Scan barcode
bootrat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed the Shades of Magic series, but liked the final book the least so I was really excited to come back to the world in the hope that this book would be better - and I wasn't disappointed!
I loved Tes and Kosika so much, their characterisations and their storylines really helped to draw me back into the world. I also really loved seeing where the original characters have ended up 7 years later, and how that time has helped them change and grow. The story and the mystery itself wasn't too complex, and didn't feel particularly sinister or pressing, but I expect that will develop more in the next book.
Overall I just really loved this book.
I loved Tes and Kosika so much, their characterisations and their storylines really helped to draw me back into the world. I also really loved seeing where the original characters have ended up 7 years later, and how that time has helped them change and grow. The story and the mystery itself wasn't too complex, and didn't feel particularly sinister or pressing, but I expect that will develop more in the next book.
Overall I just really loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Child abuse
kathrynok's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Homophobia
missmali's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Blood, Violence, and Self harm
barda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
shadowspinner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Child abuse
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book was indeed like coming home. The beginning was a pretty slow start, constructing the stage, bringing us back to our favorite characters, and introducing the newer ones. V.E. Schwab's writing has always been one of my favorites and this one was no different. The transitions between past and present scenes were so seemless and helped the flower of the narrative for each character and what they had been up to in the past seven years... or how the newer players obtained their role in this story.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, because if it's anything like the previous Shades of Magic trilogy, the story is just going to get better and better!
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, because if it's anything like the previous Shades of Magic trilogy, the story is just going to get better and better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Child abuse
CW not listed under the storygraph choices: mentions of terrorism and terrorist attackslittletiramisu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Self harm, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
stormeno's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gore, Torture, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
deedireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
TL;DR REVIEW
The Fragile Threads of Power is everything I hoped it would be. V.E. Schwab is a master plotter, a master of the details, a master of sentences — just a master of everything
For you if: You read the Darker Shades of Magic trilogy (start there!).
FULL REVIEW
The Fragile Threads of Power was possibly my most anticipated book of the year. It has a LOT to live up to, kicking off a new trilogy that follows the bestselling (and a personal favorite) Darker Shades of Magic trilogy. I’m happy to report that I absolutely loved it.
The Fragile Threads of Power is set seven years after A Conjuring of Light, and it heavily features the characters we love most — Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard — while also introducing several new (excellent) characters. I don’t want to tell you much more, because I really enjoyed reading this without knowing any of the plot beats, but rest assured that it earns all of its 600+ pages and then some.
Darker Shades readers know this, but V.E. Schwab is a master plotter, a master of the details, a master of sentences — just a master of everything. Our beloved characters are seven years older and seven years harder. They’ve been through it — there was healing to be done after Conjuring that’s largely still in progress — and she’s matured them in a way that can sometimes feel not quite like what you expect, but always feels realistic and true.
I will warn you: There are a few places in the beginning, as she’s piecing together the events of the past seven years, when she tries to stress you out. But have faith, dear readers, she will not forsake you. I also counted two instances where the original canon was slightly broken (I reread Shades immediately before reading this, so it was very fresh), but they are things I can ultimately forgive.
Finally, what an ending!! Thankfully not as much of a cliffhanger as A Gathering of Shadows (IYKYK), but it’s a great setup for more books to come and I cannot WAIT for the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia and Child abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kari_f's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
You know how when you find a series you adore, you can come back to it over and over and find new things to love about it each time? And you wish that there was more to devour, but you also worry that any continuation might not live up to the magic of the original?
I’ll admit I felt just a smidge of that, because The Shades of Magic trilogy was my gateway into fantasy and has remained my favorite fantasy series. With each read I love it even more, and diving back into this world of four Londons felt a bit like coming home. When I found out there would be a continuation series in this world, I felt all of the above. That tiny, niggling worry was pretty much immediately squashed once I started reading, though, and I was sucked into just as I had been before!
The world-building Schwab is known for continues to blow my mind, as well as the layered cast of characters, plot stories, and threads (see what I did there?) that will tie into the upcoming books. Not only do we get more of our favorite characters from the previous series, but we are treated to several new ones across the Londons, who will become important as we continue. I was a bit worried that our favorite four would be relegated to side character status in the new adventures of this series, and I was so glad to see that each of them plays an important role throughout the book. Each new character perfectly complements the storyline, and the addition of new people in no way diminishes the storytelling. In fact, I think that since we got the opportunity to know each one of the original four so well in the original series, adding new characters to the cast was a perfect writing choice here. I love that Schwab trusts her readers to think and remember instead of spoon feeding us character details like many other fantasy authors tend to do.
There are several references and nods to the first three books, with allegiances and rivalries of the past becoming important plot points in the present. I’m not sure if this continuation was always a plan, or if the idea for it came much later, but the way the two parts have come together feels altogether seamless.
The magical system is as whimsical and complex as always. I really love the blending of technology, science, and magic that was explored through this book. I’m very excited to see how this progresses down the line, especially considering the ethical dilemmas that tinkering with magical limits will pose.
All in all, the only complaint I have is that I’ll have to wait who-knows-how-long for the next installment! If you loved the Shades of Magic series, you’re going to want this book for your collection!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Chronic illness, and Child abuse
Minor: Trafficking