I really enjoyed the first book and had high hopes for the second. However it took me months to be able and finish it. Something just fell flat for me. I couldn't relate to the characters like I did in the first.

This was so much better than the first book. I just think some of the story gets bogged down with the political aspect. I got so lost in what the actual purpose of them traveling around was, what the different other Borns were for, who each person was, and why the world was even ending. And then when we finally get to the ending, it felt rushed and a bit too HEA with very little explanation. I also wanted more romance. The fate thread is heavily emphasized but that plot barely gets attention. I’m gaslight into liking Io’s sisters again, which is crazy because they’re both horrible. I just feel like there 2as so much going on, and it didn’t need to all be going on.

Kika Hatzopoulou's Hearts That Cut is a compelling follow-up to Threads That Bind. This book's plot will keep you interested all the way to the very end. It is an exciting trip through a mythological and magical universe.

The protagonist of the tale is Io Ora, who must rely on Bianca—a former mob queen and now dying wraith—to assist her in locating the hidden gods and putting a stop to them once and for all1. The two navigate perilous terrain, coming across lethal chimerini and erratic tides, all while coping with the fallout from a world rocked by the Collapse.

A distinct twist to the story is introduced by Io's capacity to perceive the strands that control all human fate. One powerful aspect of sacrifice is introduced by the price she pays for her power—severing one of her own life threads every time she ends another's.

The interactions between the characters and their growth are what make the book so strong. The story is expertly interwoven with Io's development. The sisters' past experiences with betrayal, grief, loss, and longing serve as the story's primary emotional catalyst. The story is made more complex by the characters' diversity in terms of looks, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

The world-building is elaborate, unique, and has a broad, epic theme. The plot is intricate, involving a terrifying conspiracy that dates back many generations. Suspense is increased by the murders in Alante and the mystery surrounding the disappearances of siblings throughout the Wastelands.

But for those who haven't read the first installment of the duology, the book could be a little difficult. Acclimating oneself to the setting and characters takes some time.

In conclusion, anyone who like fantasy and Greek mythology should read Hearts That Cut. It's a story of adventure, selflessness, and the fight against destiny. It's a strong 4-star read with some minor setbacks that makes you want more from Kika Hatzopoulou.

In the second book of this series we follow our beloved FMC as she continues to investigate and fight for her future. This book had all the same charm as the first one and continued to develop the world and the characters. The magic system in this world is really unique and I highly recommend checking it out.

I finished this a few hours ago and I’m still like?? Confused?

This book was incredibly confusing with MAYBE a little too many plot lines and characters for even an adult brain. But at the same time it was also like….intricate and amazing? Like I genuinely don’t know how to feel

This one felt like a completely different story than book one, that’s for sure. Like I can see the way the fate thread and gods plot connected, but there was a conflict and resolution in each book.

This one really had my heart going. Despite being confused literally the ENTIRE BOOK I was stressed the heck out!!! So I am giving it four starts because it was objectively good.

One less star because I wanted a better resolution on the romance at the end. Like yes, I see what was done but I wanted like a real confession of feelings/love/A FINAL KISS??? We got ONE KISS?

But yeah. This is definitely an underrated YA series that 100% deserves the attention and love and hype.

*This book was gifted by netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
In this book we get the continuation of what went down in ‘Threads the Bind’. We left off with Io being betrayed by her sisters as they ran off to do the bidding of the gods. They Leave Io with the mess of the murder of the nine and Bianca as a lifeless wraith. The book starts out with Bianca and Io following the thread of a god on a search for answers to what the hell is being planned by the Immortals. The rest of this will contain spoilers to the story. I will say here that I fully recommend this duology. It's such a unique take on the gods.
❃ SPOILER ALERT ❃
I didn't really like this one until Io and Bianca reached Nanzy. Once they got to Nanzy it started to pick up. It just kind of felt a little slow until they were reunited with Edei and everyone else. Not knowing what was happening with Edei and Io’s Fate thread was driving me crazy! They both seemed so in love with one another and having their fate thread start to fray was stressing me out. When Edei and Io started investigating and the lead they followed ended up with Io staring straight at her sister my stomach dropped. I was instantly like “LETS GOOOO ITS ABOUT TO GO DOWN” I could not wait for Io to face her sisters. I needed to know what the hell Thais was up to and why Ava would turn her back on both Bianca and Io. My heart broke for Io that her whole world and all her support was ripped out from underneath her. To have this crazy prophecy thrown at you and all your family and friends nowhere to be found I felt so bad for her. If anyone was going to get to the bottom of what was going on it was always gonna be Io, the best detective around. To the bottom of it she sure did get. The twist I never ever saw coming.
ONCE AGAIN ❃ SPOILER ALERT ❃
I did not see it being the end of the world this whole time. I really did not think that this whole time these people had been living in the end times on an endless loop. The cruelty of gods is unmatched.

