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The Language of Magic #1
Threadneedle
‘Magic and love. Love and magic. They destroy everything in the end …’
Anna’s Aunt has always warned her of the dangers of magic. Its twists. Its knots. Its deadly consequences.
Now Anna counts down the days to the ceremony that will bind her magic forever.
Until she meets Effie and Attis.
They open her eyes to a London she never knew existed. A shop that sells memories. A secret library where the librarian feeds off words. A club where revellers lose themselves in a haze of spells.
But as she is swept deeper into this world, Anna begins to wonder if her Aunt was right all along.
Is her magic a gift … or a curse?
Anna’s Aunt has always warned her of the dangers of magic. Its twists. Its knots. Its deadly consequences.
Now Anna counts down the days to the ceremony that will bind her magic forever.
Until she meets Effie and Attis.
They open her eyes to a London she never knew existed. A shop that sells memories. A secret library where the librarian feeds off words. A club where revellers lose themselves in a haze of spells.
But as she is swept deeper into this world, Anna begins to wonder if her Aunt was right all along.
Is her magic a gift … or a curse?
576 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2021
881 people are currently reading
28075 people want to read
About the author
Cari Thomas
6 books802 followersI grew up in the Wye Valley area of Wales and moved to London in my twenties. I worked as a journalist for various publications and at a creative agency, before finally doing what I'd always wanted to do. I quit my job and wrote a book about magic.
I split my days between freelance work and roaming London, writing in cafés and libraries and any hideouts I could find, eating far too much cake and imagining a magical world hidden within today's London. A world of wild, ancient witchcraft. A world of modern fairytale. A world where libraries made of books breathe dusty pages beneath the city and witch clubs serve up magical cocktails and vintage shops sell memories. A world where magic gleams both light and very, very dark. It was fun. It resulted in my debut novel Threadneedle, the first in my Language of Magic series.
I have now moved back West, to Bristol, with my husband and son. When I'm not reading strange magical books and working on my next book, I like to eat good food, watch movies, dance around the kitchen, write poetry and wander the woods, which I believe is the most magical place on earth.
I split my days between freelance work and roaming London, writing in cafés and libraries and any hideouts I could find, eating far too much cake and imagining a magical world hidden within today's London. A world of wild, ancient witchcraft. A world of modern fairytale. A world where libraries made of books breathe dusty pages beneath the city and witch clubs serve up magical cocktails and vintage shops sell memories. A world where magic gleams both light and very, very dark. It was fun. It resulted in my debut novel Threadneedle, the first in my Language of Magic series.
I have now moved back West, to Bristol, with my husband and son. When I'm not reading strange magical books and working on my next book, I like to eat good food, watch movies, dance around the kitchen, write poetry and wander the woods, which I believe is the most magical place on earth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,540 reviews
January 21, 2021
Threadneedle is my first read of 2021.
First, the usual caveats: I received an advance reading copy from the publisher, for free. I have not (yet) meat the author, Cari Thomas. This book won't be published until May of 2021, but you can probably pre-order it now.
And, of course, my permanent reminder that I try to avoid all spoilers in a review.
And a new notification that I'm adding: The Trilogy or Series notification. This is book one in The Language of Magic. In this case the ending resolves a major issue, but many plot threads will go tendrilling into the next book (s).
To begin, this story is a contemporary urban fantasy. The protagonists are mostly school girls. The magic in the book is witchcraft, and it presumes that the ability to do this magic is something passed on through families. Much of the tale takes place in an ordinary school, what we would call a high school in the US.
Things that made this book a compelling read for me. We accept the family culture we are born into. When we become teenagers, that is when a lot of us begin to question 'the way things are' and either embrace that culture or rebel against it.
A couple of things I really enjoyed about this book: The witchcraft practiced in this book summons enough traditional information about witchcraft that it feels very authentic. The magic both gleams and threatens.
The nasty girl politics that hit in the late teens are so accurately portrayed that it almost triggered high school PTSD in me. Any girl who has ever stayed in the bathroom stall because you can hear the 'popular' girls combing their hair as they rip you to shreds will know what I mean.
There's a library. Trust me, it's a good one.
There are riddles and puzzles to be solved, and they are handled well.
For the most part, the young protagonists in this book have only themselves to rely on. There is no Dumbledore waiting to intervene, counsel and guide. There is no kindly mentor offering wise counsel. The protagonists must rely on their own wits. The mistakes they make are the genuine errors of youth, including avoiding the adults that might have helped. And the errors in judgment of the adults are also plausible if horrifying.
Anything else I should mention? Hm. I think that about covers it.
I will add that if you are a Hobb reader, and what you want is epic fantasy set in a quasi medieval world, this isn't it. But I still think you might really want to give this one a try.
First, the usual caveats: I received an advance reading copy from the publisher, for free. I have not (yet) meat the author, Cari Thomas. This book won't be published until May of 2021, but you can probably pre-order it now.
And, of course, my permanent reminder that I try to avoid all spoilers in a review.
And a new notification that I'm adding: The Trilogy or Series notification. This is book one in The Language of Magic. In this case the ending resolves a major issue, but many plot threads will go tendrilling into the next book (s).
To begin, this story is a contemporary urban fantasy. The protagonists are mostly school girls. The magic in the book is witchcraft, and it presumes that the ability to do this magic is something passed on through families. Much of the tale takes place in an ordinary school, what we would call a high school in the US.
Things that made this book a compelling read for me. We accept the family culture we are born into. When we become teenagers, that is when a lot of us begin to question 'the way things are' and either embrace that culture or rebel against it.
A couple of things I really enjoyed about this book: The witchcraft practiced in this book summons enough traditional information about witchcraft that it feels very authentic. The magic both gleams and threatens.
The nasty girl politics that hit in the late teens are so accurately portrayed that it almost triggered high school PTSD in me. Any girl who has ever stayed in the bathroom stall because you can hear the 'popular' girls combing their hair as they rip you to shreds will know what I mean.
There's a library. Trust me, it's a good one.
