Threads That Bind

This book will take your breath away with its whirlwind action scenes, detailed world-building, and incorporation of Greek mythology, politics, underground gangs, and an apocalyptic city atmosphere. The unusual magic system inspired by Greek goddesses and muses is also fascinating. You'll get lost in the story as the mystery lures you in, and the heart-throbbing thriller plot with threatening wraiths lurking around the city keeps you on your toes. The blooming soulmate love story between Io and Edei will warm your heart. This book is not for everyone as it's extremely smart, complex, and challenging, but it's definitely worth the read, combining different genres like sci-fi, magical realism, fantasy, thriller, romance, and mythology for an unforgettable experience. I'm so glad to have been introduced to Kika Harzopoulou's brilliant writing.<br /><br />The plot revolves around Io Ora, the youngest of three sisters who are descendants of Fates. Her eldest sister Thais is born to weave the threads, the middle sister Ava is destined to draw them, and Io is born to cut them, which is the hardest and harshest part of the job. Two years ago, Thais left without a word, and Io focused on her investigation skills to help betrayed wives whose husbands cheated on them.<br /><br />One day, Io's stakeout job ends with the assault of a mysterious wraith in her eighties without a life thread (which is normally impossible) and a murder case. Her path crosses with infamous Mob Queen Bianca's right-hand man, Edei Rhuna, who also shares a fate-thread with her, meaning he's her soulmate.<br /><br />Bianca summons Io to inform her that there are more wraiths around the town hunting people, and she forces her to team up with Edei to uncover the mystery. Io reluctantly starts working with Edei, barely restraining her attraction, but their investigation leads them to underground fight dungeons, the manipulate Nines House, a congregation of very powerful politicians who are about to take over the entire city with their dangerous scheme.<br /><br />Io slowly realizes that the things she learned about her past and her destiny couldn't be so wrong. As harsh truths keep hitting her face like a slap, she needs to confront her guilt, secret feelings, and biggest fears not only to save her city but also her loved ones and survive.<br />Overall, when I reached the final chapter, I just screamed when I read the big twist and cliffhanger. Pros: I'm absolutely ready for more books to spend more time with Io and Edei. Cons: I cannot wait to read the next installment; waiting for it is like torture!<br /><br />Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for sharing this amazing book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.<br /><br /><a href="https://medium.com/@niluferyozmekik/" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nilywood/" rel="nofollow noopener">instagram</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nilufer.ozmekik" rel="nofollow noopener">facebook</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/NiluferOzmekik" rel="nofollow noopener">twitter</a>

I love this streak of really unique young adult fantasy novels I’m finding this year. I love a book with magic in a way I haven’t seen and this book definitely had that. The characters were great and complex. My biggest frustration as I put this book down was how long I will probably have to wait for the next part. Io and her sisters is a descendant of the Greek Fates and she has the ability to cut the threads of anyone. When she is on a routine private detective job she witnesses a murder that shouldn’t have been possible as the murderer’s life threat was severed but she wasn’t dead. The world building in this story was really good. It did make the story move a little slowly at times, but I appreciate the time to really make a realistic post-apocalyptic world where magic and the gods are woven into a world with gangs, prejudice, and now murder. I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up for the creative magic system.

okay I need you all to read this when it comes out because WOW do I need someone to talk to about it!<br /> <br /><b>Plot</b>: the mystery took a bit to draw me in, but once it did, I was hooked! There were lots of twists and turns in the story, punctuated by meaningful commentary on society. I loved the way we got aspects of Greek mythology as well as inclusions of mythology in other cultures, such a Egyptian deities. <br /><b>Characters</b>: Io was a particularly interesting character to follow as we got to see a lot of her inner struggles with guilt and self-confidence. The casual inclusion of several side characters that were queer was also really well done. <br /><b>Pacing</b>: medium<br /><b>Overall</b>: I highly recommend this book if you like Greek mythology, supernatural mysteries, and interesting characters!<br /><b>Content warnings</b>: murder, death of a parent, abusive family dynamics<br /><br />———————————————<br />And now, for my most anticipated book of the year! ARC courtesy of Penguin teen (they have been TOO GOOD to me lately ?❤️)

I am sitting here vibrating over how much I love this book and trying to find words to encompass just how good it is. It’s perfect combination of fate, romance, gods, murder, mystery, sleuthing, humor, and magic.<br /><br />It pairs the sharp sting of complicated familial dynamics with the pure exhilaration of falling in love with a boy who tells bad jokes and is loyal till the end. Slick politicians and mob bosses fight it out, yet it's always a toss up who the most sinister enemy is.<br /><br />And I cannot overstate how freaking cool the murder mystery is. It combines the golden sheen of Greek myth with the neon edge of a modern fantasy story, and when the colors settle, it creates something truly special. There's so many threads (haha) to be pulled and cut and followed. I loved falling into this world and being tugged everywhere that it decided to take me. ITS JUST REALLY REALLY GOOD ALRIGHT.

Buddy read with Bee and Lauren!<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1683031612ra/34208120.gif" width="" height="" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><i>*Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.</i>

4.25<br /><br />How DARE they end it like that??? I need the next book immediately please.

