This was such an incredibly unique take on a subject so many love: Greek myth. Within the first few chapters I was completely enthralled in Io’s story. From her life to a cutter, to her past and family life, to her present and future drama with her fate thread.

It had an amazing magic system that really kept me on my toes and it was unlike anything else I’ve read.

The twists had me reeling, the characters were depthful and interesting and that romance will stick with me for a long time. Desperate for book two already!

Threads that Bind is beautifully written and delightfully unlike any other story in its category. Incorporating many diverse genres from Greek mythology to fantasy and Syfy.

It is so beautifully constructed, it's detailed world-building leads to the wonderful plot development throughout the book.

The Characters have you emotionally attached in an intertwining web as the adventure ensues.

The story jumps off the page, wonderfully easy to read as the narrative flows from page to page urging you onwards.

A beautiful and complex story.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I just reviewed Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou. #ThreadsThatBind #NetGalley

With a combination of mythology, mystery and magic, The Threads That Bind (by Kika Hatzopoulou) is a gripping story with twists and turns at every corner. The mystery and suspense kept me wanting more.

Io is one of three sisters who are the descendants of the Fates. She is able to cut threads and makes a living doing so, while her older sisters (Thais and Ava) are able to weave and draw them. She soon becomes involved in solving a mystery to find the origins of victims with cut life threads alongside her soulmate, for the current mob queen, which leads her to unexpected places.

Io is an easily relatable character. The familial theme (which runs throughout the book) is engaging, and Io’s romantic interest is a gripping part of the narrative.

I really enjoyed reading The Threads That Bind and I am hoping for sequels to come.

What a triumph of a debut novel! I am looking forward to following Kika Hatzopoulou’s career as a YA author, because this is a standout YA ARC this year for me, up there with ‘Warrior Girl Unearthed’ in terms of originality.
Hatzopoulou has hit the balance _just_ right between existing mythology and independent world-building (we get the biggest injection of classical Greek mythology in this novel, but other cultures’ myths and divinities are also included). I honestly couldn’t pick holes in Hatzopoulou’s magic system. Certainly not after I’d reached the novel’s conclusion. There is a scene just at the climax, where the last few details of what really happened during the riots twelve years ago, when the remainder of my questions about magic and societal hierarchy were finally answered, so do hold on till the very end!
There are mind-boggling layers upon layers of plot development in ‘Threads that Bind’, and the most impressive thing is that every one not only makes sense, but is vital and necessary in its own way. The planning invested by Hatzopoulou in the structuring of the novel is nothing short of breath-taking because I was excited or angry or gobsmacked or hopeful with every new chapter. I am brimful of superlatives for ‘Threads that Bind’ because I really couldn’t have wished for anything more from this novel. It satisfied my reading tastes perfectly, and fulfilled my expectations in a surprising way. I suppose I should have known it would be just my cup of tea, because that cover art is gorgeous - exactly what I look for in a book cover.
My thanks to the author and Penguin Random House UK Children’s.

Io is the youngest of three sisters, descended from the Fates. She can see threads: shimmering silver lines connecting every person. When a new relationship is formed, a new thread appears. When a person's life-thread is cut, it's their time to die. Io uses her gifts as a private investigator, trying to make ends meet in a world which treats other-born people like her with suspicion and prejudice.

Then Io is witness to a murder - but this is no ordinary murder. Io can see that the killer's life-thread is severed. They should be long dead.

More complicated still, there is another witness: Edei, a member of the violent Rossi mob who rule Alante. And what Io can see immediately, although Edei cannot, is that there is a bright silver fate-thread connecting them. This boy is her destiny.

Io and Edei are thrown together to solve the case, and as Io grapples with the dark secrets lurking beneath Alante's surface, she must decide whether to embrace her fate and give in to the feelings growing between herself and Edei - or whether to cut the thread, and set him free...

Love, love, love, love this BOOK!!! Hatzopoulou has created a world filled with characters that I just can’t get enough of.

