All of the things that were incredible in the first book of this series tended to fall flat with this one. The ending felt a bit rushed and I would have really enjoyed that being more detailed. This would have benefitted from being a trilogy as opposed to a duology, in my opinion.

Overall 3.75⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Kika Hatzopoulou for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good follow up to the first book, Threads that Bind and it picked up right where it left off. It wasn't as good as the first book but it was close! It just didn't give me the same feeling that I had when reading the first book in the duology and I really wish it did. It started out slower than the first book and took a little while before the pace picked up. I feel like the ending was a bit abrupt and I wish there was an epilogue to tie up things more. Overall though, I did enjoy it and I think it was a good follow up to the first book.

I didn't read the first book and I didn't realize there even WAS a first book until about halfway through with references to people that weren't in this book at all. Everything else I was able to piece together easily and follow the story, bc the author is good at keeping forward momentum while letting you know what came before.

However I do wish I read that one, bc I really enjoyed this and I liked the MC, Io. I would've liked to have spent more time in this world but given what happens in this book and knowing what I do, it wouldnt be a fulfilling read.

The magic system and world building is top notch and the complicated relationships give a lot of depth to the story. I hadn't predicted the ending, which was great (and gave me The Magicians vibes) and a really satisfying conclusion.

<strong>Early Release Provided By NetGalley/Loved This!</strong>

Absolutely loved this follow up. Glad I had the opportunity to offer my support and opinion on an early release.

Picks up where the first leaves off. Hatzopoulou provides just enough backstory to remind the reader of the previous dealings in the first of this duology/series.

Not sure if this will be the last, or if there will be a 3rd to follow. Either way, the ends are neatly tied up, where the reader is not left disappointed with this particular ending, and it works as it stands.

Has a very unique and original story to a mythological tale as old as time. Plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing as to how it will all come to a conclusion.

Highly recommend to any reader who enjoys a good story, whether fantasy is their genre or not. Just be sure to read the 1st one in the series prior to this one.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely loved Threads That Bind. It was a 5 star read for me and I thought, and still think, that this is one of the most original series I have read in a long time. The author borrows from Mythology, but she has managed to create a world that is all her own.

Unfortunately, in book two, this same originality initially left me feeling a little lost. It had not been long since I read book one, but I was in desperate need of a recap that the author really did not provide. It took me until about 35% in to feel like I had a grasp of the world (characters, magic system, locations, etc.) and how it worked. Because of this, it was difficult for me to really get into the story and the first 1/3 of the book moved along sluggishly.

After this point and once our characters began to reunite, the story picked up and I remembered again all the things that I loved about this series. My favorite aspect of this book is undeniably Io and Edei’s relationship. Their love is timid, but pure and sweet and I loved watching it develop.

I was a little dissatisfied by the ending. I felt like there was more story to tell and I would have at least liked an epilogue to see where our characters end up. The actions they took seemed risky and I would have liked to know that they had found happiness or at least to have been given some indication that they made the right choice.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Threads That Bind, so getting the email that I was approved for this eARC was the greatest start to my weekend.

Hearts That Cut picks up a few weeks after the end of the first book. Io and Bianca journey from Alante through the wastelands, along the way uncovering a string of disappearances that seem to relate to the fall of the Nine. And while Io and Bianca are driven by their quest to find the owner of the gold thread that Io picked up in Alante, still Io grapples with Edei, the boy she left behind, and Thais and Ava, the sisters who left *her* behind: her fate thread with Edei is fraying, and she still feels hurt and betrayed by Ava choosing to leave with Thais.

Kika Hatzopoulou introduces us to more mystery, more world-building, more other-born, and more lyricism in this very dazzling finale. I loved the growing relationship between Io and Bianca, the introduction of more other-born powers, the expansion of the lore of the Furies/fury-born and the Moonset Riots, and the twist at the end. No spoilers, but it felt perfect to me.

That being said, although the story itself met a satisfying conclusion, the ending felt a *tad* rushed. There was a lot of information being thrown my way at the end, and I often had to re-read some sections to get a sense of what was going on. An epilogue or another chapter might have allowed some of the final threads some room to breathe. For example, I wish we’d seen more of the reunion between Ava and Bianca and that Bianca and Io had a final speaking scene.

Still, this is such a lovely conclusion, and I love what Kika Hatzopoulou did here with fate and choice. Even though this has been described as a duology, I hope we can somehow see more of these characters again.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, & Razorbill for the ARC!

Some about the world that Kika Hatzopoulou has managed to create makes this series so incredibly easy for me to read. There is no single dull moment in this book, nor a wasted opportunity to continue expanding the world. Is this story perfect? No. There are a lot of names and ideas for the reader to remember, and at times I almost wish the books were longer so these ideas could be better fleshed out. But the fact is, the magic system at play here is something so truly unique that it's impossible to put down or ignore. Io is a character worth rooting for, and while I still might enjoy the first book more, especially all of the sleuthing work, it's hard to ignore the pure joy that comes with reading Hearts That Cut.

