I have many, many apologies to make to my NetGalley list. Reading and reviewing new releases is one of my favorite parts of having this blog, and yet I’ve been extremely behind in doing my homework. We’ll be making up for that in the next month or two, starting with one of the books I’ve most been looking forward to this year, Hearts that Cut. (Thanks so much to NetGalley for the early gift copy!)

Kika Hatzoupoulou’s Threads that Bind was one of my favorite fantasy-mystery reads in 2023. The story follows Io, the third daughter in a family descended from the Fates, who uses her powers to aid her job as a PI. The book has a fascinating and immersive world and a fascinating plot, and it ends on quite the cliffhanger. Hearts that Cut picks up where the prior story left off, with Io and an ally tracing a golden thread that may lead to a God. Along their path, they encounter more mysterious wraiths – shells of those descended from Gods – and a bevy of natural disasters. Io’s world expands beyond the pseudo-Greek city of Alanthe – and so do the stakes of her story.

An expanding world with personal stakes

When we first met Io and her sisters, they were based in the city of Alanthe, focused on the day-to-day of private investigations in the underworld. Io used her view of life-threads in the Quilt to trace people and change their lives on a regular basis, primarily by cutting their connection with potentially unhealthy attachments. While Threads that Bind primarily focused on Greek gods, other characters from other cities hinted at a world beyond Alanthe, with different religions and power sets to explore.

In Hearts that Cut, we finally get to explore that broader world. Our protagonists start outside Alanthe as they follow a golden thread, hoping it will lead them to what seems to be the instigating God. As they explore the broader world, Io and Bianca realize that Godsborn siblings have started to disappear. If that weren’t enough, their path seems plagued by natural disasters. Hatzoupoulou does a lot to expand both the world and the stakes this time around.

In some ways, this works well. Certainly we get to explore more settings, learn more about what makes wraiths tick. And Hatzoupoulou goes deeper into many of her mythologies than similar writers and magic systems. Yet at the end of my read, I found myself slightly disappointed that the world hadn’t expanded farther. Threads that Bind promised expansive and extensive sets of mythologies all co-existing. Hearts that Cut delivered a fascinating magical dystopia, but one just slightly bigger than before.

Instead of expanding the world, then, Hatzoupoulou tries to scale the stakes. Where previously Io was investigating the intrigue of a city-state, she’s now tracing the actions of cross-border Gods. Io’s choices impact cities and cultures we haven’t yet explored, across both time and space. But ultimately, it’s the time and magic-related elements that feel more impactful. Hatzoupoulou’s writing shines in smaller-scale, interpersonal interactions and relationships, and it’s these elements that land best throughout the story. The scale may be epic, but Io’s lens is almost always centered on those she knows and loves. This approach keeps her grounded – but also creates a bit of tonal whiplash given the attempted scale of the story.

Mystery pacing, with an adventurous landing

Threads that Bind was a mystery with a layer of adventure to it. Hearts that Cut wants to move on to more adventurous terrain, but its pacing often feels very mystery-like. Like many a mystery series, the story emphasizes Io’s existing relationships, without many impactful new ones. Io consistently picks up clues that lead her towards those she loves. Not only that, she and Bianca are driven primarily by people, with external discoveries feeling almost secondary.

The result is an adventure that’s paced like a mystery. As an avid mystery fan, I should be thrilled… But there are some structural differences between the genres that lead to some pacing issues here. Specifically, mysteries thrive on the twist and the payoff. They don’t necessarily keep clues hidden – that’s not fair play – but a great mystery takes unraveling and thinking. The climax is based on the cleverness of the detective, with any action serving as confirmatory of intelligence rather than mettle.

But Hearts that Cut wants its Big Action Scenes, with Io choosing to take on the Gods themselves. And because of the mystery-like structure, that choice comes almost suddenly, with revelations flying fast and furious right at the end of the novel. For some, it may reflect how quickly Io can think on her feet; for me, it felt a little like tonal whiplash, without the lovely suspense and anticipation that can come from a great showdown. (I’m doing my best to avoid spoilers in this section!)

Reader’s notes and rating (⭐️⭐️⭐️✨)

Hearts that Cut ultimately did a lot of what I was hoping for – it expanded the world and the magic system, and it ended on a bang. I’m certainly inclined to keep reading and am absolutely curious about what happens next. Yet I wish the story knew a bit more certainly what it wanted to be – and I hope future installments will fulfill the promise of a more diverse and expansive world. (To be clear, I will absolutely read those!) Three and a half stars.

Hearts that Cut was published on June 18, 2024.

*This will meet “published in a Year of the Dragon” for my 52 Book Club challenge this year.