There are riddles and puzzles to be solved, and they are handled well.
For the most part, the young protagonists in this book have only themselves to rely on. There is no Dumbledore waiting to intervene, counsel and guide. There is no kindly mentor offering wise counsel. The protagonists must rely on their own wits. The mistakes they make are the genuine errors of youth, including avoiding the adults that might have helped. And the errors in judgment of the adults are also plausible if horrifying.
Anything else I should mention? Hm. I think that about covers it.
I will add that if you are a Hobb reader, and what you want is epic fantasy set in a quasi medieval world, this isn't it. But I still think you might really want to give this one a try.
June 2, 2021
With such an interesting title and a gorgeous cover, Threadneedle sets great expectations in the mind. To some extent, it delivers on the promise.
The book comes to us from the point of view of sixteen year old orphan Anna who stays with her disciplinarian aunt. This aunt has always warned Anna about the dangers of magic and plans to bind Anna's magical abilities. But soon some new people enter Anna's life and she begins to question the validity of everything her aunt has ingrained in her mind.
Where the story clicked with me:
- The story is set in contemporary London, so it was nice to see the factual places interwoven with the magical realm.
- The fantastical world created by the story is superb. The stitching, the potions, the plants, the coven… every idea was creatively constructed. Using threads and knots for magic was an innovative experience to read.
- Some details of the school life, especially with respect to bullying and peer pressure, are very well written.
- A few of the characters, especially Anna, Rowan, Effie and Attis, were very well-written. They are complicated and gray, thereby enhancing the reading experience. I wish more characters had been in this category but they were mostly predictable.
- There's a magical library in the book and man! I want to go there! It was so amazing!
- The author's vocabulary is fabulous. It was a pleasure to read such language.
- For a debut work, the scope of the story is marvellous.
Where the story didn't work for me:
- The plot seemed to move ahead quite slowly and haphazardly. While the ending does redeem the book, the overall story left me feeling like something was missing.
- There were too many subplots that seem to exist mainly reveal the personalities of the main characters. At least a few of these could have been chucked out. They don't take the plot ahead but just increase the number of pages. The only possible reason I can think for having these ideas in the story is that the author was trying to establish a clear setting for the continuity of the series. But they hampered the plot progress.
- A lot of the plot is predictable and clichéd. To hear a really long audiobook when you already know what’s going to happen is a dampener.
- I wasn’t expecting a YA Fantasy, just a regular Fantasy. But the book is distinctly YA in its writing. I do enjoy YA books but I think this book was a bit "too YA" for my enjoyment with its straightforward writing and simplistic twists. I have no doubt whatsoever that it will work better with the correct target audience. The ratings from the other readers are proof of this.
This story is the first in the series but the ending is quite conclusive, though not complete. Most of the major plot points are resolved, so those who avoid cliff-hangers can still attempt the book. The ending sets a very firm foundation for the next book in the series.
At 20 hrs 25 minutes long, this audiobook is not a cakewalk for the ears. But narrator Bea Holland is stupendous. I doubt I would have enjoyed this book with any average narrator. She nuances her words perfectly and gives the right voice for the characters. Her performance deserves 5 stars.
For a debut novel, the book is still pretty decent. Cari Thomas shows promise and I’m sure the rest of the series will take the story ahead well.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
The book comes to us from the point of view of sixteen year old orphan Anna who stays with her disciplinarian aunt. This aunt has always warned Anna about the dangers of magic and plans to bind Anna's magical abilities. But soon some new people enter Anna's life and she begins to question the validity of everything her aunt has ingrained in her mind.
Where the story clicked with me:
- The story is set in contemporary London, so it was nice to see the factual places interwoven with the magical realm.
- The fantastical world created by the story is superb. The stitching, the potions, the plants, the coven… every idea was creatively constructed. Using threads and knots for magic was an innovative experience to read.
- Some details of the school life, especially with respect to bullying and peer pressure, are very well written.
- A few of the characters, especially Anna, Rowan, Effie and Attis, were very well-written. They are complicated and gray, thereby enhancing the reading experience. I wish more characters had been in this category but they were mostly predictable.
- There's a magical library in the book and man! I want to go there! It was so amazing!
- The author's vocabulary is fabulous. It was a pleasure to read such language.
- For a debut work, the scope of the story is marvellous.
Where the story didn't work for me:
- The plot seemed to move ahead quite slowly and haphazardly. While the ending does redeem the book, the overall story left me feeling like something was missing.
- There were too many subplots that seem to exist mainly reveal the personalities of the main characters. At least a few of these could have been chucked out. They don't take the plot ahead but just increase the number of pages. The only possible reason I can think for having these ideas in the story is that the author was trying to establish a clear setting for the continuity of the series. But they hampered the plot progress.
- A lot of the plot is predictable and clichéd. To hear a really long audiobook when you already know what’s going to happen is a dampener.
- I wasn’t expecting a YA Fantasy, just a regular Fantasy. But the book is distinctly YA in its writing. I do enjoy YA books but I think this book was a bit "too YA" for my enjoyment with its straightforward writing and simplistic twists. I have no doubt whatsoever that it will work better with the correct target audience. The ratings from the other readers are proof of this.
This story is the first in the series but the ending is quite conclusive, though not complete. Most of the major plot points are resolved, so those who avoid cliff-hangers can still attempt the book. The ending sets a very firm foundation for the next book in the series.
At 20 hrs 25 minutes long, this audiobook is not a cakewalk for the ears. But narrator Bea Holland is stupendous. I doubt I would have enjoyed this book with any average narrator. She nuances her words perfectly and gives the right voice for the characters. Her performance deserves 5 stars.
For a debut novel, the book is still pretty decent. Cari Thomas shows promise and I’m sure the rest of the series will take the story ahead well.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
March 5, 2021
Thank you again to HarperCollins for an e-copy of this book.