Hearts that Cut picks up right where Threads that Bind left off. We continue following the mystery laid out in the first book as Io and Bianca travel to find the God thread connecting Thais to the Gods. While I initially struggled to get back into the story (which I blame on me not fully remembering what happened in the first book and having to remind myself of the world and magic system), I couldn’t put it down! What I loved about the first book, continued in this installment. In the first book, Io can come across as a little naive when it comes to the love threads but, through this second one, we see her go from jaded cynicism toward the threads to a more realistic view of them. The different types of relationships are still very much present in this, from the unlikely friendship between Io and Bianca, to the developing relationship of Io and Edei, and even Io’s rocky relationship with Thais. The author does an amazing job showing the intricacies in these different relationships. I also really enjoyed seeing the different powers of the other-born and the world-building. The author does a magnificent job at detailing the world, the magic system, and tying things together in a way that makes sense yet are still big plot twists.

That being said, the end of the book felt kind of rushed to me and I wish there was a third book in the series to allow the author to delve deeper into the world and the impact revelations had on the characters. We get so bombarded with information and then don’t really have time to process it before new information is revealed. While this is normally fine if the characters are going through the same experience, there seemed to be a lot happening off page. It would go from revelation to “the team planned for a day and a half” to immediately jumping back into action. This made it difficult at times to fully feel the impact of the revelations.

While I think the first book was better, the second installment is a solid read and cements this duology as one of my favorites. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I was bored the whole time. I made it to 59 percent, which was to chapter 17. I did not get my questions answered from the first book and lost hope considering that the story changed paths too many times and was going downhill. I found it hard to keep up with and difficult to get in to.

I was obsessed with Threads that Bind, so I came in with high expectations about the second book and was not disappointed. The story kept me on my toe and my one major critic of the first book was that I wanted more world building and what was I given exactly what I wanted

I finished my arc read of Hearts that Cut, the conclusion to the Threads that Bind duology, and I haven't stopped screaming since 🥲 just, just the pure brilliance of the plot and the amazing usage of diverse mythological elements (I love loved how the mythologies of so many regions were combined effectively) >>>>

Also, the friendships? The romance? The character growth and narration of the MC? The writing and the plot were so well-rounded.

TWs - death, natural disasters

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

****This book will be published on June 18, 2024****
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill, and Netgalley for the eARC of this sequel.
I once again had so much fun adventuring with Io and crew.
This book starts off soon after the events that took place at the end of book one, but does a good recap as we go along with this new story.
The action hits from the first few chapters. Io and Bianca are on the hunt and have been for a few weeks since the previous time with them. This book does take time to flesh out the world building more and let you see the wider cities and turmoil this world is in. There are new cities to explore that have interesting backstory. I found that there were many interesting hybrids of animals and monsters to show in this book as well. There are new other-born magic types introduced too.
There were so many wrenches thrown into what I was anticipating to happen with this detective crew. It was a fun, and crazy journey. Lots of intense “oh no!” moments. Absolutely love the original cast of characters and all new ones introduced in this one.
A great ending with some “threads” left to keep some things open. I'm hoping and ready for more in this Greek-god magic world!

Kiki Hatzopoulou has done it again. Gripping and gorgeously written, HEARTS THAT CUT is every bit as good as its predecessor. A perfect read for fans of romantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

✨Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🫑/5

Book 2 starts 5 weeks after book 1 with Io and Bianca traveling to find out why people are missing all over the country. The prophecy looms over Io and she hopes by unraveling the mystery to these disappearances she can put an end to everything.

Even though this is a bit of a traveling type of book it was still very much enjoyable! I liked the internal struggle Io faces as she considers her sisters betrayals. Also this book explores a bit more of the world and different powers. I really really enjoy the magic system of this series and find it extremely unique.

I do feel like there was a missed opportunity to explore Io and Edei’s relationship. I feel like there was the miscommunication trope which was frustrating because now is the time to explore each others feelings not push each other away!!! i still feel like these two are more like awkward high school bf/gf than fate threads…. Also some of their decisions on the fate thread did frustrate me. BUT there were still some swoon worthy moments.

Complaints about the relationship aside, i do believe this book delivers on all the other aspects. This book starts with a bang and doesn’t let up the entire time. And just when you think you may have hit the middle of a series slump it drags you right back in. This book is engaging, fun, and unique. I can’t wait to continue the series (there has to be more!!)

I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Threads That Bind and the sequel is even better than the first! The characters, world-building, plot twists, and overall vibes are immaculate.

First of all, thank you so much to Kika for making sure I got the ARC! I appreciate you and your never-ending kindness. Because this book is all I needed in my life right now.

