#author: kika hatzopoulou

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Hearts That Cut Book Review 🦇

💜 Happy book birthday, Hearts That Cut!

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite mythology retelling? ❓ 🦇 With a god's golden thread in her hand, Io leaves Alante alongside a revenge-thirsty Bianca to find the entity responsible for so much death and destruction. With each turn, they uncover new threads in a conspiracy that traces back centuries. The more they learn, the more tangled the mystery becomes. Meanwhile, a prophecy looms over Io's head: that she'll destroy the world by cutting a single thread. Can Io follow—or defy—the threads leading to her fate?

💜 Kika Hatzopoulou's world-building is exquisite. Many mythology retellings run the risk of either sounding dry or repetitive, either plopping us in the time of the Trojan War or infusing Greek mythology into modern reality. Instead, Hatzopoulou created a world entirely of her own; a refreshing hierarchy of overlapping mythologies, of those with god-derived powers and those relying only on the mortal powers within themselves. If the beauty of this world doesn't grasp you, allow Io to; the cutter, the unseen blade, the reaper of fates. Io carries the weight of a prophecy that claims she'll end the world. Worse yet, her sisters seem to have a hand in it, her fate-thread seems to be fraying, and THE gods are seemingly pulling everyone's strings. When you strip away the mythology of it all, Io is a layered, stunning, emotionally-powered character. Her relationship with her sisters--watching her eldest sister shoulder the burdens of responsibility and parenthood at a young age, their other sister stuck in the middle as the peacemaker--is realistically messy and flawed. That sisterhood plays a huge part in Io's present, in her decision-making, and in her development. Each sister has distinct motivations--none the villain, each doing the best she can.

💙 By now, you know one of my biggest pet peeves is telling, not showing. While this story is action-packed, the mythology begins to put too much weight on the exposition. We're given explanations we don't necessarily need when the story could have focused more on emotion. Io's powers allow her to see the threads that connect people to those they love. She has to sacrifice her own threads to destroy another's. There's so much potential for metaphor and artistry there, but Io cuts nearly without remorse, even though she's upset that her sisters manipulate threads with a similar mindset.

💙 Normally, when I'm disappointed with a book, I can set it aside and move on. Threads That Bind was one of my top five picks of last year, though, and Hearts That Cut was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024. Reading the first page should have felt like greeting an old friend. Instead, the first 30% of the book felt detached from the original story, providing us with seemingly unnecessary puzzle pieces that could have been placed elsewhere as Io unravels this mystery. It's not until she's reunited with her friends that the story finally returns to the dizzying, delightful, action-packed pacing from the first book. Just as we grow accustomed to that pacing, the story reaches a sudden, almost rushed ending. Usually, I never complain about the lack of an epilogue (most stories don't need one), but given Io's brash actions and the consequences it may trigger, Hearts That Cut sorely does. We're left with no hint as to the new world order, or Io and Edei's future (yes, I'm sure they're thriving in love, but STILL), or if the sisters can rebuild what they lost. While these details aren't necessary, readers have been on a wild ride with these characters. A real resolution would have been nice, but instead we're left without closure.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Percy Jackson, The Lunar Chronicles, and other retellings.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🧵 Second in a Duology 🧵 Fated Lovers 🧵 Mythology Retelling 🧵 Young Adult Fantasy 🧵 Sisterhood 🧵 Magic

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #HeartsThatCut

💬 Quotes ❝ Cunning was her weapon now, and she would wield it with precision. ❞ ❝ “Just because it works doesn’t mean it’s right.” ❞ ❝ “Io, let me choose you.” ❞ ❝ Change was uncomfortable, sometimes filled with growing pains, but without it, there was no way forward. No way to keep going, to shed the scabs of your past and heal yourself in the present. Without change, there was no future. ❞ ❝ Fate was powerful. Fate was deadly. Fate could topple gods. ❞

[wingsofhcpe]

anyway if yall want something greek-mythology inspired to read, please pick up Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou. It's a post-apocalyptic fantasy romance (soulmates!) with lots of queerness in it, inspired by various mythologies but centered around greek mythology, with a greek-coded protag & cultural elements strewn across, and written by an actual greek woman who lives in Greece. It's also the first book I see by a greek author to be written & published in English/abroad first, and to go semi-popular on western reading circles.

we need more like this. please support her.

