Threads That Bind was one of my favorite reads last year!! So I was crazy excited to jump into the second and finally book in this duology.

I zipped through the first ~50% and then had to slow myself down because I didn’t want it to end 😭

The sequel retains the same uniqueness of book one, but I did find myself getting lost at times, more so than I did in the first book! Mostly with some world building and the geography within the book - a map would’ve been so much help 😅

I really loved getting more insight into the wraiths, especially through Bianca. We only saw them as “villains” in book one, and Bianca was on the outskirts on most for a majority of book one as well, but seeing them through a different lens really added some more humanity.

Io coming to terms with her fate thread, whether she needed it or not, felt like a really validating character arc. I love that she came to her own realization that she didn’t need it in order to be to be loved, and was never forced into that decision. Furthermore, her relationship with Edei continued to be the most sweet and pure thing ever 🥹

That being said… was not at all a fan of the little miscommunication trope that popped up 🙄 it was so frustrating to read, especially after having to wait so long for the reconnection!

I enjoyed how the mystery was concluded, and how most of the loose ends were wrapped up. But I really wish we had a bit of an epilogue! The ending felt VERY abrupt.


(SPOILER)
This is the only big-ish piece of the story I would have really loved more clarification on: Io made such a big deal about threads being cut and how those threads took so much time to grow back and sometimes never even did. And maybe it’s different for cutting a fate thread, or maybe it’s different because Io is known to create new love threads so easily… but I did not expect her thread to Edei to just grow back automatically. It seemed like such an easy fix/cop out. I would’ve rather we had an epilogue where they hint that a new love thread has been slowly reforming between them.

This was an excellent conclusion to the story and I'm thankful I won't have to wait another year for the ending! I loved that Io and Bianca ended up with an uneasy truce that took them around the land searching for clues to the god(s) who apparently put all this into motion. I liked how their respect for each other grew even as they sniped at each other. The romance between Io and Edei was in many ways a minor part of the story, but it got to the heart of who Io was as she worked through her many insecurities. Edei, too, had to work through the inner conflict between the kind of man he wanted to be and the kind of man he needed to be. I also liked how she worked through the complicated relationships she had with her two sisters, especially Thai at first, but even more so with Ava, the one she had always thought loved her unconditionally. The ending was a surprise, but it worked very well given all the clues the author had given us. I felt very satisfied with where Io and Edei's relationship ended up, but I think in general, I wanted a bit more for all of the key characters, especially Bianca. I think an epilogue would have been perfect for this.

The only thing that confused me throughout were locations as they searched for clues. I think a map of the area would have been very helpful mostly because by the end, I got confused about how the different people got to where they were. I'm not sure if it's because I was mixing up locations or mixing up the people/factions. Still, that was a minor quibble, and the main story kept me reading and wanting to figure things out.

If you liked the first book, I think this book gives a very satisfying ending and overall, the author did a great job with this duology. I would recommend this to fantasy lovers and lovers of mythology. She took a unique approach to Greek mythology and made it work.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

This was such a hard book to keep up with. My fault for not remembering the last book very well. I liked all the characters from before, but Nico was barely in it again. There was a lot of plot that was kind of hard to keep up with and I felt like the resolution just kind of happened and the end was so sudden. Maybe I just need to reread this again after a lot date. Thank you again!

Special thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy.

I absolutely loved this series, I would definitely be rereading it and will buy in a physical copy, thanks to Fairyloot for sending the first book to me as well, I would have never discovered it.


This book was the sequel to the first (Threads that Bind) which to my opinion was so well written, the main female protagonist Io is so relatable, the hurt, the betrayal, the fear of change and sacrifice was all there . I didn’t feel like anything was missing, I went on a journey of emotions and kept me wanting to read more and more. The supporting characters were also very important to this book Edei has a special place in my heart! Never doubting Io always by her side and never second guessing her decisions or commands. (The kissing scene made my stomach flutter and I was just so happy to see them get that moment)
It was nice to see Bianca show strength in her weakest moments and she was just a straight up bad B*tch!! love the development of her character in this book!

The cliffhanger at the end of the first novel had me at the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen next and it didn’t disappoint. Getting to read the reunion of the Ora sisters sent me through a wave of emotion, I wanted to be furious at Ava and made me hate Thais but in the end I think they redeemed themselves.