To be completely honest, I am struggling to sum up what was this story all about. Yes, get ready for another of my unpopular opinion. Anna has magic, but her aunt forbids her to use it. Instead, she keeps teaching her the dangers and the darkness of using magic. In the meantime, six faceless women are mysteriously hanged outside Westminster in London. Then, Anna meets Effie and Attis, who have joined her school, and she starts experimenting with the limits of her magic on a road to discovering more about herself and her past.
I think, this was the first time a book actually triggered me. Let me take a step back. This book starts with very dark tones, with the description of Anna’s relationship with her manipulative aunt. It’s clear that it’s an abusive relationship, physically and verbally, and her aunt uses magic to punish Anna. She takes every single opportunity to demonstrate how useless and worthless Anna is, the danger of magic and love. However, there were some dynamics and dialogues between the two of them (I’m not talking about the magic stuff, of course) that had many similarities with my personal life experience. This is not in any way the writer’s fault, but every time there were parts with Anna and her aunt, the whole reading experience became distressing for me.
I considered giving up reading this book. Then, the story suddenly changed the narrative and I decided to give it another chance. The problem is that, in the beginning of this story, the writer sets an atmosphere that was supposed to be for an adult reader. Then, it goes into the high school life of Anna, with its dramas, with scenes that reminded me of The Craft, but more juvenile, and this book suddenly becomes a YA fantasy book and boring.
I honestly wouldn’t have picked up a book about the high school life of a sixteen-year-old girl, as it clearly does not resonate with me. The whole school coven and Anna’s high school life drag on and on, with few occasional magic-related events, with this mysterious murder of the six faceless women still in background, literally going nowhere. It became an alternation of distressing and boring moments, adult fantasy and young adult fantasy genre.
The only problem is that I actually thought that as YA, this book is projecting a very negative image of sex, which (thank gosh I am not a mother) I would never want my daughter to read. I also thought from the very beginning that the relationship between Anna and Selene, her aunt’s friend, was quite ambiguous. It seemed sometimes sapphic, and not “mother/guardian” and daughter, so I’m not even sure if this is what the writer wanted to achieve.
The last 15% is where all is revealed, with very weird supernatural stuff that brings back the book to the adult fantasy genre and I am still here wondering about those faceless women and their purpose. It has an open ending, as I guess things will continue in book two, but I won’t be reading it. And for the sake of honesty, I admit I skimmed throughout the end, if I missed something I apologise. I am still super grateful to the publisher for this opportunity, but unfortunately, this was not for me.
To be completely honest, I am struggling to sum up what was this story all about. Yes, get ready for another of my unpopular opinion. Anna has magic, but her aunt forbids her to use it. Instead, she keeps teaching her the dangers and the darkness of using magic. In the meantime, six faceless women are mysteriously hanged outside Westminster in London. Then, Anna meets Effie and Attis, who have joined her school, and she starts experimenting with the limits of her magic on a road to discovering more about herself and her past.
I think, this was the first time a book actually triggered me. Let me take a step back. This book starts with very dark tones, with the description of Anna’s relationship with her manipulative aunt. It’s clear that it’s an abusive relationship, physically and verbally, and her aunt uses magic to punish Anna. She takes every single opportunity to demonstrate how useless and worthless Anna is, the danger of magic and love. However, there were some dynamics and dialogues between the two of them (I’m not talking about the magic stuff, of course) that had many similarities with my personal life experience. This is not in any way the writer’s fault, but every time there were parts with Anna and her aunt, the whole reading experience became distressing for me.
I considered giving up reading this book. Then, the story suddenly changed the narrative and I decided to give it another chance. The problem is that, in the beginning of this story, the writer sets an atmosphere that was supposed to be for an adult reader. Then, it goes into the high school life of Anna, with its dramas, with scenes that reminded me of The Craft, but more juvenile, and this book suddenly becomes a YA fantasy book and boring.
I honestly wouldn’t have picked up a book about the high school life of a sixteen-year-old girl, as it clearly does not resonate with me. The whole school coven and Anna’s high school life drag on and on, with few occasional magic-related events, with this mysterious murder of the six faceless women still in background, literally going nowhere. It became an alternation of distressing and boring moments, adult fantasy and young adult fantasy genre.
The only problem is that I actually thought that as YA, this book is projecting a very negative image of sex, which (thank gosh I am not a mother) I would never want my daughter to read. I also thought from the very beginning that the relationship between Anna and Selene, her aunt’s friend, was quite ambiguous. It seemed sometimes sapphic, and not “mother/guardian” and daughter, so I’m not even sure if this is what the writer wanted to achieve.
The last 15% is where all is revealed, with very weird supernatural stuff that brings back the book to the adult fantasy genre and I am still here wondering about those faceless women and their purpose. It has an open ending, as I guess things will continue in book two, but I won’t be reading it. And for the sake of honesty, I admit I skimmed throughout the end, if I missed something I apologise. I am still super grateful to the publisher for this opportunity, but unfortunately, this was not for me.
May 5, 2021
Many thanks to Net Galley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Fans of HARRY POTTER, here’s another series that is gonna blow your effing mind, make you squeal with joy, and go into raptures with the reading experience.
Enthralling, Enchanting, Delightful, and Spell-Binding!
Threadneedle, the first in the series of The Language of Magic is a young adult fantasy story that is an utterly compelling and riveting read. The author Cari Thomas has been exceptional in creating a place with witches amidst the bustling city of London. Now just don’t begin this with the expectation of Harry Potter coz this is definitely a much deeper and in a sense, a back to the root magical world that has been fashioned by the author. There’s no easy spell learning and magical wands for the wizards or witches to learn their skills, Threadneedle has its base on the elements of earth for its witchcraft. In fact, the depth of traditional witchcraft being mentioned in the story is simply amazing.
The protagonists in the story are 16 yr olds and the school they belong to is like any other high school, with its own share of bullying and body-shaming and mean-girls that feel acutely authentic. Anna’s life as an orphan cared for by her aunt is nothing sort of a miracle. The abuse she has to endure in the name of magical binding is terrifying and the story unfolds in such a way that the reader is given no clue if at all the paranoid aunt has some basis for her beliefs. As new friends Effie and Attis show Anna what she is missing in her life, Anna becomes emboldened to change from NOBODY to SOMEBODY. But nothing prepares her for the magical discovery and the journey she has to bear for the truth of her parent’s death and the curse that is hanging over her head.