Thank you NetGalley and Razorbill for this advanced copy of Hearts that Cut. When I initially requested it, I didn't realize that it was part two in a sequel, I just really liked the cover...so now I definitely have to go back and read the first book!
I really liked this book! The author did an amazing job world building and having a diverse cast of characters. This kind of adventure fantasy is my absolute favorite. It starts with two people on a quest, there is danger, romance and reunions. The author also did a great job building up suspense and keeping you guessing about who could be a traitor and which characters you can trust. The main character, Io, was so well written. Her courage and doubt made it so easy to get invested in her story. I really couldn't put this book down.

I loved the first book, but I just wasn't invested in this story until the last chapters. The reveals and world building done at the end of the book were INCREDIBLE. However, everything up until then was unsatisfying or convoluted to me. I wasn't invested in the sister or romantic relationships like in the last book, and the mystery plot throughout the book had too many threads (ha) and characters, and I lost the plot. Hatzopoulou is clearly a wonderfully creative writer and builder of complex fantasy worlds, but this was just not as neatly tied together (again ha) as the first book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this slow burn book. This is sequel to Threads That Bind and it was the perfect ending to the story. I really enjoyed this book.

Hearts that Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. It immediately landed near the top of things I wanted to read in 2024 after the Phenomenal preceding book in the series, Threads that Bind. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to read both books as ARCs.

Hearts that Cut picks up after the explosive conclusion to Threads that Bind, with Io, mira born cutter who posses the ability to slice the threads that connect people to the things and people the love along with their life, and Bianca Rossi, Mob Queen and now wraith with no threads tying her to life, doing there best to hunt down the origin of a golden god thread. After losing the trail Io and Bianca discover a string of abductions that link together and hit towards the same people that Io has been chasing.

This book was great. I enjoyed getting to see more of Bianca and getting to know and understand her better. I loved getting to see more of the different settlements and the rest of the world outside Alante. My one complaint would be the first part of the book up until we get to Nanzy and Io reconnects with Edei does drag a bit. Finally getting to see the big bad who’s been pulling the strings was super interesting and was a really powerful and interesting reveal, along with getting to see Io reuniting with both of her sisters after their betrayal in the last book and seeing how she chose to handle that. Overall this was a really conclusion to an interesting and unique duology. I’m super excited to see what Kika Hatzopoulou has in store for us in the future

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Oh I LOVED this book. I devoured the first one but this one was, dare I say, the perfect second book. I love when a duology stays consistent and engaging, and this one did not disappoint. Absolutely pick this series up — it’ll be your new favorite.

This is an interesting book, I think.

The concepts of both books are so deeply intriguing; and some are very well done (like Io’s powers; which is possibly my favorite part about this duology.)

But that’s where this book goes wrong with everything else. While Threads was a solid debut, with interesting ideas and concepts, Hearts fails to really develop on those themes like it should, and instead gives you an incredibly mid book up until the ending in which everything essentially falls apart because it is rushed and done awfully quick.

The development between Io and Edei isn’t given enough attention, and instead feels slightly rushed; Bianca’s actions towards the end feel slightly less thought out and simply something that needed to happen to move the plot forward.

This book definitely suffers from Second Book Syndrome lol, and it could’ve definitely had an epilogue or a third to actually deal with the actions of the ending.

Greek mythology updated into a gloriously action-packed urban setting. The second installment follows the first with more mysterious questions, much more danger, and a story weaved with fantastical elements. I could not put it down. I would highly recommend reading the first book, and then immediately going into the second. With some time between the two, there were elements of the plot and characters I had forgotten, but as fate has taught us, things will happen as they will, and this story was no exception to that rule. This series is a uniquely fresh twist on mythology, and I didn't want the story to end.

Thank you Netgalley, author Kika Hazopoulou, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this second book in an unforgettable series.

3.5 ⭐

I think this series is so unique in the magic system and I truly love a good YA fantasy book. Book 2 picked up right where book 1 left off but then I felt like it slowed right down. I enjoyed seeing Io and Bianca's relationship evolve, and there were a ton of plot twists that I didn't see coming. I felt like the end was kind of rushed, and the abruptness of the ending definitely left me wanting more. I was honestly confused if the series was concluded or if there was going to be a third until I came to write this review. Maybe an epilogue would have solidified things more and gave me the closure I would have wanted.

