The mythology-retelling was good.
The series was indeed good.
But I kinda had this strange feeling that book 1 much better.

I was excited to read the second book in this series. And while I think that there is definitely an audience for this book and this series, I, unfortunately, am not part of that audience. The first book drew me in with the interesting story and engaging characters. I would still recommend the series, probably to teens and avid YA readers.

This is such an underrated duology! It’s been a while since I read Threads That Bind, but I found myself just as immersed in this second book like I did the first. The sibling dynamic in this Duology was so complicated and I liked that not everything was tied up neatly with a ribbon. Realizing that your siblings have broken your trust is not an easy thing to overcome! The complicated relationships between the sisters is so real and heartbreaking. I found myself angry at Thai and Ava and frustrated at their decisions in the book. I was right there with Io! I also loved the love between Io and Edei. The ending had me clutching my chest! Truly such a beautiful depiction of if it’s meant to be, it’ll all work out in the end.

Intent on finding the group responsible for the creation of the wraiths, thread cutter Io partners with an unlikely ally to hunt down this conspiracy and stop them from killing any more. Her search takes her across the continent where she finds that someone is kidnapping other-born all over.

I liked this one a bit better. Better pacing, and I completely fell in love with the even more expansive world building, particularly the introduction of different cultures and their other-born. And there was much less focus on the fate destined romance.

But one of my favorite parts of book one had been the complexities of the sisters’ relationship ship. And I really wish we could have seen more into them. Instead, we got much more insight into the developing friendship between Io and Bianca, which I did appreciate! But, the ending really disappointed me. I felt deeply unsatisfied.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this arc.

I devoured the first book but this one took me some time to finish. It felt rushed to me. I still enjoyed aspects of it but overall just 3.5 stars.

I absolutely loved the first book and was so thrilled to start the second. It fell flat for me compared to Threads. Not a bad book by any means, but a bit lack-luster. Absolutely looking forward to the next work by Kika Hatzopoulou.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the e-arc of this book! 

I really enjoyed the first book in this duology and I was ecstatic when I got approved for the e-arc.

Unfortunately, the follow up did not quite live up to the first book. It was still a good time and a decent conclusion, it just fell a bit flat compared to the first book. Part of what I loved so much about the first book was the relationship and chemistry between Io and Edei. They spend the majority of this book separated, so I was missing that element. Overall, the duology is a quick fun read and I do recommend it! 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Starting right where the first book ends, Io and Bianca are on the search for the gods, and Io's sisters who look to be in league with them. I liked this book better because you get to see more of the world as they go searching, even if it seems like a nightmare with Great Tides, acid rain, and chimerean beasts attacking. And there are some big secrets revealed and harsh truths that must be dealt with. It was nice to get to know Bianca better too. And both her and Io grew as they journeyed to the fabled city of Nanzy. The twists were quite explosive and the climax was awesome and quite unexpected to me, though I did guess how Io was going to destroy, or save the world. It lead to a satisfactory ending which touched on the tenacity and stubborn survival of the human race, even when faced with cataclysmic disasters. This was a fun duology that mixed mostly greek mythology and modern day very well and though it ended well, it would be nice to see another story later on to see how Io's choice ended up affecting everything.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers group for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

what's it about? ⬇️

Five weeks after fleeing her home in Alante after the disaster that befell the sunken city, Io and her companion--former mob boss and current problem Bianca Rossi--are on the hunt for evidence of the Gods, previously believed dead, who have manipulated other born around their world into doing their bidding. But as the constantly shifting state of the weather and an unhinged new mystery falling at their feet turn their search ever more perilous, and as Io's attention is repeatedly pulled back in the direction of Alante, the horror of her sisters' betrayal, and the fate thread connecting her to Edei that seems to be fraying, can she and Bianca solve this case before any more lives are lost?

my thoughts? ⬇️

I was an *avid* lover of the first book and all of the lore woven into the history of each different type of other born, and while all of that was still present in the sequel, I felt like this one *dragged* in comparison with the first. There were so many new characters to meet and new settings to be introduced to and new mysteries to try and solve while also trying to keep the old ones at the forefront of the story, and in a lot of ways, this one just didn't measure up.

