First thoughts as I read The Fragile Threads of Power: this feels like coming home.

Like using a time machine, crawling into your childhood bed, and feeling as if no time has passed at all since you last laid there.

But at the same time, so much time has passed because you're different now and that change makes it sweeter, softer, and warmer.

You're not taking a single blink, a single feeling, a single moment of the experience for granted. You know you're so blessed to be here, feeling these sacred moments of comfort again.

That bed, that comfort, that moment out of time.

That is this book.

I have cried more times than I can count.

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These were my first thoughts when I was partway through, and they are even more true now as I reach the end.

This book is a masterpiece.

If you're nervous about returning to the Shades of Magic world, if you're scared it won't be as good as it once was: don't be. This is everything I could have dared hope for, and more.

I can't wait for the everyone to dive in.

(Shared to Netgalley as well but it won't link)

This book consumed me on every level. Quite possibly my favorite VE book. It was everything all at once, and everything I was hoping it would be. I have nothing but positive feelings towards this book and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this book.

Everything V. E. Schwab touches turns to gold, or in this case, magic as we return once more to the world of A Darker Shade of Magic. With enticing new characters and much welcomed old favourites, Schwab weaves yet another wondrous tale of love, power and everything in between.

This was an incredible continuation in the shades of magic series, and will stand out as its own as well. The familiar faces, as well as new ones, were exciting to read about and I can’t wait to see more of them as the series goes on. Schwabs writing has a way of burying deep in your mind and pulling you deeper and deeper into the story, and the same is true for this book

I'm a big fan of V.E. Schwab and of the Shades of Magic series. I loved this book, I liked that it included my favorite characters still, but also brought in new characters as well. The plot was entertaining and the story was fast paced. The writing was beautiful and the character development was great. I'm very excited to continue the series.

Ahhhhhhh. It was so great to return to this world and these characters (and meet the new ones!). I am overall very very happy about it, with just one qualm that I won't get into now because of spoilers, but will say has to do with Kell's arc so that hopefully I don't forget to talk about it later when the book comes out.

Still don't love the cover though.

The Fragile Threads of Power is a gripping and intricate novel that takes readers back to the world of A Darker Shade of Magic. Author V.E. Schwab masterfully weaves together a tapestry of old friends and new enemies in this high fantasy novel.

The story centers around Tes, a girl with a unique magical ability who comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds. The worlds are connected by the city of London, and each pulsates with fantastical power. However, as magic grew too fast, the worlds were forced to seal the doors between them. The few magicians who could still open the doors grew rare as time passed, and only three Antari are known in recent memory.

The plot is layered and complex, with multiple storylines that slowly converge. The rising rebellion in Red London threatens the balance of power and risks the entire kingdom. Meanwhile, a new Antari named Kosika has appeared in White London, taking the throne in Holland's absence, and her religious fervor has the potential to drown the city in blood. Schwab's characters are rich and complex, and readers will quickly become invested in their fates.

The Fragile Threads of Power is a fantastic addition to the world of A Darker Shade of Magic. Schwab's writing is masterful, and the story is both intricate and engaging. The novel is a must-read for fans of high fantasy, magic, and intricate plots. The book will also appeal to readers of historical fiction and science fiction fantasy.

This book stressed me out and gave me anxiety dreams, but it was perfection.
Welcome back to Red London, where no one can be trusted and even less people are safe.
I audibly gasped at the 50% mark and then once I was over my shock lived in doubt of people's intentions.
That is the thing with Schwab, you can't trust anyone even those you really desperately want to.
Fragile Threads of Power is setting the stage for the trilogy, a lot of new world building and character development but it was all so satisfying. Beautifully written, absolutely worth the wait. Ren may be my favourite new character. Although Vares is a pretty close second.

I'm SO happy there's more books in this series, I am going to EAT THEM UP.

I really really enjoyed TFTOP. This book was like coming home. A Darker Shade of Magic is one of my all-time favourite series, and getting to see all these characters that I love again felt SO nice. I also liked getting to meet other characters in this world. I can't stress how much I loved getting to revisit this world, so thank you to V.E. Schwab for writing this <3

I do feel like TFTOP has the same thing the first book of ADSOM does, where there isn't much plot and a lot of exposition. You can tell this is setting up a bigger trilogy because there was so much foundation here. That may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought it was really fun. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where the various threads (haha) lead in the next two books! Overall this was such a treat, but I do think reading ADSOM first is necessary to fully appreciate everything that happens in this book.

Thank you to TOR for the eARC, I am forever grateful!

The Fragile Threads of Power is the best Shades of Magic novel yet. It's a phenomenal continuation that puts all of Schwab's passion, craft, and love for this world on full display, and it made a miraculous wreckage of my heart. This is Schwab at the height of their powers, keeping us up to date with the original Shades of Magic cast and introducing us to the new Threads of Power crew, all the while weaving everything together into a thrilling, expertly plotted story that will appeal to old and new fans alike. I promise you—not one of you is ready for what's coming, and I can't wait for this novel to hit shelves this fall so the world can see what Schwab has accomplished!

(And while Schwab has done an excellent job ensuring that you don't need to read the Shades of Magic trilogy prior to reading this one, I will say that the emotional depth and impact will be much more satisfying if you have, and I would wholeheartedly recommend reading those first, to ensure that you get the richest experience possible from this one.)

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC! It was absolutely amazing to visit this world again! My favorite parts were those with our familiar characters from the Darker Shade of Magic trilogy, but the parts with new characters kept me invested, too.

I adore V.E. Schwab and The Shades of Magic series. While I was reading the final book in that trilogy I hoped there would be a spin-off series and I'm so glad we got it. The writing is so unmistakably Schwab, I’ve felt homesick reading this. I loved this it had everything I ever need in a fantasy novel. I definitely need to get my hands on book 2!

