Many thanks to Net Galley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

Fans of HARRY POTTER, here’s another series that is gonna blow your effing mind, make you squeal with joy, and go into raptures with the reading experience.

Enthralling, Enchanting, Delightful, and Spell-Binding!

‘People think stories are harmless but they are the most dangerous weapon mankind has.’

Threadneedle, the first in the series of The Language of Magic is a young adult fantasy story that is an utterly compelling and riveting read. The author Cari Thomas has been exceptional in creating a place with witches amidst the bustling city of London. Now just don’t begin this with the expectation of Harry Potter coz this is definitely a much deeper and in a sense, a back to the root magical world that has been fashioned by the author. There’s no easy spell learning and magical wands for the wizards or witches to learn their skills, Threadneedle has its base on the elements of earth for its witchcraft. In fact, the depth of traditional witchcraft being mentioned in the story is simply amazing.

The protagonists in the story are 16 yr olds and the school they belong to is like any other high school, with its own share of bullying and body-shaming and mean-girls that feel acutely authentic. Anna’s life as an orphan cared for by her aunt is nothing sort of a miracle. The abuse she has to endure in the name of magical binding is terrifying and the story unfolds in such a way that the reader is given no clue if at all the paranoid aunt has some basis for her beliefs. As new friends Effie and Attis show Anna what she is missing in her life, Anna becomes emboldened to change from NOBODY to SOMEBODY. But nothing prepares her for the magical discovery and the journey she has to bear for the truth of her parent’s death and the curse that is hanging over her head.

That magical library! Who wouldn’t want to be a permanent member there? And, of course, there’s Rowan and her mother in a similar vein to Ron and Weasley’s. I sincerely do wish that Rowan could get over the complex about her weight and grow confident in her abilities, half the book is about her being body-shamed, and as a matter of fact, the use of magic to stop the bullying is what causes trouble for Anna and Effie as things spiral out of their control.

There’s no cliffhanger ending as the crux of this part of the story does get cleared up but I just can’t wait for the unfolding of the drama that forms Anna’s curse and emotional upheaval of that love that is assuredly going to create a hell lot of problems.

J K Rowling did introduce a world of magic that is categorically unparalleled but it is not an adult world. Cari Thomas has her protagonists as young adults but it is a world of magic that can be enjoyed by anyone with a love for fantasy.

Threadneedle is a fantastic series opener and this is surely going into my shelf for keeps and is it too soon to demand book #2?

Highly recommended!!!

This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Facebook, and Twitter.

‘How can I know who I am without knowing who I came from?’

After a tragedy left her an orphan, Anna was raised by her Aunt. She’s known her entire life that she’s going to be a Binder when she grows up.

‘The Binders did all they could to prevent magic being exposed to the ordinary world, to keep it locked away behind doors; brushed under carpets; tied in necklaces and tucked beneath blouses.’

Now Anna is in sixth form and it’s only a year until her magic, such that it is, will be bound. As the school Nobody, Anna has always tried to fly under the radar. That won’t be as easy to achieve once she joins a coven.

‘We deal in that which cannot be known by the light of day and exact our punishments by dark.’

Attis, resident eye candy/mystery boy, intrigued me, as did Effie, although I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be best friends with her or her archnemesis. She’s kinda prickly so I think I’d want to be cautious around her.

Having a religious girl in the coven initially confused me as I had trouble figuring out how the two could possibly intersect. I don’t think I like Miranda/Manda. There’s something about people who claim religion and then act in ways that fly in the face of their spouted beliefs that make me want to point my finger and hiss, ‘Hyprocrite!’ I know we’ve all been guilty of saying one thing and then doing another at some point in our lives but when it comes from someone who evangelises … I don’t know … it just seems different somehow.

Then there was Rowan, who I absolutely adored, except for the fact that so much time was spent body shaming her. If someone else wasn’t bullying her about her weight, Rowan was pointing it out herself. She was so much more interesting to me than whatever the scales say about her. Also, her mother is an absolute delight and I need to spend so much more time with her!