[detdeldragons]

My friend and I interviewed Kika Hatzopoulou, the author of "Threads That Bind"! If you like Greek Mythology, this book is for you!

[evilios]

Threads That Bind was my first introduction to Kika Hatzopoulou's writing, and a pleasant one. It's a refreshing novelty among mythology-inspired books as it features an otherwise untouched by them genre: a fantasy crime novel.

Hatzopoulou's writing is dynamic and flavorful, she's very talented at creating action sequences and fast-paced, intense interactions. Her text is heavily inspired by different concepts of cultural and mythological landscapes of Greece, Ancient and modern: the main heroine, Io, is a descendant of a long line of Fates-born capable of seeing and cutting threads of one's life and all the things dear to the person. Alongside her equally powerful sisters, Thais and Ava, she's in the middle of all the action, uncovering the mystery of a spree of suspicious murders.

Io is a deeply sympathetic character that's easy to relate to due to her social standing and the deep personal, familial crises she is going through: grief and loss, growing apart with the family, finding your point in life, hoping for one day when things might get better. She's simply well-written and interesting to follow.

If you enjoy a fun and dynamic narrative built around the concepts of predetermined fate, destiny and justice, sisterhood and family, otherness, and free will, then I'd heavily recommend this book.

No major plot spoilers, some things I want to specifically point out:

Personally, I adore how many solid female characters Kika introduces. The majority of the reoccurring cast are women and they're all utterly brilliant. I am deeply in love with Bianca and I adore Rosa with my whole heart. There's a dangerous sapphic character who does not die and is in a relationship with another woman. There's a transwoman (who is I believe in a relationship) whose queerness is not obtusely focused on but rather treated as it should be: as a normal thing. You do not learn she's trans until one mention of past deadnaming (no name mentioned) appears. There's a hint that the main character might be bisexual. There's a nonbinary character relevant to the plot. There are multiple secondary characters using different pronouns. Queerness is treated by Kika as a usual everyday thing and it's very refreshing to see.

Kika sets the action in a city that resembles Athens: it has an Acropolis where elites live, the slums, the poorer areas and the more immigrant-populated areas. No real geographical location is ever marked but by some small cues you can figure out that the fictional city and its surrounding areas are heavily inspired by Greece with proximity to Egypt, Slavic territories, and Near East.

Main character's love interest (this book has a soulmate story as a background but it's not annoying/in your face) is coded to be what would equate to real world Egyptian, based on cultural codes. A lot of characters are heavily diverse, Kika uses a lot of names that sound Greek, Italian, Russian, and Arabic. It's a very modern Mediterranean-coded story.

I ADORE the attention Kika gives to her side characters. There's a character named Chimdi who is passionate about sculpture, and her mini-story is actually deeply impactful on how you perceive the Muses. The Muses are the only "other-born" who go by the names of the original Nine Muses and it's treated as a "marketing move" — there are so many analysis points the author makes and I just adore it.

Instead of having divine descendants follow individual Gods (who might or might not be mentioned), Kika makes the divine "other-born" descend from groups of divinities only: three Fates equate three sisters, countless oneiroi equate to multitudes of oneiroi-born, Muses equate to the rare event of nine girls being born in a family, and so on. It's fun how she puts it together.

This book very openly and directly hates cops and I love it for that. Kika overall comments a lot on social injustice, immigration laws, mistreatment of ostracized native population vs. ostracized immigrant population, xenophobia, and other matters of social segregation. Corrupt government and people just getting by are the background of her story.

There's one element at the very end that I'm a little worried about because I do not like this trope, but with Kika's gentle and careful approach to her own cultural narratives, I have faith it will be encountered properly in the sequel, Hearts That Cut.

There are a lot of topics she touches upon, and I do heavily recommend this book.

[acmoorereadsandwrites]

Books to Try if You Loved Lore Olympus

'If You Loved This, Try This' #3 (read here or my Substack)

If you liked the Greek myth elements and the tackling of themes of survivorship, try:

Medusa by Nataly Gruender, an adult grounded historical fantasy

Medusa was born mortal in an immortal family, but is destined to be the most famous of her three sisters. With an intimate look at her life from childhood to death with the occasional POV chapter from other characters, Medusa is steeped in complex feelings.