Either way, I definitely recommend this series if you like unique YA fantasy books with Greek mythology tied in. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

After finishing Threads That Bind I immediately dove right into Hearts That Cut. I was not disappointed in how these two books wrapped up. It’s been quite some time that a fantasy book has thrown me absolute gems of curveballs. To top it off you can feel the drag and desperation wearing on Io and Bianca as they follow the trail of those responsible for the wraiths and the blowout at the House of the Nine. We finally get to step outside Alante and the Silts with Io and Bianca and the world outside is suffering just as many losses. While out on the road our duo does find that the rules of the city no longer apply – but not in the way one would think. Outside the cities people support fellow travelers – giving what little they can afford without expecting anything in return, only hoping that when they are in need the favor is returned. The world-building continues to draw me in and adds in even more creatures and vivid landscapes.

This is one story where I actually enjoyed “fated mates” – Io and Edei are fairly logical (or at least try to be) about their fate thread and actually put in the work to talk through how they feel about it. Io also has my heart for how she handles her sisters and her feelings about them – especially Thais. I was not expecting the conclusion there but it is something I rarely see with familial ties and I am completely here for it. Even when the world is going to utter disaster this cast of characters puts in the work for each other. Yes, there are heartaches, a little miscommunication and even death but there is also growth, acceptance, and healing. It was a great balance.

"Perhaps what came after heartbreak was just as important: when you rose on one knee, then the other, and stood. When you realized that you could piece yourself back together, little by little, slowly and painfully. You might not be whole ever again, but you would survive, and that was — that was salvation, in its true form."

Books like these are an amazing reminder of why I love fantasy, and also why I read it more than anything other genre. Highly recommend checking out both of these (especially if you slept on them like I did) and to read them one after the other. I would like to thank Penguin Teen for gifting me copies of Threads That Bind & Hearts That Cut – I enjoyed these two books and the world that Kika built immensely. I am sad that this will remain solely a duology because I still have one very valid question. What happened to the other gods?

I actually can't get over how amazing this duology was. I'm actually sad it's over. I loved the characters so much and really would love another book or a novella because this almost felt unfinished. The ending was kind of abrupt in my opinion and I just want to know how everyone is doing post "apocalypse".

That being said. I think Kika is such a fantastic writer. Her writing is so mesmerizing that at times I really lost myself in the story. It's so fast paced and action packed, I felt like I didn't have a chance to sit and relax while reading. I was on edge!

The narrator on the audiobooks is fantastic. Truly one of the best audiobook experiences I have had. The way she changed her voice between Bianca and Io was just so good!! Ugh I want to listen again.

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin for the Arc!

While I enjoyed Threads that Bind I realized I picking up the second book in this series that i remembered very little about the first book. There is a lot going on and a lot of characters to keep straight. The book does do a decent job of reminding the reader what happened, but as the story progressed it continued to feel like I could not escape the info dumping. I realized I was just not that invested in the characters and in what happens. I felt more like I was walking through the plot breakdown down experiencing the story.

I loved how the story continued in the sequel. I enjoyed how it started with Io and Bianca forming a relationship even though it wasnt entirely possible given the circumstances. I liked being able to learn more about the world in the first part of the book. I loved the world-building and how many of the characters formed relationships. The romance between Io and Edei was everything to me. The amount of times Io and Edei interacted felt like crumbs and yet I loved them, their love was so sweet and heartfelt, and the ending was intense. Overall this book was amazing and I can't wait to see what's next for this author. Thank you to Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for our honest review.

Hearts That Cut is a great sequel to Threads That Bind, and it picks up shortly after the first book. The book follows Io Ora and Bianca Rossi, as the unlikely duo try to follow the golden god thread to its bearer. The two must travel the Wastelands following the thread and face danger at every turn. When they finally catch up to the the thread, they discover it was a ruse to distract them. However it does lead Io to a new mystery. Someone is abducting siblings in the Wastelands.

While investigating the disappearances, Io and Bianca travel to Nanzy. There they run into Edei and Nico who end up helping them with their quest. The group makes new friends and enemies. It soon becomes clear that whoever is behind all of the disappearances wants to take Io out of the game. They believe in the prophecy that Io will bring about the end of the world and they will do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening.

I loved Threads That Bind, so I was excited to read Hearts That Cut. While I really enjoyed this one, I felt it lacked some of the charm of the first book. I got bored with the constant traveling in the beginning of the book. However, once Io met up with Edei it started coming together better and gave me the same feel of the first book. I love this world and the mythology woven into it. I would love to see more from this world, even if it’s different characters.

I had the opportunity to be on the street team for Kika, and it was lovely interacting with her, and being able to read the completion of the duology. Her mastery of the Greek myths is evident, and well-crafted. The end had me on the edge of my seat. This is a very satisfying duology.