A review by tsunni
Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

I was hesitant going in when I saw this was YA, but this surprised me by how well written it was. I really enjoyed this after I allowed myself to get swept up by the expert worldbuilding. The concept of siblings born with powers of gods is really cool, and what the story does with that and all the different groups of gods is satisfyingly creative. The characters, the mystery, and the overarching plot are all well done, within the limits of the fast pacing; nothing ever felt too two dimensional or shallow, but the book keeps going fast enough that there isn't a ton of time to linger. The main character and her two sisters are especially standout, I grew up in a trio of siblings and the book's constant familial power dynamics felt very familiar and real. This is still YA with some focus on romance, but it never felt overdone. 

I rarely like YA, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this, its a standout in the genre.