If you liked Hades and Persephone in an office setting but wanted something more erotic with a smaller cast of characters, try:

The Maiden and the Unseen by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune, an erotic adult contemporary fantasy romance

Persephone is a social media manager with a new job, working for Hades, who is financing the lifestyles of the other gods. The two can’t keep their hands off each other and fate has a lot more in store for them than an office romance.

If you really loved the bending of Greek myths and fated love but you want less of the gods and more of a mystery element and some climate fiction aspects or are looking for a Greek myth adaptation from a Greek author, try:

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, a YA fantasy mystery

Private investigator Io Ora is a descendent of the Three Fates living in the sinking city of Alante. When she’s tasked with tracking down why women’s life threads are being destroyed and turned into monsters, she’s forced to team up with Edei, a member of the criminal underworld who is also Io’s fated other half.

If you were really interested in the family drama and the genealogy aspect, try:

Medea by Eilish Quin, an adult ground historical fantasy

From early childhood to her second marriage, Medea has never truly felt that she belonged. After years of studying magic under her father, she’s a knowledgeable magician with great skills, but is still overlooked in favor of her more beautiful sister. When Jason arrives, she agrees to help him, but things don’t always work out as we plan.

If you preferred the parts of the webtoon that took place in Ancient Greece and want a retelling grounded in the historical setting instead of a reimagining with modern elements, try:

Receiver of Many by Rachel Alexander, an adult historical fantasy romance

Persephone is secluded from the other gods, her entire world centering on her mother and helping keeping the mortals fed. Aidon has spent centuries alone in the Underworld, content to live his life among the residents and away from the mess the other gods are making of the mortal realm. But when Zeus sets in motion an ancient prophecy, Persephone will take her rightful place as the queen of Tartarus and Aidon will embrace parts of himself he has long buried.

If you liked the more modern setting and Persephone searching for a space for herself but you wanted a bit less romance, a bit more Gothic and you love art and art history, try:

In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King, an adult historical romantic Gothic

In Italy in 1948, Julia has the enviable chance to be the muse of Salvador Dali as he works on a piece depicting Persephone. Their host, Ignacio, is withdrawn and rarely seen, but is particularly interested in Julia eating pomegranate seeds in increasingly elaborate meals. Something much older than Julia is at play as she’s pulled into multiple directions by three different men.

If you liked the modern setting, but you want a Sapphic retelling of Psyche and Eros with a fae court feeling, try:

Oath of Fire by K. Arsenault Rivera, an adult contemporary fantasy

Psyche’s career as a therapist is at risk of ending and her main solace is an MMORPG. When she receives a one-time only invitation to a part at one of the Courts, she takes the chance. What she wasn’t expecting was to meet the permanently masked Eros or attract her attention.

If you liked the focus on the goddesses but you want a nonfiction exploring their stories in-depth, try:

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes, nonfiction

From Athena to Aphrodite to Demeter and Persephone, Natalie Haynes examines their myths, the impact they have had on our world, and ties it to pop culture. Providing her own personal opinions about different goddesses and their situations, she makes an argument for her interpretations but doesn’t demand the reader agree with her.

If you didn’t know a lot about Greek mythology before reading Lore Olympus but are now looking to learn as many stories as possible or want a collection of myths, try:

Mythos by Stephen Fry, an adult collection

The version I recommend is the illustrated version as the art has a very distinct style that utilizes a minimalist color palette. With his trademark humor and footnotes, Stephen Fry gives a very extensive introduction to the world of Greek mythology that feels grown-up

[starrlikesbooks]

Happy May! The best month! 💖🌷

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli is one of the few books on this list that I have had the great fortune to have already read, and it easily and quickly became one of my favorite books. I love this story of bi-realization and what queer infighting and virtue signaling does to our community, and I love the tender newness of this love story! Thinking about this book makes me feel weepy, and I desperately want all of you to read it.

To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose is a Native led fantasy about dragon training and colonization. This book sounds really, really cool, and seems like it could be a bit of a more diverse Dragon Prince, but academic.

