As a huge fan of the Shades of Magic trilogy (starting with A Darker Shade of Magic), I was so excited when I first heard about The Fragile Threads of Power. While it’s technically the start of a new trilogy, it feels in many ways like a fourth book.
I treated myself and bought a signed edition of this book! This is my second signed book by V. E. Schwab. The first is the paperback edition of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. You can get this book at your local bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.
Can we talk about how gorgeous the cover is? So colorful!
P.S. If you like fantasy books, have you checked out Fourth Wing? You can read my spoiler-free review here!
Let’s get into The Fragile Threads of Power book review.
Note: This review is spoiler free.
The Details
Book: The Fragile Threads of Power
Author: V. E. Schwab
Publish Date: September 26, 2023
Page Count: 648
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis
Once, there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power, and connected by a single city: London. Until the magic grew too fast, and forced the worlds to seal the doors between them in a desperate gamble to protect their own. The few magicians who could still open the doors grew more rare as time passed and now, only three Antari are known in recent memory—Kell Maresh of Red London, Delilah Bard of Grey London, and Holland Vosijk, of White London.
But barely a glimpse of them have been seen in the last seven years—and a new Antari named Kosika has appeared in White London, taking the throne in Holland’s absence. The young queen is willing to feed her city with blood, including her own—but her growing religious fervor has the potential to drown them instead.
And back in Red London, King Rhy Maresh is threatened by a rising rebellion, one determined to correct the balance of power by razing the throne entirely.
Amidst this tapestry of old friends and new enemies, a girl with an unusual magical ability comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds.
Her name is Tes, and she’s the only one who can bring them together—or unravel it all.
Rating and Review
My rating:
Like I mentioned earlier, I love the Shades of Magic trilogy. If you haven’t already read that series, I highly recommend doing so before reading The Fragile Threads of Power.
Not only is it a brilliant and expansive universe filled with magic, characters, royalty, pirates and more, but it’s a well-written trilogy. You’ll appreciate The Fragile Threads of Power more if you’re already familiar with the characters.
The Fragile Threads of Power picks up seven years after A Conjuring of Light. Rhy is on the throne with Alucard nearby, and Kell and Lila are out adventuring on their own. But Kell’s magic is still broken from the events of A Conjuring of Light and there’s a recently discovered plot against the king.
The o.g. characters know how to bring the drama!
Speaking of, I was pleased with how much the characters from the Shades of Magic trilogy were present. Kell, Lila, Rhy and Alucard are some of my favorite characters, so it was fun seeing what they’re up to now. Even if I didn’t like where they all ended up…
On the other hand, I had some difficulties diving into the stories of the newer characters. I can admit this might be because I wanted to read about the older characters.
I thought they were alright, but the problem with bringing new characters into an existing universe is running the risk of the reader not empathizing with them the way they do older characters.
The book ends on a satisfying note, blending the old and the new characters together well. There’s definitely a set up for continued adventures.
Ultimately, The Fragile Threads of Power didn’t suck me in quite like the Shades of Magic series did, but I have hope for the remainder of the series.
What I Liked
- Multiple perspectives. I think Schwab has a talent for telling a story through many different characters’ POVs.
- Seeing the characters from the Shades of Magic series again. Seriously, I love them.
- The magic system and the different Londons. This world is so innovative and I love reading about magic.
What I Didn’t Like
- The nonlinear timeline. It was fine in the beginning, but we had to flash back so much I wonder if the story started at the right time.
- Some characters don’t feel the same, namely Alucard and Rhy. I guess people change after years, so I can’t complain too much.
Favorite Quotes
“There is nowhere you go,” said the Antari to her prince, “that I cannot follow.”
“As far as she was concerned, family had nothing to do with proximity or blood. Family was a chosen thing. A label earned.”
“She sighed in relief. “You came.”
Kell stepped into the room, the black ring’s cord swinging from his fingers. “You called
TL;DR
While not as enchanting as the Shades of Magic trilogy, The Fragile Threads of Power shows promise for a magical trilogy ahead.
