither of them in control"

Well this was a ride.
I really enjoyed this, and the love and like i feel for this book built itseld, like a thread.
I tend to make all this theories when it comes to mystery solving in books so i was really invested in the crime solving thing, making all my silly little comparisons and theories and guessing who is it,it kept me entertained.
I'll be honest and the first third lost me a bit, i was having a hard time with the info dumping, but then, after it was all explained, the writing became very smooth and i flew through it.
I like the worldbuilding still a few things about the design of this sunken city and the magic system weren't quite clear, but i'm dumb, i see greek myth references and i jumo right in, so that's in me, i'll have to read it again :)
I liked the characters and the relationship of the main couple bloomed beautifully, if i may say so. I still felt very very heavy the middle sibling syndrome respecting Ava, i hoped she would be a little bit more important, but another good thing is that i didn't know this was a series, so when i reached 90% and noTHING was solved i started panicking (in a good way). I hope we see more of Ava and her issues in the next book.
I liked the plot and the pacing, and the goes-and-comes of the mystery, the drama (ohmygoood) and the mythology inspired magic system.
Also hot Morpheus, give them a spin off, NOW
Cannot wait to see what's to come !
Recommended for everyone who likes greek mythology and mystery solving plots !!

Io is a Cutter - she can see and sever the threads that link a person to what and who they love. When she starts to investigate a series of murders she is drawn into a mystery twelve years in the making.

The world building in this book is so interesting - I absolutely loved learning about the collapse and the different abilities, and I could read whole books on both even without the rest of the action and excitement! There were plenty of twists in the plot and I was still guessing even at the end. An excellent read!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

From the start this book sucks you in with the premise of the fates and some great world building. I feel like it’s sometimes easy to get lost in the details when starting a new book, but this story and world was easy to follow and every detail only added to building up a mental image of Alante. The Fates are the Greek myth of choice for this book, which I loved to see and read about as they’re a less common retelling. I also loved the urban setting and the mystery and puzzles solving, which while slightly predictable had plenty of twists. As our main character, Io is descended from the fates and tasked with solving the main puzzle of this book which is who is turning these girls into murders. Io is flawed and complex but I loved her as a main character! I also loved her relationship with Edei and their will they won’t they, even though they’re basically soulmates. But all the hidden looks and longing had me screaming. Then came the ending at a point where I didn’t want it to end, I was repeatedly hitting my screen trying to get the next page. I guess I’ll just have to wait for the next book.

Overall, this was a good ya fantasy and I do recommend!

Read if you like…
•Greek mythology
•mystery/solving murders
•complicated sibling relationships
•soulmates

Brilliant. Riveting. Unique. Threads That Bind is a captivating novel that seamlessly blends Greek mythology with detective fiction. Io, a descendant of the fates, and her sisters share unique powers that Io uses as a private investigator. The complex world-building, well-developed characters, and unique magic system make this book a must-read. The tension and drama are heightened by political intrigue, the soulmate trope, and thrilling plot twists. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Mythology, fated soulmates, murder-frenzy wraiths, and so many more. This book had everything I could have wanted from a detective mythology-filled book. This book really reminded me of, "Lore" by Alexandra Bracken but in a much darker and more immense world, and honestly, I loved it even more because of that.

The main character Io was such an interesting character to read about and slowly understand her past. Her relationship with her sisters, her own powers, and the world around her really was such an adventurous and mysterious read.

It truly was such an enjoyable book to read, and the twists and turns really kept me on my toes. Some of the twists were a little obvious, but others I did not see coming at all. Regardless, all of them had a mysteriously perfect effect.

THIS BOOK ! 🥰

i’ve been absolutely desperate to read it since i first heard about it last year, i squealed when i saw i got to read it early

mythology has always been my thing, and the book has such a perfect retelling/modern twist on it

it follows Io, descendant of the fates, along with her sisters who share their abilities. Io who has taken up a job as a private investigator who follows and cuts the strings of others which tie them to the things they loves.

