Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
Product Details
Web ID: 18496914YA Greek Fates
This is a new take on a Greek mythology retelling. I am VERY into Mythology retellings. I usually stick to more dark or gritty retellings but this is a nice YA take on a Greek myth. I haven't read a ton of fates retellings so i was interested to see how this would pan out. The FMC is a direct descendent of the fates and she must solve a series of murders to save her sisters , her mate and the city she lives in. The FMC is the youngest of the three sisters and she is a private detective who is currently working on solving a string of murders where she comes to discover that their life thread was cut short. The act of cutting the life thread early is creating wraiths that are becoming a menace in the city. During the investigation she becomes intertwined with a mob boss and some unlikely allies. The cover is stunning, its what first really drew me into it. This is a great place to start for some one who is in the YA level books to get in to some more of the mythology retellings. This does have romance but its not "spicy" so its good for that late teenage audience or some one who prefers low heat romance. Lots of cute wholesome moments as well. #ThreadsThatBind #NetGalley Thank you Netgalley and Razorbill
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
dynamic
Descendants of the Fates always come in threes. One to weave the threads. One to draw the threads. One to cut the threads. Cutting is the most dangerous because when you cut a thread it can be used as a weapon. It can also sever a person's connection to the things they love--sometimes small things like a favorite pastry, sometimes much more significant connections like a grandmother or a best friend. Cut the right thread and you can end a person's life. Io Ora is a cutter. The youngest of her sisters, Io works as a private investigator in Alante. She uses her abilities to dig into the city's ugly secrets for her clients. Despite countless cases steeped in violence and depravity, even Io is unprepared when a new series of horrific crimes tears through Alante. Someone is cutting women's life threads, severing their connections to this world and leaving them mindless wraiths intent on murder. Horrified to see her own ability so corrupted, Io is more than willing to investigate. Even if it means working alongside Edei Rhuna--the infamous second to Alante's Mob Queen and Io's soulmate although only Io can see the fate-thread that connects them. Tracing the origins of the wraiths brings Io uncomfortably close to her past with her estranged oldest sister and unearths secrets she would rather stay buried. As Io chases the true culprit, she will have to confront her growing feelings for Edei and the unpleasant realization that justice may not be for everyone in Threads That Bind (2023) by Kika Hatzopoulou. Threads That Bind is Hatzopoulou's first novel and the start of a series. Check out the audiobook narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw to catch all of the name pronunciations. Although the story focuses on Io and elements of Greco-Roman mythology like the Fates, Hatzopoulou's world building takes a multicultural approach with a diverse cast and gods from pantheons outside of Greece and Rome existing alongside eachother in Alante. Io and her sisters read as white with diversity among the supporting cast. Io's first person narration blends dynamic magical elements with the grind of a world-weary detective in this fantasy noir where nothing is quite as it seems. Slowly building action, light romance, and dramatic twists make Threads That Bind a satisfying mystery and excellent series starter. Possible Pairings: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, Lore by Alexandra Bracken, Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody, Havenfall by Sara Holland, Seven Faceless Saints by MK Lobb, Gilded by Marissa Meyer, Garden of the Cursed by Amy Rose Pool, The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Greek Myth Fantasy with Unexpected Twists!