Feisty Io and sensitive Edei are the perfect pairing to navigate through this fantasy/mystery novel filled with suspense, drama, action, romance and magic. There is literally something for everyone. I loved the way Hatzopoulou has managed to perfectly combine what feels like a historical fantasy with a modern crime/thriller and it just works so well.

Dealing with themes of family and loyalty and touching on issues of crime and social/economical disparity this book has so many important messages as well as written with such creativity and imagination.

I am desperate to get the next book in the series because cheeky Hatzopoulou leaves the book open ended so we will have to wait to see what else is in store for Io and Edei next time.

Amazon Summary
Io is the youngest of three sisters, descended from the Fates. She can see threads: shimmering silver lines connecting every person. When a new relationship is formed, a new thread appears. When a person's life-thread is cut, it's their time to die. Io uses her gifts as a private investigator, trying to make ends meet in a world which treats other-born people like her with suspicion and prejudice.

Then Io is witness to a murder - but this is no ordinary murder. Io can see that the killer's life-thread is severed. They should be long dead.

More complicated still, there is another witness: Edei, a member of the violent Rossi mob who rule Alante. And what Io can see immediately, although Edei cannot, is that there is a bright silver fate-thread connecting them. This boy is her destiny.

Io and Edei are thrown together to solve the case, and as Io grapples with the dark secrets lurking beneath Alante's surface, she must decide whether to embrace her fate and give in to the feelings growing between herself and Edei - or whether to cut the thread, and set him free.

My Review
I really enjoyed reading Kika Hatzopoulou novel with such a great take on Greek Mythology and Modern Fantasy.

I loved the world building including a brilliant unique magic system, the characters and fantastic and the plot had me hooked (I love a mystery). Soulmates are my favourite troupe so i know i would love this book straight away. I couldn't believe the ending and look forward to book 2.

4.25 stars

YA Urban Fantasy Murder Mystery is the best way to describe this novel.

The 1st third to half of the book is quite slow as there is a lot of world building going on but the 2nd half really speeds up and keeps you hooked.

A lot of the characters features are based on Greek Mythology with the fates and various gods. There is also a little bit of Egyptian mythology relating to people from another city/ region. It is based in a post apocalyptic world after the moon split in 3 and messed with the tides and weather which destroyed cities and nations. The author gives fantastic descriptions of the world and the characters that you can picture yourself there with them as they run over rooftops and between buildings to avoid the tides.

Some of the descriptions and explanations are unfortunately repetitive but it makes sense with how important it is and is easy to skip over if it bothers you but it was a good reminder of something that is relevant to the situation.

I love the way they author subtly mentions that characters are LGBT+. It is not by giving them labels but by mentions how Ava likes the pretty girls and how Rosa was picked on when they were kids by other kids using her deadname in rhymes and characters introducing themselves by name and their pronouns. She has a really good way of describing characters are of different genders and races without is seeming forced.

It ends in a great way that will lead into the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children's Publisher for an advanced copy of this novel.

#threadsthatbind #kikihatzopoulou #fairyloot #bookboxsubscriptions #bookreview #bookstagram #YAReads #netgalley #arcreader #greekmythology #PenguinRandomHouse

You're someone who loves. That's the only part that's yours to give and yours to take.

Wow - what a debut! I have enjoyed this YA fantasy - which mixes Greek mythology with someone entirely original - by Kika Hatzopoulou immensely.

Io is a private investigator with a special power: she can see and touch the threads people have to things and people they love. She's also able to cut those threads, meaning she's viewed as a danger by those without any powers. When she witnesses a murder as part of an investigation into an unfaithful husband, she discovers something that doesn't seem possible: the killer had their life thread cut and yet, they're alive and super strong.

Io is hired by the city of Alante's underworld queen to look into into the matter after one of her employees are killed by a wraith as Io refers to them. What complicates things is that Io is told to pair up with Edei, the boy who is at the end of a fate thread connecting him to Io. He doesn't know about the thread and Io cannot help falling for him.

