Some about the world that Kika Hatzopoulou has managed to create makes this series so incredibly easy for me to read. There is no single dull moment in this book, nor a wasted opportunity to continue expanding the world. Is this story perfect? No. There are a lot of names and ideas for the reader to remember, and at times I almost wish the books were longer so these ideas could be better fleshed out. But the fact is, the magic system at play here is something so truly unique that it's impossible to put down or ignore. Io is a character worth rooting for, and while I still might enjoy the first book more, especially all of the sleuthing work, it's hard to ignore the pure joy that comes with reading Hearts That Cut.

Hearts that Cut picks up right where Threads that Bind left off. We continue following the mystery laid out in the first book as Io and Bianca travel to find the God thread connecting Thais to the Gods. While I initially struggled to get back into the story (which I blame on me not fully remembering what happened in the first book and having to remind myself of the world and magic system), I couldn’t put it down! What I loved about the first book, continued in this installment. In the first book, Io can come across as a little naive when it comes to the love threads but, through this second one, we see her go from jaded cynicism toward the threads to a more realistic view of them. The different types of relationships are still very much present in this, from the unlikely friendship between Io and Bianca, to the developing relationship of Io and Edei, and even Io’s rocky relationship with Thais. The author does an amazing job showing the intricacies in these different relationships. I also really enjoyed seeing the different powers of the other-born and the world-building. The author does a magnificent job at detailing the world, the magic system, and tying things together in a way that makes sense yet are still big plot twists.

That being said, the end of the book felt kind of rushed to me and I wish there was a third book in the series to allow the author to delve deeper into the world and the impact revelations had on the characters. We get so bombarded with information and then don’t really have time to process it before new information is revealed. While this is normally fine if the characters are going through the same experience, there seemed to be a lot happening off page. It would go from revelation to “the team planned for a day and a half” to immediately jumping back into action. This made it difficult at times to fully feel the impact of the revelations.

While I think the first book was better, the second installment is a solid read and cements this duology as one of my favorites. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I was bored the whole time. I made it to 59 percent, which was to chapter 17. I did not get my questions answered from the first book and lost hope considering that the story changed paths too many times and was going downhill. I found it hard to keep up with and difficult to get in to.

I was obsessed with Threads that Bind, so I came in with high expectations about the second book and was not disappointed. The story kept me on my toe and my one major critic of the first book was that I wanted more world building and what was I given exactly what I wanted

I finished my arc read of Hearts that Cut, the conclusion to the Threads that Bind duology, and I haven't stopped screaming since 🥲 just, just the pure brilliance of the plot and the amazing usage of diverse mythological elements (I love loved how the mythologies of so many regions were combined effectively) >>>>

Also, the friendships? The romance? The character growth and narration of the MC? The writing and the plot were so well-rounded.

TWs - death, natural disasters

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

****This book will be published on June 18, 2024****
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill, and Netgalley for the eARC of this sequel.
I once again had so much fun adventuring with Io and crew.
This book starts off soon after the events that took place at the end of book one, but does a good recap as we go along with this new story.
The action hits from the first few chapters. Io and Bianca are on the hunt and have been for a few weeks since the previous time with them. This book does take time to flesh out the world building more and let you see the wider cities and turmoil this world is in. There are new cities to explore that have interesting backstory. I found that there were many interesting hybrids of animals and monsters to show in this book as well. There are new other-born magic types introduced too.
There were so many wrenches thrown into what I was anticipating to happen with this detective crew. It was a fun, and crazy journey. Lots of intense “oh no!” moments. Absolutely love the original cast of characters and all new ones introduced in this one.
A great ending with some “threads” left to keep some things open. I'm hoping and ready for more in this Greek-god magic world!

Kiki Hatzopoulou has done it again. Gripping and gorgeously written, HEARTS THAT CUT is every bit as good as its predecessor. A perfect read for fans of romantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

✨Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🫑/5

Book 2 starts 5 weeks after book 1 with Io and Bianca traveling to find out why people are missing all over the country. The prophecy looms over Io and she hopes by unraveling the mystery to these disappearances she can put an end to everything.

Even though this is a bit of a traveling type of book it was still very much enjoyable! I liked the internal struggle Io faces as she considers her sisters betrayals. Also this book explores a bit more of the world and different powers. I really really enjoy the magic system of this series and find it extremely unique.

I do feel like there was a missed opportunity to explore Io and Edei’s relationship. I feel like there was the miscommunication trope which was frustrating because now is the time to explore each others feelings not push each other away!!! i still feel like these two are more like awkward high school bf/gf than fate threads…. Also some of their decisions on the fate thread did frustrate me. BUT there were still some swoon worthy moments.

