What do you think?
Rate this book
Threads of the City
After the disappearance of her journalist mother four years ago, Ash has solidified her place within the Syndicate, one of three governing factions in the famed city of Drenthe. Precisely where she needs to be if she has any chance of solving her mother’s final investigation, the unsettling pattern of missing girls taken from the district Ash reluctantly calls home.
When the pattern begins anew, she follows her mother’s last lead to a high-ranking member of the Syndicate, but her plans go awry when she is caught in a devastating trap, dragging Lina – an upper-class girl with blood on her hands and a stolen memory – into the crossfire.
Forced to fight against illusions of the past and the twisted reality of the city’s history, Ash must save herself and the girls she has vowed to protect before she becomes another victim of a Saint she never believed in.
When the pattern begins anew, she follows her mother’s last lead to a high-ranking member of the Syndicate, but her plans go awry when she is caught in a devastating trap, dragging Lina – an upper-class girl with blood on her hands and a stolen memory – into the crossfire.
Forced to fight against illusions of the past and the twisted reality of the city’s history, Ash must save herself and the girls she has vowed to protect before she becomes another victim of a Saint she never believed in.
376 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2024
139 people want to read
About the author
Wren Archer
2 books6 followersWren Archer is a queer autistic author writing books about queer autistic characters.
Though living in England, they dream of returning to the Scottish Highlands where they visit family yearly.
When they're not writing with the aid of copious amounts of coffee and their cat children, they can be found scouring bookshops, playing video games, and exploring the local forests.
Though living in England, they dream of returning to the Scottish Highlands where they visit family yearly.
When they're not writing with the aid of copious amounts of coffee and their cat children, they can be found scouring bookshops, playing video games, and exploring the local forests.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 6, 2024
I beta read this amazing book last year and it was so unique and interesting!! 🥹
Some stuff has probably changed, but I’m sure it’s still as great (if not even better) 💖
I'm excited to pick up the final version.
Some stuff has probably changed, but I’m sure it’s still as great (if not even better) 💖
I'm excited to pick up the final version.
December 3, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ !!
where do i even begin with this book ?? wow. simply stunned
the world building in this story is so beautiful - it didn’t even feel like the world was being built around me. i will say there is a lot HOWEVER ☝🏻 it’s done so impeccably you won’t even notice until it stops
wrens writing style is so beautiful and concise and so poetic in areas too - i will admit it’s not a style i would normally read but that didn’t make the book any less enjoyable 👊🏻
ash being autistic and asexual was also something different for me as a reader, but her inner monologue and the way she’s written makes it very easy to identify these parts of her being without it being spelled out for you. i love her
anyway protect lina at all costs and give me book 2 NOW
where do i even begin with this book ?? wow. simply stunned
the world building in this story is so beautiful - it didn’t even feel like the world was being built around me. i will say there is a lot HOWEVER ☝🏻 it’s done so impeccably you won’t even notice until it stops
wrens writing style is so beautiful and concise and so poetic in areas too - i will admit it’s not a style i would normally read but that didn’t make the book any less enjoyable 👊🏻
ash being autistic and asexual was also something different for me as a reader, but her inner monologue and the way she’s written makes it very easy to identify these parts of her being without it being spelled out for you. i love her
anyway protect lina at all costs and give me book 2 NOW
October 6, 2024
This book literally kindled my joy for reading, from the beautifully poetic tone that Wren writes with, to the gorgeous world building and exceptional skill at which he makes the reader feel as though they are there with the characters. I utterly adored this book. Wren’s ability to make you love and care for his characters is unlike anything I have come across since. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart as a reminder of where it all began 🧡
May 12, 2025
Threads of the City is a gripping read that will have you eagerly flipping the pages to find out what’s next. Ash Elsinga is an unforgettable narrator full of that crackling spirit that brings together the hardened determination of a city detective, the bruised soul of a child left behind too soon and the magic of a chosen protagonist.
The prose is its own character in this book, wielded as masterfully as to paint the clearest image in the reader’s mind, and with the precise pacing, riveting action and layers upon layers of intricate world-building, lore and secrets, Archer has created an unforgettable story.
I simply can’t wait for the second installment. What an absolute pageturner.
The prose is its own character in this book, wielded as masterfully as to paint the clearest image in the reader’s mind, and with the precise pacing, riveting action and layers upon layers of intricate world-building, lore and secrets, Archer has created an unforgettable story.
I simply can’t wait for the second installment. What an absolute pageturner.
