Threads That Bind

“Threads That Bind” by Kika Hatzopoulou reads like urban fantasy, mixing characters that are descendants of gods, a supernatural detective story, and some sinister vibes. A seemingly winning combination that sometimes stumbles in its execution.

Plot Summary:
The Ora sisters, descendants of the Fates, possess unique gifts that make them both powerful and feared in a society where they are labeled as “Other Born.” These second-class citizens are charged special taxes, routinely paid less, and discriminated against when it comes to citizenship, work permits, and housing. Their plight is bleak, and I felt the injustice of it in my bones.

Io is a private investigator in crime-riddled Alante, a city where bridges between homes are used out of necessity during the flooding of the half-sunken city. But not in the affluent neighborhoods, of course. The differences in the daily lives of the rich and poor are striking and a source of tension in a city used to an ever-widening class divide, crime, and corruption. Additionally, the presence of the Other Born puts the people on edge and their allowed presence is a source of contention.

During Io's PI work, she runs into a murderous murderess wraith with a severed and frayed life thread. She becomes entangled with the Mob Queen of Alanate and her right-hand man, Edei. Edei and Io are connected by a fate thread, created long before they ever met. Together, they unravel the mystery of the impossible wraiths, multiple murders, and a shocking revelation that could up-end the entire world.

The Good:
There are some parts of the book that are gripping and exciting - like the various action sequences. Hatzopoulou is great at crafting moments where I felt Io's fear and dread. For me, the strongest writing was demonstrated in Io's interactions with her sisters, the muses, and a character named Rosa. The relationships between the Ora sisters are nuanced, complex, and often infuriating. I didn't quite understand the relationship between Ava and her older and younger sisters. She took the stereotype of the middle-child peacekeeper too far. Sometimes, her actions just didn't make sense. I couldn't get a good grasp of who she was. Thais was a clearly written character that I just wanted to shake. She was ruthless in her self-righteousness, taking qualities that I usually love and twisting them until the breaking point.

I did fall in love with one character - Rosa! I could read about her all day. I'm a bit obsessed. More Rosa, please. She's smart, tenacious, and a total smokeshow. My kind of woman. Rosa alone is enough to tempt me to read the next book in this series.

The Bad:
It took me some time to become fully immersed in the story, and once I was, occasional info-dumping disrupted the trance-like reading experience that I look for in a good book.

Romance
The romantic aspect between Io and Edei felt lackluster and flat. I can admit that, as someone firmly in my 30s, I'm not the target audience for this novel. I still believe the romance could have been more convincing. There were moments of intimacy during high-stress situations that felt out of place. There were soft caresses during action scenes that made me think, “Get it together, Io, now is not the time! Think about his soft palms later.” The trauma-bonding element, while hinted at, could have been explored in greater depth given the intense situations they face.

Overall Rating:
I would rate “Threads That Bind” a 3.5/5. While it doesn't quite merit a rounded-up 4 stars, the cliffhanger at the end really got me.