Complaints about the relationship aside, i do believe this book delivers on all the other aspects. This book starts with a bang and doesn’t let up the entire time. And just when you think you may have hit the middle of a series slump it drags you right back in. This book is engaging, fun, and unique. I can’t wait to continue the series (there has to be more!!)

I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Threads That Bind and the sequel is even better than the first! The characters, world-building, plot twists, and overall vibes are immaculate.

First of all, thank you so much to Kika for making sure I got the ARC! I appreciate you and your never-ending kindness. Because this book is all I needed in my life right now.

Secondly, oh my god. I have no words. Threads That Bind was great, I loved it, it had me hooked, but Hearts That Cut was just jaw dropping. The pacing, the characters, the relationships, the growth, the mystery— everything was so perfectly balanced and written incredibly. I am in genuine awe. I binge read this book in two days because I wasn’t able to put it down.

Edei and Io killed me and then revived me. I am genuinely full of sadness that this series is over. I love this book so much. Everyone has to read these books.

“How will you find me?”
He tapped his chest over the fate-thread and said, with confidence, “I’ll find you.”
Io smiled, then nodded. Loyal and gentle, her Edei, and clever as a fox.
“Be careful,” he whispered —and let her go.

Spoiler alert: this is the second book in the series.

Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou is an incredible sequel to Threads That Bind. The plot is amazing, and the characters have such personality to them. It fit the first book perfectly.


After the events of the first book, Io continues to investigate the wraiths while also trying to strengthen her and Edei’s fate thread before it snaps. But it’s more complicated than that.


In my opinion, it was absolutely amazing. Even though I don’t really like mysteries, I fell in love with this one. The plot had all those hills and loops. It was perfect. The characters were perfect and they felt like they were real. Overall, this book was an amazing book, and if I had to read it again, I would do so with a huge smile on my face.

Threads That Bind was one of my favorite YA fantasy releases that I read last year. Naturally, I was eager to continue the tale.

Let's start with what I loved!

I absolutely love the world that this series is set in. It's very unique and unlike any other books I've read in the past. Almost like, if Veronica Mars, Ready Player One, and Greek mythology had a baby.

I'm also a big fan of Io and Edei. Io, our main character, is someone who's easy to root for while still being very human with unlikeable traits. Her chemistry with Edei is so great, and you're on the edge of your seat, witnessing their interactions and wondering "will they or won't they?"

Overall, though, I feel like this book came down with a sophomore slump syndrome. There were many threads (pun intended) to follow, and I don't feel like the book did a good enough job of making me feel like I truly understood the motives of the characters. The pacing also felt a little off, especially at the beginning. I think this is because the energy between Bianca and Io just isn't that interesting to read, IMO, and they spend the entire first 1/4th of the book together without the other main cast of characters, which made the first part of the book a bit of a drag. The idea of them being love-to-hate-you buddies on a mission together is ultimately more compelling than the execution.

This one I'm not 100% sure about - but I think this might be the final book in a duology? In which case, I really wish that Kika had made this into a trilogy. The ending felt rushed and not truly a satisfying conclusion to their story.

Still, massive kudos to Kika for building such a unique and beautiful world. I'd recommend this series to anyone who's into YA fantasy!

Thanks so NetGalley and Razorbill for the ARC of Hearts that Cut!

I was very excited to get my hands on this early. I absolutely loved Threads that Bind and was excited to see what was going to be next for Io. Unfortunately, the second book felt somewhat rushed, and didn’t give me quite the same level of connection to the characters as the first book. I found myself having to go back and re-read sections because something dramatic happened very quickly and I missed it. It is possibly this series could have benefited from being a trilogy.

I’m still obsessed with the premise of this series and love these characters. Kika Hatzopoulou does an amazing job of creating a world that simultaneously feels other worldly and familiar with a cast of characters you want to root for. Im very excited to see what she works up next!

3.5/5: I’m rating this book slightly higher than the previous book because I think it wraps up in a very nice way. The package isn’t perfect, but the result is a solid conclusion and a sense of resolve.

The story picks right up where we left off, but a bit into the future. However, the intense world-building that happened in the previous book is overshadowed by the even MORE intense world-building that is to come. We see far too many places and get far too much information about people and their lineage to gods that it distracts from the big picture. The detective angle was lost and almost forced back into play in this book. It was nothing anyone couldn’t do with having very little investigative background.