Overall I loved and enjoyed every minute of this read, I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a great adventure with world building, people with special powers, beasts, and Gods/ goddesses. A little but if everything sprinkled in there!!

“Hearts That Cut” failed to live up to “Threads That Bind.” In the sequel, the reader is kept marching through a lot of scenes but little seems to happen through most of it. When something does happen, it’s rushed.

I’m not sure if this series is a duology or not—things seemed that it could be wrapped up but the whole book suffered from middle book syndrome and the ending wasn’t particularly satisfying since it felt so rushed.

“Threads That Bind” was a creative, heartfelt book that kept me engaged the whole way through. The sequel, however, me wanting.

Thank you #NetGalley and #PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for allowing me an advanced copy of Kika Hatzopolou's sequel to Threads That Bind, Hearts That Cut. #HeartsThatCut

Kika Hatzopoulou's Hearts That Cut throws the reader right back into the action where Threads That Bind left off. Io and Bianca are on the road to seek justice and answers. In particular, they are on the hunt for the Gods, to find them they search for golden threads. Along the way, things have changed Io's fate thread with Edei is fraying, and Bianca is been transformed into a fury. After several weeks of traveling the world, finally, they are finally met with one gold thread and Hanne. Hanne warns them to not mess with the Gods. After this encounter, they are faced with traveling to Nanzy where the Mayoral event will be happening. Io and Bianca hope they can get the Gods there. All they are looking for is answers and justice for God's crimes. With more help than Io and Bianca have ever had, they are directly faced with the Gods themselves. It all comes down does Io let her fate decide or does she choose her destiny? To find out what Io's decision is in the story read Kika Hatzpolou's Hearts That Cut Today. #HeartsThatCut

I enjoyed this second book, although not as much as the first. This book focused on finding people, so a lot of the fun of a new, innovative magic system (from the first book) too a backseat to the searching.

Relationships were more nuanced and had a bigger focus in this story compared to the first. I thought the ways the author complicated the romantic, familial, and working relationships was well done.

I really missed the deep dive into types of magic from the first book. this second book named a LOT of different magic types but didn’t spend much time on many of them. So a lot of that intricate work of unraveling the magic system in the first was absent here.

The conclusion was a solid one for a YA book. I appreciated the tidiness of it. This is a set I would recommend to readers who enjoy magic and dystopia and PG romance.

I think book 1 and this one should be read concurrently because I was a little lost on this book.

Io and Bianca are in most of this book, following a golden thread to a God that they can't find. They come to realize that people are being kidnapped and their world seems to be heading towards the apocalypse.

This was a very wordy book and I felt myself grazing non speaking parts- which there was a lot. I wanted to see even more of Io and Eidi and didn't get that much in this book either. I don't know how their thread, when Io used it to sever the life of one of the Gods, that it was still able to be connecting these two fated lovers.

I guess I'm glad it's a duology because I would be done if it was a whole series.

One of my favorite things when I first read Threads that Bind was the incredible world-building, which was why I was so excited to return to this series. In Hearts that Cut I felt like we got to see so much more of the world as Io tracked the god thread and I loved seeing the different cities and places outside of Alante.

This is such a fast, action-packed plot. It grips you right from the beginning and is just constantly moving. I really like Io as a character. She is strong and fierce but she also struggles with her own insecurities as she deals with the emotional damage from her family. Edei and Io have a very unique relationship that I feel like you don’t often see in fantasy romance books. It’s not a fiery burning passion, but instead very soft and gentle and quiet. It’s refreshing and very sweet and I liked where things ended between them.


Overall I really loved this book, this world, and these characters and I was really satisfied with how this book ended.

I was recommended the first book by my school's librarian and was just thrilled to be selected to read book 2 early. I love all of the greek influence and how the characters are grounded and realistic. Really enjoyable read.

What a thrilling way to end a DUOLOGY! The mystery, action, fated love between characters. I can’t wait to receive my copy i preordered ♥️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

In comparison to the first one, I did not like this one as much. I enjoyed the first half with Io and Bianca tracking the god's thread, but then it quickly just became meh? I think it's because so much was unfolding without really leading up to any of it plus all of the different twists kind of just almost became too much. I also feel like it was anticlimatic in the end, especially with this prophecy hanging over Io's head and then it was just...well okay then.