November 9, 2024
thank you Wren Archer for giving me an earc of this book
this book is so beautifully written that for the first time I've had some issues as non native English speaker but reading it was a challenge i really enjoyed. I loved the slow world building and how you gained information the more you keep reading. The plot was really interesting and cool.
The banana fish vibes were immaculate, I loved this Ash and i was completely swooned over Lina.
I liked the characters and i can wait to learn more about secondary characters like Zeager.
The ace rep was perfect and i'm so happy i liked it because that was one of the main reasons i wanted to read this book.
I genuinely can't wait to read the next book!
this book is so beautifully written that for the first time I've had some issues as non native English speaker but reading it was a challenge i really enjoyed. I loved the slow world building and how you gained information the more you keep reading. The plot was really interesting and cool.
The banana fish vibes were immaculate, I loved this Ash and i was completely swooned over Lina.
I liked the characters and i can wait to learn more about secondary characters like Zeager.
The ace rep was perfect and i'm so happy i liked it because that was one of the main reasons i wanted to read this book.
I genuinely can't wait to read the next book!
March 2, 2025
I was very happy to get an e-arc copy of this!
The prose is eloquent and poetic, and though it took me a minute to get used to the rhythm, it actually doesn’t slow down the action. The level of detail enhances the vision of the city and its traditions, laws and people. The world-building is rich and complex, and really original.
Ash complicated, brooding, at times heartbreakingly sincere and unwittingly charming. Her cold, duty-bound exterior, with this tangled mess of emotions beneath spoke to my younger self on a deep level. It’s so refreshing to see a character who is questioning their gender identity, but doesn’t have the language for it yet—and also is too caught up in a life-threatening mystery to do any serious self-reflection. I love that there isn’t a neat resolution to who Ash is or how she feels about Lina, because real life questions of identity and sexuality are rarely as simple as they are often portrayed in fiction. If, like me, you’re sick of queer storylines that feel rushed, simplistic or cliche all for the sake of ticking some box of representation (looking at you, Netflix), then this book is for you.
The whole cast is super likeable, without being irritatingly perfect. I love Lina and Ash’s dynamic. It’s compelling and touching, and I love how they compliment and oppose each other as people. Lina is warm, compassionate and exciting—such a well-rounded character. Every sweet little gender-affirming comment she made to Ash made my heart swell.
Zeger and Efrain are great too, though Z needs to take the hint: She ain’t interested in you, buddy (I say fondly). Curious to see more of him down the line. I love that Ash calls Efrain ‘Rain’, and that their names symbolically correspond. Ash being this burning wreckage of a person in many ways, and Rain being the cool, soothing balm to the dying embers of her emotional wounds. That’s how I saw it. Their friendship is lovely and if I could critique anything, it’s that we maybe don’t get enough of it in this book. A few more moments of just the two of them bantering or hanging out would have been nice, but not totally necessary.
On that note, generally, I think the dialogue was great and now and then I think the pacing would have benefitted from more dialogue and less inner monologue. These characters are really strong and distinct and I could have read pages and pages of just simple interactions between them.
Overall the pacing is good and when the plot properly kicks off, the tension healthily builds and culminates in lots of exciting moments. I almost cried a couple of times, many scenes gave me full body chills, several lines made me put my tablet down and raise my hands in deference (I just need a second to appreciate things sometimes), and one particular moment made me audibly utter the words, ‘Oh fuck.’
If you’re looking to read nuanced fantasy, interesting and subtle character dynamics, well-crafted and immaculately edited prose, then I highly recommend Threads of the City!
The prose is eloquent and poetic, and though it took me a minute to get used to the rhythm, it actually doesn’t slow down the action. The level of detail enhances the vision of the city and its traditions, laws and people. The world-building is rich and complex, and really original.
Ash complicated, brooding, at times heartbreakingly sincere and unwittingly charming. Her cold, duty-bound exterior, with this tangled mess of emotions beneath spoke to my younger self on a deep level. It’s so refreshing to see a character who is questioning their gender identity, but doesn’t have the language for it yet—and also is too caught up in a life-threatening mystery to do any serious self-reflection. I love that there isn’t a neat resolution to who Ash is or how she feels about Lina, because real life questions of identity and sexuality are rarely as simple as they are often portrayed in fiction. If, like me, you’re sick of queer storylines that feel rushed, simplistic or cliche all for the sake of ticking some box of representation (looking at you, Netflix), then this book is for you.
The whole cast is super likeable, without being irritatingly perfect. I love Lina and Ash’s dynamic. It’s compelling and touching, and I love how they compliment and oppose each other as people. Lina is warm, compassionate and exciting—such a well-rounded character. Every sweet little gender-affirming comment she made to Ash made my heart swell.