That magical library! Who wouldn’t want to be a permanent member there? And, of course, there’s Rowan and her mother in a similar vein to Ron and Weasley’s. I sincerely do wish that Rowan could get over the complex about her weight and grow confident in her abilities, half the book is about her being body-shamed, and as a matter of fact, the use of magic to stop the bullying is what causes trouble for Anna and Effie as things spiral out of their control.
There’s no cliffhanger ending as the crux of this part of the story does get cleared up but I just can’t wait for the unfolding of the drama that forms Anna’s curse and emotional upheaval of that love that is assuredly going to create a hell lot of problems.
J K Rowling did introduce a world of magic that is categorically unparalleled but it is not an adult world. Cari Thomas has her protagonists as young adults but it is a world of magic that can be enjoyed by anyone with a love for fantasy.
Threadneedle is a fantastic series opener and this is surely going into my shelf for keeps and is it too soon to demand book #2?
Highly recommended!!!
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Facebook, and Twitter.
Fans of HARRY POTTER, here’s another series that is gonna blow your effing mind, make you squeal with joy, and go into raptures with the reading experience.
Enthralling, Enchanting, Delightful, and Spell-Binding!
‘People think stories are harmless but they are the most dangerous weapon mankind has.’
Threadneedle, the first in the series of The Language of Magic is a young adult fantasy story that is an utterly compelling and riveting read. The author Cari Thomas has been exceptional in creating a place with witches amidst the bustling city of London. Now just don’t begin this with the expectation of Harry Potter coz this is definitely a much deeper and in a sense, a back to the root magical world that has been fashioned by the author. There’s no easy spell learning and magical wands for the wizards or witches to learn their skills, Threadneedle has its base on the elements of earth for its witchcraft. In fact, the depth of traditional witchcraft being mentioned in the story is simply amazing.
The protagonists in the story are 16 yr olds and the school they belong to is like any other high school, with its own share of bullying and body-shaming and mean-girls that feel acutely authentic. Anna’s life as an orphan cared for by her aunt is nothing sort of a miracle. The abuse she has to endure in the name of magical binding is terrifying and the story unfolds in such a way that the reader is given no clue if at all the paranoid aunt has some basis for her beliefs. As new friends Effie and Attis show Anna what she is missing in her life, Anna becomes emboldened to change from NOBODY to SOMEBODY. But nothing prepares her for the magical discovery and the journey she has to bear for the truth of her parent’s death and the curse that is hanging over her head.
That magical library! Who wouldn’t want to be a permanent member there? And, of course, there’s Rowan and her mother in a similar vein to Ron and Weasley’s. I sincerely do wish that Rowan could get over the complex about her weight and grow confident in her abilities, half the book is about her being body-shamed, and as a matter of fact, the use of magic to stop the bullying is what causes trouble for Anna and Effie as things spiral out of their control.
There’s no cliffhanger ending as the crux of this part of the story does get cleared up but I just can’t wait for the unfolding of the drama that forms Anna’s curse and emotional upheaval of that love that is assuredly going to create a hell lot of problems.
J K Rowling did introduce a world of magic that is categorically unparalleled but it is not an adult world. Cari Thomas has her protagonists as young adults but it is a world of magic that can be enjoyed by anyone with a love for fantasy.
Threadneedle is a fantastic series opener and this is surely going into my shelf for keeps and is it too soon to demand book #2?
Highly recommended!!!
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Facebook, and Twitter.
November 16, 2020
What an utter treat this was! There is a particular joy for bookworms, especially life long bookworms, when they find a new book that instantly feels as familiar as a favourite pair of pyjamas and yet is all new, waiting to be discovered. An instant classic, which becomes part of the lexicon of books that make up you as a reader. Threadneedle is that kind of discovery, a dash of Diana Wynne Jones, a hint of A Little Princess, a soupcon of school stories, and a darkness that's all it's own. I loved it, as enthralled as those under spell in the book.
Anna is a witch with no magic. No matter, if she had magic it would be bound during her sixteenth year when she joined her aunt as A Binder, a group of witches whose mission is to protect themselves by locking magic away, haunted by The Hunters, a shadowy group responsible for witch trials throughout history. It's a joyless, painful existence, with all emotion as tightly bound as magic, especially love. Anna has been in training all her life, hiding away from everyone and everything. Her one brightness is Selene, an old friend of her dead mother's whose occasional visits bring much needed joy, and so she's delighted when Selene mentions she is moving back to London. But the delight turns to dread when she meets Selene's daughter, Effie, and boarder Attis and learns they will be coming to her school. Because Anna spends her life pretending magic doesn't exist and that she barely exists whilst larger than life Effie and Attis use magic in plain view and command attention. Despite herself Anna is drawn to them both, and emboldened starts to investigate what really happened to her mother, and to ask, is her magic nonexistent, suppressed or cursed?
Meanwhile London is buzzing about six mysterious deaths and soon rumours of witchcraft start to circulate, fanned by an an academic Institute. Are the Hunters just a myth like Effie and Selene claim or is a force more powerful than them all waiting to rise?
Threadneedle is the first in a series and I for one will be at the front of the queue for the sequel. This was a tense, shadowy delight of a novel. Highly recommended.
Anna is a witch with no magic. No matter, if she had magic it would be bound during her sixteenth year when she joined her aunt as A Binder, a group of witches whose mission is to protect themselves by locking magic away, haunted by The Hunters, a shadowy group responsible for witch trials throughout history. It's a joyless, painful existence, with all emotion as tightly bound as magic, especially love. Anna has been in training all her life, hiding away from everyone and everything. Her one brightness is Selene, an old friend of her dead mother's whose occasional visits bring much needed joy, and so she's delighted when Selene mentions she is moving back to London. But the delight turns to dread when she meets Selene's daughter, Effie, and boarder Attis and learns they will be coming to her school. Because Anna spends her life pretending magic doesn't exist and that she barely exists whilst larger than life Effie and Attis use magic in plain view and command attention. Despite herself Anna is drawn to them both, and emboldened starts to investigate what really happened to her mother, and to ask, is her magic nonexistent, suppressed or cursed?
