Yes! With a Greek mythology backdrop and a unique magic system this book is amazing!
I don’t read many YA books at the moment, but really enjoyed this one!

Wow wow wow !!! I adored this. Greek mythology, murder mystery, a mob queen, complicated sister relationships and a fated love - what more could you ask for! The prose is absolutely gorgeous and the world building is brilliant. Io is a hugely compelling character and I love seeing the story unravel through her eyes, and her relationships with her sisters, Edei and Rosa were all so interesting to watch them unfold. I cannot wait for the sequel! Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC

A magical story with twists and turns and a sprinkling of romance.
I really enjoyed this story, and the storyline kept me guessing until the end.

A fantasy thriller anyone?

Threads That Bind is a thriller and a modern retelling of the Fates myth.

In the myths, Fates are three sisters- the weaver, drawer and the cutter of the life threads. In the book they are called the moira-born as they are the descendants of the goddess of fate (Moira). They are born as three sisters, and cutters in particular are equally liked and disliked for their gifts in the book.

Our story starts with our MC ,Io, hired as a detective to investigate whether her client’s husband was cheating or not. Being a moira born, Io could see the threads tying a person to things they love and form an attachment to in the their life, so this job was a piece of cake to her.

Being a cutter, she sever the threads of addiction or cheating or any relationship for that matter if they clients wished to. However, in the most diabolical situations, a cutter can snuff out someone’s life with a snip. Hence they are always on police’s radar and are treated with suspicion.

When Io was close to reporting to her client, she’s halted by an undead woman killing the husband right in front of her. While trying to make sense of the situation and escaping the undead woman’s grasp,thanks to a stranger, she wonders how this was possible.

She has never seen anything like this before. No one with severed life threads were supposed to function but here she was witnessing the impossible. The most bizarre thing about this murder was that the undead claimed she did it for justice.

With similar such events taking place in the book, Io has to team up with that stranger on the order of the mob queen of the Silts to investigate this mystery.

Together they dig deeper into the murders and find themselves getting closer each day to the truth that’s going to shake them all.

The concept of ‘we are all bound to a superior force through threads’ was very fascinating from the beginning. It was consistently portrayed in the book and severed threads played into the mystery as well.

I really didn’t expect an angsty twist to the story but there was a well developed romance that was running parallel to the story. I’m a sucker for those in Fantasy these days and I think it’s going to be explored more in the next book.

The mystery was timed perfectly with twists I never saw coming. I thought the story was going in a certain direction but it took a complete 180 in the climax. The truth was more sinister than I thought.

The tension between the sisters was prominent in the second half of the story but they somehow maintained their bond till the end. I’m a little curious to see how they’ll proceed in the next book.

Overall, this story has a great premise and Greek myth enthusiasts would find it a treat with all the myth references. The mystery and romance was a prefect blend for me and I will be impatiently waiting for the second book!


Thanks to Penguin Random House UK and the NetGalley for the DRC of the book!

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

If you know me then you know that I love anything along the line of a retelling and Threads That Bind is right up there with This Poison Heart for being a super clever and unique YA reimaging of Greek Mythology/Lore in a modern setting.

The book centres on a girl who along with her 2 older sisters is a descendant of the 3 Fates. In this universe those who are descendants of deities harness some of their powers. Io our protagonist is able to see the threads of fate that span between people and the things that they love, as do her sisters, but her unique ability is that she is able to cut these threads.

Io uses her powers to work as a private investigator (honestly how cool is that?!!) and one day on a job she stumbles upon a woman who is walking around alive with her life thread cut, something which shouldn’t be possible.. This pulls Io into a wider mystery where she is made to work alongside Edei, the right hand man of the mob queen of the city who just so happens to be the person on the other side of her soulmate thread that she has been avoiding for years.

I absolutely loved this book and sped through it in 24 hours.

I was blown away by pretty much everything about the worldbuilding, from the gritty dystopian backdrop of the city and the various political tensions and underground gangs that pieced it together to the multifaceted magic/power side of things. It was fascinating that this whole deity element wasn’t just limited to Greek mythology but rather branched out to include other cultures and locations as well. Every new detail and addition just absorbed me more and more and there was some pretty great social commentary on class systems and identity there too.

The characters and their relationships were also a massive highlight. When books have complex and well written family dynamics you can expect me to be well and fully engaged and Hatzopoulou explored the relationships between the sisters at the heart of this story and how it shaped each of them, especially Io, so well! The romance also was so so sweet!! I find the soulmate trope can often feel cliché but the connection between Io and Edei felt so wholesome and right!

The leading mystery plot really keeps you guessing and on your toes and though there are some predictable bits it is all pieced together so well, particularly with how the various secrets and threads of history were unfolded. And following that ending I am itching to get my hands on the sequel!!
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you publishers and NetGalley

The Threads That Bind is a glorious Greek retelling in a modern day setting. The writing is so excellently executed with the likeable and realistic characters, it kept me as a reader drawn into the plotline.
I loved the descriptions and how engaging the story was. In fact I loved it that much that I have 2 physical copies on my shelf.