As Io investigates it becomes clear that someone very powerful is pulling all the strings and that something very sinister is behind the murders. With many red herrings and twists, the mystery is wholly compelling and fascinating. I couldn't help but try and help Io figure out what is really happening.

With complex characters, beautiful world-building and a kickass plot, 'Threads that Bind' enthralled me. I cannot wait for the sequel - ahem - come on Kika!

The Gods of Olympus are long dead but their bloodlines live on. Those with the blood of the gods coursing through their veins weald immense powers like healing, dream manipulation and mind control.
Threads That Bind follows the story of Io, a Moirai-borne, who is a descendant of the Fates, weavers of the tapestry of Life. All her life, Io has been able to see the threads that connect people to the world, connect them to each other and is able to use these to help those in need. Using the Quilt (what the Moria-borne call the network of threads) Io ekes out a living as a private investigator, following threads and do what is necessary to help her clients. When investigating a cheating husband, Io comes face to face with something that should not be possible… a woman with a severed life thread that is still alive. This case changes everything Io knew about the world and inadvertently thrusts her towards someone she has been making a point of avoiding all her life, Edie- the person that has been on the end of Io’s love thread for as long as she could see it.
What follows is a whirlwind adventure across the sinking city of Alante, its sea scraped alleyways and ramshackled buildings surrendering silently to the rising oceans, and into the heat of a revenge which has been brewing for over a decade. Will Io’s love thread threaten the mission to find who is behind the attacks by the wraths or will she be bold enough to severe a tie that has felt like home for all her life?

Kika Hatzopoulou builds such a wonderful world in Threads That Bind that readers are immediately sucked into the lives of the characters and how living in a world where power doesn’t always mean respect is magical. The depth that Kika describes the different types of Borne and how their powers are utilised, exploited or outlawed sets the scene for an intense, thrilling mystery. The story leads you through each chapter with the facts that Io has collected but right at the last minute, everything you believe is ripped away and you feel exposed, before being lead on another thread in the next chapters. I loved how Threads That Bind kept me on my toes guessing who cold be the villain amongst the villains and the twist at the end had my jaw literally drop.
Hopefully, we will be able to join Io on another adventure as she follows the threads to uncover more secrets.

This was a really good, unique YA fantasy book! I will definitely be reading the sequel. Firstly, I enjoyed the setting of the story. The silts was a brilliant setting because it causes another conflict in the story. It's run down, plagued by intense floods, run by gangs and avoided by the police. This makes every story line more difficult to navigate as the peace of the silts is always so precariously balanced, and you really get to see this towards the end of the book. The actual story line of the wraiths murdering people was interesting, but progressed quite slowly in the sense that there weren't a lot of clues to follow.

As for the characters, I loved them! Io was a lovely character, a girl who was born with what everyone sees as a 'dangerous' ability compared to others, she was full of guilt and shame just for existing. This was also really interesting because of how her relationship with her sisters influenced this. I liked Edei, although I feel like we didn't get to learn that much about him so I am looking forward to that in the next book. I loved the idea of a 'fate thread' between them and the concerns around fate impacting the choice that they have. I'd also quite like to see more of some of the side characters in the next book too, especially Rosa and Nico and Chimdi.

Overall, this was a great book with no flaws. The worldbuilding was extremely confusing because there were so many different abilities that came from different gods, I feel like I could've benefited from a graphic at the front of the book explaining the lines from which gods create which abilities! But I would definitely recommend this if you like more of an urban fantasy with quite a lot of political plot and some romance.

I am OBSESSED. I completely devoured this book, I loved it so much I bought the fairy loot version so I have a beautiful copy for my shelves. The plot line was captivating! The world building was rich and beautiful. Cannot express how much I enjoyed reading this!

