Today, I’m reviewing Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, which is definitely a standout of summer YA releases. Thank you so much to Candy Ikwuwunna at Penguin for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Descendants of the Fates are always born in threes: one to weave, one to draw, and one to cut the threads that connect people to the things they love and to life itself. The Ora sisters are no exception. Io, the youngest, uses her Fate-born abilities as a private investigator in the half-sunken city of Alante.
But her latest job leads her to a horrific discovery: somebody is abducting women, maiming their life-threads, and setting the resulting wraiths loose in the city to kill. To find the culprit, she must work alongside Edei Rhuna, the right hand of the infamous Mob Queen—and the boy with whom she shares a rare fate-thread linking them as soul mates before they’ve even met.
But the investigation turns personal when Io’s estranged oldest sister turns up on the arm of her best suspect. Amid unveiled secrets from her past and her growing feelings for Edei, Io must follow clues through the city’s darkest corners and unearth a conspiracy that involves some of the city’s most powerful players—before destruction comes to her own doorstep.
Publication Date: 6th July
TW: animal death, xenophobia, genocide, violence, murder, body horror, death, blood, confinement, transphobia, loss of a parent, toxic relationships, gaslighting
My Thoughts:
I absolutely adored this noir YA thriller infused with politics, familial relationships and Greek mythology. Threads That Bind is a blend between fantasy and mystery that is absolutely intoxicating.
Hatzopoulou’s writing is fantastic – it creates such a vibrant and varied world. I loved how she combined aspects of Greek mythology, but gave them such a fresh new take in this gritty, noir aesthetic. It very much felt like a classic gangster film, with various crime families fitting into certain types of deities and creatures. For me, this was a seamless mesh of fantasy and thriller. The plot was so well-structured, with plenty of intriguing twists and turns to follow. Hatzopoulou integrates a depth of history and world-building with plenty of secrets left to uncover in the sequel. I loved getting to know more of the backstories and how the devastating past of the city really played out. The whole concept of inheriting the powers of your bloodline is fascinating to me (the Percy Jackson loving child within me rejoices) and Hatzopoulou uses this deftly to explore the control of narratives and how legacies can be both a gift and a curse. This is a book where legacy is everything, but the truth of that legacy is shrouded in darkness and secrets.
I am also always a sucker for a good bit of political intrigue and we have that in abundance here. The mystery is deeply interwoven with the shifting political landscape of the city and how various factions intersect. There are so many layers and interwoven plot threads to untangle and I thoroughly enjoyed going along for the ride. At the same time, this is a deeply personal meditation on family, legacy and power. Io is a fantastic protagonist, smart and skilled but also wracked with guilt and unsure of her powers. I really clung to her as my guide through these streets and connected with her vulnerability and desire to thrive. Also, the connection between her and Edei is delicious. Again, the concept of the fate-thread brings up all sorts of interesting ethical dilemmas and questions. Their chemistry is fantastic and I would read so many books that are just them off on adventures through this endlessly compelling landscape.
Threads That Bind is something new, something brilliant and something everyone should add to their shelves immediately. YA fantasy does not know what has just hit it.
A Short Book Lover 
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