Threadbound

by M.E. Moirin

When a powerful vizier curses Jasna, a red thread draws her toward his palace while death follows close behind. Her soul, bound to stone, begins to splinter until a desperate spell casts her into Syanka, a realm shaped by old stories.

To reclaim what was stolen and rescue Iliya, once her betrothed, who begged the vizier for her soul and is now a pawn in something darker, Jasna must face beasts and strike bargains with treacherous allies. But the thread is tightening, and if she cannot reach the vizier’s palace before it snaps, it will unravel the last threads of her soul.

Threadbound weaves dark magic, Slavic folklore, and Ottoman-inspired intrigue into a tale where wonder walks hand in hand with danger. For readers who grew up on Narnia and Alice in Wonderland and wondered what would happen if the magic turned dark.

Perfect for fans of Spinning Silver, The Bear and the Nightingale, and the dreamlike peril of Labyrinth.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fantasy

328 pages, ebook

First published February 1, 2026

About the author

M.E.Moirin is the pen name for the author of The Girl Who Cheated the Wind, a Slavic fairytale and folklore fantasy (previously published as Threadbound).
When not writing, her day job involves working in research. She's lived here and there, which explains her awkward silence when she's asked where she's from. She's now made the UK her home. She is obsessed with her cat, books, coffee and matcha, and loves the cosiness of autumn.

Reviews

[Val~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and BookSprout for this Advanced Reader Copy. I was lucky enough to receive the ARC from both sites at the same time! :D

What a ride! OMG! This is an amazing book. How lovely, cozy, and interesting! It has everything that I love in a good fantasy plot: folk and mythology, different kinds of creatures (including a dragon! Yay!), found family, and so much more! The setting is whimsical, yet sometimes with a kind of dark vibe at the same time. At the beginning it brought to mind Jasmin from Aladdin and Yafar, but then it reminded me of Where the Dark Stands Still, The Subtle Knife, The Wizard of Oz, and a bit of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; all of this in the author's own creation and incredible world-building, where you are transported from one world to another, from dreams that may come true, with magic that inspires and empowers women. This book has several memorable quotes and breathtaking teachings. I enjoyed it so, so much! I'd love to read more books from the author!

[Moonburst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasna has been called cursed her whole life, as her mother died in childbirth, her brother was conscripted into the sultan's army, and her father abandoned her. When her beauty brings her under the attention of the vizier, Jasna does what she can to prevent herself becoming the vizier's wife, but as a result she is truly cursed and her soul splintered. In order to regain her soul and rescue her betrothed, Jasna takes a fantastic journey through the magical realm of Syanka full of monsters, fables and myths. But will she be able to make it to the palace in time? Or will she succumb to one of her many trials.

Threadbound is a beautifully written fairy tale with a dreamy atmosphere. As Jasna faces her challenges, she not only has to learn to accept herself but grow into who she wants to be. Themes of compassion, kindness, and love are woven into a perfectly satisfactory story that you wont want to put down.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alastair Greig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of this. This is a fast paced book set in a fantastical Ottoman Empire, where a young woman encounters various creatures and entities from Slavic mythology as well as drawing on the historical events and experience of orthodox countries in the Balkans under Ottoman rule. Would interest those who like these cultures and perhaps also female empowerment.

[lookmairead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended:

- When you prefer the journey over vs the destination.
- You, your teen and/or YA friend want like an Alice in Wonderland x Wizard of Oz x mythology/folk lore vibes.
- You like stories within stories.
- Something that has stakes but still feels whimsy.
- No spice.

3/5

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won't find romance in this book. What you'll find, though, is a female main character that forges her own path.

The book introduces a whimsical Slavic-inspired world within an Ottoman-empire-inspired setting. It's based on a folklore poem, but expands and reclaims the FMCs role so that she finds her own way while journeying through realms to confront the grand vizier and his dark mage who stole her shadow. Unexpected allies are found in the unlikeliest of creatures, and it's humans that are more often than not the true villains.