What to say about this book? I really got sucked right into the story and was heartbroken to learn that it's the start of a series, because now I'll have to wait until I can read more.

Something about the way the world is made, the magic and the history, just got to me. It took me a while to get used to the idea of the magic system, and there was a bit of info-dumping in the first 20% or so, but when I did grasp everything it was easy to get lost in the story and go with the flow. The combination of dystopia and godly powers filled a gap in my life I didn't even know I had. I actually got a similar feeling as I got while reading Six Of Crows, which I think is high praise.

The mysteries kept me hooked. Of course there's the main murder mystery, but there's also the mystery of what the hell happened to these sisters. Diving into the relationship between the Ora sisters was definitely a favourite part of the book for me. Emotions can make what may be straightforward questions overly complicated and I just loved that aspect.

Actually, all the relationships in this book were set up amazingly. I really believed each and every one of them, and felt they were all unique and had their own challenges. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of everyone in the sequel, which I hope doesn't take too long as I'm absolutely invested!

An exciting YA novel with plenty of action, great sibling dynamics and a lots of twists.

Private investigator, Io, can see the threads of fate that bind people to the things they love and, as a cutter, she can also sever them. When Io witnesses a murder committed by someone with a broken life-thread, she's plunged into an investigation that will uncover the dark secrets of her city's past. Throughout, she's aided by Edei, a member of the Rossi mob who Io has spent the past few years avoiding - because the two are connected by a bright fate-thread Edei knows nothing about.

This novel had strong world-building which offered a dark but fresh look at Greek mythology, with characters descending from various powerful sibling groups like the Fates, the Graces and the Muses.

Io's character was complex and compelling. I loved seeing her debate the ethics of her fate-thread with Edei, as she's torn whether to tell him about it or severe it to set him free. Her relationships with her sisters was also endlessly interesting and offered plenty of drama.

After reading a lot of (brilliant) Greek Mythology retellings so far this year, it was fun to read something that offered a completely different take on the genre.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. When I first saw this book I was umming and r-ing wether to request it but I the end I am glad I did I really enjoyed this book, the characters where easy to get on with, the plot was amazing, the magic system was great and the book just really flowed. 4 stars highly recommend

A twisty, turny, unique tale with some interesting characters and a plot unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Great world-building and I love the mix of fantasy and murder mystery, with just a touch of romance. Feedback from customers we’ve recommended it to has been really positive.

I am very thankful for being able to access this book via Netgalley prior to its release.

I LOVED this book and cannot for the life of me work out why we arent hearing more about it on booktok etc!

Io's narration is gripping, genuine and engaging throughout the book - I love her as a protagonist and cannot wait for the next one. What a gem of a book to stumble across.

Io lives in a dystopian future - a poor shanti town built above the flooded remains of a flooded city. She is a cutter - a decendent of the Moira (three fates) - who uses her abilities to work as a private detective.

When she stumbles across a unique murder - the culprit being a type of powerful being she has never encountered before - she must work with new friends to help save the people in her city.

Be warned - it ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you praying for the next book to get approved, written and published ASAP

I loved this so much, I’m so glad it’s this months fairyloot special edition too, as I can’t wait to own a physical copy for my book shelves. I thought it was lovely to actually read a book based on Greek mythology actually written by someone Greek, there’s been so many in the last few years, not that they’re not good, but it’s just always nicer to read something from someone who is heritage. It actually is. This is extremely well written. I loved the characters. The world building and magic systems are fantastic, it’s full of so much positive representation, it’s also full of my favourite tropes like fated love and chosen one. The Threads That Bind is an intriguing , creative and unique read, when I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone,


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don't know what I expected from a book dubbed fantasy noir, but what I got, I absolutely loved. With influences of mythology, this dark mystery will captivate you from page 1.

Inventive and smart, thoroughly enjoyed this modern twist on the Fates of Greek mythology. It is an easy read but clever enough to intrigue all the way to the end, with hopefully a sequel coming!