I really enjoyed this. I loved book 1 and I was really excited to get to this book. I think everybody should give this duology a shot. I love Greek mythology.

4.5 stars, only because I had a hard time starting the book. Once I hit ~11%, however, it was hard to stop. The expanded world building, especially the revelations at the climax, made me like the first book more too. There were so many named characters at one point that I couldn't keep up with everyone, but the most important were made clear enough, at least.

The significance of Io's fate thread was clear to me while reading the first book. I knew it would be used in the way it was at the end, but it was still a good journey seeing Io realize what she could do with it. I'm surprised at how long it took for her to realize it, though. It didn't feel dragged out, to be clear. I interpreted the time it took as her not *wanting* to come to that conclusion.

I read the first book in the series, gave it a great review, and immediately bought two copies. Which is why it pains me to admit that I didn’t really like this one? It started very slowly, the action was predictable, and I thought it lacked a lot of heart. Things keep *happening* in the book, but the characters appear to never feel anything about that.

A respectable follow up to an engaging series entry. Would be great for teens to who may have out grown Percy Jackson but not their love for mythology.

I really enjoyed Threads That Bind. It had the perfect balance of world building, plot, dynamic and interesting characters, and a slow burn romance. The way the story gradually unfolded kept me hooked and I was surprised at every turn.
Unfortunately Hearts That Cut didn’t quite capture that same magic. While I love both Io and Bianca (completely differently), their story dragged in the early chapters. By the time I was invested in their plot line, it got shoved to the back burner.
Many of the twists were much more obvious than the first book and it became frustrating watching the characters overlook clues that seemed so obvious.
That said, there was still a lot to appreciate about the world and characters and I actually really enjoyed the ending.
I look forward to what Kika writes next. Thanks Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There was SOOO much going on this book that I can't believe this was ever pitched as duology (to me!). There was already so much going on about children of god's but now we have literal gods too playing into this. Can't wait to read book 3.

The first book brought me here this book held me captive! This series is just amazing and I will make sure to recommend it to anyone looking for a new fav fantasy book!

Hearts That Cut, by Kika Hatzopoulou, is the much anticipated sequel to The Threads That Bind, a story steeped in mythology, mystery and magic. This second instalment follows Io Ora as she leaves her home in Alante to follow the golden thread of a god. She faces challenge upon challenge as she travels with Bianca through the cities following the thread and worrying about her own fraying fate thread, which she shares with Edei. Her investigation leads her to Nanzy where her team unites, following different clues along their journey to meeting the gods and revealing Io’s true fate.
This author delivers a captivating story with relatable characters. Her world building features beautiful descriptions, following a complex storyline.
I really enjoyed reading this sequel. I feel like the story isn’t finished yet, as Io’s world needs to be rebuilt. Hopefully they’ll be a third instalment!

I'm so sorry. I appreciated the ARC read but I couldn't finish it because I had to DNF about 50% through. It just wasn't for me unfortunately

Great conclusion to this duology. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery behind the city attacks and murders of Otherborn mentioned in the first volume. Bianca was my favorite character in the duology with her no-nonsense attitude and perseverance. I enjoyed learning about the different types of Otherborn and their powers introduced in this volume as they are inspired by Greek mythology.

A sequel to Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou. I am going to give this a 4 star rating as it seems to be doing well overall on different book sites, but I have not gotten around to reading the first book in the series. I am looking forward to diving into this series based on the stunning covers and interesting premise. Better review to come when I have actually read them both.

This is an interesting take on Greek mythology. This story follows Io, one of the descendants of the Fates, and the mysterious disappearance of siblings in the Wastelands. It touches upon friendship, family, and dealing with the powers that be. It's a good sequel and an intriguing tale.

I really enjoyed Threads That Bind and was excited to read the sequel. The world that Kika Hatzopoulou creates feels so familiar and at the same time unique. I hope that the author continues to dip into this world for other books.