Secondly, oh my god. I have no words. Threads That Bind was great, I loved it, it had me hooked, but Hearts That Cut was just jaw dropping. The pacing, the characters, the relationships, the growth, the mystery— everything was so perfectly balanced and written incredibly. I am in genuine awe. I binge read this book in two days because I wasn’t able to put it down.

Edei and Io killed me and then revived me. I am genuinely full of sadness that this series is over. I love this book so much. Everyone has to read these books.

“How will you find me?”
He tapped his chest over the fate-thread and said, with confidence, “I’ll find you.”
Io smiled, then nodded. Loyal and gentle, her Edei, and clever as a fox.
“Be careful,” he whispered —and let her go.

Spoiler alert: this is the second book in the series.

Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou is an incredible sequel to Threads That Bind. The plot is amazing, and the characters have such personality to them. It fit the first book perfectly.


After the events of the first book, Io continues to investigate the wraiths while also trying to strengthen her and Edei’s fate thread before it snaps. But it’s more complicated than that.


In my opinion, it was absolutely amazing. Even though I don’t really like mysteries, I fell in love with this one. The plot had all those hills and loops. It was perfect. The characters were perfect and they felt like they were real. Overall, this book was an amazing book, and if I had to read it again, I would do so with a huge smile on my face.

Threads That Bind was one of my favorite YA fantasy releases that I read last year. Naturally, I was eager to continue the tale.

Let's start with what I loved!

I absolutely love the world that this series is set in. It's very unique and unlike any other books I've read in the past. Almost like, if Veronica Mars, Ready Player One, and Greek mythology had a baby.

I'm also a big fan of Io and Edei. Io, our main character, is someone who's easy to root for while still being very human with unlikeable traits. Her chemistry with Edei is so great, and you're on the edge of your seat, witnessing their interactions and wondering "will they or won't they?"

Overall, though, I feel like this book came down with a sophomore slump syndrome. There were many threads (pun intended) to follow, and I don't feel like the book did a good enough job of making me feel like I truly understood the motives of the characters. The pacing also felt a little off, especially at the beginning. I think this is because the energy between Bianca and Io just isn't that interesting to read, IMO, and they spend the entire first 1/4th of the book together without the other main cast of characters, which made the first part of the book a bit of a drag. The idea of them being love-to-hate-you buddies on a mission together is ultimately more compelling than the execution.

This one I'm not 100% sure about - but I think this might be the final book in a duology? In which case, I really wish that Kika had made this into a trilogy. The ending felt rushed and not truly a satisfying conclusion to their story.

Still, massive kudos to Kika for building such a unique and beautiful world. I'd recommend this series to anyone who's into YA fantasy!

Thanks so NetGalley and Razorbill for the ARC of Hearts that Cut!

I was very excited to get my hands on this early. I absolutely loved Threads that Bind and was excited to see what was going to be next for Io. Unfortunately, the second book felt somewhat rushed, and didn’t give me quite the same level of connection to the characters as the first book. I found myself having to go back and re-read sections because something dramatic happened very quickly and I missed it. It is possibly this series could have benefited from being a trilogy.

I’m still obsessed with the premise of this series and love these characters. Kika Hatzopoulou does an amazing job of creating a world that simultaneously feels other worldly and familiar with a cast of characters you want to root for. Im very excited to see what she works up next!

3.5/5: I’m rating this book slightly higher than the previous book because I think it wraps up in a very nice way. The package isn’t perfect, but the result is a solid conclusion and a sense of resolve.

The story picks right up where we left off, but a bit into the future. However, the intense world-building that happened in the previous book is overshadowed by the even MORE intense world-building that is to come. We see far too many places and get far too much information about people and their lineage to gods that it distracts from the big picture. The detective angle was lost and almost forced back into play in this book. It was nothing anyone couldn’t do with having very little investigative background.

I did enjoy this book in its essence and would recommend it for younger audiences. Io is very relatable for a YA audience, but not so much an adult reader. However, Bianca makes up for this multiple times. She really shined in this book! I missed the relationship with Io and her sisters as it takes a backseat here. Same with the other characters we had grown to love. It’s very Io-centric and we don’t have the connections we built in book 1.

I love Edei and Io. Their romance is so tender and sweet. Anytime they have a moment alone together I was just overjoyed! I enjoyed the progression of their relationship but still find their interactions lacking in frequency to build the connection they have.

Edei was a character I wanted more from. He’s been through so much up to this point and we only get a glimpse of the tole it takes on him. I would have loved to see him talk to Io about it more. Because, as I mentioned previously, their interactions are few and relatively short when we get them.

There are so many details thrown in that it prevents you from being able to read it without JUST reading the dialog. Which, when you got to it, wasn’t all that exciting. Although, if you want as many descriptions as your heart could ever desire, it’s got plenty of that.

The ending is paced well and finally comes to the grand finale we’ve waited for. However, it came more out of nowhere than I could have anticipated and there were aspects that left me feeling like we’ve been led on this wild goose chase. It could have been better eluded to.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this upcoming book by Kika Hatzopoulou