I really enjoyed this book! The combination of the Greek Gods in a more modern setting, with the addition of the gang wars and murder mystery just seemed to work so much more than I originally expected.
I grew so attached to all of the characters and they had me loving (and hating) them so fiercely. Also the way in which the powers and the magic worked for the descendants of each God was a very fun, interesting twist on the traditional Greek Gods. This book had me hooked right from the very start and I couldn't put it down.
Cannot wait for the next book in this series and I will be recommending this to all my friends, co-workers and customers.

Wow, because that's how it felt to read the last word and take a breath after the epic journey Threads That Bind takes you one. It's been a long time since I read a book this amazing that I want to go back and start it all over again.

Fleshed out with a full background and lore that feels both familiar and new. Myth, legend and fantasy fans with know some of the Gods, but Kika Hatzopoulou takes those stories and runs wild with them to create this who new world. This new, old world is wet, dark and completely encompassing.

The characters are so well written that they play out across the page in their full glory. Io's character arc through this book is inspiring to watch play out. Edei is the cute side kick. Strong female leads rule this story filled with inclusion, war and sibling drama.

Grab this book for a weekend read and cancel all other plans because the Silts will suck you in.

This book is a YA fantasy mystery published by Penguin, which I was allowed to read through Netgalley.

In this book, we follow Io Ora, a cutter, who needs to solve a murder. During her investigation, she is helped by Edei, and while we meet a lot of other 'kinds' of people, Edei is closest to Io (if we don't count her repationship with her sister).

I don't want to spoil the book for you, so this review might be a bit vague but hopefully, you'll still want to read it- it's worth it!

I liked the whole premise, from the world building around descendants of gods who inherited some of their peculiar traits, to the political and environmental issues that Hatzopoulou gives us a glimpse of.

While I felt like some of the information was too much sometimes (particularly in the beginning) I didn't mind it too much. I could see that Hatzopoulou spent time on her world building, her history and characters and it paid off! I loved this book, and cannot wait to read more.

Io is an interesting character throughout,with joys and fears that can be seen throughout, and understood easily by the reader. It really gives another dimension to Io's struggles because it's written so well, from moments when she struggles with her fear of not being good enough ('There is was. The horrible thing.'), to her constant questioning over doing the right thing (something to do with a fate thread, I won't say more, and you'll thank me for it...). Those are all valid questions that we can all associate with and understand, same with the family dynamic. Io has two ither sisters, and while she gets on well with one, she argues a lot with the other.

Overall, I think this book will be a great addition for anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, Greek mythology (or mythology in general) and can appreciate a nice world building.

The book cover (in the UK at least) was done by Corey Brickley and is really well done, with vibrant colours which invite the potential reader to pick it up. So the job is already half way done!

A thread connecting you to the destines love of your life…but not a soppy romance at all! Set in a dystopian world after the sea levels rise, with a fantasy/myth based system with ‘others’ receiving powers from the gods that they descended from. Throw in the mob and a mystery and you get this amazing story. It was like someone had grabbed one of my threads and kept pulling me back into the story until I finished it! Brilliant and cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for accepting me to read this novel.

I enjoyed this novel and enjoyed the way it was written. Everything flowed well and it was an enjoyable read

I went into this book without many expectations, my only hope was that the writing would be as beautiful as the cover. I feel like I’ve been left quite disappointed by some of the storylines in YA fantasy books over the last 12 months, with many lacking depth of character or sufficient worldbuilding.

Let’s just say - that’s not the case here. From the first 10% I was absolutely hooked, and loved everything about this. Io’s dynamic with her sisters was so interesting, and the complexity of the relationships between the characters was really well developed.

The murder-mystery element was almost reminiscent of Bryce & Hunt partnering up in Crescent City. There are a lot of different characters, abilities and references to the past built into Io & Edei’s search for the truth, and I actually think this is one of the things that I liked most about the book. While it’s 100% YA, it’s the type of YA plotline that keeps you engaged and invested in what’s to come, without simplifying the development of the character arcs.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and will definitely be looking out for any news on book two!

Io Ora is a private investigator. She’s also Moira-born and a cutter : she can see the threads tying people to things they love and she can cut them.

Io has a Fate-thread that she has been avoiding for years. Until she’s hired by Mob Queen, Bianca, to solve a series of murders with the person on the other end of her Fate-thread - Edei Rhuna.

This novel, set in a world where some people are descended from gods of Greek Mythology and have special powers, had me absolutely glued to the page. It’s full of intrigue and mystery, secret betrayals, secret histories and so many conspiracies.

Secondary to the actual plot of this book is a theme of relationships, whether they’re familial or not, and how a toxicity in a relationship can affect someone without them realising it.

Io may be the one who can see threads, but we are the ones, dear reader, who are trying to unravel them to get to the bottom of this story.

This is an absolute must-read for fantasy lovers, fans of Greek Mythology and anyone who loves secrets and conspiracy.

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.

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