Threads that bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
Io is the youngest of three sisters and like Thais and Ava, Io inherited her ability to see the silver threaded quilt of reality, from the Olympian Gods of yore. The sister’s powers are based on the Fates of Greek mythology: Weaving (Birth), Manipulation (Life) and Cutting (Death). Potentially, Io can sever the relationship threads that bind each person to: other people, substance abuse, passions, and life itself. But she ekes a living by using her ‘other-born’ powers as a private detective in the coastal city of Alante.
This YA murder/mystery/romance is set in a post apocalyptic world so removed from ours it can be categorized as high fantasy. Indeed, Kika Hatsopoulou weaves a great many elements of classical, nordic and middle eastern mythology into her fictional world. The three moons of her world exploded from a single moon, causing the sea levels to rise and the destruction of coastal areas around the globe except for a few cities on stilts inundated daily by rising tides. Since our Earth has a single moon and rising seas, we can easily add speculative fiction to the author’s generic influences.
Each part of the three-part story is named for one of the sisters’ distinctive skills. During an investigation in Part 1, Io witnesses her target’s murder by a Wraith, a monster with a severed life-thread, able to cut another’s life-thread. Io has not encountered a Wrath before but due to her own ability to cut life threads, she is employed by the Mob Queen, Bianca Rossi, to find out who is ultimately responsible for these assassins. Conditionally, Io must work with Edei, Bianca’s second-in-command. She finds the partnership awkward because she has seen in the quilt that Edei is her soulmate - though he is none the wiser.
The two heroes, aided by many delightfully complex minor characters in an ever more detailed fantasy world of regions, tribes and mythologies; place themselves in constant danger as they piece the puzzle together. Non-stop action is broken only by passages of flirting, where Io struggles with her attraction to Edei, not wishing to derail her long-held resolve to ignore her own fate thread.
Not a fan of high fantasy, the detailed descriptions crucial to shaping this strange new world, are not off putting due to the fast-paced action always unfolding only pages away. Part 2 reveals that the murders are not the end in themselves but possibly the end of the entire world.
Highly recommended for fantasy fans and eclectic readers drawn to a wide range of genres. You won’t want to stop with this title. Hearts that Cut is the sequel and promises high drama for Io, who will leave Alante in search of the source of the golden thread and encountering ever more powerful deities and villains.
Themes: High Fantasy, Speculative, Murder/mystery, Mythology, Romance.
Deborah Robins