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kyrbyr75's review against another edition
3.0
This was just like…a lot. I think I would’ve liked this book so much more if there were less narratives going on. Between Lila, Kell, Alucard, Tes, Berras, and Kosica, all having their own POVs, I found it to be distracting, every time I got invested in one plot line, we would switch to another one and it was a tad frustrating. I love V.E. Schwab, so like obvi I’m gonna read the rest of the series, but this was hard to get through
jules60657's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this book. It’s over 600 pages, but when it ended I wanted to start book 2 right away. Thoughtful plot twists and turns, well developed characters, and enough magical explanation without ever being boring. Not my usual genre, but highly recommend.
hyperunfocus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
danielleflint55's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bookishmomo's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks so much to the publisher and Edelweiss for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'll admit I was worried about diving back into the Shades of Magic world because I adored the original trilogy and thought it had a solid albeit bitter sweet ending that wrapped mostly everything up while leaving others open for interpretation. However, The Fragile Threads of Power smashed almost all of those worries and surpassed every bit of my expectations. Was it a wild ride that continuously made me anxious for my favorites? Yes. Did I enjoy every single minute? Also yes.
The world building, as always, blew me away. I can't get over the fact that V.E. Schwab perfectly took the foundation that is built in the original trilogy and expanded on it so well that it felt like I was looking at a world I know and love with brand new eyes. Very much like it's predecessor The Fragile Threads of Power really dives into the magic of the world(s) and the consequences that can come from how one chooses to use it. But not just that, we do see that there is a precarious situation in Red London that has started to spread. I won't go into detail but beyond the world building there was this perfect balance of magic and political fantasy that just worked for me.
And, as always, I adore how Schawb wraps the whole thing with undertones of love in many different forms from familial to romantic.
The Fragile Threads of Power is set seven years after the events of A Conjuring of Light but the transition between the two is completely seamless. Mostly due to the fact that, while we do get introduced to a lot of new characters, we also get a lot of flashbacks and the original cast of characters is very prominent to the new story.
I just really really loved getting to see Kell, Lila, Alucard, and Rhy and how much they've all grown over the seven years. Getting reintroduced to the four of them felt like coming home. I had forgotten how much I loved them. Especially Kell and Lila who have had my heart since the very first Shades of Magic book. I may or may not have been squealing on the inside (and outside) every single time they interacted. But also I kind of wanted to cry seeing how much they've grown, good tears I promise.
Beyond those four, as I mentioned, we are introduced to pretty big cast of new characters. Though there are two that become the most important to the plot of this book and that is Tes and Kosika.
I don't want to go into detail as this is an early review, but I will say the way White London was reintroduced with Kosika was very very interesting. And I am thoroughly excited (and worried) given where she is at the end of this book. (There is also a major plot twist that I am still reeling over!)
I know, I'm not saying much about Tes either but I really loved her character and I can't wait for everyone to have that same moment that I did where I discovered her power in connection to another character and what that could mean. It was incredible.
This was a very long and kind of vague review but truthfully I loved this book and and am actually still sitting here with my jaw dropped over the ending with the realization that I'll now have to wait for the next book when I am dying to know what happens next. Just trust me, if you were a fan of the original trilogy you are going to love this.
I'll admit I was worried about diving back into the Shades of Magic world because I adored the original trilogy and thought it had a solid albeit bitter sweet ending that wrapped mostly everything up while leaving others open for interpretation. However, The Fragile Threads of Power smashed almost all of those worries and surpassed every bit of my expectations. Was it a wild ride that continuously made me anxious for my favorites? Yes. Did I enjoy every single minute? Also yes.
The world building, as always, blew me away. I can't get over the fact that V.E. Schwab perfectly took the foundation that is built in the original trilogy and expanded on it so well that it felt like I was looking at a world I know and love with brand new eyes. Very much like it's predecessor The Fragile Threads of Power really dives into the magic of the world(s) and the consequences that can come from how one chooses to use it. But not just that, we do see that there is a precarious situation in Red London that has started to spread. I won't go into detail but beyond the world building there was this perfect balance of magic and political fantasy that just worked for me.
And, as always, I adore how Schawb wraps the whole thing with undertones of love in many different forms from familial to romantic.
The Fragile Threads of Power is set seven years after the events of A Conjuring of Light but the transition between the two is completely seamless. Mostly due to the fact that, while we do get introduced to a lot of new characters, we also get a lot of flashbacks and the original cast of characters is very prominent to the new story.
I just really really loved getting to see Kell, Lila, Alucard, and Rhy and how much they've all grown over the seven years. Getting reintroduced to the four of them felt like coming home. I had forgotten how much I loved them. Especially Kell and Lila who have had my heart since the very first Shades of Magic book. I may or may not have been squealing on the inside (and outside) every single time they interacted. But also I kind of wanted to cry seeing how much they've grown, good tears I promise.
Beyond those four, as I mentioned, we are introduced to pretty big cast of new characters. Though there are two that become the most important to the plot of this book and that is Tes and Kosika.
I don't want to go into detail as this is an early review, but I will say the way White London was reintroduced with Kosika was very very interesting. And I am thoroughly excited (and worried) given where she is at the end of this book. (There is also a major plot twist that I am still reeling over!)
I know, I'm not saying much about Tes either but I really loved her character and I can't wait for everyone to have that same moment that I did where I discovered her power in connection to another character and what that could mean. It was incredible.
This was a very long and kind of vague review but truthfully I loved this book and and am actually still sitting here with my jaw dropped over the ending with the realization that I'll now have to wait for the next book when I am dying to know what happens next. Just trust me, if you were a fan of the original trilogy you are going to love this.
emmapaul's review against another edition
3.0
I really don't think this should be anything other than book 4 of the shades of magic series. Surprisingly little happens and I actively disliked reading Lila's POV
leordanete's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
freeleo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75