Meanwhile London is buzzing about six mysterious deaths and soon rumours of witchcraft start to circulate, fanned by an an academic Institute. Are the Hunters just a myth like Effie and Selene claim or is a force more powerful than them all waiting to rise?
Threadneedle is the first in a series and I for one will be at the front of the queue for the sequel. This was a tense, shadowy delight of a novel. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2021
3.5 stars
Headlines:
Fantasy in a contemporary London setting
Coming of age
Magic exploration
I enjoyed the setting of Threadneedle immensely, I thought the idea of a contemporary London as the backdrop for this tale added an interesting layer. Anna was a mousey, scared character on first glance but she was living in a controlling household where free-thinking, never mind free actions were not permissable. Anna had a lot of character development through the book.
I don’t know why, but I thought this was adult fantasy when it was overtly YA from the off. That meant some teen drama and behaviour I wasn’t expecting and I don’t know if it was just that change to my expectations that brought this read down a bit. I wasn’t always keen on Anna’s grudging companions through the story although some did grow on me.
The themes of freedom, exploration and finding yourself were welcome ones and that was interesting reading in a magical context. This is a long book and the pacing had moments of slowness but then it picked up with gusto and I was enthused to continue.
Overall, this was an appealing concept, a good start to a series and it has a fantastic cover . It will be interesting to see where the series goes.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the early review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Headlines:
Fantasy in a contemporary London setting
Coming of age
Magic exploration
I enjoyed the setting of Threadneedle immensely, I thought the idea of a contemporary London as the backdrop for this tale added an interesting layer. Anna was a mousey, scared character on first glance but she was living in a controlling household where free-thinking, never mind free actions were not permissable. Anna had a lot of character development through the book.
I don’t know why, but I thought this was adult fantasy when it was overtly YA from the off. That meant some teen drama and behaviour I wasn’t expecting and I don’t know if it was just that change to my expectations that brought this read down a bit. I wasn’t always keen on Anna’s grudging companions through the story although some did grow on me.
The themes of freedom, exploration and finding yourself were welcome ones and that was interesting reading in a magical context. This is a long book and the pacing had moments of slowness but then it picked up with gusto and I was enthused to continue.
Overall, this was an appealing concept, a good start to a series and it has a fantastic cover . It will be interesting to see where the series goes.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the early review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
April 26, 2024
I absolutely loved this! I do enjoy a good school setting and I’ve never been so glad not to be of school age any more! The idea of a language of magic in the way described in the book was a new one to me and one I found very appealing and plausible. I appreciated all of the characters even the bad ones. There is a lot of intrigue to keep you guessing and I am so glad this is only the first in the series. I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes next. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
June 13, 2021
This is the first instalment in The Language of Magic series.
Magic exists. Magic exists and it is dangerous. Magic exists and it is never to be spoken of, to be bound tight, to be stifled with the soul, to be extinguished. This is what Anna has been taught. Her whole life has been spent in preparation for the time when she will forever bind close the doors to the magic that she has access to. She fears the potential that is inside of her. But maybe, buried deep, a part of her longs for it too.
I don't usually bond so well with magical stories set in our own world, preferring my fantasy to be crafted in a setting of the author's own design. I, early on, had a few issues and thought this one would not appeal either. The focus on magic was intriguing but protagonist, Anna's, ruminations on her school days were of far less interest. I soon became enamoured with her story, however, and eager to see her become the fierce and magical being who transformed her banal existence into something bewitching.
Anna was quiet, fearful, obedient, and a conformist. She was not the typical heroine I like to read about but something about her sweet nature appealed to me and I enjoyed witnessing her inner-growth, over the course of this novel. She flourished alongside her magical understanding, ensuring that knowledge was continually imparted, scenes of action concurrently occurred, and the stakes were ever heightened. I had no idea of the trajectory her story was to take, but was hooked on finding out all the way to its dramatic close.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Cari Thomas, and the publisher, Harper Voyager, for this opportunity.
Magic exists. Magic exists and it is dangerous. Magic exists and it is never to be spoken of, to be bound tight, to be stifled with the soul, to be extinguished. This is what Anna has been taught. Her whole life has been spent in preparation for the time when she will forever bind close the doors to the magic that she has access to. She fears the potential that is inside of her. But maybe, buried deep, a part of her longs for it too.
I don't usually bond so well with magical stories set in our own world, preferring my fantasy to be crafted in a setting of the author's own design. I, early on, had a few issues and thought this one would not appeal either. The focus on magic was intriguing but protagonist, Anna's, ruminations on her school days were of far less interest. I soon became enamoured with her story, however, and eager to see her become the fierce and magical being who transformed her banal existence into something bewitching.
Anna was quiet, fearful, obedient, and a conformist. She was not the typical heroine I like to read about but something about her sweet nature appealed to me and I enjoyed witnessing her inner-growth, over the course of this novel. She flourished alongside her magical understanding, ensuring that knowledge was continually imparted, scenes of action concurrently occurred, and the stakes were ever heightened. I had no idea of the trajectory her story was to take, but was hooked on finding out all the way to its dramatic close.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Cari Thomas, and the publisher, Harper Voyager, for this opportunity.
May 12, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
The Language Of Magic #1
Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly. It was after all magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunts care. It's why she has been protected from the magic world and, in one years time, what little magic she has will be bound by the Binders who believe magic is a sin nit to be used but denied.