Zeger and Efrain are great too, though Z needs to take the hint: She ain’t interested in you, buddy (I say fondly). Curious to see more of him down the line. I love that Ash calls Efrain ‘Rain’, and that their names symbolically correspond. Ash being this burning wreckage of a person in many ways, and Rain being the cool, soothing balm to the dying embers of her emotional wounds. That’s how I saw it. Their friendship is lovely and if I could critique anything, it’s that we maybe don’t get enough of it in this book. A few more moments of just the two of them bantering or hanging out would have been nice, but not totally necessary.
On that note, generally, I think the dialogue was great and now and then I think the pacing would have benefitted from more dialogue and less inner monologue. These characters are really strong and distinct and I could have read pages and pages of just simple interactions between them.
Overall the pacing is good and when the plot properly kicks off, the tension healthily builds and culminates in lots of exciting moments. I almost cried a couple of times, many scenes gave me full body chills, several lines made me put my tablet down and raise my hands in deference (I just need a second to appreciate things sometimes), and one particular moment made me audibly utter the words, ‘Oh fuck.’
If you’re looking to read nuanced fantasy, interesting and subtle character dynamics, well-crafted and immaculately edited prose, then I highly recommend Threads of the City!
November 9, 2024
This book increased it's intensity from start to finish and had me hooked!
This book has a lot of long sentences that I struggled with a lot at the beginning. I started this book on deep fatigue days and I couldn't make out what was being said. However as the book went on I started to understand the flow better and better and became to actually love the long sentences. They held a lot of feeling and deep thoughts, and at the same time gave so much color and detail to the same time. It gave the book a lot of character and I really enjoyed that.
The story starts of a bit slower too. It gives us a look into the day to day life of Ash. And while she isn't an ordinary person in the city Drenthe her the book starts of on an fairly ordinary day for her. This gave me the time to get used to this very unique world with an awesome magic/abilities system. When I grasped that enough the book ramped up the intensity immediately with introducing Lina.
Oh how I loved Lina. She is such a bubbly person and I enjoyed her so much. The way Ash and Lina meet is so high of tension, but that then turns into something of a friendship fast and gave me a whole load of feelings. Lina is curious and excited about little things and it made me excited to see where the story would lead to.
Oh boy and leading to things it did. Things really went moving fast after that and things were really intense. I couldn't stop thinking about the book. While at the same time I had to take breaks reading because it was all so intense it was a bit overwhelming. Which... was so amazing. I loved it.
I can't wait until the next book and see what secret Ash is going to uncover next.
Rated: 4.25 stars
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
This book has a lot of long sentences that I struggled with a lot at the beginning. I started this book on deep fatigue days and I couldn't make out what was being said. However as the book went on I started to understand the flow better and better and became to actually love the long sentences. They held a lot of feeling and deep thoughts, and at the same time gave so much color and detail to the same time. It gave the book a lot of character and I really enjoyed that.
The story starts of a bit slower too. It gives us a look into the day to day life of Ash. And while she isn't an ordinary person in the city Drenthe her the book starts of on an fairly ordinary day for her. This gave me the time to get used to this very unique world with an awesome magic/abilities system. When I grasped that enough the book ramped up the intensity immediately with introducing Lina.
Oh how I loved Lina. She is such a bubbly person and I enjoyed her so much. The way Ash and Lina meet is so high of tension, but that then turns into something of a friendship fast and gave me a whole load of feelings. Lina is curious and excited about little things and it made me excited to see where the story would lead to.
Oh boy and leading to things it did. Things really went moving fast after that and things were really intense. I couldn't stop thinking about the book. While at the same time I had to take breaks reading because it was all so intense it was a bit overwhelming. Which... was so amazing. I loved it.
I can't wait until the next book and see what secret Ash is going to uncover next.
Rated: 4.25 stars
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
November 9, 2024
Thank you to the author for sending me an E-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!!
The author described the book as a "love letter to Banana Fish", and as a BF enthusiast I can confidently say that they vibes were THERE. Multiple times throughout the book I went "omg Banana Fish moment", and I just loved that.
Anime excitement aside, this book was beautifully written. Archer writes in an almost poetic way, and even though it was a little overwhelming at times, it was still really enjoyable. He manages to write Ash's inner monologue in a way where you can easily catch on to the fact that she's a-spec and neurodivergent without having it spelled out. The slight mention of potential gender dysphoria was good as well, and I really hope that aspect gets explored further in the sequel.