I was so excited to receive this ARC! The Shades of Magic trilogy is one of my all-time favorite series, and I loved being back in this world. Before reading it, I was under the impression that this series would mostly follow new characters, with some appearances from the original crew from the trilogy. However, I was so pleasantly surprised that Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard were main characters in this series, with the addition of Tes and Kosika, who I also liked a lot! I missed Kell so much, and his storyline was the most compelling, in my opinion. Of course, reading Lila's perspective again was a joy, and I really like seeing domestic Rhy and Alucard.
I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait for the second book. VE Schwab has a way of creating the most unique characters and the most immersive settings. I'm so happy that she's decided to continue writing about this world.

Beautifully written and a must-read for fans of V.E. Schwab. This will be a popular read for my high school students who loved A Darker Shade of Magic.

I was absolutely thrilled when I found out there would be more books in The Shades of Magic series and this book did not disappoint! It had the perfect blend of new characters and old, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

*Spoiler free review. I received a digital ARC and proceeded to read it in a day like the menace I am.*

It is a marvel when one of your favorite things has enough of an impact to come back years after its end and drags in new fans to enjoy the story. As for the old fans? We sit impatiently with the knowledge that something magical is rushing forward to meet that spot in our minds where it left off. Schwab's books are always a feast for the brain. If a body could live on words alone, hers would satisfy me for eternity.

Full truth: I spent about 50% of my time reading this book feeling terrified. I love these characters and I just spent so much of my time reading panicking whether something would happen to them or not. But that’s due to my own inner anxiety, not the book itself.

Diving in to read The Fragile Threads of Power is like when you go visit a faraway place again after many years, and you step off the plane and take that first breath. The air is so different from home, from the air you breathe every day, but it's familiar all the same. And you find you've been craving the scent and feel of it without even realizing it. Or maybe you did register the need for the air of this place, and finally breathing it in unlocks something in your chest and you just relax, a smile creeping up the sides of your face.

Ok, so enough with the metaphors. I may have been terrified while reading, but I absolutely LOVED this book!. It boasts the same beautiful writing that V. E. Schwab is known for in her other work as she plunges you into the vibrant world and the minds of the characters. Previous readers that loved The Shades of Magic characters will be very pleased as Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard are very prominent in the narrative. Kell and Lila especially bring a grin to my face every time they’re on the page. Literally their first interaction with each was *chef’s kiss*.

While some books throw in new characters that feel out of place or random, the Threads of Power characters feel very natural and fit into this world perfectly. They belong here. Tes is a great addition to the cast and oh my god, Ren is the absolute cutest! Without going into spoilers, I’ll just say that the Maresh royal family has one of the most heartwarming dynamics ever. They collectively stole my heart and I love the relationships between them all. In these books, magic itself has always been a character and the new aspects of magic introduced are just as fascinating as the familiar aspects. I particularly love the expansion on the ‘threads’ magic that Tes and Alucard have, and the rings that one character invented.

There is some plot repetition; a young mage with a unique power comes into possession of dangerous magic and thus must go on the run. But the overall story and spread is different enough that it doesn't feel too repetitive, not to mention the monumental task of introducing new characters, telling their backstories, and filling in the seven year gap of our old characters, which Schwab juggled perfectly. There were several twists that had my jaw on the ground. This review is spoiler free so I REALLY can’t say much, but one twist in particular may have certain fans shrieking. There are many conflicts, action, and plot threads going on to grab your attention away from anything that might feel repetitive, and they all come colliding together in the last fourth of the book.

Oh yes, the climax. Oh. My. GOD. The different plots barely meet each other before it all goes to hell. I mean that in the BEST way possible. It had me on the edge of my seat, freaking out and yelling at the characters (as one does when one is WAY too deep into the story). I can see the different set ups that will come into play in the next two books and I wish I could read them right now, but of course they don’t yet exist on paper.

This is book one of three, as A Darker Shade of Magic was one of three. The stage is set, the characters are established, as is the villain(s), motivations, and backstories. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next two!

Now excuse me while I run off to buy a little owl skeleton that I can talk to while I work.

4 stars
V.E. Schwab always comes through with a totally engrossing novel. This was no exception. I was enthralled from the beginning. It went by so fast, I couldn’t make it stop..haha.

This is SURREAL. It felt surreal while I was reading and it feels surreal to think that I finally have the contents of this book in my BRAIN?? Shades of Magic is my favorite series of all time, so to say I have been anticipating this new book and that I had high hopes would be an understatement.

All I can say is that VE SCHWAB DELIVERED. Every expectation I had was surpassed, it truly felt like no time had passed since I was last with these characters. Every quote, every plot decision, every flashback, it all seemed so absolutely RIGHT. I love these characters and this world so much, and this book expanded on everything in new, yet familiar ways.

The plot was so expertly crafted, I loved the pacing and how the flashbacks were interwoven throughout the book. With such a big time jump, I was a little worried things might seem abrupt or missing, but everything was seamless. Every piece of flashback we got perfectly flowed into where the characters were currently at in the present timeline and my excitement was HIGH for the book’s entirety.

I loved the mix of old and new characters! I love Tes and am so excited to learn more about her. Everything with Kosika in White London was fascinating and SHOCKING, so interesting to see. My fave gang of Kell, Lila, Rhy and Alucard absolutely SERVED in this book. It was honestly like I was reading my dream domestic fanfic but it was REAL CANON and I lost my mind approximately 700 times. I cried more times than I can count and have spent the last 24 hours going through my highlighted quotes and bookmarks over and over again. I am SO, SO happy to be back in the Shades of Magic world and I can’t wait to see where we go!

Thank you thank you Tor for granting me access to this early copy, I’ll never forget the experience of reading this book!