Anna has grown up waiting on the day she can be bound by the Binders. Anna is sixteen and she's spent years keeping out of everyone's way. She's from a family of witches from the Binders sect who believed magic is evil. Anna's aunt is determined to get Anna's magic bound. But when Anna gets the chance to join a coven, she cannot resist. The plotline is interesting with the mystery of the faceless women, Anna's parents deaths and the girl witches that befriend Anna. This story has me guessing to the end. The pace was slow in places but the ending made up for it all.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #CariThomas for my ARC of #Threadneedle in exchange for an honest review.
The Language Of Magic #1
Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly. It was after all magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunts care. It's why she has been protected from the magic world and, in one years time, what little magic she has will be bound by the Binders who believe magic is a sin nit to be used but denied.
Anna has grown up waiting on the day she can be bound by the Binders. Anna is sixteen and she's spent years keeping out of everyone's way. She's from a family of witches from the Binders sect who believed magic is evil. Anna's aunt is determined to get Anna's magic bound. But when Anna gets the chance to join a coven, she cannot resist. The plotline is interesting with the mystery of the faceless women, Anna's parents deaths and the girl witches that befriend Anna. This story has me guessing to the end. The pace was slow in places but the ending made up for it all.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #CariThomas for my ARC of #Threadneedle in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
Threadneedle the language of Magic, and the first in the series, is a thoroughly enchanting and immersive read.
The cast of characters are interesting, intriguing, dangerous, mysterious, and sometimes untrustworthy. First, we have Anna, the central female character, who was orphaned at a young age but knew she had magical powers at the age of seven. The Aunt, a binder, who assumes legal guardian of Anna after the death of her parents. Selena (is like an aunt) and visits her once a year on her birthday and brings the most enchanting gifts, Effie her daughter is known to have magical powers and finally Attis, a family friend.
Over the years, Anna has been made to feel unworthy of notice by an aunt that is controlling and sometimes resorts to brutal measures to dissuade Anna from exercising her magical powers because “Magic is the first sin, we must bear it silently”. The aunt is a binder who lives in a world where everything is connected by threads and knots, and if you know the true nature of a thing you can pull the strings of its life to control everything, even death.
Anna knows there is nothing fairy tale about the binders magic. No wands, no capes just knots and although brought up to shun here magical powers Anna at sixteen begins to question her life, her powers, and the death of her parents that no-one wants to talk about. The author takes us into a world that is as thrilling, dangerous and perilous as any crime novel, because crimes have been committed in the name of magic, the people who have had the powers have abused them and there is an evident web of deceit and personal interest in their actions. Anna’s position is precarious, pitted not only between her aunt and her aunt/friend, but also the binders who are ready to knot her at a moment notice and take away her magic forever.
I loved this book overall. The beginning was great, the middle section was a bit too long and the last 150 pages was fantastic. The author has lined up the next novel, perfectly, but at the same time did not leave loose threads hanging.
Highly recommended to lovers of magic and even crime / thrillers readers who can see past the magic element to the crimes and want something different.
The cast of characters are interesting, intriguing, dangerous, mysterious, and sometimes untrustworthy. First, we have Anna, the central female character, who was orphaned at a young age but knew she had magical powers at the age of seven. The Aunt, a binder, who assumes legal guardian of Anna after the death of her parents. Selena (is like an aunt) and visits her once a year on her birthday and brings the most enchanting gifts, Effie her daughter is known to have magical powers and finally Attis, a family friend.
Over the years, Anna has been made to feel unworthy of notice by an aunt that is controlling and sometimes resorts to brutal measures to dissuade Anna from exercising her magical powers because “Magic is the first sin, we must bear it silently”. The aunt is a binder who lives in a world where everything is connected by threads and knots, and if you know the true nature of a thing you can pull the strings of its life to control everything, even death.
Anna knows there is nothing fairy tale about the binders magic. No wands, no capes just knots and although brought up to shun here magical powers Anna at sixteen begins to question her life, her powers, and the death of her parents that no-one wants to talk about. The author takes us into a world that is as thrilling, dangerous and perilous as any crime novel, because crimes have been committed in the name of magic, the people who have had the powers have abused them and there is an evident web of deceit and personal interest in their actions. Anna’s position is precarious, pitted not only between her aunt and her aunt/friend, but also the binders who are ready to knot her at a moment notice and take away her magic forever.
I loved this book overall. The beginning was great, the middle section was a bit too long and the last 150 pages was fantastic. The author has lined up the next novel, perfectly, but at the same time did not leave loose threads hanging.
Highly recommended to lovers of magic and even crime / thrillers readers who can see past the magic element to the crimes and want something different.
May 20, 2022
3.5/5
Admito que este libro se me hizo mucho más juvenil de lo que esperaba, y quería, leer. Lo que se sumó a un ritmo lento, que hubiera estado bien si algún personaje me interesara o el mundo en sí, pero al final yo seguí hasta las últimas por el chisme, quería saber la verdad del pasado de Anna (copuchenta se nace).
Anna es una chica que pasó toda su vida aprendiendo a controlar sus sentimientos para así volverse encorsertadora y suprimir su poder, pues la magia es el pecado original y solo acarrea problemas. Sin embargo, un día llegan Effie y Attis a su vida y le muestran todo el mundo mágico que le había sido negado. Así Anna descubre lo que podría ser si se lo permitiera y si saliera del terrible control que su tía ejerce en ella, pero las cosas no serán tan sencillas pues mientras más experimenta más verá que su poder tiene algo oscuro que la persigue y que, quizá, está relacionado con la trágica muerte de sus padres.
Este libro lo tomé sin ver la sinopsis, así que no me esperaba algo tan The Craft como lo que encontré. Si bien tenía la apariencia de ser el clásico libro de la chica marginada que se hace amiga de otras brujas y descubre todo un mundo que desconocía, y lo fue, también fue todo un dramón adolescente contra la "chica mala" que les hacía la vida imposible. La verdad es que detesto ese cliché y pasé todo el tiempo esperando que demostraran que había algo más en ella, lo mismo con Peter, era evidente el camino que tomaría la historia... y lo tomó.
