I'm setting this down for now. I'm 65 pages in and can't seem to get myself to pick it back up. Nothing wrong with the story or the writing. It's just too intricate of a reading experience for me to handle right now. It would be a disservice to the book to read it when I'm not capable of enjoying the pacing and plot. I will be picking up the audiobook the second it's available. I love this world and this magic system and the characters. I'm sure I will love all the newcomers we get to meet in this story. Schwab's writing it always superb. So take my 'put-aside-for-now' with a grain of salt. I know I'll love it. It just isn't the season for this story.

Phenomenal! This was an amazing follow up to one of my favorite series. There were a lot of moving pieces and different characters to keep track of, but by the last hundred pages I was holding my breath with anticipation. This book wrapped up well with only a minor cliffhanger and set up the rest of the series perfectly.

I am sad to say that I could not finish this book. I was so excited to get a copy of it from Netgalley and the publisher because I had heard so many great things about V.E. Schwab's books. There is a lot of world building in this book which can be boring for some readers. For me, I think it was because I was so ready to read it that I was impatient with the world building. I'm not giving up on reading this book. I may need to revisit it when a physical copy is available.

3 stars. I sadly did not love this continuation of the trilogy. For how big the book is I don't feel like it added much to the world.

I really liked this new novel from V. E. Schwab!! It had me hooked since the first few pages and once it started, it would not let me go! I was thoroughly entertained! I like that it was a continuation of the Shades of Magic series (even though it’ll be its own), but revisiting the universe was a great adventure! I really enjoyed the character development and I can’t wait to see what happens to them in the next book! Thoroughly recommend it!

4.5 stars!

Oh, how good it feels to be back in this magical world! There were high expectations for this book and V.E. Schwab absolutely CRUSHED them!!

I fell in love with the Shades of Magic series years ago and this book only made that love grow even more. It was such a pleasant surprise to see how involved Lila, Kell, Rhy, and Alucard were in this book. There were several moments that made my heart melt and I was SO extremely content reading this book. I love how Schwab ties in characters and events from Shades of Magic into this book while we explore new characters and new journeys; there was such a good balance between the old and the new. In The Fragile Threads of Power, there are multiple perspectives that tell each character's story. Admittedly, it was a little difficult at first to keep track of each separate story, especially with the new characters, but as the story progressed, it was easier to see how Schwab was threading everything together. It was very intriguing to see little glimpses of what the new characters were doing during the whole Shades of Magic timeline and they just complement the original characters so perfectly. It was also interesting to see how the characters all have some sort of ability that will obviously take a role in bringing them together in the future books. Schwab gives significant importance to each character and I'm very much looking forward to having them all together to see what kind of chaos unravels.

There's still so much development to be done for all of the characters and I can't wait to see how the author approaches this series. Much like Schwab's other books, the writing is very clever and detailed, and you can already see how everything is being set up to create an even more complex universe. I won't go into much detail regarding the plot or new characters, but I will say that this is an amazing start to a new series in this familiar world. It was filled with wholesome, funny, nerve-racking, and heartbreaking moments and I couldn't be any happier with it all. It's also definitely worth reading the Shades of Magic series first as it creates a whole deeper level of emotions when reading this book!

This book did not disappoint. It’s honestly everything you would expect from V. E. Schwab. This author has a great way of writing immersive stories that draws you in. Loved it!

I am obsessed with the Shades of Magic series, so a new series set in the same world. I am here for it! Keep it coming VE! Solid five stars for this first in what I’m sure will be another favorite series.

This is EASILY the best book in the Shades of Magic series.

(And yes, I know this is the start of a new series, but it is clearly Shades of Magic #4 and it irks me that this is advertised as a new series. It’s not even a spinoff. It’s a direct continuation of the story with the same characters after a time jump. Come on, now.)

Anyway, short rant over, this book is really good. So good that it’s honestly kind of a shame that it’s not a new series and readers will need to read the first three books in the Shades of Magic series to not be totally confused by this book.

But, oh well, let’s talk about why The Fragile Thread of Power is an adventurous, exhilarating, and an all-around-good-time read.

And I cannot stress this enough, I’m about to say all this as someone who felt extremely MEH about the original Darker Shades of Magic trilogy.

First of all, the new characters are FANTASTIC. Tes and Kosika in particular are very interesting, extremely layered, and easy to root for. I’m not sure what the plan is for either character moving forward, but I think she’s already got two great characters to hinge the new series on.

I also liked Alucard’s inclusion in this book, and I think this is a good example of taking an existing supporting character and giving him more screen time. He was already likable from the OG trilogy and that pretty much continues here. It’s also great to see him doing things independent from both Lila and Rhy because let’s be real, he’s a much better character than either of them.