The Binders gave me cult vibes throughout the book. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you think there’s some truth to what they’ve been saying all along or not. I’m a bit on the fence about this and could argue either way. I suspect there’s some truth there but I definitely question (and that’s putting it nicely) their methods and some crucial core beliefs.

I’m usually all for magic, regardless of the form it takes, but some of the magic in this book gave me the heebie-jeebies. I’m not sure if I’ve simply never considered this before or if it was the way some of the magic played out here but it got me thinking about free will. If any spell removes free will from someone, whether it’s their thoughts or actions, then it seems to me that this tramples all over consent.

To force your will on someone else in a way that takes away their freedom to think or act in a way they choose feels really icky to me. My brain helpfully came up with the term ‘magical assault’ and now I can’t get it out of my head. I’m not sure if I’ll ever see certain types of magic in action again without my brain shouting that at me. Thanks for nothing, brain!

The bonds we have with family and friends and how these can be tied to fear and sacrifice are explored in this book. It’s not always clear whether someone is acting selfishly or in another person’s best interests. There are opposing truths at play, which complicates things even further.

One thing that definitely wasn’t complicated for me was my love of this book’s magical library. This could be one of my favourite libraries ever and I want to spend an entire book lost in there.

While I wish I’d learned more about the seven faceless women in this book, there are indications that they will play a vital role as the series unfolds. I am particularly interested in the seventh woman and am not so secretly hoping that we’ve already met her in this book but don’t know it yet. I already know who I want her to be.

‘People think stories are harmless but they are the most dangerous weapon mankind has.’

Content warnings include body shaming, bullying, emotional abuse, physical abuse and slut shaming. Death by suicide is mentioned a few times as a suspected cause of death.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, for granting my wish to read this book.

Threadneedle is the first in a new YA series and a stunning debut novel. It is filled with mystery, intrigue, magic, and darkness and I devoured every word. The main character Anna turns 16 at the start of the book and we delve into her world, where magic is said to be a sin. Anna lives with her Aunt and as the story unfolds we learn all the ghastly things her Aunt has done to her in the name of protecting her from her magic. In a typical younger YA setting, school play a major role in the story. Anna has always been a nobody and likes to keep it this way, not drawing any attention to herself. We have the usually bullies and torment too. When Anna is introduced to her Effie and Attis, things start to change. Anna has one year before she is to become a binder and have her magic bound and she is determined to make an informed decision by finding out what really happened to her parents, why her magic is flawed, what the binders really do, and why Aunt is determined she become one.

The writing in this book is excellent and pulls you right into the story. There is a mysterious undercurrent running throughout and I was so shocked at how the story played out. I wasn't expecting what happened at the end and can't wait to read book 2 to find out what happens next. Threadneedle is a must read for any YA fan and the characters are all engaging and well fleshed out. This was an easy five stars for me.

I should immediately explain that I found myself skipping elements of this book.

It's a beautifully crafted storyline and as a YA it's strong. However, as an adult read it feels off kilter and slow. As a coming of age, magic, fantasy read it's good as it tells the tale of Anna, who is being brought up by her Aunt who is introducing her to magic and it's powers. It's repetitive in places and definitely not for me, but, I can see it will have an audience.

An OK read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book having read the reviews of others. YA? Maybe. Magic? OK. Witches? Yep.
Reader, I loved it. A great story with well developed characters, a very good plot and loads of angst alongside the humour and teenage romance. I could certainly relate to the teenagers despite it being fifty years ago since I was their age. Maybe a bit repetitive and fifty or so pages too long but it was a brilliant read which kept me on the edge of my seat several times. With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review and e-ARC of this title.

