Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.

I was a big fan of the first book Threads That Bind in this duology and had high expectations for Hearts That Cut. Hatzopoulou did not disappoint! This book begins shortly after Threads That Bind wraps up with Io and Bianca heading to Nanzy to follow the golden thread. From the start I am drawn back into the story and could not put the book down. The characters develop well throughout and my attachment to them grew. Hatzopoulou wrapped up the story beautifully in Hearts That Cut and exceeded all expectations.

Thank you for the ARC review.

From the end of the first book, our character was at a crossroads, pretty much literally, of which mystery to follow. I was so happy at the beginning of the sequel to learn that she followed the one I hoped. Then though there was the problem that I wasn't in the mood for YA book it seemed. The book itself was mostly fine there were a few things that seemed odd considering what had previously been learned. Overall though I think it was just not the right time for me to read it. This will be a brief review with a more detailed one to come upon reread when I might pick up more details.

The world of these books is so interesting. It almost seems like an alternate version of our own world. During the first book, I wondered if it was like our world after a future catastrophe but they have three moons so probably not. There are a lot of similarities though, such as the god's names and abilities. In this book, we are able to travel to various cities and get a picture of how each area has to deal with the inhospitable climate. I feel like there were a lot more of the chimarini shown in this book as well, the various forms of mutations.

Also, we were able to see several more other-born abilities. One even being another fate touched, a __ from another set of gods. While the other-born were important to the plot of the first book I think it is woven more into this story. It gives context to all the machinations.

This book is still following Io Ora. While she does have moments of doubt and panic, I feel like it happens far less in this book than the first one. With Io for most of the book is Bianca Rossie, the mob queen of the Stilts, as the two are investigating/tracking the culprits of the last book. Io's detective skills are put to good work as she is forced to piece little clues together from all their stops.

As this is a YA novel the romance between Io and Edei would of course play a part. I was quite happy though that the possibility of the world ending took more precedence. There was still a good bit of conversation surrounding the fate thread and their feelings but they were both focused more on the mission.

I liked the way this one wrapped up the plot. It had a good explanation even if it felt like an odd decision choice. Previously I had thought this was going to be a trilogy but after searching it does appear to be a duology instead. This makes the ending seem better placed. It ends with a small bit of happiness and hope for Io specifically. There is also the possibility of better times for the world but that is a grander scale and Io isn't the character for that. It was a good decision not to make her have to focus on that part that wasn't suited for her. She played her role and the story of the world can move on its path while Io and Edei work out their own portion of it.

"In this heart-pounding, much-anticipated sequel to Threads That Bind, Io will face threats even more dangerous and players even more powerful as she discovers what it will mean to follow - or defy - her fate.

It's been five weeks since Io left Alante to follow the golden thread, and she's no closer to finding the god on the other end. She spends her days in constant, grueling travel and her nights worrying over the fate-thread she shares with Edei - which seems to be fraying. Making matters worse, she and Bianca soon realize that their only lead has shaken them off, snapped the golden thread, and disappeared.

But not before Io gathers some crucial clues. Her investigation leads her to a new mystery, a rash of sibling disappearances across the Wastelands that seems to be connected to the murders in Alante. And all signs point to Nanzy, the golden city, as the center of the whole conspiracy.

As Io and Bianca make their way to Nanzy, they face powerful enemies, find allies new and old, and uncover a horrifying plot that traces back centuries. The more Io learns, the more she begins to suspect that the future of the world may truly rest on her shoulders. But she will have to determine how much of the future is her choice - and how much is simply her fate."

This series deserves far better cover art. Take note OwlCrate and LitJoy and all others of that ilk.

I. Am. OBSESSED! I absolutely adored this book! I initially ate through the first book not realizing it had just been released and have been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this second book! The Storytelling and plot are just marvelous. I love these characters so much <3

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Threads that Bind. It was probably my favorite read of all last year. So I was anxiously awaiting this and so happy to get an ARC of this one.
I love Io and Edei and their relationship and story across both books is my absolute fave. What I loved about this book was the magic system and the way our main characters didn't want to be in charge of anything but weren't willing to sit by and watch their world get destroyed. There were way more different types of magic mentioned in this book, but we never got a look into most of them. They were named, but we don't know what those mean.
I was surprised by the ending to this book. It was a full circle story, which I appreciate but despite all the build up there felt like there was a pacing problem throughout this book. The end felt rushed and the beginning felt very slow. I still like this story, but if this is the last book in the series I feel like I am missing a good bit of the story I want, if this is just the second book then I am READY for book three.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

"'It is ridiculous,' Bianca said. 'How invested you all are in your fleeting teenage infatuations when there are literal gods out to get.'"
BUT BIANCA YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I LOVE EDEI AND IO.

