Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC! I was not able to read it before its release date for a variety of reasons, but have since been able to do so and wanted to give it a review.

Slipping back into the world of the Red, Black, White, and Grey London was much easier than I first imagined. V.E. Schwab is very good at catching a reader up without making it seem like an exposition dump. She teases out information in a way that is calculated yet casual (and I appreciate this). The book begins seven years after the events of A Conjuring of Light, and much of the book is teased out by character and in segments such as "Seven Years Ago," "Five Years Ago," and "One Year Ago." At times this brought me out of the reading as my mind felt like it had to do mental math to make sure I was tucking the actions into their proper timeline.

This new, adjoining series as the regulars of Kell, Lila, Rhys, and Alucard, but also adds new characters that inject the storyline with new energy and motivations, especially in how the story is told in time segments. The first few cycles of this had me sure I wasn't going to like the way it kept up, but the actions and the details revealed kept me interested and willing to go along as the story flowed.

Overall, I did enjoy The Fragile Threads of Power very much and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

It took me six months to get halfway through and if I'm not excited about a book and don't care about the characters I'm just not going to keep trying.

This is most definitely not a first book in a spinoff. You absolutely need to read the 3 in ADSOM. I read the first one and still have no idea what was going on. But there was so much slow information dumping that I could not stay invested. I'm sure people who loved all 3 of the other books may feel differently but this wasn't interesting enough for me to keep going.

I know I am in the minority here - but I've put this down and picked it up so many times that I know it's just not for me.

This was a great extension of the previous trilogy of Schwab’s. It’s intricate, action packed, and fresh, while still maintaining what we love from the previous stories.

It took me a really long time to get back into this world, and even though I loved the first three books, I felt like it was a struggle to reconnect with these characters after so long. Once I finally got into it, though, it was pretty good, and I will probably pick up the next one as well.

Just simply and Iconic book. Reading this book felt like returning home to old friends. We just need 4737474 books in this series please! We love you VE SCHWAB!

WOW! What a ride! I am happy to report FRAGILE THREADS was an amazing continuation of the beloved Shades of Magic trilogy. I felt like this was a very appropriate continuation of the series because we still get to follow the characters we have all come to love but we are also introduced to some new characters who were like a breath of fresh air! I enjoyed the new perspectives, Tes and Kosika, a lot more than I thought I would. The way Schwab wove in their stories with the original cast was brilliant.

This is not a huge knock on the book but I find that Schwab tends to struggle with pacing. FRAGILE THREADS is almost 650 pages and with the time jumps and the changing POVs, there's bound to be a lull somewhere. It didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book but I think it's worth noting if you're someone who has struggled with Schwab's pacing in the past.

I'm super excited to see what the rest of this series has in store!

I'm a massive fan of V. E. Schwab, and this was a fantastic addition to the Darker Shade of Magic universe. Her prose is as beautiful as I've come to expect, and the characters were so well developed. Thoroughly enjoyed, and can't wait for the next!

I read about 15% and decided it’s just not for me. I didn’t know a lot before going in and this style of fantasy is just not what I enjoy. That’s on me, not the book.

Another slam dunk from V.E. Schwab! I already love this world due to the Darker Shades of Magic series but to get to come back and see are characters in a whole new light was amazing. Not even including how awesome the new characters are. Can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I am a HUGE Schwab fan after Addie!!! How could I not be. Naturally after reading the invisible life I wanted more of her writing and The Fragile Threads of Power did NOT disappoint. V.E. has a way of creating characters we absolutely fall in love with and this case was no different. Intricate world building and a fun plot. This was a joy to read and I want more, MOre, MORE!!

Rated 3.5

This took me longer than I’m thrilled about to get through and I still only managed to get to 30%. It’s been some time since I read A Darker Shade of Magic so the finer details of how it all ended have been lost to time. This hops in and takes off with a whole pile of POVs that I had to struggle to keep straight on the audiobook and in the story.

The time was confusing in Lila and Kell’s early chapters. I felt like there were time jumps in the same chapters so I’ve felt wrongfooted the entire time.