Oh, and did I say there are dragons? Except that they're the Slavic version, known as zmei.

It's a story about tales coming to life and how the very stories we tell ourselves shape us.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Labyrinth (yes the david bowie film) also maybe bit of zelda and dash of Aladdin. This is what weird quests and folklore fairytales are made off. I actually think this would make an incredible film either done in the style of Labyrinth or animated, I felt like I could see the movie running in my mind the world felt that real.

It has all the hallmarks for a great family favourite because we have a beautiful orphan with a great relationship with her nana who makes up stories to tell her (or does she👀).
When the creepy little mage working for the vizier finds her and presents her to him, no shock now he wants to marry her. But she insults him and says no, she is already betrothed to another. Well that just won’t do will it, a man can’t take no for an answer in front of company, how would his ego survive. The creepy mage casts a curse and they ominously say you’ll come off your own free will… just you wait and see.

Plot stuff happens and safe to say nana’s stories are real and if our fmc has any hope of surviving and saving her betrothed who stupidly thought, he could just ask nicely the big bad vizier and his mage to leave her alone and not marry her.

She goes on this epic quest in a different realm (alice in wonderland coded) where all these creature live and each one she meets and every side character introduced adds in these little life lessons. That no one should forge her path but her, believe in herself etc. Very heart warming stuff that hallmark it a fairytale while also warning of the bad stuff (mostly how men treat women).

Seriously impressed this is a debut novel. I really want to see this world made one day, film, tv, animation, a game even. I just think would be very cool.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc, I really enjoyed reading this story and can’t wait to recommend to people and look out for what the author does next

[Spice Bound · Rating 4 out of 5]

I signed up voluntarily for an ARC which I gratefully received 🩷

I’m not familiar with Slavic mythology, so I did find this story unique & refreshing!
I’ve always loved fantasy but I guess it can all mould together using the same types of creatures & lore in different ways.
So unique being my first encounter. New creatures & forest folk for me to read about! I really would love to read more if anyone sees this review & can share some book recommendations with me! Please do 🤞

I found myself thinking theory’s and for a sec I thought I knew what was happening but I didn’t.
It got a bit chaotic towards the end but all in all it wrapped up.
I hated that she never got the love she deserved and although it ended happy I wish she got everything she ever wanted 🥹


I did enjoy this read

• tragic backstory
• adventure in uncharted territory
• dark magic

3.75 ⭐️

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish. It was unique and provided a new side of fantasy for me that I never read before. I felt like this story provided a lot of small lessons for the main character but also ones I could relate to. This is a standalone, debut novel but I would gladly read more written by M.E. Moirin.

[Sara Jenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

This book is a fantastic step into Slavic folklore, mythology and world building. Strong female relationships particularly from Iliyas grandmother. Magic and found family are always top tier tropes for me!

[Gray Finney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an imaginative story, it’s empowering and honest with great characters from the very beginning. There’s a wonderful surrealism from mixing a normal world with the colourful world of Syanka and I love the way events never seem to go the way I’m anticipating - It constantly made me wonder what’s going to happen next as Jasna steps onward along her path

The magic system is dark and sinister and I love the way Jasna is emboldened to challenge the power dynamic that looms over her. This is an exciting read full of myth and intrigue, Jasna isn’t your classic ‘chosen one’... she’s the one who makes all the choices. What a debut for M.E. Moirin.

[anna0hliviaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“being pretty is like really hard” - Jasna probably

I was super excited when I read the description of this book. It had all the parts that would make me LOVE and ADORE a book. That being said, I am unfortunately a SUPER tough critic (a̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶c̶h̶) when it comes to things I know I have a potential to love. Happy to report though that this was a good book. A very solid debut and wild ride. I loved that Jasna chose herself over a romantic relationship she didn’t really want. I loved that it emphasized grandmother/grand-daughter relationships without grandma keeling over in the first three chapters (grandma’s deserve more than being a plot device!!!). I did find the plot, especially towards the last 40% of the book, to get a bit messy. It reminded me a lot of Watermoon by Samantha Sotto, another book where you just accept that you don’t really know whats going on but keep reading because you’re having a good time/are too far in to stop.