There were so many goddamn good quotes in this novel and I want to imprint them all onto my brain. This was such a good story and the characters were all just as amazing as they were in the first book. Io and Bianca making their way across the Wastelands was EVERYTHING and MORE. I loved their partnership and how threads tried to link her and Bianca together several times but couldn't (for obvious reasons). The betrayal, the heartbreak, the bravery of everyone. I loved how Io was able to figure everything out and trick the gods into doing what she wanted. There were many bone chilling moments in this story and so much depth to the plot. I had such visceral reactions to many of the things in this book. Mostly joy but a lot of shock and awe as well. This book does not dissapoint.

This was an exciting conclusion to one of my top reads of last year. I really enjoyed Threads that Bind. Hearts that Cut starts out immediately following the events at the ending of Threads. At first it took me a bit to remember what had happened because it had been awhile since I had read Threads but I really enjoyed Io and Bianca working together and seeing their partnership/ friendship bloom. I think this duo has some of the most unique Greek mythology that definitely feels creative and not like a typical retelling.

The plot did feel a little bit chaotic at times and there was a lot going on. The mystery continued with more murders, an ancient prophecy, a fraying fate thread all while Io and Bianca follow the golden god thread on a pretty epic journey. The romance aspects between Io and Edei did seem to take a bit of a back seat in this book but they still had their sweet moments. I do think the ending was pretty wild and so much happened it almost felt a bit rushed. I would have liked an epilogue to kind of get a better idea of how the characters were doing down the road and to see the consequences of their actions. I really liked the over all theme of what it means to follow our fate or defy it and how love can withstand the tests of time.

Overall this was a fun fast paced conclusion. I do recommend reading this duology in quick succession. So much happens in this book I would have probably benefited from rereading Threads that Bind or a summary before starting Hearts that Cut.

Huge thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an eARC #penguinteenpartner

Mythology-inspired, soulmates-troped, chosen-one-driven. This continuation of the world of Threads That Bind was the on-paper perfect book for me.

This is just such a stunning world Hatzopoulou has created. As I was reading this, I was gushing about how I adore how she crafts her characters and how even characters I see as fairly irredeemable have moments of tenderness and complexity. Though I think the book's final third was a bit clunky and rushed, I loved the hopeful undertones and message. I wish there had been a little more intentionality with the pacing of this novel, but even so, this was not a disappointment to me.

In a duology centered on fate, the main character still has the agency to choose her future for herself. She makes her final stand on her own terms, and while her relationship with Edei is obviously a highlight of this book, Io's relationship with her sisters was the truly touching aspect for me. I was left wanting more, but also at peace.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. I loved reading Threads that Bind, so I was so excited when I got approved for an ARC of Hearts that Cut. And it was amazing!! Kika Hatzopoulou has such a beautiful writing style, one that makes it easy to immerse yourself in the story. A recap of the previous book was masterfully interwoven with the plot in a very natural way that made it easy to remember the events of the previous books. I really enjoyed following Io on her investigations to uncover the truth. Fantasy and mystery is a stellar combination, so it was a treat to see Io doing detective work again just like in the first book. The emotional bits got me feeling the feels. The stakes and fast pace had me turning the pages. I loved that we got to see more of the world, the world building is so clever and something that I loved in Threads that Bind, so I'm glad we got more. Overall, this is an amazing read!! And such a satisfying conclusion!!

Hearts That Cut is the sequel to Threads That Bind. In this follow up we get to see how Io and others respond to the threats that emerged in the first book and also how these threats are affecting other city-states while following the golden thread to the source of the issues. The story ends up becoming a question of how much power does Io have over her future. Is it her choice or simply her fate?

Kika Hatzopoulou creates a unique and fascinating alternative world that is grounded in mythology. I had a challenging time following parts of the first book, but I felt more grounded in this universe the second time around. I also felt much more invested in characters this time around. I will say, though, that at times the amounts of characters, especially lesser characters from the first book who popped up at the end of this one, could be overwhelming. I didn’t remember who many of them were and it became confusing at points.

Overall, though, I thought this was a good sequel and I look forward to any future books in the series.

Thank you, Net Galley and Penguin Books, for this ARC! Hearts That Cut will be available on June 18.

4/5
This series is so good. I love it so much.
The concept of children of gods inheriting powers and Greek fates is so cool and fun to read. There were so many details that I kept getting confused, but at the same time, I knew everything!?!?! Every time I put down the book, I wanted to pick it right back up. It was so entertaining, and I was never bored.
 
Io and Edei are so cute. I love the fact that they questioned the thread instead of just accepting it. It just made it realistic.  cutest pair!!!
 
As for the ending, idk. I want more, but knowing this was the last book auguhuguhughuhuu, I don't know how to feel. I am happy, but WHATS NEXT??!?!

Big thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Kika Hatzopoulou for providing me with an ARC!

A lot of the things that I liked about "Threads that Bind" held true for "Hearts that Cut". The world that Hatzopoulou built is very unique and pulls from mythology in a way that still feels original and fresh. I also really enjoyed seeing the progression of Io and Edei's relationship and the role their fate thread plays in it without giving too much away.