I did enjoy this book in its essence and would recommend it for younger audiences. Io is very relatable for a YA audience, but not so much an adult reader. However, Bianca makes up for this multiple times. She really shined in this book! I missed the relationship with Io and her sisters as it takes a backseat here. Same with the other characters we had grown to love. It’s very Io-centric and we don’t have the connections we built in book 1.

I love Edei and Io. Their romance is so tender and sweet. Anytime they have a moment alone together I was just overjoyed! I enjoyed the progression of their relationship but still find their interactions lacking in frequency to build the connection they have.

Edei was a character I wanted more from. He’s been through so much up to this point and we only get a glimpse of the tole it takes on him. I would have loved to see him talk to Io about it more. Because, as I mentioned previously, their interactions are few and relatively short when we get them.

There are so many details thrown in that it prevents you from being able to read it without JUST reading the dialog. Which, when you got to it, wasn’t all that exciting. Although, if you want as many descriptions as your heart could ever desire, it’s got plenty of that.

The ending is paced well and finally comes to the grand finale we’ve waited for. However, it came more out of nowhere than I could have anticipated and there were aspects that left me feeling like we’ve been led on this wild goose chase. It could have been better eluded to.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this upcoming book by Kika Hatzopoulou

I was so excited to receive an ARC of Hearts That Cut after loving the first book and it certainly did not disappoint! It picks up shortly after the events of Threads That Bind. Io and team begin the hunt for the goddess behind the golden thread and are taken on adventure that keeps you engaged the entire time.

While the beginning started a bit slow, I can’t think of a single thing to change based on how the story played out. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat and the mystery element was as strong here as it was in book one. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Kika threw in a curveball that had me reeling.

Overall, I think if you enjoyed the first book then this will be a hit for you too!

Thank you NetGalley and Razorbill for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, this sequel was AMAZING! Kika Hatzopoulou really knocks it out of the park with this second book in the duology!
It really picks up from where it left off from “Threads That Bind”.. We follow Io and Bianca on a crazy adventure as they trace the “golden thread” of the gods to help solve the mystery on the aftermath of the first book’s events. They also meet up with the other characters, as they all set to figure out what the gods have planned!! It was very hard to stop reading this book!!

The “mystery” element in “Hearts That Cut” is amazing and unique, unlike anything I’ve read before! Kika Hatzopoulou adds unexpected turns, twists and edge on your seat action!! The suspense really kept me going, not knowing what will happen next!

The love interest between Io and Edei was very wonderful! Even when they were apart during times and the uncertainty of their feelings- the love between felt very real and sweet as they worked together in this fight!

The author did an amazing job with character development in this duology! Each character had their own unique personality, quirks and moments! The mythology aspect was very very interesting and added such a depth to the story that made it very enjoyable to read! I definitely learned a lot! “Hearts That Cut” is a must read for anyone who loves mystery, romance, and mythology!

I want to say a big THANK YOU to Razorbill and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this as my first arc! Very grateful and I really enjoyed it very much!!

"Hearts that Cut" picks us 5 weeks after "Threads that Bind" left off, following Io and Bianca as they traverse the wastelands in hopes of finding the god who is behind the creation of the wraiths.

Unfortunately for me, this book had none of the intriguing mystery or intricate world building that the first novel had, and accentuated the issues I had in book 1.

We get to see 2 new settings in this novel; the wastelands and Nanzy. Unfortunately I had a hard time understanding the layout of Nanzy, and the wastelands seemed so different from the previous book it was kind of jarring to be dropped somewhere completely different with no prior knowledge of it.

The book starts off slow, and for the first 33% the characters are traveling in the wastelands and not much happens. We do get to see a bit of friendship bloom between Io and Bianca, however Bianca seemed like a completely different person in this book. In the first book she was a murderous gang leader, and here she's more of a sassy sidekick. Her murderous gang leader side comes back for a brief moment near the end of the book, but otherwise it's like she was a completely different character.

Luckily the plot picks up after the first 3rd of the book. I had high hopes of this being a 4 star book for me after seeing the characters from book 1 reunite, and for a while, I was really invested. However, Io keeps talking obsessively about how her and Edei "used to be" and I'm just sitting there being like...you never had a relationship. They knew each other for a total of 3 days before they got separated, there is no "how you used to be". There wasn't time for that to even develop yet! It just reiterated that this "love" between them was more of an insta love due to their fate thread.

Another thing that was just a mess was the was new types of gods were introduced. There are just too many different types to keep track of, and to only type I understand are the morai (the ones that Io and her sisters are). Everyone else seemed to be added just to move the plot along. I felt like the author was like "What's the one power that could stop the main characters, let me introduce a person that has that power and use it right away".