Io is probably one of the most unique characters i’ve read given she is aware of the morality of her moira-born powers and the impact her choices has on the fates of others.

every other character is also incredibly well written especially Edei, a bodyguard who Io shares a fate-thread with, and Bianca Rossi, the mob queen of the Stilts.

i don’t know if this is an accurate comparison but the world, especially The Stilts, felt reminiscent of Piltover and the Undercity from Arcane/LoL, with the different parts having their own beliefs and opinions on aspects of society also different groups too. Which i absolutely love this dynamic.

There is a lot of politics (just fyi) which i love in fantasy books cause it makes the book the world feel very real.

obviously the best part of this whole book is the magical powers. I’m a sucker for books with unique power systems like a magic steeped in poison, and this system is honestly the coolest. the powers are shared across the siblings, meaning one weaves, draws out the threads and then finally Io cuts the strings. The Quilt being the way they see the strings and how it connects to others as well is described incredibly well in the book.

i don’t want to spoil the other gods descendants powers but they are probably some of the coolest especially the muses.

oh btw there’s the soulmates trope as well which i’m obsessed with sooo 👀

Officially 4.5!

I love reading books with any kind of mythology retellings. The authors always put their own cool spin on it!!

Okay i really loved this book. What an amazing YA fantasy debut. I liked everything about it except for one thing: the world-building was a tiny bit confusing at times. I think there were just so many things to keep track of that some of it I didn't understand.

But the murder mystery, action, blossoming love, and all the twists and betrayals made for such an amazing read!! Kept me engaged all the way through. I even wish it was a little longer.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!

Loved this! I'm a sucker for mythology and for detective stories, so this was up my alley for sure. The magic system is incredibly well thought out. The characters are charming and relatable. The relationship between the sisters felt so real in terms of sibling interactions. And the detective portion! So good. I don't try to solve mysteries as I read through, but I didn't fully see the conclusion coming but also felt like the clear conclusion. Eagerly waiting for the sequel.

This book is a strong 4/5! It was a cute read that really dove into the ideas of family, and right versus wrong. All while being set in a dystopian universe where our main character, Io, is struggling with being a cutter in a society where those with otherborn powers are treated as lesser than, and now there are unsolved murders that point back to people like her.

To be honest any book that has an overarching theme of fate already has my heart and this book did not disappoint! Not only do we see fate grounded in relationships like Io’s and Edei’s (the other end of her fate thread), it's also surrounding her interactions with her sisters, and any of the otherborn around her. However, we also see how sometimes even though you can be so close you share a soul, the desire for more can lead to decisions that hurt those closest to you.

I really liked the romance between Io and Edei, it was super sweet! Their interactions were like a nice break between all the surrounding action, and I’m really glad the author chose to make it a slow burn rather than have them fall in love all at once. The struggle against the fate thread and taking into consideration how it might affect Edei allowed Io to grow as a person. My one complaint about their relationship is how they really just needed to have a conversation, especially Edei who hid some pretty big news from our main character, which would have helped clear up a lot.

Other things I enjoyed in this book were the scenery (I love the idea of multiple moons, and the rising tides and how it affects how the people go about their daily lives), and the clear struggle the author showed in the class difference between those with powers and those without, and how to compensate for their differences one group is harshly restricted.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and will be keeping my eye out for the second one (I both loved and hated the ending and that’s all I’ll say about that)!

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Friends...this book was GOOD. One of my favorite things I've read all year. It holds one of the most creative recreations of Greek mythology, making for an incredibly refreshing read. The world was complex and intriguing, the plot was exciting and well paced, and everything was tied up well with an inclusive band of characters who were not inherently good or bad, but just entirely human. I can't wait to get to know more of each of them in the next book. And there WILL be a next book. Because that ending was insane amd has me dying for more. I would also like to praise the writing style of this book. It was very coherent and relatable, yet entirely mature.