I also think the world building feels even more legit in this book (and it already was quite good and one of the few elements from the OG trilogy that I really liked) and I appreciate that Schwab uses the other Londons a lot more than in the previous books. The world jumping is COOL. I never understood why Schwab insisted on setting most of A Gathering of Shadows and A Conjuring of Light in affluent Red London.

The story is also pretty interesting and moves at a nice pace. I will say I think it wraps up a little too nicely for a series that is just starting, and this is exactly how I felt about the original A Darker Shade of Magic. There are still some loose ends to lead into the next book, but I hated that it felt like Tes’s story was pretty much done. I really hope not because I really like her, but I guess we will see.

One of the major issues with this book (and it was THE major issue I had with the OG trilogy) is that I really don’t like Kell and Lila. I honestly don’t know why Schwab included them in this story. They are both jerks and there’s nothing interesting about them. Kell is mopey in this without his magic, and Lila is a jerk who does almost everything perfectly.

I just really don’t like them.

Despite those flaws, I really enjoyed this read. I was wanting to know what happened next and got super excited to see when Tes or Kosika were the POV of the next chapter.

Fingers crossed that this continues to be an interesting series. Schwab has some really powerful prose, so I’m hopeful that the next book in this series will also be a fantastic read.

This book has ruined me. I finished it hours ago and I can't stop thinking about it. The ending was so wild, the cliffhanger got me so bad!
I'm sad there isn't more, so I can keep living in this world. I love these characters so much. I had no idea how much I’ve missed this world. Being back with my favorite characters? It’s the best feeling in the world! Kell and Lila and Alucard and Rhy… they’re as amazing as I remember. I love these four so much! Every time I’m reading from one of their POVs I tried to read as slowly as I could. Tried to savor every word as much as I could.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

ARC provided by publisher for review

There is nothing particularly wrong with the latest book set in the worlds introduced in the Darker Shades of Magic series, this book just didn’t grab me in the same way as the original trilogy.

This book is told from several different viewpoints… or threads 😉😉😉 before merging together (well, mostly) late in the book. It was nice to return to the worlds of Kell, Lila, and Holland, but this story really seemed to be the “set-up” for what is coming next. We spend a large amount of the book catching up on the years we’ve been away, while also taking a deep dive to introduce us to two major new characters. The pacing of the story was where these giant exposition dumps suffered the most for me and I never felt like the plot had the sense of urgency or danger that Schwab was trying to impart.

I very much enjoyed newcomer Tes’s storyline. It was probably my favorite in the entire book. And Vares. ❤️❤️ IYKYK.

While the storyline of other main newcomer, Kosika, was fine enough, it just didn’t find its way into fitting in with the other characters or the main storyline of this book, making it stand out like a sore thumb.

I do look forward to where this series will go as I think this book has set up some very interesting ideas and characters to explore further, even if it didn’t quite meet my very high expectations.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this earc!

I’ve been a fan of VE Schwab for a long time and somehow she still got it, all these books later.

I am not gonna say too much about the plot of this book because you really need to read it yourself. One thing I really enjoyed is the flashbacks. The Story starts 7 years after the end of Conjuring. I loved how very nice and organized Schwab told us what happened to all the characters in those 7 years without spending too much time on but still giving us a whole picture.

I love that we continue the stories from Shades of Magic just with some new faces and new plot twists.

First, I really like meeting Tes. She is an incredible character who I can’t wait to see more of. She was a perfect combination of amazing but still a 14 year old girl who at some points of the story is scared for her life.

Kosika is definitely an interesting addition because I don’t know if she will get herself killed or turn into a villain.

Nadiya. All I am going to say about our new Queen of Red London is that if she dies, I’ll throw a party. I understand that her character is supposed to be all brain and no heart, but every time she looked at Lila, Kell and Tes is test subjects, I just wanted her gone. She gives me the creeps in the worst way possible. Off with her head. That’s all I am saying.

For our old friends, I really paid very little attention to Rhy as king because it seems like he was a little less important for the story at the moment.

Lila and Kell on the other hand. Honestly, I can probably write a book on just these two. Seeing Kell go through all the pain and seeing him coming out as more was magic. Lila always says that Kell was raised as a prince and the most powerful magician so he never had to work for anything but in the 7 years we see how much it caused him just to get up every morning

And Lila. Lila. Lila. This girl will be the end of me. Every scene with her fighting her nature and going to Kell broke my heart and brought it back to life. Her wearing the ring on the string, her only sleeping next to him, her leaning on him. It is the girl who doesn’t need anyone but chooses one person she will die for. It’s Lila from the end of Conjuring but also Lila who’s finally realizing that her life will not be life without Kell.

All I am going to say is that you need to read this book. And live it for a bit. Magic.