All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley would have made it on this list even if it didn't look so intriguing, because I trust McCauley so much to make a captivating story with strong, vivid characters. This time, however, things are going Gothic! This is a creepy story of nannying and old houses and horror writers that I'm sure will be stunningly atmospheric.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee is a queer romance starring two Chinese men and looks so fluffy and cute. This one has a fake dating of convenience to help boost business and just from that cover alone I'm sure it's going to be sweet as anything.

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen is the sequel to Little Thieves, and while it very much does feel like a middle book in a trilogy (which I'm still so excited about!) it gives all the meddling Vanja and low gods vibes as before, now with more romance and absolute need for therapy. I have read this one, and need the next book in my hands like a month ago thank you.

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliot McLemore is the queer romantic fantasy of my dreams! This one has mistaken identities and hidden identities all due to nefarious plots and fluid genders! I love Anna-Marie McLemore and everything about this screams that I would love it, so I'm gnashing at the bit to get this one!

We'll Never Tell by Wendy Heard is yet another book I know I'll probably love based first and foremost on the author. I loved Dead End Girls, and Heard's 3rd book feels like it'll be a similar vibe. This one is about a group of teen investigators accidentally biting off more than they can chew and causing one of their group to get murdered.

Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland I've already read and have been looking forward to seeing it out on the shelf since last year! If you loved the politics of Red White & Royal Blue but would love a YA, sapphic take- grab this book! The politics here are mostly class president based but everything feels more significant and the themes are just heavy enough to do real heavy lifting. Plus, of course, the romance is impeccable.

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou claims to be a bit of a mix of Percy Jackson and Song of Achilles, following descendents of Greek figures who inherit their power. The main character of this is a descendant of The Fates (amazing concept right there!) and must use her powers to solve a string of brutal murders

[shy-fairy-levele3]

2023 Book List

Unbelievably I read a staggering 70 books in 2023! The most ever! My only disappointment is NOT finishing Dracula Daily, I came so close...

Wolf Brother Michelle Paver

Skin-Walker Michelle Paver

Be the Serpent Seanan McGuire  

She Who Became the Sun 

Soul-Eater Michelle Paver

Nona the Ninth Tamsyn Muir 

The Girl in Red Christina Henry

As yet Unsent Tamsyn Muir   

Outcast Michelle Paver  

Leonard Cohen: On a wire Philippe Girard

Oath Breaker Michelle Paver 

Ghost Hunter Michelle Paver   

 Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life Alan Cumming

M is for Magic Neil Gaiman

Silverwing Kenneth Opal 

Last Violent Call Chloe Gong

Malice: Malice Duology #1 Heather Walter  

Pandora Susan Stokes-Chapman

A Lady for a Duke Alexis Hall                                    

Boyfriend Material Alexis Hall

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries Heather Fawcett  

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass Drew Hayden Taylor

Conventionally Yours Annabeth Albert  

The Unbalancing R.B Lemberg  

Stone Blind Natalie Haynes

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front Mackenzi Lee 

Ruby Nina Allan

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter Theodora Goss

Husband Material Alexis Hall

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason India Holton  

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll and Hyde Remix Kalynn Bayron

The Monsters we Defy Leslye Penelope

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix Aminah Mae Safi

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman Alan Rickman

Morgan Is My Name Sophie Keetch

Threads That Bind Kika Hatzopoulou

European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman Theodora Goss

Feeling Sorry for Celia Jaclyn Moriarty

Daughter of the Pirate King Tricia Levenseller

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix C.B. Lee

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour Tee Franklin

Magic for Liars Sarah Gailey

The Story of Owen Emily Kate Johnston

The Brilliant Death A.R. Capetta

Circle of Magic: Sandy’s Book Tamora Pierce

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror Daniel M. Lavery  

Death's Detective- Malykant Mysteries #1-4 Charlotte E. English

The Salt Grows Heavy Cassandra Khaw

A Touch of Darkness- Hades & Persephone #1 Scarlett St. Clair

Mortal Follies Alexis Hall

Witch King Martha Wells

The London Séance Society Sarah Penner

A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future David Attenborough, Jonnie Hughes