As far as character writing goes, Hearts That Cut was another huge success, in my opinion. Io is such a wonderfully flawed main character with such a distinctive and sometimes unreliable point of view, and the way both her powers and her mind work are so fun to read. Along with that, Bianca Rossi both as a character on her own and as a semi-friendly companion to Io was *hilarious* at times. Both new and returning characters from the first were full of so much heart and nuance and put together a gorgeous cast to help round out the story even when it was struggling to get where it needed to, and the *romances* had me so giggly and happy every time they came up.

But even with the beautiful character work, this book was far from perfect. Some chapters had he same amazing, snappy action and banter of the first, and that was even more refreshing this time around thanks to the other chapters that were really just an overload of information with what felt like way too much focus put on overexplaining a situation.

With half stars, I'd give this one a 3.5⭐, but I've rounded up because I have too much love for the duology as a whole to see it lower than that.

This is the second part of the duology. Kika has done a great job world building, especially evolving the world - and the enemies - in this continuation of the Threads that Bind. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend reading this but start with the first one!

I loved this book and the series. I wish there was a third because I love the characters and the world that much. I highly recommend this book to others any chance I get. The world building and character arcs were very well done.

I loved this book immensely. The first book had a vibe that I don’t get from a lot of Greek mythology Retellings and I’m glad that Hearts That Cut didn’t lose it.

I’m excited to see what Kika Hatzapoulos writes next

Hearts that Cut is the sequel to Hatzopoulou's prior novel Threads that Bind and is conclusion of the duology. This one picks up 5 weeks after where its predecessor left off, with Io traversing across the land in vain to find the other end of the golden thread only to learn that somebody has snapped it. She is traveling with Bianca, and I liked how Hatzopoulou elaborates upon what we saw of their relationship in the first book. We see them truly beginning to work through their differences and even seeing glimmers of friendship in each other.

I felt like the relationships in this book were done really well overall, and all the loose threads (no pun intended) were wrapped up nicely. Hatzopoulou expounds upon Io's relationship with her sisters Ava and Thais by delving a bit more into Io's childhood, exploring how her sisters were there for her but also where they let Io down. Thais was also portrayed in a somewhat more sympathetic light here, which I thought was interesting. Hearts that Cut also continues to play with the idea of Io having a fate thread with Edei. We see the beginnings of their relationship in the first book, but here we get to see it progress into something truly romantic. The thriller element holds strong in this sequel too, with Io getting roped into PI-type work even as she's traveling. Now, teenagers and young adults are going missing in a peculiarly particular pattern, and Io gets roped into the investigation. I found the presented evidence relating to the disappearances puzzling, and Io's attempt to solve it intriguing.

Hearts That Cut is a powerful and evocative exploration of love, loss, and the emotional scars that shape our identities. The novel follows its protagonist through a series of poignant and often painful encounters, examining the complexities of relationships and the inner turmoil of the heart. The writing is raw, lyrical, and deeply introspective, pulling the reader into a world of emotional intensity and vulnerability. The author deftly balances moments of beauty and heartbreak, crafting a narrative that is as tender as it is brutal. Ultimately, the book is a reflection on how our hearts, though wounded, continue to yearn for connection. It's a reminder of the fragility of the human experience.

**Review of *Hearts That Cut* by Kika Hatzopoulou**

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

*Hearts That Cut* by Kika Hatzopoulou is a contemporary romance that delves into the complexities of love, healing, and personal growth. The novel tackles difficult themes of heartache and emotional scars, with a focus on the journey to finding love again after pain. Hatzopoulou’s writing is heartfelt and evocative, capturing the emotional turmoil of the characters.

However, while the story has depth and offers some poignant moments, the pacing can feel slow at times, with sections of the narrative dragging on a bit. The characters, though relatable, lacked some complexity that would have made me feel more invested in their emotional development. The romance, though touching, felt somewhat predictable and didn’t fully draw me in as I had hoped.

Overall, *Hearts That Cut* is a solid, emotional read for fans of contemporary romance, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of character development and pacing. It’s a nice story, but may not leave a lasting impression for readers seeking something more unique or gripping.