Pub date: 9/26/23
Genre: fantasy
Quick summary: Antari Kell, Delilah, and Holland throught they had fixed the problems facing the four Londons. Until new magic arises in the form of a new Antari named Kosika and a tinkerer named Tes.
Do I need to read THE SHADES OF MAGIC series?: YES. You will be very confused if you try to dive into this world starting with this book (even though it's a spin-off series set in the same universe).

I finally read THE SHADES OF MAGIC series earlier this year, and my expectations were sky-high going into this spin-off! I loved getting to see more from Kell, Delilah, Alucard, and Rhy, and Schwab did a good job making this book feel a little different from the previous trilogy rather than just a rehash.

As with the beginning of any fantasy trilogy, I'm still not 100% sure where things are going, and that's the reason why this was a 4-star rather than a 5-star read for me. But I love what I've seen so far from Tes, and it seems like Kosika will wreak havoc as well. I'm excited to read the rest of the THREADS OF POWER series!

Thank you to Tor Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realize how much I missed this world until I was finally able to return. I have never wanted to crawl inside a book so badly. I loved all of the new characters and the woven storyline between the original characters and the new ones and was immediately sucked right back in and couldn't put it down. Anything V. E. Schwab writes I will read. I have loved each book more than the last and CANNOT WAIT to see where the Threads of Power series takes us.

Once, there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power, and connected by a single city: London. Until the magic grew too fast, and forced the worlds to seal the doors between them in a desperate gamble to protect their own. The few magicians who could still open the doors grew more rare as time passed and now, only three Antari are known in recent memory―Kell Maresh of Red London, Delilah Bard of Grey London, and Holland Vosijk, of White London.

A new Antari named Kosika has appeared in White London, taking the throne in Holland's absence. The young queen is willing to feed her city with blood, including her own―but her growing religious fervor has the potential to drown them instead.

In Red London, King Rhy Maresh is threatened by a rising rebellion, one determined to correct the balance of power by razing the throne entirely.

A new girl with an unusual magical ability comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds. Her name is Tes, and she's the only one who can bring them together―or unravel it all.

This book broke me. I've been savoring it for the past several months. Since the moment I was gifted an ARC I have only consumed a few pages at a time in order to make it last as long as possible because who knows when we'll get the next one.
From the very beginning it was more than I could have ever asked for. It is more than I could have dreamed for. And then, it goes beyond asking and wishing and dreaming and it bounded into this unknown magnificence that other sequels/continuations in a universe couldn't even conceive of.
I cannot say how much I adore this book. It's one of the best I've ever read. It made me feel things in ever single chapter. The care and profound gift this story gives us is too much. It's too great.

I don't want to spoil anything for the next blessed soul who gets to gift of reading this book, but just know seven years is a long time. So much can change and so many wonderful things can grow.

This book has a piece of my heart.

DNF at 25%. Too many characters for my liking and the plot felt all over the place. I will maybe pick it up and try again at another time.

Now that we are closer to the release date and I have had time to process my thought, I can officially say that this is awesome and the perfect follow up to the Darker Shades of Magic Trolly. In fact, it might be sacrilegious to say, I liked this book better than all but the first book in the original trilogy.

The book balances a nice line of switching between old and new characters, I actually liked the new characters A LOT more than I thought I would, and the driving conflict of this book is more personally appealing to me as a reader, its more internal and meaningful to the characters.

The only problems I encountered while reading was a lot of switching back and forth in time while also switching character POV a lot so it felts very disconnected at times and it slow spots that had me skimming to get back into the thick of things. I feel like I am knows for being critical about pacing, and here I am yet again being critical about pacing. It could have been better.

I think the biggest comfort for old fans is knowing that this book isn’t messing anything up about the original trilogy, it is tonally consistent, faithful to the original content, and a true pleasure to see some of our favorite characters in their respective elements again.

4.25/5

It's been seven years since Rhy, Kell, and Lila saved their world. Since then, the worlds have been closed off from each other. There's a new queen, Kosika, of White London. And in Red London, a group called the Hand is scheming to kill King Rhy while his lover, Alucard Emery, attempts to find the conspirators.

Though set in the same world as A Darker Shade of Magic, this also begins a new series and introduces us to a new character, Tes, who has the ability to see magic as threads and manipulate them, repairing spell work at its very source. I really loved returning to Red London and these characters, and though it had been several years since I read the original trilogy, I was able to jump right in and become invested once again. Love the worldbuilding and the characters, and I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab!

V. E. Schwab has done it again. As always, her prose is an absolute delight to read, and her masterful weaving together of different POVs allows the reader to tie together different character arcs and aspects of the story. I loved Schwab's Shades of Magic series, and The Fragile Threads of Power takes us back into that world seven years later. The story strikes a good balance between characters from the original series and compelling new characters. I do recommend reading the Shades of Magic series first to get a better understanding of the world and the old characters. Eagerly awaiting the next book!

(Thank you to Tor Books for providing me with an ARC)