Embroidery/needlework/sewing basic magic systems is a sparsely explored fantasy subgenre and I'm always interested in new additions. However, Threadneedle was absolutely not a book I would have been able to enjoy. We open to teenaged Anna, living with her Aunt and taught her entire life that her magic is a sin, her magic must be bound and carefully used, that showing her magic to the wrong people will get her persecuted and killed. Hidden magic is a fairly common theme but almost immediately, we meet Selene, an old friend of Anna's mother and her daughter Effie, who cast freely with no concern for this so-called persecution. It's immediately, painfully obvious that the world Anna has been raised in is the equivalent of an extremist oppressive religious cult that Anna's been more or less indoctrinator into. While some readers may enjoy such topics, that theme hits faaar too close to home for me and it's absolutely not something I'm comfortable reading. When we Aunt's friend, fellow members of this group of witches, it's like the worst of wealthy white suburban housewife sniping, all veiled insults and petty comparisons of who's 'better' at X. Between this and the extremely slow pacing, I found myself forcing to continue page by page. My breaking point was Anna's first day back at school, where we go through a rehash of every Mean Popular Alpha Girls being petty and mean to the Unpopular Girl at school. It's 2021, do we really need to go through that trope again? No, we really don't. Thus DNF@14%. 1/5 stars. Not worth my time.

Review to be posted 14 May 2021

This book has the quirky magical charms of Harry Potter, the darkness and smartness of Discovery of Witches and the sassiness of Twilight as you escape into this world of magic. This book is a slow and steady read as you gradually get woven into the magic of the story as it builds up to a satisfying end. I love real world magical stories and this one is no exception blending magic, and myths to create a unique coming of age story. This book is so well written you instantly feel part of this world where magic is possible, the characters are all equally well written and there is nothing as straight forward as good or bad.

I think for me, Threadneedle is a book that can't make up its mind on what it wants to be. Some reads like a fairytale, some like a teen high school drama. The characters are built on stereotypes (girl who thinks she doesn't have magic but is actually powerful, cool girl who hates her at first but grow closer, the sidekick best friends - comic relief and religious girl). And there's a typical high school mean girl revenge arc which wasn't my thing really.

Some of the book reads well - I liked the friendship between the four girls that make up the coven. I also think the magic system is cool but the world-building could be more in depth which is hopefully something for the next book.

I found it really hard to place - in both time and setting. It's modern times and it's London but it's not obvious and that meant it wasn't a super immersive read to me. The book is also really slow and long (too long for the story in my opinion) which made it a bit of a battle to get through. Generally though, I wasn't a fan but I think Cari Thomas has a lot of potential as a writer but this one just wasn't something I vibed with.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, especially after seeing the reviews.. Unfortunately I struggled to get in to it and it just didn't grip me and I found it hard going.

Anna has grown up fearing her non-existent magic, waiting til the day it can be officially bound by the Binders. Her quiet world is thrown into disarray when proud witches Effie and Attis join her school.

I received a free copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows 16 year old Anna. At school, she has spent years hiding from everybody's notice. She's about to start sixth form, and only has two more years to survive.
At home... she's from a family of witches from the Binder's sect. Her strict aunt has raised her, after both her parents died in a murder suicide when she was a baby. Her aunt has hammered home that her mother was seduced by magic and love, and neglected the ways of the Binders, which is why they died.
Magic is the first sin, and must not be used unless ordained by the Binders.

Growing up without friends or outside influence, Anna thinks this is the norm for witches.
Until an old family friend, Selene, and her daughter Effie, move to London.

Anna learns that some witches practise openly, and there are magic shops and venues dotted across London. The more Anna learns, the more her strict aunt comes across as a religious nut.

I loved the magical world that Thomas has created. It feels realistic, and has weaved historical elements into it, to make it completely authentic.
Despite being born to a witch family, Anna is a novice and completely clueless. It was fascinating to learn about the witchkind alongside her.