While this was a successful sequel, I would caution anybody reading this to read the first book. Otherwise, you will be lost and confused and feel this book will take a lot longer than you think it should be. That said, there were parts that could have been cut or smoothed out. There were also many parts that were unique and the new characters that were allies were great.

It is not for the faint of heart with being filled with death, violence, and war. However, a very satisfying read.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I will forever think of the magic system in this duology, I LOVED it. I wasn’t in the mood for a fantasy when I read this second book and I think that largely impacted my reading experience (rookie mistake).

In this second book the love thread between the main characters is cut and suddenly they’re don’t know if they have enough to keep them together without it. That bothered me. I know the love thread was a bit part of their reason they were in each other’s lives but when it was gone they just…gave up for a chunk of the book.

I also know that this book isn’t primarily a romance, it’s a fantasy first with a sprinkle of romance but I did find myself wanting more of the romance.

So when the ending came I found myself wanting just a bit more. Book 1 just totally rocked my world that it put a lot of pressure on book 2.

It’s still worth the read but go into it knowing romance is not center stage in this story.

3.25 stars! I really enjoyed this duology, but felt as though the beginning of this book was slow compared the first book. I love the main characters and enjoyed the timid, real love that Io and Edei shared. I wish I was more connected to the story, but I really liked the high stakes and how everything came together by the end.

I kept wanting more from this sequel.

I quite enjoyed the first book in this duology, Threads That Bind. The unique use of mythology to establish a magic system drew me in immediately. So, I was exited to explore more additions to that system in this second book.

What I felt was missing in this sequel was the relationships. The story started off good as we follow the new relationship between unlikely pair, Io and Bianca, which seemed promising. However, by the end of the story I felt that that relationship had fizzled when it came to keeping my interest. And most of all, I found the relationship between Io and Edei quite lacking. This romantic relationship was quite a focus in the first book, but I felt that it lacked in depth or importance in this sequel.

The plot line itself felt fine to me, it gave quite a bit of excitement versus inner monologue and struggle. However, I just kept finding myself wanting more. More depth. More relationships. More intrigue.

Lastly, the ending. Personally it was not enough for my taste. It felt a bit rushed to be resolved for me and I hadn’t even realized it was the end of Io’s story - I thought there might have been another book coming. Now, I did enjoy this read overall, but I definitely could have used more exploration of characters to make it a stronger read for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The sequel to THREADS THAT BIND, HEARTS THAT CUT follows Io as she searches for the god on the other end of the golden thread, which leads Io and Bianca to Nanzy, where they have to team up with their allies to uncover and stop a centuries-old plot.

After finishing THREADS THAT BIND, a book I found exhilarating and addicting from start to finish, I have to admit I found HEARTS THAT CUT a bit disappointing.

The pacing of this book wasn’t as well done as the previous book; I found the beginning dragging on a bit too long while the ending felt entirely too rushed.

The romance between Io and Edei stayed as sweet as it was in the previous book, so it was always a breath of fresh air to see those two interact.

The characterization that excelled in the first book was missing a bit here as well. I didn’t feel like we got as good of a sense of who our new characters were, especially compared to the excellent characterization in THREADS THAT BIND.

I felt the ending to THREADS THAT BIND was a bit rushed, and unfortunately, I felt that was the case in HEARTS THAT CUT as well. In the last 100 pages, the story exploded with revelations and fight scenes, which I enjoyed, but it felt like we were scrambling to keep up with everything that was going on. During the ending, I had a hard time keeping track of where the characters physically were in the scene and what was happening.

Everything wrapped up really quickly, and it all felt a bit convenient, which is always frustrating for me in a book (let alone a series) ending. We didn’t get much closure or even an epilogue to see what happened to the characters after the ending, which had me briefly wondering if this was truly a duology or if there was going to be a third book.

I can confirm there will not be a third book, but I do wish we’d had a more satisfying conclusion for these characters we’d come to know and love.

A bright spot in both novels was Hatzopoulou’s writing style. She has a very poetic and lyrical way of writing that sucks you in quickly and keeps you turning the pages, eager for more.

Overall, I would recommend reading this duology; I think the concept is unique, and I like Hatzopoulou’s twist on mythology; I just wish this sequel had lived up to the excitement of its predecessor.

Thank you to Netgalley and Razorbill for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.