Hearts That Cut is a good conclusion to the Threads That Bind duology, however I feel like it could've been more. The overall pacing was great in the beginning and then starts to feel rushed in the latter half. I loved the relationships that developed in the first book but didn't feel like they concluded well in the sequel, especially given how complicated the relationship is between all three sisters. I did greatly enjoy the ending twist. But again, I did wish for more. It felt like a fairly complicated ending that could've really hit a home run had it had more time to breath and be explained. I think this could've easily been a trilogy and rounded out of the characters and story better.

3.5 stars.

I really liked the world that the author created and I do look forward to reading more from Hatzopoulou. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I highly-anticipated conclusion to the duology, but didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one. Story felt rush, and incomplete. Enjoyed the characters and their abilities and how it effected their surroundings, the world building..

In this sequel to Threads That Bind, Io and her ragtag team must go against the gods. These creatures are only legends, but Io has seen the golden threads that prove that they are real. And Io is out for vengeance.
It’s been five weeks since Io left Alante to follow a golden thread that will lead her to the gods. But she and wraith Bianca find nothing concrete. She has one lead, but it is fleeting. Meanwhile, her fate thread with Edei is fraying and that scares her. She doesn’t want to lose him. Finally, the two women find a new clue: siblings are disappearing across the Wastelands. This leads them to Nanzy, the golden city, and eye of the storm. Gaining new allies, they learn the truth--a truth that is painful for the human race. But what is better: Free will or a circle of death and destruction?
Kika Hatzopoulou creates a chase across Io’s world. But each red herring leads to reader fatigue. It takes too long to find a foothold for the story. While the search encompasses things that won’t seem important until the end, the reader is ready for the faster pace that was featured in the first book. Even when we settle into the story, the gods don’t appear until the last fifth of the book. Knowing these things ahead of time might actually make the book more enjoyable because you aren’t expecting something that the book is not.
The conclusion of the story is not disappointing at all. Readers encounter shifts in alliances, the true reason for the creation of the wraiths, and the philosophy of free will. Io becomes emboldened with Edei fighting fate versus fate line. Familial love is tested again and again. When the gods finally show their faces, the pace quickens and each member of Io team has to make their own stance. The final battle is full of twists and surprises. I wish there had been an epilogue to see what her world had become after the conclusion. But I like the feeling the book ends on and would rather not have that shattered.
While not as strong as its predecessor, Hearts that Cut has an exciting conclusion that gives the character closure and takes the readers on an epic battle.

4/5 stars!

I was super excited when I saw this ARC on NetGalley because I loved the first one and I was extremely happy to receive the ARC for the second one!

It is a little slow before Edei returns and I wasn’t really feeling it but one he did I was on the edge of my seat! Not just for the romance factor (although he had me kicking my feet a numerous parts) but the plot itself just seemed to come more together with him there!

I loved this one and I would kill for just another one that’s more slice of life for Io and Edei like I would devour that!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

This duology is so good! Although I loved the first book a lot more, this one was still so exciting and phenomenal. It dragged a bit in the middle but picked up quickly and I was hooked from then!

This was a good conclusion to the story of threads that bind.

The relationship between Io and Bianca was something different than we saw in the first book and I enjoyed their journey. Sometimes it had that buddy cop feel to it.

This book really touches on the expectations of family and how blood doesn’t always mean those that will stand by your side. Her relationship with her sisters and the pressure the parents put on them to trust and go along with anything with 0 questions was fascinating.

I did think the middle dragged a bit which left the end feeling a bit rushed. Overall though I enjoyed it.

This was such a wonderful conclusion to a duology. A heightened version of the mystery of the first book, it is just as heart-poundingly good. Filled with magic and Greek mythology, I cannot get over how freaking cool this world is, how freaking awesome it see to see the threads unravel over the mystery, and just how havoc could be wrought. It is so beautifully done, the weight of generational trauma, the fear that comes with change, the desperate craving for love. I adored it all the way through.

A pretty good ending but i never really got a grasp of the world. The prose is good and the romance was sweet