Unfortunately, I felt like the pacing in this book was a bit off. Part of what contributed to the pacing problem was Io's skills (or lack thereof) as a detective. It didn't feel like the plot was being propelled by her discovering a new clue; instead, they would catch up to some notable person and they would just spill all the beans. Because of this, the first third of the book when Io and Bianca were traversing the Wastelands was very slow and it wasn't until they were reunited with Edei that it started to pick up, but the ending felt very rushed and unsatisfying to the point that I thought i was mistaken about this being a duology. One of my favorite things about "Threads that Bind" was Io's complicated relationships with her sisters which we see develop in this installment, particularly her resentment towards Thais, but the rushed ending left some loose threads for me. If anything, I would have liked an epilogue to see where the characters and the world ended up after the Collapse.

Overall though, I liked this series and would read more from this author again.

Thank you Razorbill and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Hearts That Cut!

I loved Threads That Bind so much that when I saw there was an opportunity to read an advanced copy of Hearts That Cut I flung myself at it. And I have zero regrets.

I loved the friendship that developed between Io and Bianca and it definitely made up for the fact that Io and Edei were separated for the first half of the book. Hearts That Cut was everything I wanted in a sequel. It picks up not too long after the events of the first book and really dives into Io's character development as she works through the catastrophic ending of the first book.

I really enjoyed the continuation and expansion of lore. I felt it tied everything together really well and left me satisfied with the ending.

I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for future books from Kika Hatzopoulou!

Io is back, and we are immediately thrown back into following her and mob queen Bianca back on their quest to follow the golden thread. As a second book, you are immediately launched into the story and I almost forgot how many moving parts there were. I probably needed a little more of a recap or to have some kind of synopsis. I was lost.

But much like the enjoyment of the first one, the author’s world building is detailed and immersive and such an enjoyable feat. Surprisingly as someone who is not a romance reader, I found myself craving Io’s romance from the first novel and maybe that dynamic was just more interesting intriguing than the dynamic created between Io and Bianca in the first half of this one. I would also have enjoyed more character focus on the sisters, giving more development on their relationship.

As a young adult duology, I wish this was on more people’s radars and got the credit it deserved. Beneath the fantasy, it’s an intricate crime puzzle, leaving you wondering who to root for till the end. I would love to see this author explore into adult detective novels in future.

I thought this was such a good follow up to the first book. It was so fun to be back with these characters, especially after that ending. I loved getting to see all three sisters interact and how twisty the story was. So glad this book didn't suffer from second book syndrome!

I enjoyed this but definitely think the second half was paced better than the first. It felt like we had to fit a lot in to this story and it may have been slightly overambitious. I loved the romance and am always rooting for the main relationship. Not sure this needs a third book honestly but could see a novella prequel or short stories after the events working well.

I read this Advance Reader Copy courtesy of Netgalley.

Well, that was a very fun ride. This world just continued to grow more interesting and curious and dangerous, and the natural political developments that happened as a result of the end of Book 1 were unexpected and thrilling!

Io and Bianca as a voyaging duo of avengers hunting down the gods in the Wastes was entertaining. Bianca's firm sass matched with Io's creative thinking made them a wily partnership, and the character development they inspired in each other was fun to see!

Io and Edei's romance continues to develop as they grapple with the fate-thread and the demands of the apocalypse. I don't know what it is about those kids, but I ship 'em. They're sweet and direct and still sparkle with youthful mutual attraction. Reading them is like reliving a first love.

The central relationship is also interesting with developments between the Ora sisters. The three push and pull on each other in new ways that pushes them to finally content with their differences. It's a satisfying maturing of their relationships that brings much story conflict, as well.

There were a few weak aspects of the story: For one, the book really needs some better recapping of what happened at the end of the first book. The last 1/4 of Threads that Bind was so twisty and turny and full of surprises that I couldn't remember all of the little details. I wish there were just a few pages of "previously on" to get me back of to speed ad the beginning. And, there were some passages that were almost entirely spoken exposition and spoken worldbuilding that didn't seem like something the characters would need to actually talk about. Particularly in the final conflict, some exposition that occurred didn't seem realistic, and could have been cut off by characters making some more obvious choices to "save the day," as it were.

With those few structural blips, I knocked off a star. But this series is a solid 4-star fun time. I recommend to anyone interested in Greek mythology, futuristic worlds, and interesting dystopian political stories!

It was so good to be back with these characters. I highly enjoyed it a lot more than the first book.

I love the first book and this one was a fantastic follow up! Like the first, It was full of fate magic, sisterly bonds, romance, and twists.

Threads that Bind was full of incredible world building, and that means that Hearts That Cut can get straight to the good stuff. An action packed sequel, this book is full of twists and I loved it!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review.