I do appreciate Io as a character. Her emotions and guilt and everything else that makes her her is refreshing to see in a novel. She's complex and the decisions she has to make when she cuts a thread do take a toll on her. I also, even though I did not like the ending, loved how powerful it was for Io.

I really tried to like this series and I was very excited to get into it but it was unfortunately not for me. The concept and idea is absolutely amazing which made me really want to read this series but I unfortunately DNF'd it.

I might try to give it another shot and I really appreciate getting the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book but for right now it just wasn't my favorite. I had a hard time really connecting with the characters. It seems like an amazing book but it just wasn't really up to my tastes.

The first book hooked me from the first chapter, but this one too me a little bit to get into. The beginning felt slow and spent a good amount of time filling in the gap between where the last book left off and this one picked up. Once everything was established, the story improved so much!

The idea of fate and destiny has been a common thread throughout the duology and it made for a compelling character arc for Ora as she grappled with her own perceptions of fate. The ending of the book was satisfying and hopeful. I would love a continuation to see what happens next, but I think part of the beauty of the story is in the ambiguity.

Once past the slow beginning, this book was a great conclusion to the work start in Threads that Bind!

A really great duology. Definitely worth the read! The first book ended with such a cliff hanger and this book picks right up. The chase and the intrigue are so captivating and exciting. Io and Edei take a little bit of a backseat which was a little sad. I feel like I didn’t get to see them grow together and the ending is so open I’m not sure I can deal. Speaking of the ending: I definitely was happy and the right thing was done. However, I feel like it was so abrupt. Like, can we see a little glimpse into a future? I just wish there was a bit more. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

Kika did it again.
I just love this World, these characters. The discussion about (the necessity of) change and who is worthy of our love ... amazing!
The last 15 or so percent of this book left my jaw on the floor. Brilliant.
I wouldn't hate a spin-off to this series. In fact, I would scream and jump around if I ever read that announcement.
Be prepared for me to recommend this series... um... forever?!

A thrilling finale to the duology, I found myself really interested in the mystery of it all. The world still felt confusing at times, but the plot was fun as were the characters

The second book of the series was very good.
The characters where very good developed and storyline was satisfiying

Hearts That Cut was the perfect conclusion to the Threads That Bind duology. It was addictive, heart wrenching, and full of surprises.

Io and her relationship with her sisters is complex and written so beautifully. This book dives into these complicated feelings Io has toward Ava and Thais. Io was easy to root for and I loved her character growth so much in this book!

Io and Edei were both so sweet. I loved Edei and his thoughts on the fate thread. I think this book was perfectly balanced between the romance and the plot. The romance elevated the story and did not overshadow the overall storyline.

This book had such great twists and action that I didn’t want to put it down! This book really made me love Bianca. Her friendship with Io was a highlight of the story for me.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⋆⋆⋆½

threads that cut holds one of the most brilliant fantasy universes i have ever read. i love everything about the concept: the gods, the quilt, the magic system, the descriptions of the city-nations. if i wasn't so infected by nostalgia for books i read when i was fourteen, i'd say this was my favorite ya fantasy world. unfortunately, the worldbuilding happens to be series' main selling point.

i actually loved the plotline for 90% of the book. i inhaled it in a day, and i have finals this week. but the final confrontation scene with gods was so bizarre and underwhelming, it ruined everything else for me. the time loop aspect was fascinating and i would have loved to see that explored more, instead of it just being mentioned two pages before they escaped it. but what really annoyed me was the fate thread thing. really? destroying the villain with the power if love?? really??

the romance itself is forced. not in that it's unbelievable, because it's a mature, reasonable, perfectly well-thought out relationship. my problem, and this might strictly be a me problem, is that i just didn't care. i was strictly here for the mystery and the murder and the magic, and every time edei showed up, it always felt like it distracted from that storyline. it didn't help that i very much did not like edei, especially with how his relationship with bianca progressed in the book.

io, on the other hand, i love her. i was neutral about her during the first book, but her character growth in this was amazing. her confidence, her being able to allow change in her life, her letting go of thais, even her banter with bianca, i loved everything.

overall, i really love the idea behind this book, but i wish certain parts had been executed differently.