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bookwitch360's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? N/A
5.0
I adore this book.
laurareads87's review
4.0
I am a big fan of author Cedar McCloud's work in tarot/oracle -- Numinous Tarot is a favourite so when The Threadbound Oracle was announced I supported it right away on Kickstarter. This was my first opportunity to read any of their writing (other than a tarot guidebook of course) and I was happy to add their novel The Thread that Binds to my pledge. I got the e-book version.
The Thread that Binds is magical. Cedar has created a world that is so immersive and fully developed that it's easy to sink right in. As a lover of divination, magic, fantasy, and books, I fell in love with this world quickly - who doesn't want to explore a magical library where books' spirits come alive? Cedar's writing is lovely, and their settings are really described in ways that make them easy to imagine. As a queer reader I also appreciated all the diverse 2slgbtq+ representation in this book, including of ace-, aromantic, pansexual, nonbinary, and trans characters (to name a few) as well as polyamorous families and a range of relationship structures, and the creation of a world where gender-neutral pronouns are used by a majority of the characters (and sharing pronouns is a standard part of introductions for everyone, which is wonderful). Cedar's inclusion of content warnings as well as notes on terminology -- most of which I was familiar with but some will be new to many readers -- are also so appreciated.
The Thread that Binds is also a heartwarming story about finding voice and finding family. I will say at a few points the message of the story -- a message I loved -- felt a bit heavy (like, a few bits of dialogue here and there really felt like "here let me tell you the message"), and the younger characters (who are described as late 20s / early 30s) at times felt significantly younger than that to me. Overall, though, I loved the way The Thread that Binds explores themes of mentorship and support, struggles with identifying gaslighting and recovering from experiences of abuse, partnership and friendship, spirituality divination and magic, and creating family that I could really, really relate to and connect to personally (which is rare in a book, and feels really special to me - I am grateful to Cedar for their book in this sense).
I really enjoyed reading The Thread that Binds with my Threadbound Oracle in hand, being able to connect the novel to the deck, finding different characters depicted in the cards; however, I will note that enjoying this novel does not require the deck, nor does it require any background in tarot/oracle at all. (Though, obviously, given my biases, I say... get the book and deck!) I was very happy to see at the end of the novel that this is a world that Cedar intends to return to -- I will absolutely be adding any future books in this series to my wishlist. ❤️
The Thread that Binds is magical. Cedar has created a world that is so immersive and fully developed that it's easy to sink right in. As a lover of divination, magic, fantasy, and books, I fell in love with this world quickly - who doesn't want to explore a magical library where books' spirits come alive? Cedar's writing is lovely, and their settings are really described in ways that make them easy to imagine. As a queer reader I also appreciated all the diverse 2slgbtq+ representation in this book, including of ace-, aromantic, pansexual, nonbinary, and trans characters (to name a few) as well as polyamorous families and a range of relationship structures, and the creation of a world where gender-neutral pronouns are used by a majority of the characters (and sharing pronouns is a standard part of introductions for everyone, which is wonderful). Cedar's inclusion of content warnings as well as notes on terminology -- most of which I was familiar with but some will be new to many readers -- are also so appreciated.
The Thread that Binds is also a heartwarming story about finding voice and finding family. I will say at a few points the message of the story -- a message I loved -- felt a bit heavy (like, a few bits of dialogue here and there really felt like "here let me tell you the message"), and the younger characters (who are described as late 20s / early 30s) at times felt significantly younger than that to me. Overall, though, I loved the way The Thread that Binds explores themes of mentorship and support, struggles with identifying gaslighting and recovering from experiences of abuse, partnership and friendship, spirituality divination and magic, and creating family that I could really, really relate to and connect to personally (which is rare in a book, and feels really special to me - I am grateful to Cedar for their book in this sense).
I really enjoyed reading The Thread that Binds with my Threadbound Oracle in hand, being able to connect the novel to the deck, finding different characters depicted in the cards; however, I will note that enjoying this novel does not require the deck, nor does it require any background in tarot/oracle at all. (Though, obviously, given my biases, I say... get the book and deck!) I was very happy to see at the end of the novel that this is a world that Cedar intends to return to -- I will absolutely be adding any future books in this series to my wishlist. ❤️
claudiearseneault's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book--this book! It didn't just break my reading slump, it shattered it into beautiful tiny pieces. I cracked it open one morning and it sucked me in immediately. The Thread that Binds is magical--sparkly, inviting, warm and safe. There is so much love in this story, for its cast, for storytelling and books, for crafts of all kinds and the world around us. It made me want to pick up a dozen different crafts, to create beautiful things with my hands; it made me want to sit in nature or under stained-glass windows, book in hand, sunlight on my skin.
In many ways, The Thread that Binds is a quiet book. It is about relationships, good and bad, how they can help us grow or stilt us. It gives an incredible place to platonic relationships (mentors, colleagues, friends, platonic partners) while also featuring a long-established romance and a delicious slow burn. I loved the place made for several aromantic and asexual characters (spectrum included), the way queerness and disability are imbedded into the world, accepted and accounted for. I loved the active and complex older characters (we're talking 60s and up here).
Honestly, I could spend hours gushing about this book. If you're looking for a story that looks at healing from trauma, especially emotional abuse, with open eyes, that gives a place of honour to queer found families, that weaves itself through more intimate, smaller stakes and is vibrating with love of art and life in all its forms, pick this one up. It is absolutely lovely.
In many ways, The Thread that Binds is a quiet book. It is about relationships, good and bad, how they can help us grow or stilt us. It gives an incredible place to platonic relationships (mentors, colleagues, friends, platonic partners) while also featuring a long-established romance and a delicious slow burn. I loved the place made for several aromantic and asexual characters (spectrum included), the way queerness and disability are imbedded into the world, accepted and accounted for. I loved the active and complex older characters (we're talking 60s and up here).
Honestly, I could spend hours gushing about this book. If you're looking for a story that looks at healing from trauma, especially emotional abuse, with open eyes, that gives a place of honour to queer found families, that weaves itself through more intimate, smaller stakes and is vibrating with love of art and life in all its forms, pick this one up. It is absolutely lovely.
captainpantsless's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bluebonnetreads's review
4.0
Magical library! Genderless culture. People learning boundaries with family of origin and finding family of choice. Platonic life partners. And did I mention the magical library?
The genderless culture was one of the most interesting and also hard to wrap my head around aspects of the world. I am thankful for it.
Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy, and it will especially resonate with book lovers and people who are LGBT+.
The genderless culture was one of the most interesting and also hard to wrap my head around aspects of the world. I am thankful for it.
Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy, and it will especially resonate with book lovers and people who are LGBT+.
wireblight's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse and Death
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