FR
Tout d'abord, je tiens à remercier NetGalley et Penguin Group pour l'envoi de cet A.R.C. (Advanced Reader Copy; je ne connais pas l'équivalent en français, désolée). Le livre sort le 30 mai !
Il y a quelques cws; je ne les citerai pas, mais quand le livre sortira, je suis sure qu'ils seront trouvables partout.
Il faut savoir que quand je me suis lancée dans ma lecture, tout ce que je savais, c'était que c'était une réécriture sur de la Mythologie Grecque.
Donc, j'ai plongé sans rien connaître vraiment de l'histoire; je ne connaissais même pas le résumé.
Et je crois que c'était une des meilleures façons pour moi de plonger. Et quelle aventure !
Je dois dire que j'ai TOUT adoré ! TOUT ! Il y a un mystère dans le livre, et vous me connaissez (ou pas, oops), je découvre toujours très facilement le.la coupable, ce qu'il se passe etc. C'était le cas aussi pour ce livre; mais ça ne m'a pas dérangée du tout. Car je ne savais pas comment ça allait être dévoilé.
Que ça soit ça, l'histoire en général, tout les décors, les personnages. Les représentations aussi !!!!!!! Qui ont été faites très proprement, pas en mode VOICI CE PERSONNAGE, IL.ELLE EST... Non, c'était très naturel dans l'histoire et c'est quelque chose que j'ai également beaucoup aimé !!
L'univers créé était tellement intéressant ! On démarre de la Mythologie Grecque, mais l'auteure a su créer quelque chose de vraiment extraordinaire.
Bref, vous l'aurez compris, c'est un gros coup de coeur. Je suis fane !!!!

ENG
First, I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group for sending this A.R.C. . The book comes out May 30 !
There are a few cws; I won't name them, but when the book comes out, I'm sure they'll be everywhere.
You should know that when I started reading, all I knew was that it was a rewrite on Greek Mythology.
So, I dove in without really knowing anything about the story; I didn't even know the synopsis.
And I think it was the best way for me to dive. And what an adventure !
I must say that I loved EVERYTHING ! ALL ! There is a mystery in the book, and you know me (or not, oops), I always find out very easily the culprit, what is happening etc. This was also the case for this book; but it didn't bother me at all. Because I didn't know how it was going to be revealed.
Let that be it, the story in general, all the settings, the characters. The representations too !!!!!!! Which were done very cleanly, not in HERE'S THIS CHARACTER, HE.SHE IS... No, it was very natural in the story and it's something that I also liked a lot !!
The created universe was so interesting ! We start from Greek Mythology, but the author has created something truly extraordinary.
In short, you will have understood, it's a big favorite. I'm a fan !!!!

Another one from Penguin group ! Thank you penguin team and net galley for allowing me access to this ARC. My thoughts on the book bellow.
I've literally finished treads that bind five minutes ago,so I can say with much property than YOU NEED TO STOP EVERYTHING YOURE DOING AND READ THIS BOOK. I mean,now. The plot is a elaborated tapestry of antique Gods,prejudice,power,murder and vengeance,in a thrilling way than feels shy at the start,but develops into a fast paced and succulent book. Io are one of my favorites characters ever since the star of the book,I've fall for the way she deals with trauma and the abusive parenting her older sister have done to her. Edei,her partner in investigation,is also as deep and we'll written as her. The cenarios and aesthetics are fantastic,neon and grim,just as the sunken city of Alante. Highly recommended this one !

Automatic 10/10. This was such a fun read! It’s like a mythological mystery and no matter how many theories you come up with they will always end up being challenged. Also pulled at my heart strings so much 👀 no pun intended. I feel so much sympathy for Io. That girl be going through way too much. She is one killer investigator tho. She knows what’s she’s doing. I can’t wait for the next one cause the ending is killing me I need resolution!

This YA reminds me of a mix of Crescent City and Ace of Shades - a mysterious fantasy full of political intrigue and magical abilities. Add in Greek mythology and I was sold. We follow Io, a descendant of The Fates, as she tries to solve a rapidly unfolding murder mystery. This story avoids the traditional demigod take which I really enjoyed, and infuses some mafia elements. Cliffhanger ending? Enjoyed a bit less so, but I'm so excited for a sequel!!

*Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*