That being said, I did find the first half of the book to be very slow-moving. At first, it spends time on Anna's dreadful homelife (I thoroughly despised her aunt!), and helps build a base for the year that will change Anna's life.
Then Anna meets Effie and Attis, and with a couple of other witches at school, they start their own coven. The book slowly builds on the world of witches and magic, whilst Anna and the other outsiders get revenge on their high-school bullies.
I thought this section was very 'Mean Girls' meets 'The Craft'. There was a lot of teenage angst, which has its place in a YA book, but wasn't very compelling to read. Sometimes, it felt like filler, keeping us away from the main witchy mysteries.

The second half had much better pacing. All of the characters were established, and they started to unravel several mysteries, beginning with why Anna can't do magic, and what really happened to her parents.
Throughout the story, there is the constant question of whether Anna will agree to be bound, or not. I think it definitely shows the author's skill that, even when we knew the absolute worst of Anna's aunt, nothing was certain. Anna's changes in opinion feel believable and warranted, as various truths come out to play.
This book isn't afraid to get grim, with violence and domestic abuse.

It ends with a bang, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

ThreadNeedle is stunning. The writing is intensely beautiful, and carried me off into a world of magic and love, secrets and lies. Anna has been warned of the dangers of magic, but as she approaches her sixteenth birthday, things begin to change. Effie and Attis come into her life, and it becomes more difficult to resist that magic and believe what she has been told. Joining The Binders has been her fate. But is she ready for a life of pain and denial? Her Aunt is determined she will do as she is told, but Anna’s eyes are opened to new possibilities. As the story unfolds we enter a world of wonder, of magical libraries, of underground secrets hidden from the ‘real’ world. I was hungry for more. The story was brilliantly conceived and I couldn’t put it down. I want more and more of the same.

I was given this ARC to review.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, for the ARC.

Well, this is a rather absorbing story - one which, in film, I could imagine as Harry Potter-esque exploits to magical worlds - all existing within modern day London: a magic shop, a magical library, even a magical nightclub.

Anna is 16yrs old and has lived with her Aunt since she was a baby because her father had killed her mother Marie. Marie was a talented witch, however, the Aunt belonged to a coven of Binders - those who insisted magic was a curse which had to be bound and tightly controlled. The year leading up to Anna being Bound is beginning. Her Aunt uses her magic to inflict cruelty and pain on Anna - at the same time Anna has no faith in her possessing any magical power until that is, her Aunts friend Selena turns up with her daughter Effie and a very attractive young man called Attis. Effie is enrolled at Anna's school and Attis at the boy's school but where the two sixth forms mix. Effie, like Selene, is open with her magic whereas Anna has always kept to the shadows, not wanting to be noticed but Effie has identified others at school as witches and they form their own secret coven - that's when the trouble really begins!
The story gradually becomes darker as Anna's Binding becomes an imperative. Can she maintain any of her free will? Can she overcome the Binders' spell and save the one she loves?

This is rather a lengthy read with some sexual overtones and a bit of violence. Scary stuff!

This book was absolutely breathtaking, the writing is fantastic and it really draws you in! I've been so excited to read this and I'm incredibly glad I got an early copy! I'll absolutely be picking up a physical copy of this once it has been released and I've already convinced some friends to pick it up!!!

Spellbinding and kept me interested for so long, I really couldn't put it down! I hope to read more from Cari Thomas in the future!

