I would like to thank the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the ARC of this book. I read an advanced copy of this book, so the final edition of the book might be slightly different. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

I had high hopes for this book, and honestly, this book met them! The concept seemed so fascinating, and I was worried the execution might not be able to hold it up, but it all ended up being so much better than I could have ever expected.

My favorite thing about this book has to be the world-building, specifically surrounding the way mythology has been incorporated. Many people are descendants of various gods or deities, and if they’re born in the right amount (like 3 sisters for the 3 fates), then they might inherit those powers. It’s a really intriguing set-up, and I loved seeing all the different types of descendants and powers that existed in the world. On top of that, the book doesn’t just take Greek mythology, but other mythologies from around the world as well. Different cities or regions of the world that followed different myths also have their own descendants, and while the magic might sometimes overlap (as gods across mythologies do as well, when it comes to their powers), there are always slight variations to account for the cultural differences. It creates such a rich and deep world to weave the story through, and I loved seeing it all come together!

While I wouldn’t have minded what magic the main character ended up having, as it all honestly seemed so cool, I loved that what we got was thread/fate magic. It was wonderful to see how it varied across the sisters, based on who had what ‘role’, and how it impacted the way they interact with the world and how they see each other. They each had their own responsibilities and worries based around their own powers, and it really ended up defining their relationship with their powers as well. I also just found thread magic on its own so fascinating, and I loved whenever Io would look at the threads of those around her, and how she could manipulate them and use them (in battles and outside of them). It’s just an interesting take on threads and fate, and I loved seeing it expanded beyond more simple threads, like love and life.

I also really loved the setting of this book. Alante is a city that has nearly gone to the sea, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a setting quite like it. The characters constantly have to mind the tides, avoiding streets during certain times, so they don’t get stuck and drown. It also was so fun to see how the city grew with the tides, especially the poorer areas of the city, where the people who couldn’t afford the higher land were forced to live in. There were just so many extra considerations when forced to live with rising and receding waters (especially when those waters are full of monsters!)

Lastly, I was also just a big fan of the relationships in this book, and I don’t even mean the romance specifically! I just adored exploring the relationship between the 3 Ora sisters, and how their roles within their family seemed to almost take after their powers. It’s rare to find books that focus so closely on relationships between 3 sisters, especially ones whose entire identity seems to revolve around being sisters (especially being the descendants of Fates). While we enter the story at a point where a lot has already happened to fracture them, I loved seeing how their feelings for each other impacted their judgment and decisions.

Overall, I was a big fan of this book, and would highly recommend it to fans of (Greek) mythology or fans of books that fit a more ‘fantasy noir’ vibe. I honestly cannot wait for the sequel!