No hubo grandes giros ni sorprensas en las personalidades de los personajes y eso fue lo que no me terminó de convencer. Todos los personajes caían en estereotipos o si eran algo más complejos como la tía de Anna o Selene, al final eran... lo que parecían ser, no había profundidad mayor en sus construcciones o motivaciones. Y la autora tuvo casi 600 páginas para darnos algo un poco más elaborado. Lo mismo con Effie, me cargó, no la soporté, pero creí que podría haber algo interesante en ella y para el final me tuve que creer una relación de amistad con Anna que nunca pude ver. De hecho, toda la amistad en el libro, exceptuando Attis y Rowan, se veía como esa amistad de adolescencia que se produce por la cercanía y cierta idea de un beneficio mutuo, no por los sentimientos reales entre los involucrados.
No me molestan los libros lentos y este lo fue, el problema para mí radicó en que se centró demasiado en ellas siendo brujas adolescentes y no en todo lo que a mí me llamó la atención: el pasado de Anna, los secretos y el peligro de las brujas asesinadas. El grueso del libro fue su grupo aprendiendo a lanzar hechizos y usándolos para ir a fiestas, arreglarse, vengarze de la "chica mala", atraer chicos, etc. y me sentí un poco estafada por el tono más oscuro del libro. En un momento me sentí como viendo Élite mezclado con The Craft y en otro momento podría haberme interesado, pero la verdad es que todo el drama adolescente se me hizo cliché y aburrido. Si hubiese habido algún giro en las personalidades de los personajes, algo que fuera un "no todo es como se ve al principio" o por el estilo para mí hubiera sido genial. Quizá ver relaciones adolescentes, pero con una visión más profunda o compleja de estas, no la misma de una y otra y otra vez.
No puedo decir mucho sobre el mundo porque no nos dieron tanto. Es interesante el tema del lenguaje de la magia, no dejó muy en claro las reglas ni las limitaciones, a pesar de que todo el trasfondo con las siete brujas y los cazadores sonaba de lo más interesante. De verdad me gustaría saber más sobre todo lo que estaba detrás del drama adolescente del libro.
Sobre el final, me gustó porque AL FIN me dio las respuestas que esperaba, como dije al inicio yo estaba ahí por las respuestas porque soy curiosa y me las dio. Ahora, confieso que la verdad detrás de la maldición y todo el tema del amor... no me gustó mucho, no estaba mal. Pero de forma personal sentí que volvió al cliché del amor como algo bueno y una maldición y a mujeres obsesionadas por conseguirlo. Aunque tiene toda la pinta de que quiere irse por el "mujeres eligiendo a mujeres y su amistad por sobre el romance". No sé, honestamente si ya estuvieran publicados los otros googlearía qué pasó con las relaciones entre personajes para saber si quiero seguir leyendo o no.
Las encorsetadoras es un inicio de una saga que promete un mundo interesante, pero que en esta primera entrega se centra en su protagonista, su adolescencia con los problemas típicos y los secretos que la rodean.
Admito que este libro se me hizo mucho más juvenil de lo que esperaba, y quería, leer. Lo que se sumó a un ritmo lento, que hubiera estado bien si algún personaje me interesara o el mundo en sí, pero al final yo seguí hasta las últimas por el chisme, quería saber la verdad del pasado de Anna (copuchenta se nace).
Anna es una chica que pasó toda su vida aprendiendo a controlar sus sentimientos para así volverse encorsertadora y suprimir su poder, pues la magia es el pecado original y solo acarrea problemas. Sin embargo, un día llegan Effie y Attis a su vida y le muestran todo el mundo mágico que le había sido negado. Así Anna descubre lo que podría ser si se lo permitiera y si saliera del terrible control que su tía ejerce en ella, pero las cosas no serán tan sencillas pues mientras más experimenta más verá que su poder tiene algo oscuro que la persigue y que, quizá, está relacionado con la trágica muerte de sus padres.
"Por una historia. Una historieta de nada. Tan minúscula como una llave. La gente cree que las historias son inofensivas, pero son el arma más peligrosa de la humanidad"
Este libro lo tomé sin ver la sinopsis, así que no me esperaba algo tan The Craft como lo que encontré. Si bien tenía la apariencia de ser el clásico libro de la chica marginada que se hace amiga de otras brujas y descubre todo un mundo que desconocía, y lo fue, también fue todo un dramón adolescente contra la "chica mala" que les hacía la vida imposible. La verdad es que detesto ese cliché y pasé todo el tiempo esperando que demostraran que había algo más en ella, lo mismo con Peter, era evidente el camino que tomaría la historia... y lo tomó.
No hubo grandes giros ni sorprensas en las personalidades de los personajes y eso fue lo que no me terminó de convencer. Todos los personajes caían en estereotipos o si eran algo más complejos como la tía de Anna o Selene, al final eran... lo que parecían ser, no había profundidad mayor en sus construcciones o motivaciones. Y la autora tuvo casi 600 páginas para darnos algo un poco más elaborado. Lo mismo con Effie, me cargó, no la soporté, pero creí que podría haber algo interesante en ella y para el final me tuve que creer una relación de amistad con Anna que nunca pude ver. De hecho, toda la amistad en el libro, exceptuando Attis y Rowan, se veía como esa amistad de adolescencia que se produce por la cercanía y cierta idea de un beneficio mutuo, no por los sentimientos reales entre los involucrados.
"Descubrimos patrones en los cielos, estén ahí o no"
No me molestan los libros lentos y este lo fue, el problema para mí radicó en que se centró demasiado en ellas siendo brujas adolescentes y no en todo lo que a mí me llamó la atención: el pasado de Anna, los secretos y el peligro de las brujas asesinadas. El grueso del libro fue su grupo aprendiendo a lanzar hechizos y usándolos para ir a fiestas, arreglarse, vengarze de la "chica mala", atraer chicos, etc. y me sentí un poco estafada por el tono más oscuro del libro. En un momento me sentí como viendo Élite mezclado con The Craft y en otro momento podría haberme interesado, pero la verdad es que todo el drama adolescente se me hizo cliché y aburrido. Si hubiese habido algún giro en las personalidades de los personajes, algo que fuera un "no todo es como se ve al principio" o por el estilo para mí hubiera sido genial. Quizá ver relaciones adolescentes, pero con una visión más profunda o compleja de estas, no la misma de una y otra y otra vez.