Thanks to Harper Collins for a review copy
Threadneedle is a novel which is hard to catagorise though urban fantasy would probably be the closest description. It tells the story of Anna Everdell, a teenager living with her aunt in London. Both Anna and her aunt are witches and Anna is resigned to soon have her magic bound (like her aunt) and join the coven known as ‘The Binders’ who believe that all magic is evil and should be kept inside them lest it should attract too much attention and draw the attention of modern day witch hunters.
Anna lives with her aunt because her mother was killed by her father in an awful domestic murder-suicide and, try as she might, Anna can find out almost nothing about them other than that her aunt despises the memory of her sister and blames her death on magic.
Anna soon meets Effie, the daughter of another witch, Selene, whom Anna has known since childhood. Effie is much more at ease with her own magic than Anna and the two soon become friends and attend school together along with Attis, a mysterious boy who is deeply attached to Effie and lives with her and Selene.
As the novel proceeds it becomes clear that there is a lot more to the characters than meets the eye and the mystery of their relationships and powers deepens. Meanwhile Anna’s Binding draws ever nearer.
Whilst there will no doubt be comparisons with the Harry Potter books I think that Threadneedle will appeal to a different audience as it is a much darker book and the magic, whilst important, is not the only thrust of the story. This is as much a novel about the choices we make, especially as we grow up and how they combine to make us what we are. It is also, undeniably, a tragedy. There is no cheerful Professor Dumbledore to run to for help, no well defined enemy like Voldemort, and every character has their own secrets. Each and every person in the book can only be described as a lighter or darker shade of grey, black and white goodies and baddies have no place in Cari Thomas’s magical world.
There is much less world building than in J. K. Rowling’s novels. The London in Threadneedle is the real London of today where the magical world nestles, discreetly, alongside the non magical community. Cari Thomas has grafted her world onto contemporary society seamlessly and her story fits perfectly into that mould. The school attended by the main characters is a fee paying day school (of which there are many in London) and magic is most certainly not on the curriculum. There is a degree of cruelty and gossip prevalent within the school, particularly among the older girls which is, sadly, all too realistic. The wholly different responses of Anna and Effie to this environment is starkly drawn at first but, as time goes on, the effect that they have on each other as they try to deal with the bullying that they face forms a major part of their character development.
As Anna grows more confident under Effie’s influence she begins to feel a deep desire to find out more about the deaths of her parents before she is bound. Her aunt’s response to this very understandable wish is also a mystery and, as we understand more about what happened, the tragedy unfolds. I thought I had it worked out but I was totally wrong and was very surprised at the ending (in a good way!)
Whilst Anna’s story is the main thrust of this novel it is set against uneasy stirrings within the magical community. Events are occurring on the world stage, mainly a gruesome and mysterious multiple murder at the very start of the book, which is drawing unwanted attention to those who would much prefer to be left in peace. I sincerely hope that Cari Thomas writes more about the world she has created so we can see how the story of this book fits in to the wider, over arching tale.
This is a book for adults and young adults, it has mature themes and some very unsettling scenes and ideas that would, undoubtedly, give nightmares to younger readers. That said it is a beautifully told story with believable characters about whom I loved reading and I would recommend this book to anyone with love of good writing and a gripping story.

Threadneedle is one of my most anticipated reads of this year and it did not disappoint!

What I enjoyed most about this book was the comradery of the girls, the coven formed by Anna, Effie, Rowan and Manda, a group of outcasts, bullied and/or invisible, which of course isn’t all positive throughout the book but I enjoyed getting to know them, each character is so different. Rowan is such a delight to read, funny and relatable and Effie is intriguing, dark in many ways but complex, and while their spells do go too far, and at times they are cruel, from bullied to bullied you can’t help but route for them. There is a message in this book of how being different isn’t wrong, being different is powerful, in not denying yourself, that I enjoyed.

Some things I could have done without, the book starts with an intriguing execution of a group of women, a notorious coven who is referred to several times but it doesn’t really go anywhere, similarly neither does the idea of hunters that the Binders seem obsessed with. Perhaps this is for a sequel but starting a book with something that doesn’t really have relevance is a bit confusing.
Of course if this is only book 1, this could be breadcrumbs building up into something greater, it just wasn’t really enough to say much but too much to be ignored. I’m also not a fan of love triangles which have a habit of turning up in YA. Is this a YA book, I don’t know. A lot of the things that happen at the school seem like something that would relate more to a younger audience, however the abuse that Anna endures at home from her Aunt is pretty dark and uncomfortable reading, as is starting with a mass hanging!