4 stars overall, I had so much unexpected fun with this story and I can’t wait to read book 2! First of all, the amount that I enjoyed this shocked me, and I had such a good time reading this - I ate this up in 3 days flat reading both audiobook and written formats. The plot was so interesting and fast paced, I did not see half of the twists and turns that came up throughout. I love that it was a fantasy investigative thriller with a really fun and mythological magical system mixed with a modern world touch. It kind of gave me some crescent city vibes too?! Fascinating. The world building was fascinating, it does help to already know and understand some Greek mythology but it’s also not a requirement. There are rules within the world, but with a modern touch that make it relatable to our world. In essence, it's a fantasy world and city, but with many of the rules of our modern world + rules and ways of governing with a Greek mythology twist. I loved the growth we saw in our FMC, Io, her character arc is by far my favorite. The growth she experienced felt natural throughout the trials and situations she was put in - nothing felt too over the top or impossibly insurmountable. For a fantasy novel, I felt as though the growth developed realistically and relatably. The sister and familial dynamics were some that were deeply relatable to me, which was a surprise and I think would be relatable to a lot of readers - young adult and adult! The writing was easy to digest, and really easy to follow. It lended well to an investigative, mysterious story with all its twists. I didn’t find it too flowery, and as such, I would say that this is not a novel for prose lovers. Overall, I had a great time reading this novel, and can’t wait to read the next book in the duology. Highly recommend this to both young adult and adult fantasy lovers!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great world building
Threads That Bind is a young adult dystopian fantasy about a young woman in a drowned world with a magical ability to see people’s life threads and actually cut them. It is steeped in Greek mythology as well. She makes her living as a private investigator and gets pulled into a case with a dangerous new threat. Working alongside one of the members of the local mob (who happens to share a fate thread connected to her) she’ll have to get to the bottom of these murders. Complicating the investigation is her relationship with her sisters who are also connected to the crimes and share her ability to manipulate the threads. I really enjoyed the world building and magical system. The connection around the “fate thread” was very romantic and I can’t wait to read more about that relationship. I look forward to the sequel and finding out what happens to Io next.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fantastic YA tale rooted in Greek myth.
I absolutely loved this book! I am a huge fan of Greek myths, and I loved how the myth was woven into this story, it was so good. The characters feel so real, and I was attached to them from the start. I also really loved the integration of the different cultures that are found within the book, both in the city and the representation of different mythologies within the world of the book. I was so completely spellbound by this book, I finished it within a day. I simply could not put it down. The plot is so twisty, that every time I thought I had things figured out, another curve ball putting me right back at square one. I also loved the inclusivity of the cast of characters within the book. The representation across the spectrum was fantastic. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys stories rooted in myths, books with characters that will feel like your best friends by the end, or a twisty-turny plot that will keep you guessing right up to the end!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Three Fates in an YA Urban Mystery
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou is a YA contemporary fantasy first person POV reimagining of Greek mythology set after a great disaster sank most of the world. Io Ora is one of three sisters and a moira-born, a descendant of the three Fates and has the power to cut threads of fate, destroying feelings of affection. When Io meets Eide, the man who she is fate-bound to while investigating the murder of multiple young women, she’s torn between doing what’s best for her city and the other-born and getting closer to Edei. When I first heard about this, I was really excited. A Greek myth reimagining from a Greek author with elements of a post-apocalyptic world and an investigator MC who can see fate threads is pretty irresistible. As a long-time fan of Greek mythology, I knew I had to read it and it did not disappoint. The slowburn romance between Edei and Io is subtle and doesn't take up a lot of page time, but it is ever-present. Io is aware that he's out there but holds herself back from making any moves once she learns he has a girlfriend. She has other loves, such as pastries at one bakery in her city, but her curiosity never goes away and she does everything she can to not cross paths with Edei. And when she does, it's everything she can do to keep the truth of their connection inside as they become comfortable with each other. And it's so cute. I loved it when Edei tried to be funny for her and Io didn't laugh because she wasn't expecting a pun. The worldbuilding uses allegory and real world terminology to discuss immigration in the wake of climate change, class struggles, xenophobia, and racism. The other-born are treated as Other, with fear and hatred directed at them to the point that they must be registered and have limitations placed on them by the government and what opportunities they can have. It goes further with Io calling out anti-immigration and classist sentiment in a way that feels very current and needed as fascism continues to rise in many countries. I really liked how the threads Io can see are not all necessarily romantic, but include familial bonds, threads connecting someone to a place they maybe weren't born in but were met to be, and more. The magic system is very cool, unique to different descendants of different gods (such as the Nine, descendants of the muses, constantly inspiring artists that they patron) and focuses on the members of the Pantheon that don't get as much attention. I would recommend this to readers of Greek mythology retellings, fans of YA fantasy with a mystery angle, and those looking to support a Greek author in the wave of Greek myth retellings.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com