I think the dread I’m feeling to be forced to take notes on a book I’d really just love to read and enjoy is kind of a review on its own. I wish this clicked for me more.

Dude this took me literally forever to read and I think my mistake was not rereading the series before I got here. I was so excited to pick this up and so I had to start it right away but I was CONFUSED.

I was so excited to come back into this world and loved the something old and something new element. Lately I've had so many series that were once completed come back with a new book and do it wonderfully and I feel like had I been more aware of what I left behind in this series, I would've given this a 5 star. We really need to consider adding a "that's what you missed on glee" type summary at the beginning of every book so that we can recap before jumping in.

VE Schwab, we love you forever.

thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

stepping back inside VE Schwab's masterfully crafted world felt like coming home.

full review to come.

I can't even put into words how happy I am to be returning to this world. I stared at the email stating I was accepted for this arc and I honestly believe I cried. V. E Schwab did it again by creating the most amazing characters. Full review to come when I have all my thoughts in order. I am just sitting in complete awe and pure happiness. I can't wait for the next book.

Ahh we are so back! A promising start for the new spin-off series . V.E. Schwab’s writing is incredible and the world building + magic here is so detailed and very well done. I can’t wait for more!

She can do no wrong!! This book was FIRE! After reading Addie LaRue I was already made into a life long fan.... and now it's set in stone. Thank you so much for an early copy.

VE Schwab is an incredible author. I love her storytelling, character development, and world building. I enjoyed this story but some of the fantasy elements were too much for me.

Schwab begins a new phase in her Darker Shades of Magic series. She returns to the realm of different Londons in multiple worlds, but now her latest book is set seven years later. Only the Antari who have special powers can open the doors to the different worlds. But for many years the magical gateways have been closed. When dangerous characters learn of the existence of a special device that can open the portals and are in pursuit of it, the race to stop them is on.

There were originally only three Antaris. Kell Maresh, who came from Red London, isn’t using his powers because of complications. Instead, he’s been learning to be a privateer on a ship with another Antari, Delila Bard. She came from Grey London. The third known Antari was Holland Vosijk, a White Londoner, but he is dead. Other returning characters include King Rhy Maresh (Kell’s brother) and Alucard Emery (a close friend of the king). These beloved characters are always welcome but there are some new additions to liven up the plot. Kosika is the young leader who took over Holland’s throne. There’s also Tes who is quite fascinating. She’s an orphan who is able to fix anything. Her ability to see the threads of magic and re-work them makes her truly special. Another new addition is a fascinating, mysterious ship that carries magical artifacts and becomes key to the plot.

Lovers of Schwab’s great writing and wonderfully imagined worlds of magic, will be thrilled that she is revisiting her beloved land of the different Londons. The return of so many fabulous characters is only enhanced by the additional new storylines. This book will be a welcome addition to her catalog of popular fantasy stories and will leave her readers in anticipation of what will come next.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This week’s headline? Holland is my everything

Why this book? I really like the Shades of Magic series

Which book format? ARC

Primary reading environment? Parents’ and airplanes

Any preconceived notions? Yes! It’s going to be great!!!

Identify most with? Tes

Three little words? “[All] tools are weapons [in the hands of the wrong people]”

Goes well with? Plots of overthrowing the monarchy (ahem, government) and tinkering with toys

Recommend this to? Fans of V.E. Schwab and magic

Other cultural accompaniments: https://bookish.netgalley.com/exclusive-interviews/09/2023/ve-schwab-interview-the-fragile-threads-of-power/

I leave you with this: “Hard to pick a pocket when they’re already staring at your hands.”
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I already knew I was going to love this before reading it. Schwab rarely misses. This is a spin-off of the Shades of Magic series, with most of the familiar faces from the original trilogy and also some new ones. Tes is the best new character in my opinion - try and prove me wrong. I dare you. 😂

The Fragile Threads of Power is available now. It’s been available since last September. Where have I been? Wtf have I been doing? I… don’t remember.

Simply put, this was in my top ten of the year. V.E. Schwab just keeps getting better with every single book she writes. 10/10, 5/5 whatever scoring system you use, this book wins.