The most confusing part of the book was the ending (SPOILERS! DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE SPOILED FOR THE END)

We finally get to meet the gods that have been creating the wraiths, and they can manipulate time. So Io keeps getting caught in time loops. Somehow, they have been using this power to prevent the end of the world from coming, but they just keep looping different disasters. To prevent Io from killing them, they have somehow been able to loop only certain places and use previous disasters to destroy any attempts at her getting to them. Bianca shockingly betrays them (going back to her murderous gang leader persona for a hot second) but after she gets what she wants from the gods she helps Io to conveniently use her fate thread to defeat them and everyone forgives her.

The book's end is super anticlimactic (especially since killing the gods means they have brought upon "the end of the world"). All the otherborn come together and are like, "we can use the knowledge the gods left us to weather through the calamities", and Io's like, "even though I broke my fate thread, Edei and I are still in instalova" (despite the fact that they have had interactions with each other for a total of 5 days?)

I wish the author had figured out a way to wrap up the story in book 1, because that novel was awesome, but this one just left me underwhelmed. I also can't figure out if this is supposed to be a duology or not. The ending was so underwhelming but it did technically wrap up all plot points. However, I could definitely have used a "5 months later" epilogue to see how Io and Edei's relationship had grown, to see if Ava and Bianca were able to work out their relationship, and to see more of how the calamities are affecting the world and what the otherborn are doing to stop this. I also could see this having a third novel to explain all that. But it definitely needed something more at the end.

Overall, I still enjoyed the plot, but there were too many plot holes and such that the overall book was a miss for me. I still think the world with otherborn having the power of certain gods was quite interesting and think people who are interested in books with superpowers, or mythology might be interested.

3/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the folks over at NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Kida Hatsopoulou is an expert at magic and mystery, blending perfectly other worldly intrigue and the desperation of humanity. Hearts that Cut is as dystopian as it is fantasy, as exhilarating as heartbreaking, and everything I'd ever want from a fantasy Noir. This epic sequel is perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken's Lore or Marie Lu's Legend.

We are introduced to the wastelands between Alante and Nanzy, and all the stilted towns in between. Every conversation is perfectly crafted to explore the complicated paths of each character. Io has come a long way, and has a long way to go throughout this novel; every cog is churning against her and, gods, she could never catch a break!

The only struggle I had with traversing new terrain was the amount of bare bone exposition I was fed to understand it-- honestly, in a situation this crazy, I was okay not knowing until it was relevant. And with all these new other-born lines to keep track of, I almost needed an index reference (something to keep in mind!). I unfortunately weened between bored of exposition and gripped by action-packed mystery; I recommend reading the duology close together or revisiting the first.

On a positive note: Edei! The conversations and tensions between these two characters-- it pulled at every damn heart string in my chest, in that melancholy, bitter-sweet, loving kind of way. It's so hard for me to explain, but the author really delivers on a new definition of fated-love-- it's fresh, it's complicated, it's crafted perfectly. There is respect, consent, gentle affection, and he is just the sweetest 'bad-boy' ever. XOXO

"The cutter, the unseen blade, the reaper of fates. She watches silver like a sign, she weeps silver like a mourning song, she holds silver like a blade. She cuts the thread and the world ends."

Assassinations, fraying Fate threads, riots, disappearences. The Great Tide. This sequel is certainly living up to it's predecessor, if not more intriguing of a tale.

So much happened - Alante, the golden thread, Edei. The Wasteland, Nanzy, the Golden City. The night beast, the Mob Queen. So much just to meet the God she's searching for.

Io, "cutter", rushing to save her tied Thread of Fate, to save the connection that binds her to Edei. Bianca. Hanne, the Quilt. Acid rain.

Chimineri, the Great Tide. Order of the Furies. The wraiths. The Fury-born.

La Cauchemar. Nightmare. The spined wall. House of Nine. Moonset riots. Silts. This world is an intrigue of politics and magic and Gods and Threads.

"We are ruled by the shape of our longing. By threads that bind and hearts that cut, through tender flesh and deep into the bone."

This writing is beautiful, lyrical like that of a ballad. For the adventure and the magic and the politics and the love story, read this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

After reading the first book, I was so excited to dive into this sequel! While the pacing was a little slower at parts, I think Io and the rest of the teams’ story was beautifully completed. This world is so incredibly unique and keeps you on your toes with all the new magic and creatures it introduces. Will absolutely be coming back for more of Hatzopoulou’s work!