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pocketreads 's review for:
The Fragile Threads of Power
by V.E. Schwab
I recall Schwab expressing her desire for the Shades of Magic series to function as much as a prequel trilogy as Threads is a sequel. This, I feel, was optimistic. I personally would not hand someone Threads without handing them Shades first. Although Schwab does a good job of setting the scene and reminding us of what happened seven years prior, I can't imagine enjoying Threads as much without the preexisting knowledge of the other. It demands an emotional connection to these characters and an informed empathy of what each has been through. Otherwise, it could very easily become 600+ pages of wondering why one should care.
That said, having read Shades of Magic, I am SO IN LOVE. I love this world. I love these characters. I am so happy to be back. If you're worried about the worlds feeling different, or your old favorites being present for little more than a cameo, don't be. This is still as much (if not more) Lila, Kell, Alucard, and Rhy's story as it is Kosika and Tes's, and as Schwab herself said, returning to these worlds is like coming home.
The first installation of the Threads of Power series feels very much like a catch up, crowded with flashbacks to varying points in time for characters both new and old—and yet it never feels disjointed or confusing. It always astounds me, the grasp that Schwab has on time and her ability to bend it on the pages with such ease. The narrative strikes a perfect balance between closing the time gap and exploring new, treasonous schemes.
Not only that, but she handles a vast number of perspectives as if it's nothing—an improvement from A Conjuring of Light, which occasionally left me feeling tugged around. Each shift makes sense; each thread (haha) pulls together in the end, seamless. The individual narratives are distinct and fascinating in their own regard, and the new characters are just as vibrant and engaging as the old. Over 600 pages, and I was honestly never bored. That blows my mind. Still if there's one thing to critique here, it's the surprising lack of content from Kosika—whose perspective I found the most compelling (hmm I can't possibly imagine why... hehe), yet appeared sporadically throughout—and Tes—who is especially absent in the first half of the novel. I love the original characters, but I would not have turned down sacrificing some content with them to gain more with the others.
Otherwise, one of the specific things I was looking forward to the most was seeing what became of Kell. To put it simply, his role was somehow both a highlight and a low point. Without saying too much, while I do love to see a favorite go through various forms of turmoil, he is just… so embarrassing. Worse: cringe. Like, oh my god. The man is 28, but I suppose it's never too late to pursue an emo phase. Kisses tho, Kell. xoxo
Overall, this is a dazzling continuation to the story, and everything I hoped for and more. I can't wait to see what happens next for Kosika (!!! omg) and Tes, and what unravels following that jaw-dropping cliffhanger!
That said, having read Shades of Magic, I am SO IN LOVE. I love this world. I love these characters. I am so happy to be back. If you're worried about the worlds feeling different, or your old favorites being present for little more than a cameo, don't be. This is still as much (if not more) Lila, Kell, Alucard, and Rhy's story as it is Kosika and Tes's, and as Schwab herself said, returning to these worlds is like coming home.
The first installation of the Threads of Power series feels very much like a catch up, crowded with flashbacks to varying points in time for characters both new and old—and yet it never feels disjointed or confusing. It always astounds me, the grasp that Schwab has on time and her ability to bend it on the pages with such ease. The narrative strikes a perfect balance between closing the time gap and exploring new, treasonous schemes.
Not only that, but she handles a vast number of perspectives as if it's nothing—an improvement from A Conjuring of Light, which occasionally left me feeling tugged around. Each shift makes sense; each thread (haha) pulls together in the end, seamless. The individual narratives are distinct and fascinating in their own regard, and the new characters are just as vibrant and engaging as the old. Over 600 pages, and I was honestly never bored. That blows my mind. Still if there's one thing to critique here, it's the surprising lack of content from Kosika—whose perspective I found the most compelling (hmm I can't possibly imagine why... hehe), yet appeared sporadically throughout—and Tes—who is especially absent in the first half of the novel. I love the original characters, but I would not have turned down sacrificing some content with them to gain more with the others.
Otherwise, one of the specific things I was looking forward to the most was seeing what became of Kell. To put it simply, his role was somehow both a highlight and a low point. Without saying too much, while I do love to see a favorite go through various forms of turmoil, he is just… so embarrassing. Worse: cringe. Like, oh my god. The man is 28, but I suppose it's never too late to pursue an emo phase. Kisses tho, Kell. xoxo
Overall, this is a dazzling continuation to the story, and everything I hoped for and more. I can't wait to see what happens next for Kosika (!!! omg) and Tes, and what unravels following that jaw-dropping cliffhanger!