REVIEW: The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

Kaitlyn‘s review of The Fragile Threads of Power (Shades of Magic, Book 4) by V.E. Schwab
Historical Fantasy published by Tor Books 26 Sep 23

🎵Help! I’m still at the restaurant 🎵 and I don’t want to move on from the Shades of Magic worlds. I finished The Fragile Threads of Power a few days ago and I cannot stop thinking about Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard.

I seriously love everything about these books. The world building is phenomenal, the characters are so interesting, the magic system is excellent, and the writing is perfect. I need to get the audiobooks for the first trilogy, because this is definitely something I’ll want to listen to over and over again. Especially because I don’t want to let this world or these characters go.

The Fragile Threads of Power picks up seven years after the events of A Conjuring of Light. We follow the same lovable characters, with the addition of a few new ones. There are flashbacks from the seven years we missed, as well as whole new problems facing the Londons. I listened to this one and I loved every second of it. I’ll just be not so patiently waiting for the next book now.

Thankfully there are still plenty of @veschwab books to hold me over until then.

Grade: A

Summary:

A new door opens…

Once there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power and connected by a single city: London.

After a desperate attempt to prevent corruption and ruin in the four Londons, there are only three:
● Grey London, thriving but barely able to remember its magical heritage
● Red London, ruled lately by the Maresh family, flourishing and powerful
● White London, left to brutality and decay

Now the worlds are going to collide anew—brought to a dangerous precipice by the discoveries of three remarkable magicians.

There’s Kosika, the child queen of White London, who has nourished her city on blood and dreams—and whose growing devotion to both is leading her down a dangerous path.

Then there’s Delilah Bard, born a thief in Grey London, who crossed the worlds to become a legend far from there. She’s an infamous magician, a devious heroine, and a risk-taking rogue, all rolled into one unforgettable package. Having disappeared to seek new adventure, an old favor now calls Lila back to a dangerous port, to join some old friends who need more help than they realize.

Last there is Tes, a young runaway with an unusual and powerful ability, hiding out in Red London while trying to stay out of the limelight.

Tes is the only one who can keep all the worlds from unraveling—if she manages to stay alive first.