On a similar a-spec related note, I loved Ash and Efraíns friendship, and how it was described. How we were told, and shown, that Ash was never alone because she'll always have Efraín by her side, and how they'll always care for each other, even though it'll always "just" be purely platonic. Idk that just made me really happy.
The Affinities and magic system in general was so interesting and creative, and I loved learning about it all throughout the books. Learning about how Drenthe was split into the different areas and about its history was really interesting as well. Like, the whole Saints/Blesséd thing? wow.
The book's ending was satisfying, which I feel like is not always the case with books in a series. It didn't feel rushed, or ended on a cliffhanger. The story was tied together nicely, while still making it clear there were more to the story. I know I sound like a broken record, but I did genuinely have such a good time with this book, my writers block just won't allow me to articulate it in a proper way. Now, go read the book!!!
The author described the book as a "love letter to Banana Fish", and as a BF enthusiast I can confidently say that they vibes were THERE. Multiple times throughout the book I went "omg Banana Fish moment", and I just loved that.
Anime excitement aside, this book was beautifully written. Archer writes in an almost poetic way, and even though it was a little overwhelming at times, it was still really enjoyable. He manages to write Ash's inner monologue in a way where you can easily catch on to the fact that she's a-spec and neurodivergent without having it spelled out. The slight mention of potential gender dysphoria was good as well, and I really hope that aspect gets explored further in the sequel.
On a similar a-spec related note, I loved Ash and Efraíns friendship, and how it was described. How we were told, and shown, that Ash was never alone because she'll always have Efraín by her side, and how they'll always care for each other, even though it'll always "just" be purely platonic. Idk that just made me really happy.
The Affinities and magic system in general was so interesting and creative, and I loved learning about it all throughout the books. Learning about how Drenthe was split into the different areas and about its history was really interesting as well. Like, the whole Saints/Blesséd thing? wow.
The book's ending was satisfying, which I feel like is not always the case with books in a series. It didn't feel rushed, or ended on a cliffhanger. The story was tied together nicely, while still making it clear there were more to the story. I know I sound like a broken record, but I did genuinely have such a good time with this book, my writers block just won't allow me to articulate it in a proper way. Now, go read the book!!!
November 9, 2024
Threads of the City was a great read. I received an ARC of this book and enjoyed it a lot!
To start, I loved the characters! The main character, Ash, was a breath of fresh air, and the other characters were also very intriguing. It doesn't happen often with me in books that I want to see more of each and every character. They have a lot of potential that I hope is explored more in future books.
Then there's Drenthe...
The city of Drenthe was beautifully developed, truly a character in its own right. Many parts of it were incorporated into the storyline itself. I appreciated that the dirt and grit of the city were explored on many different levels, all the way to the top. I truly loved the themes altogether and how it called into question things about our own society.
Lastly, the writing read like poetry. It elevated the story!
Altogether an enjoyable read. I'll be looking out for more books from this author ♡
To start, I loved the characters! The main character, Ash, was a breath of fresh air, and the other characters were also very intriguing. It doesn't happen often with me in books that I want to see more of each and every character. They have a lot of potential that I hope is explored more in future books.
Then there's Drenthe...
Ah, Drenthe, where crime was only crime when it wasn't profitable for the whole city.
A city alive with a discordant heartbeat that wouldn't die, no matter how diseased it became.
The city of Drenthe was beautifully developed, truly a character in its own right. Many parts of it were incorporated into the storyline itself. I appreciated that the dirt and grit of the city were explored on many different levels, all the way to the top. I truly loved the themes altogether and how it called into question things about our own society.
Lastly, the writing read like poetry. It elevated the story!
Altogether an enjoyable read. I'll be looking out for more books from this author ♡
November 22, 2024
Thank you to the author for sending me an e-arc.
There were many aspects of this book I loved: Ash's character and the elements of the world. The writing was lovely and artistic, but almost overwhelmingly so. I felt like the oversaturation of the language made it a struggle to keep my attention.
The story had a lot to offer, but I also felt it barely scratched the surface of what it could be. There is mystery and intrigue and layers to this story that make it interesting, but just barely missed the mark for me.
There were many aspects of this book I loved: Ash's character and the elements of the world. The writing was lovely and artistic, but almost overwhelmingly so. I felt like the oversaturation of the language made it a struggle to keep my attention.
The story had a lot to offer, but I also felt it barely scratched the surface of what it could be. There is mystery and intrigue and layers to this story that make it interesting, but just barely missed the mark for me.
featured
January 20, 2025Ash from Threads of the City is demiromantic asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews