This book felt like coming home. I loved how Schwab was able to seamlessly recap the previous three books, seven year gap, and introduce new characters. Seeing more of the world of Red and White London was something I didn't know I wanted or needed but I did.
I am unsure of how successful this was as an entry point to the series - I felt that because I had prior knowledge of ADSOM that I did not feel that the book was info dumping or repetitive. Schwab did a great job of making me refall in love with these characters. I am so excited for the next book.

Being back in this world that V.E. Schwab established with her original A Darker Shade of Magic series has been incredible! The Fragile Threads of Power picks up seven years after the conclusion of A Conjuring of Light with brand new, intriguing characters, but still largely focuses on our beloved gang from the original series. To anyone who has not read the previous trilogy, I would not recommend jumping into this new series without having read it. I think that would only do a disservice to your reading experience.

In true Schwab fashion, she unhurriedly invites the reader back into this world, allowing us to familiarize ourselves once again with the Londons, the magic system and, in particular, the characters. Schwab's writing caters beautifully to the character driven reader, but that's not to say she doesn't weave an intricate plot as well!

I am so excited for this new series and can't wait to see what comes next!

Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC provided in return for an unbiased review.

All the characters return seven years after Osaron is defeated. Rhy, Alucard, and their Queen rule Red London. Lila and Kell pirate the seas. Introduced are two young characters, one who can see magic threads and the details if spellwirk in Red London and the other the “little queen” who revived White London after inheriting Holland’s antari magic. The threads of each story come together after a slow burn of acquainting with reader with the lives our favored characters and bringing in the theft of a box that can open doorways between any location including worlds, threatening King Rhy who is blamed for magic waning.

Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard are joined by additional characters who the reader roots for. I didn’t care that the story was slow because I missed the cast. Can’t wait for the next one. Meanwhile, I’ll be rereading A Darker Shade of Magic.

This was.. a true masterpiece.

V.E is a magician with their writing. I was in AWE reading this - I was never bored which is so difficult to achieve with books? But this was GOOD the whole way through. I dont know what to do with myself now that Ive read this. I need more V.E.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL

I will never ever be in awe of VE Schwab’s work! Perfectly crafted new characters, the old ones whom we are attached to on an existential level are all well synced and served their purpose.

I loved meeting the Londons from a new angle and follow the journey. I will say only this: amazing, unique, unforgettable. Loved it!

This first book of a new series lived upto my expectations and gave so much more: it felt like coming home.


Thank you so much for the Publisher, Netgalley and VE Schwab for the gifted earc, my review is voluntaryly given and entirely my own.

I really enjoyed the first in the spin off A Darker Shade of Magic series by VE Schwab. But I have to say, I truly cannot imagine reading this book without the background that comes with the first trilogy. The exact same characters are the main characters in this story. Without my knowledge of their previous relationships, I'm not sure I would have a clue what's going on. Weird that the publisher is trying to claim you could read this without the others.

ANYWAYS, I really liked how the story opens in the future with our king Rhy and prince Kell off exploring the world. I also enjoyed getting to know the new characters, especially Tes. I like the different kinds of magic wielded by all the characters and it was fun to watch it grow in the other Londons. I think this opens the door for a fun new series and I will definitely continue reading this one.

I look forward to discussing this with PM Reads next week!

I enjoyed this! I need to read her other books so that I can become immersed in this world! It was fast paced and fascinating!

This book had a lot to live up to and it did not disappoint. Such a fun and engaging return to Red London. Loved the new characters and of course the old. The author’s writing and storytelling is such a treat.

The long awaited continuation of one of my favorite series did not disappoint. Fans of VE Schwab rejoice 🙌 it’s the start of a new/old series worthy of its predecessors. Plenty of action and banter and I just had the time of my life reading.

The Fragile Threads of Power is a fantasy adventure and book one in the Threads of Power series. This book takes place in the Shades of Magic universe and starts 7 years after the ending of A Conjuring of Light. The doors between worlds have been closed and the magical kingdoms are separated. But a young magician with a unique ability might be able to reunite them all

This book was an absolutely amazing read!! First of all, I absolutely loved seeing the return of all my favorite characters from the Shades of Magic series - Lila, Alucard, Rhy and of course Kell! It felt like a new story and an extended epilogue at the same time! Seven years has brought a lot to these characters and it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows - some aspects in their lives were so hard to read but I loved their continued presence and growth

Outside of old friends, the new characters were just as engaging! Tes is an intriguing character and I loved what she brought to this world. The world building continued to expand the world of the Shades of Magic and I loved everything about this book!

If you couldn’t tell already, this was a five star read for me! I loved returning to this world and characters that I love so much, while also meeting new ones! This book also had some romance but no on page smut so one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of beautiful magic systems, beautifully broken characters and all the found family vibes, then absolutely pick up this series. Even though this is a separate series and can technically be read independently, I’d absolutely recommend reading the Shades of Magic trilogy first as there’s quite a bit of overlap.

Loved the Shades of Magic series and love returning to the same characters after the last book. This is a big one and I am so happy it won’t end quickly! And it's a series so it will continue.
It’s so fun to see Alucard, Kell, Lila and Rhy again. They are still struggling with the effects of the last books but continuing on as well as they can. Love the Londons! And there are new characters and old/new villains. These alternate realities are all feel like a garden. Some plants can reach the sun, but others are in the shadows with no nutrients.

This magic system is so unique and familiar from the other series, but it felt like there were different variations. I loved to see their romantic relationships progress and how they are now comfortable with each other and a bit of the story in between since it would go from 7 years ago to now. There were young characters that were very powerful, and this was setting up them in the different London's.
If you do read this book, make sure you read the Shades of Magic trilogy first or else this won’t make sense.

Thank you torbooks for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

WOW! What a ride! I am happy to report FRAGILE THREADS was an amazing continuation of the beloved Shades of Magic trilogy. I felt like this was a very appropriate continuation of the series because we still get to follow the characters we have all come to love but we are also introduced to some new characters who were like a breath of fresh air! I enjoyed the new perspectives, Tes and Kosika, a lot more than I thought I would. The way Schwab wove in their stories with the original cast was brilliant.

This is not a huge knock on the book but I find that Schwab tends to struggle with pacing. FRAGILE THREADS is almost 650 pages and with the time jumps and the changing POVs, there's bound to be a lull somewhere. It didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book but I think it's worth noting if you're someone who has struggled with Schwab's pacing in the past.

I'm super excited to see what the rest of this series has in store!

4.5/5 stars

V.E. Schwab’s books are some of my top tier books I’ve ever read. I was so excited when this book was announced and it didn’t disappoint at all!

As a huge fan of the Darker Shades of Magic series, I was super excited to just back into Schwab's 4 Londons. Seven years after the conclusion of "A Conjuring of Light", we find our favorite Antari, royalty, and a few new cast members adventuring through the 3 remaining Londons. In Red London we spend our time between the old favorites who are trying to hold Rhy Maresh to the crown amidst a potential overthrow by a group known as The Hand. In White London, a new Antari has risen after the death of Holland. Kosika, a young street girl when Holland was killed, has grown into the queen that white London loves. But now that seven years has passed, can she also hold the crown?

I love the duality that Schwab has so expertly written into this universe. After the conclusion of the Shades of Magic series, I thought we would never get to return and I was so excited for not just 1, but 3 more books taking us back into the Londons.

Once there were four worlds, all powered by magic and connected by the city of London. After a magical contagion that spread through all of the worlds a magic wall was erected to prevent travel between them and contain the corruption. Black London was the source of the event, and is dead now; most of this story takes place in Grey London, White London, and Red London, all of which still have varying degrees of magic. The narrative just drops the reader into the situation, which I found confusing at first.

But before long everything becomes clearer, and each of the Londons has a distinct cast of characters with their own problems, as well as powerful magicians (who take center stage most of the time). Red London is flourishing and powerful. It has a mostly magical monarchy, along with Delilah Bard (a powerful magician who travels between there and Grey London) and Tes, a young runaway with a unique ability to see and manipulate magic (which manifests in the threads of the title).

Kosika is the child queen of White London, which is hanging onto magic at the cost of blood. She is accompanied by a dead former king, and has learned how to travel between worlds. In the end they have a plan to restart Black London and the rest of the worlds: a strong conclusion to the first installment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

This author does such an amazing job with world building. You always feel like you’re right there with the characters. I will say at times it did feel like other fantasy worlds influenced some of the elements in this story. But overall, really well done and enjoyable.

It took me a while to get invested into The Fragile Threads of Power -- it begins with a brand new character, and I really wanted to get back to Kell and Lila and Rhy and Alucard. I imagine it would be different if I were reading this as a standalone, apart from The Darker Shade of Magic? But that feeling quickly abated and I became invested in the new faces, and in the back and forth between the present and filling in the past seven years.

The Fragile Threads of Power is a glorious book, with a lot of characters and a lot of moving pieces and plots. Schwab's world building is top notch, and the story weaves around so gracefully and magically. I loved it.

I honestly loved the dynamic between all the characters. I have always loved and enjoyed Schwab’s previous work but this definitely seems to be on the top and a new personal favourite, I find myself amongst yet another book by the author that I couldn’t get enough of.

I really love the epic fantasy world created by Schwab. It was just wonderful to be back in the world of A Darker Shade of Magic. This book had all the elements I enjoy in Schwabs books the intricate worldbuilding, the wonderful storytelling that grabs you from the beginning. The mix of the old characters we love, who are now older and wiser with the new characters with their unique narratives that are also interesting and intriguing. I absolutely loved this addition and cannot wait for the rest of the trilogy.

“A head gets lost, but a heart knows home.” V.E Schwab is a master storyteller. The Fragile Threads of Power is wonderfully rich and magical. The story keeps up the momentum and never slows. I loved the characters and the magic system. Definitely worth a read for any fantasy lover.