<b>One to weave, one to draw, and one to cut the threads. </b> Io and her sister are other-born, <i>decedents of the fates</i>, and being other-born is rarely a good thing. Living in a city where other-born are looked down upon has its own challenges, being born on the wrong side is another set of challenges. <br /><br />The novel Threads That Bind, authored by Kika Hatzopoulou, weaves together a captivating story of fated love, family betrayal, and political intrigue. The novel introduces the protagonist, Io, and her sisters, who are descendants of the fates.<br /><br />Hatzopoulou's novel is notable for its originality, featuring an innovative magic system that derives from the Gods themselves. Io finds herself racing against time as she attempts to unravel the mystery behind a series of murders in the city. The plot thickens when Io's investigation leads her to the one boy she has always tried to avoid: her fated love interest. Forced to work together to save their city, the duo's complex dynamic is just one element of the intricate relationships that unravel throughout the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.<br /><br />For lovers of mythology retellings and fast-paced YA fantasies, Threads That Bind is a must-read. Hatzopoulou expertly blends the genres to create a unique and compelling narrative that will keep readers engrossed from beginning to end. With its intriguing plot, vividly depicted world, and well-developed characters, Threads That Bind is a release that should not be missed.

As a History major specializing in the Ancient Mediterranean, I’m always on the hunt for a good Greek mythology retelling and let me tell you: <i>Threads That Bind</i> and Kika Hatzopoulou absolutely delivered! If this cover alone doesn’t convince you to read this book, allow me to gush for a bit...<br /><br />This is exactly the kind of unique YA fantasy/mythological retelling I needed in my life. The world is incredibly innovative—a neo-noir, post-apocalyptic city—and the magic system brilliantly subverts common tropes while remaining truly faithful to Greek mythology (the historically-accurate one and not the pop-culture, Westernized mythology). Instead of focusing on the Olympians like most Greek mythology retellings, it focuses on the gods of natural and supernatural forces who, arguably, play as important of a role in the mythological canon as the Olympians. The world is also effortlessly diverse and multicultural, befitting the urban/post-apocalyptic refuge city setting. While I tend to be a bit harsh on single-city settings that advertise themselves as “complex” and “corrupt,” I’m proud to say that Kika truly delivers on this. Alante is gritty and rife with danger, and the juxtaposition of the Silts (the slums) and the Hill (the elite district) felt authentic and bore clear inspiration from Athens. While I wish the complex world outside Alante was explained more clearly (there are a <i>lot</i> of place names and proper nouns to keep track of), I don’t think this harmed the plot in any way.<br /><br />Io was a fantastic character to follow—she’s driven, fiercely loyal, protective, and wonderfully vulnerable. I need to take a moment to appreciate just how vulnerable she is and how impressively Kika depicts her insecurities through the third-person narration. While I always appreciate a strong, badass character, Io is a much-needed breath of fresh air. She can certainly hold her own in a fight and has arguably the most powerful moira-born ability (cutting threads of emotions), but she also <i>felt</i> like a teenager. She’s afraid of hurting people and relentlessly overthinks everything; while this may annoy some readers, I felt this was true YA and made her a fully-fleshed out character. She makes mistakes more often than not, but she both learns and grows from them without sacrificing her morals. In line with the neo-noir genre and criminal underworld setting, she’s not ignorant or blind to the harsh reality of living in the slums as a magical other-born, but her emotional journey and loss of (emotional) innocence resonated deeply with me.<br /><br />There is a huge cast of side characters, and while some felt a bit underdeveloped due to the sheer volume, they all shined in their own ways. None felt like plot devices, and their motivations, desires, and fears were all explained and shown rather than told to the reader. The complicated sister dynamics were fascinating, and I thought their relationship was only elevated and complicated by their godly lineage; this was, to me, a hallmark of a good magic system. The love interest Edei and his mob boss Bianca in particular shined for me. Edei is the sweetest boy ever and I just want to hug him and protect him from the world, but he’s also hardened from life as a foreigner and criminal. Like Io, he is kind and perhaps cares a bit too deeply for everyone, but it never felt trivialized or childish. His empathy was so awesome to see portrayed in a male love interest, and the gentle way he navigates his emotions endeared him even more to me. I will admit that Io’s infatuation with him felt heavy-handed and/or over-described at times, but I think it was an authentic way to portray teenage crushing. Bianca, on the other hand, was an excellent foil to Io and Edei—as the mob queen of the Silts, she’s cunning and vicious, but also has a deep loyalty to her gang members. She stole the scene every time she was on the page and I’m so excited to learn more about her in the sequel!<br /><br />Speaking of the sequel, I had no idea that this book was part of a series so that changed the way I viewed the pacing. I thought <i>Threads</i> was a stand-alone so I had problems with how slow the plot and main mystery moved, but seeing that it’s only book 1, it’s more understandable. The core mystery was intriguing and very complex, but it felt a bit <i>too</i> drawn out at times. I would have appreciated a bit more payoff or foreshadowing since the actual culprit didn’t get nearly enough time on page for me to even consider them as a suspect. But besides that small complaint, I found that <i>Threads</i> was meticulously plotted as the mystery slowly unfurled. The final revelation was fantastic and had me speeding to the climax. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next, especially with all the revelations about the creator(s) of the wraiths and the shifting character dynamics.<br /><br />In the end, <i>Threads That Bind</i> is a stunning debut and true breath of fresh air in the YA fantasy genre. Kika Hatzopoulou is an author to watch.<br /><br /><i>Thank you to NetGalley and Razorbill (Penguin Young Readers Group) for the e-ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.</i><br /><br /><b>4.5/5 stars</b>

How do you fumble such an interesting concept, but we move.

Is this book a series because I need MORE ASAP oh my god that ending???? so much happened and I'm so excited for when this book comes out so I can get a physical copy, it's AMAZING