All that said, it was a nice read that I would happily recommend to others.

(thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!)

[Tales with Atticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so Threadbound felt like stepping into one of those dreamy, slightly haunting fairy tales where the magic is gorgeous but also a little dangerous.

It follows Jasna, a girl cursed by a powerful vizier and drawn into a realm shaped by stories. To save her soul and the boy she once loved she has to navigate a world of beasts, bargains, and old magic that tests who she really is. The writing feels like a blend of folklore and myth, with that soft, hazy atmosphere that makes you forget where reality ends.

The part that really stuck with me was how deeply personal Jasna’s journey felt. Beneath all the magic and myth, there’s strength in how she learns to put herself first in a world that keeps trying to define her. And I have to say, the grandmother absolutely stole my heart. She’s wise, protective, and she actually gets to stay part of the story instead of disappearing early on.

What to expect:
-Cursed heroine
-Found family
-Lost love
-Magical trials

Vibes:
-Folklore-inspired
-Dreamy and atmospheric
-Whimsical but dark

If you like books that read like a modern fairytale.. a little strange, a little sad, but full of heart, you'll love this!

[Will Swardstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can also be found at: https://fanfiaddict.com/spfbo-xi-revi...

I read this book as a judge for Fanfiaddict for SPFBO XI. These are my personal thoughts and do not represent the thoughts of the whole team.

Threadbound by M.E. Moirin bills itself as a folk story with its roots in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. There are hints of Shaharazad from The Thousand and One Nights — you know the one…Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin are just a couple of the tales from the famous collection. Moirin certainly wove a similar tale to some of those and I enjoyed my time in Jasna’s world.

Jasna is the central figure in Threadbound, and her actions are the catalyst for the entire narrative. After an introductory tale of a statue at the top of a well (told from a second-person POV), the story launches into Jasna’s POV when she is walking around her town only to be taken to where the Grand Vizier is holding court by the vizier’s mage. After a back-and-forth where she claims she is already betrothed, the vizier tells her that she will willingly come to him by the end of the summer. Then, he proclaims that he will have a statue of her erected at the well as a tribute.

From there, the story starts to fill in some of the blanks I was left with. Jasna goes home to her Nana only to find out some information about the vizier and mage from Nana. We also find out that the engagement Jasna talked about was literally from the very evening before. Her boyfriend (fiance?) Iliya is upset about the vizier’s actions, but something doesn’t feel quite right about his reactions to it all.

From there, there is a slow burn as the life-like statue is constructed only for Jasna to fall ill when the construction is finished. While ill, she dreams of a dragon (a Zmei in Slavic culture). She recovers a bit after the statue is cracked, but other magical beings come looking for Jasna, leading to her journey from home to eventually end the curse upon her and her family.

While there is a lot to like about Threadbound in terms of the main character and the folk story journey she embarks upon, the side characters need some work. Often characters just pop up without backstory and we are just expected to piece them into Jasna’s life. While she feels like a fairly fleshed out character, many of those she encounters are one-dimensional. We spend a lot of time with Nana…and then suddenly when Jasna’s life is threatened and she’s forced to leave, her other grandmother shows up and she seems to know even more about the land where Jasna is going than anyone else.

I felt the pacing was a bit backward at times. Moirin would present information about something in one chapter and then provide backstory and flashbacks later in the book. If that happened once, that would have been fine, but it often felt like I was reading the book with incomplete information. Sometimes that works and often in folk tales the narrator knows a lot more about what’s happening than the audience, but since it was a first-person POV, it never quite felt right to me.