Thank you NetGalley for the early read of this book, the book is as brilliant as the cover 😊 I look forward to reading the next instalment.

An absolutely adorable read, I didn't want it to end and hope the author has set it up nicely as it seems for an awesome sequel.

A coming-of-age story with many twists the book is beautifully written, the characters are relatable and enticing, and the plot keeps you on edge until the very end.

Loved it - all the angst and elation of being a teenager run through with glitter and magic - don't miss this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in return for a fair review.
Cari Thomas has developed an intriguing word where magic lies barely hidden under the surface, but the world is infused with a sense of foreboding and unseen threats overshadow our protagonist, Anna.

Anna is sixteen years old, and is being raised by her undeniably abusive Aunt. She has a sheltered and restricted life, with few freedoms or pleasures. Anna comes from a magical family, but her Aunt has raised her to believe that magic is sinful and must be kept under tight control. Emotions must likewise be kept under an iron grip. Anna is a perfect student, but school is no solace. To avoid the bullies she has reduced herself to a silent ghost of herself.

In the initial chapters of this book Anna is living a bleak, friendless, hopeless life. No love or affection is shown by Aunt towards Anna, she appears to delight in goading and punishing her when she is unable to live up to her Aunt's expectations. Aunt reminds her frequently of the deaths of her parents.

Anna has one bright spark in her life, Selene, the best friend of Anna's late mother. Her warmth & impulsive use of magic It is only with the introduction of Selene's daughter - the wild, reckless Effie & her ward, the intriguing and infuriating Attis that Anna begins to see that a different life may just be within her grasp, if she is brave enough to reach for it. When Effie and Attis are enrolled at Anna's exclusive London school they bring disruption and chaos to her previously uneventful life. But with chaos there also comes questions. Anna seeks to unravel the mystery of her parents death and her own magic.

Anna doesn't know who to trust, or who to believe. There are so many secrets, and so many unanswered questions.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, which did have quite a YA feel to it with much of the action taking place in a school. However, with the darker themes of murder, abuse, misogyny, revenge & gaslighting I can see why it sits in general/adult fantasy fiction. I will be watching for the sequels with great interest.

YA fantasy novel - a little disappointing but mostly enjoyable.

This fantasy story, taking place in modern-day London, deals with Anna, brought up by her Aunt, being introduced into the world of magic and learning what it entails. This brings her into contact with fellow witches and a host of other characters as well as dealing with school life. Most of the novel reads well and the characters are well-developed while the plot moves along at a reasonable pace but the ending/dénouement seems a bit rushed and involves a deus ex machina (which feature I didn't like). This is evidently the first in a series but I didn't find it enthralling enough to pursue further. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is literally incredible and I’m so happy I got to read it!!!! It’s so meticulously thought out and fun but tense at moments yet magical and sweet and dark but light and I can’t even describe it!! I can’t wait for book two!! Please!!!!

This was a really fun book to read! Not convinced at it being targeted as an adult book, because it had teenagers as the protaganist it felt quite YA to me. That said, I have no complaints. It was an easy read, fun, engaging, and there were parts of it that completely took me by surprise.

Anna is a witch, she's been in training all her life to follow in her aunt's footsteps to become a binder, a coven who believe that magic is dangerous and should be bound, and only after years of experience does a witch's magic get restored to her. But Anna has very little to fear, her magical prowess is non-existant and the life of a binder is all she's ever known. Except for Selene, her deceased mother's best friend who dazzles her with fanciful magic, who reenters her life on a more permenant basis along with her daughter Effie and the mysterious Attius.

Anna is persuaded to explore her magic more, but there's something not right with it, with her, and she has to decide whether to become the witch she's trained to be, bound with her aunt, or abandon her teachings to see if she can become more.

I have so many unanswered questions, which is the best way a book should end, especially when it means I'm eagerly anticipating the next one. I can't wait to see the characters grow more and learn more about them, and the hunters.