A Game of Fate- Hades Saga #1 Scarlett St. Clair

Immortal Longings Chloe Gong

Hooked Emily McIntire  

Foul Heart Huntsmen Chloe Gong

Signal to Noise Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Daughter of the Siren Queen Tricia Levenseller  

Starter Villain John Scalzi

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl Theodora Goss

Starling House Alix E. Harrow

A Marvellous Light: The Last Binding #1 Freya Marske   

A Restless Truth: The Last Binding #2 Freya Marske 

Thornhedge T. Kingfisher

What the River Knows Isabel Ibanez  

The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments Hadley Vlahos

Misrule: Malice Duology #2 Heather Walter

The Raven and The Reindeer T. Kingfisher

A Power Unbound: The Last Binding #3 Freya Marske

I started some series, and I finished some series. I found new favourite authors and revisited some old favourites. Please take them as recommendations, or if you have read any of the same books come talk about them with me!  

Reminder you can also follow me on The Storygraph to see what I am reading in real time, where I am simply shy_fairy   

Previous Years Reading lists can be found here: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015

[ya-world-challenge]

🎊 2-Year Anniversary! 🪅

I started the World Challenge around April 2022, so here's my little 2-year celebratory post with a bunch of stats that no one cares about!!

The stats:

Books read: 70

Countries completed: 66

Total pages read: 23,918

Average rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.9 stars

Average publication year: 2015

Average page count per book: 341

Native authors: 74%

Queer books: 24%

YA or MG genre: 68%

As you can see from the number above, it can be hard to find queer books for certain countries. I have also somehow managed to generally pick books that I like, as the ratings show!

Top Genres:

Sources:

Total spent: $41.39

Most of the spent is 2 months of Scribd, and some Kindle sale books. The "Other" is, ahem, when there were no affordable options, and thankfully that was low! Otherwise I managed well with libraries and free trials! (all digital)

Time Periods:

I've also spent the majority of time in the modern world.

Keep reading for the full list of books I've read so far:

🇦🇫 Afghanistan - One Half from the East, Nadia Hashimi

🇦🇷 Argentina - Furia, Yamile Saied Méndez

🇦🇺 Australia - Ghost Bird, Lisa Fuller

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan - The Orphan Sky, Ella Leya

🇧🇸 Bahamas - Facing the Sun, Janice Lynn Mathers

🇧🇴 Bolivia - Woven in Moonlight, Isabel Ibañez

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina - The Cat I Never Named, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess

🇧🇼 Botswana - Entwined, Cheryl S. Ntumy

🇧🇬 Bulgaria - Wunderkind, Nikolai Grozni

🇨🇦 Canada - This House is Not a Home, Katłıà

🇨🇫 Central African Republic - Beasts of Prey, Ayana Gray*

🇹🇩 Chad - Told by Starlight in Chad, Joseph Brahim Seid

🇨🇳 China - Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan

🇨🇺 Cuba - A Tall Dark Trouble - Vanessa Montalban

🇨🇿 Czech Republic - Torch, Lyn Miller-Lachmann

🇩🇰 Denmark - The Shamer's Daughter, Lene Kaaberbøl

🇪🇪 Estonia - The Man Who Spoke Snakish, Andrus Kivirähk

🇫🇯 Fiji - The Wild Ones, Nafiza Azad

🇫🇷 France - Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, Faïza Guène

🇬🇪 Georgia - Giorgland Fables, Tamuna Tsertsvadze

🇬🇷 Greece - Threads That Bind, Kika Hatzopoulou

🇬🇱 Greenland - Last Night in Nuuk, Niviaq Korneliussen

🇬🇩 Grenada - Sugar Money, Jane Harris

🇮🇳 India - Lioness of Punjab, Anita Jari Kharbanda

🇮🇩 Indonesia - The Songbird and the Ramubutan Tree - Lucille Abendanon

🇮🇷 Iran - Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi

🇮🇶 Iraq - Yazidi!, Aurélien Ducoudray & Mini Ludvin

🇮🇪 Ireland - All Our Hidden Gifts, Caroline O'Donoghue

🇯🇵 Japan - Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Mizuki Tsujimura

🇯🇴 Jordan - West of the Jordan, Laila Halaby

🇱🇹 Lithuania - Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepatys

🇱🇺 Luxembourg - The Elf of Luxembourg, Tom Weston

🇲🇾 Malaysia - The Weight of Our Sky, Hanna Alkaf

🇲🇹 Malta - The Maltese Dreamer, Catherine Veritas

🇲🇽 Mexico - Secret of the Moon Conch, David Bowles; Guadalupe García McCall

🇲🇦 Morocco - Thorn, Intisar Khanani*

🇳🇵 Nepal - What Elephants Know - Eric Dinerstein

🇳🇱 Netherlands - On the Edge of Gone, Corrine Duyvis

🇳🇬 Nigeria - An Ordinary Wonder, Buki Papillon

🇲🇰 North Macedonia - A Spare Life, Lidija Dimkovska

🇵🇸 Palestine - Travellers Along the Way, Aminah Mae Safi

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea - Tales from Faif, Baka Barakove Bina; Emily Sekepe Bina

🇵🇱 Poland - When the Angels Left the Old Country, Sacha Lamb

🇵🇹 Portugal - Mariana, Katherine Vaz

🇵🇷 Puerto Rico - The Wicked Bargain, Gabe Cole Novoa

🇷🇴 Romania - And I Darken, Kiersten White

🇷🇺 Russia - Night Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko

🇷🇼 Rwanda - Our Lady of the Nile, Scholastique Mukasonga

🇱🇨 St. Lucia - 'Til I Find You, Greta Bondieumaitre

🇼🇸 Samoa - Telesā: The Covenant Keeper, Lani Wendt Young

🇸🇲 San Marino - The Gladiator, Harry Turtledove

🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe - The Exiles of Crocodile Island, Henye Meyer

🇬🇧 Scotland - The Library of the Dead, T.L. Huchu

🇸🇳 Senegal - No Heaven for Good Boys, Keisha Bush

🇸🇬 Singapore - Sofia and the Utopia Machine, Judith Huang

🇸🇰 Slovakia - Impossible Escape, Steve Sheinkin

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka - I Am Kavi, Thushanthi Ponweera

🇸🇩 Sudan - Home is Not a Country, Safia Elhillo

🇸🇪 Sweden - The Circle, Sara Elfgren; Mats Strandberg

🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago - When the Vibe is Right, Sarah Dass

🇹🇳 Tunisia - Other Names, Other Places, Ola Mustapha

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates - Alif the Unseen, G. Willow Wilson*

🇺🇸 United States - Elatsoe, Darcie Little Badger

🇻🇪 Venezuela - The Sun and the Void, Gabriela Romero Lacruz

🇾🇪 Yemen - When a Bulbul Sings, Hawaa Ayoub

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe - All That It Ever Meant, Blessing Musariri

*inspired fantasy world

[crookedcrowclub]

My review of Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou.

Threads That Bind weaves an imaginative tale about magic, infused with the perfect dose of Greek mythology. As someone who loves Greek / Roman folklore, I was absolutely fascinated by how cleverly the author introduced those elements in this story. It felt like I was reading those myths with fresh eyes because it was that unique and creative. Not only that, there was a multitude of representation (diversity in characters and sexualities) which made me really enjoy this book.

The pacing was great. I was a tad worried that it will be rather slow paced but the plot took off from the get-go for which I was grateful. I was super invested in Io’s investigation and I couldn’t have guessed most of the plot twists. Some were predictable, yes, but I was still blown away by many of the big reveals. The danger element in this book was well done and the plot moved with an urgency that made it hard for me to put the book down. Fair warning, this book ends on a cliffhanger but I’m not complaining because that just means the sequel will be even more thrilling.

I liked Io’s character. She was emotional yet brave since the two aren’t mutually exclusive and I am glad she had a good balance between those two qualities. From enduring the emotional abuse caused by her sister, to finding her own voice, Io's character was pretty well rounded and I was rooting for her the whole time. There was also discussion surrounding shame and how it can control someone, which was something I resonated with deeply. We all have that one person’s voice that we always hear in our mind, chiding and chastising us whenever we do something that falls short of their expectations even when they are not around to witness it. This book had one the of the realest portrayals of that and it hit close to home.

Something that I didn’t like was Io’s immediate infatuation with Edei and not one chapter was without a mention of how good looking he is. Don’t get me wrong, I usually don’t mind such depictions of the love interest but in this case, it felt forced as I personally didn’t feel any chemistry between them. The addition of romance itself wasn’t necessary as it didn’t contribute to the plot in any way but every fantasy novel needs to have romance, right?! I just wish more authors would realise that you can have a great story without including romance in it but to each their own. I personally didn’t enjoy the “insta-love” and constant swooning over the male MC’s cheekbones because I was rolling my eyes the whole time.

As for the worldbuilding, it’s set in a contemporary urban fantasy world full of gangs, crime bosses, and old bloodshed similar to the likes of Ketterdam (Six of Crows) and Nadežra (The Mask of Mirrors). The details were woven throughout the text so that the information feels natural and none of the characters were two dimensional or lacked depth, even the villains. They were all very interesting and unconventional.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for fantasy readers who love the integration of a future world with mythological powers, mystery, complex familial bonds, and figuring out one’s true self.

[ninasbookshelf]

Fairyloot YA Fantasy Sequel Release Dates

Hi all 👋 It's coming up on a year since I subscribed to Fairyloot's YA Fantasy box, and I'm starting to see release dates for sequels. I decided to make a list of sequel release dates so I can keep track of them, and I figured I'd share it for anyone else who is looking forward to these books. I started my subscription with the August 2022 box, which featured Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen, so that's where I'll start the list. I'm finding the dates/titles through bookstore listings, goodreads, general google searches, etc so there's a chance the dates and titles on this list could be changed. I'll also try to confirm which of these are duologies vs longer series. Apologies in advance if any of this info is incorrect.

August 2022 - Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen

Sequel title/release date unknown

September 2022 - Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Foxglove (book 2 in Belladonna series) expected publication is August 22, 2023.

Wisteria (book 3 in Belladonna series) expected in 2024.

October 2022 - One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Two Twisted Crowns expected October 17, 2023. (duology)

November 2022 - The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix

Standalone

December 2022 - Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston

Standalone

January 2023 - Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

Title/release date unknown

February 2023 - City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer

Cage of Dreams expected September 26, 2023. (duology)

March 2023 - Seven Faceless Saints by M. K. Lobb

Disciples of Chaos expected in 2024.

April 2023 - Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Title unknown. Release date unclear but seems expected in 2024.

May 2023 - Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Ruthless Vows expected December 26, 2023. (duology)

June 2023 - Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton

Drown Me with Dreams expected June 4, 2024. (duology)

July 2023 - Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

Sequel title/release date unknown

That's all I've got! If I remember, I'll come back and update this occasionally with new info. So excited to read more of these authors' works! 🥳

[bookcoversonly]

Title: Threads That Bind | Author: Kika Hatzopoulou | Publisher: Razorbill (2023)

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

[ x ]

[wingsofhcpe]

wow I can't wait for Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas to win Goodreads 2024 for the 4278th time in a row while actual good books like A Dark & Drowning Tide get buried under the rubble again...

[emwigstersbookshelf]

Author Spotlight: Interview with Kika Hatzopoulou

Thank you so much, Kika for the interview! I love Threads that Bind. Who is Kika Hatzopoulou? Kika Hatzopoulou writes stories for all ages, filled with lore and whimsy. Her debut YA fantasy novel, Threads That Bind, arrives in May 2023 from Razorbill in the US and Puffin in the UK. She is the author of several short stories, including anthologies such as Game On and Firsts &…

[kourtneyreilly]

Title: Threads That Bind

Author: Kika Hatzopoulou

Io Ora is a decendant of the Greek Fates and she is able to cut apart the threads that tie/bind people to things they love and the thread that binds their life too. In the book a women who has had her life thread severed but is still living commits murder and Io sees this happen. She can also see threads that bind soul mates together and in the book Io meets hers.

I love the cover on The Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou it pulled me in. I really love the illustration and the color palette that was used very pretty colors. I really enjoyed the plot of this story it grabs the attention of the reader and pull you in pretty fast. I loved the part where Io meets her soul mate and sees the thread binding them together it was very cute. I reccomend reading this book if you love Young Adult or Middle Grade novels that deal with the Greeks.