But in the end, I couldn’t help but like what I found in Threadbound. The story is unique and different compared to a lot of books I’ve seen. Tapping into folklore from the Slavic area and the Ottoman Empire presents different themes than what many readers are used to and I really loved that aspect of the story.

[Iain Culverhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in M.E. Moirin's series, "Threadbound" has to be one of those some-kind-of-thrill fantasy reads that tries to gulp down anything in sight instead. Moirin has put together an amazing world colorful with ripped-from the pages lore, redolent of a unique system (one both ancient and refreshingly new) magic. What's great about this book is the protagonist, Anya, who can not help but move you. Her struggles with fate and destiny are deeply compelling, it is thrilling indeed to see how she grows into her power. It's a book where the plot is tight, with a cliffhanging stakesand lots of satisfying twists only to keep you turning pages into dawn; it's the perfect opening to a series that takes care off action, character development and intricate world-building equally well. This is an epic you will not regret picking up.

Massive thanks to Booksirens, The Publisher and of course M.E. Moirin for the wonderful for providing an advanced review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vic Liston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of the Ottoman Empire and steeped in Slavic mythology, the premise alone was enough to intrigue me, but it was Nana’s stories that truly drew me in. Through them, I found myself wanting to walk alongside Jasna, to follow her path wherever it led.

Thanks to the rich, evocative imagery woven through the pages, we do go on that journey - feeling Jasna’s losses, her quiet resilience, and her triumphs as she comes to understand Syanka, her own strength, and ultimately herself.

The Girl Who Cheated the Wind is a beautiful read for anyone fascinated by mythology, folklore, and Slavic creatures you may never have encountered before. While it’s well suited to older teens, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult and would happily recommend it to anyone who loves stories that feel both rooted and timeless.

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Threadbound is such a unique and beautifully imagined fantasy. I was pulled in right away by Jasna’s curse and the eerie red thread pulling her toward a fate she can’t escape. The shift into Syanka felt magical and dreamlike, yet full of danger, and I loved how every creature and ally she met taught her something small but meaningful. Those little lessons hit me just as much as they hit her.

The magic system feels fresh, and the theme of found family was one of my favorite parts. The relationships she builds along the way add warmth to a story filled with tension and high stakes. I also enjoyed the emotional thread connecting her to Iliya and the danger surrounding his role in the vizier’s plans.

[NamReadz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so well written I was so sad when it ended. I loved Jasna so much, she's there for herself, does not let people cross her boundaries and knows her worth and what sacrifices are actually worth taking. I loved the world-building and the fantastical mechanics in the story.
A story full of twists and turns and mythologies from multiple cultures, I heavily recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Rating 4.5/5

[Sinclair Sting · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining fairy tale deconstruction and journey through the little-explored realms of Slavic folklore!

I had a delightful time following the strong-willed protagonist on her trek through wonderlands and netherworlds, and indie author Moirin manages to make her monsters engaging and often more sympathetic than the human characters.

It's not quite like anything else you've read, and for jaded older readers like me, that's a very good thing!

[Elizabeth Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun fantasy book by an indie author.

This was such a unique fantasy book. I love how it blended folk, mythology, dragons(!), other creatures, found family, and much more. It transported me to different times and places where magic empowers women. It was truly spellbinding. And it's for people who want clean, as in no spice, fantasy books. I highly recommend this book!

[Ashley Mindykowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic tale

I loved this book! It had a little bit of everything and I think I liked the myths and demons so much because no one really does slavic lore! It was such a fresh take with such a rich storyline. There were lots of moments of growth and realizations. The characters were great and likable. There were plenty of twists I didn't see coming. So worth the read!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful mix of mythology and folk tales, so many amazing creatures. Fantastic world building, charming characters and very well written. I became quickly obsessed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, charming novel. It takes you on a journey full of fantastical places and intriguing characters. A great read from an indie author.