No puedo decir mucho sobre el mundo porque no nos dieron tanto. Es interesante el tema del lenguaje de la magia, no dejó muy en claro las reglas ni las limitaciones, a pesar de que todo el trasfondo con las siete brujas y los cazadores sonaba de lo más interesante. De verdad me gustaría saber más sobre todo lo que estaba detrás del drama adolescente del libro.
"El odio es solo una de las capas de las que está conformado el amor"
Sobre el final, me gustó porque AL FIN me dio las respuestas que esperaba, como dije al inicio yo estaba ahí por las respuestas porque soy curiosa y me las dio. Ahora, confieso que la verdad detrás de la maldición y todo el tema del amor... no me gustó mucho, no estaba mal. Pero de forma personal sentí que volvió al cliché del amor como algo bueno y una maldición y a mujeres obsesionadas por conseguirlo. Aunque tiene toda la pinta de que quiere irse por el "mujeres eligiendo a mujeres y su amistad por sobre el romance". No sé, honestamente si ya estuvieran publicados los otros googlearía qué pasó con las relaciones entre personajes para saber si quiero seguir leyendo o no.
Las encorsetadoras es un inicio de una saga que promete un mundo interesante, pero que en esta primera entrega se centra en su protagonista, su adolescencia con los problemas típicos y los secretos que la rodean.
"¿Por qué quieres ser como los demás? Yo aborrezco a los demás. Nosotras formamos parte de las leyendas y de los cuentos de hadas, de las pinturas de color rojo sangre que hay en las paredes de las cuevas. Brujas, hechiceras o encantadoras, stregue, völvur, mujeres banshee, hadas madrinas o arrugadas arpías de la oscuridad de los bosques. Sagradas. Pecadoras. Extraordinarias. Malvadas. Vírgenes. Putas. Que nos llamen como quieran. Nuestro deber es colmar el mundo de magia"
August 14, 2024
2024 reads: 233/250
2024 tbr: 82/100
content warnings: child abuse, bullying, death of parent, adult/minor relationship
for as long as anna can remember, her aunt has warned her against two things: magic and love. after all, magic and love caused her father to murder her mother. now, she’s one year away from becoming one of the binders, a group who believes magic is a sin and needs to be denied. she’s sure nothing can change her mind on becoming one of them, but new friends open her eyes to other possibilities.
first, i want to thank my friend emily for putting this book on my radar and buddy reading it with me! i really enjoyed this rec<3
i thought the magic system in this book was pretty cool, even anna’s aunt’s binding magic. there are lots of different ways to produce magic, and i enjoyed how these were explained.
i also liked the interpersonal relationships. there are a lot of different dynamics going on, from familial to friendly to romantic to antagonistic (or even some mixtures within). i think these were all portrayed well!
overall, this was an interesting book, and i’m looking forward to reading book two!
2024 tbr: 82/100
content warnings: child abuse, bullying, death of parent, adult/minor relationship
for as long as anna can remember, her aunt has warned her against two things: magic and love. after all, magic and love caused her father to murder her mother. now, she’s one year away from becoming one of the binders, a group who believes magic is a sin and needs to be denied. she’s sure nothing can change her mind on becoming one of them, but new friends open her eyes to other possibilities.
first, i want to thank my friend emily for putting this book on my radar and buddy reading it with me! i really enjoyed this rec<3
i thought the magic system in this book was pretty cool, even anna’s aunt’s binding magic. there are lots of different ways to produce magic, and i enjoyed how these were explained.
i also liked the interpersonal relationships. there are a lot of different dynamics going on, from familial to friendly to romantic to antagonistic (or even some mixtures within). i think these were all portrayed well!
overall, this was an interesting book, and i’m looking forward to reading book two!
April 25, 2021
I think for me, Threadneedle is a book that can't make up its mind on what it wants to be. Some reads like a fairytale, some like a teen high school drama. The characters are built on stereotypes (girl who thinks she doesn't have magic but is actually powerful, cool girl who hates her at first but grow closer, the sidekick best friends - comic relief and religious girl). And there's a typical high school mean girl revenge arc which wasn't my thing really.
Some of the book reads well - I liked the friendship between the four girls that make up the coven. I also think the magic system is cool but the world-building could be more in depth which is hopefully something for the next book.
I found it really hard to place - in both time and setting. It's modern times and it's London but it's not obvious and that meant it wasn't a super immersive read to me. The book is also really slow and long (too long for the story in my opinion) which made it a bit of a battle to get through. Generally though, I wasn't a fan but I think Cari Thomas has a lot of potential as a writer but this one just wasn't something I vibed with.
Some of the book reads well - I liked the friendship between the four girls that make up the coven. I also think the magic system is cool but the world-building could be more in depth which is hopefully something for the next book.
I found it really hard to place - in both time and setting. It's modern times and it's London but it's not obvious and that meant it wasn't a super immersive read to me. The book is also really slow and long (too long for the story in my opinion) which made it a bit of a battle to get through. Generally though, I wasn't a fan but I think Cari Thomas has a lot of potential as a writer but this one just wasn't something I vibed with.
October 22, 2021
Es un libro que he devorado, su gran extensión de páginas ni las he notado desde cierta parte, incluso lo he acabado y me he quedado con muchas ganas de más. El ambiente opresivo que tenemos por una parte, por otra la juvenil y la manera tan buena de la autora de conjugarlas a la perfección, dando lugar a un libro lleno de secretos y muy adictivo desde cierta parte. La autora le ha dado un nuevo toque al tema de las brujas, con una estructura de magia muy buena y original.
May 31, 2021
[8.69/10]
I was first interested in reading Threadneedle when I saw it referred to as 'Gossip Girl meets The Craft' on twitter and... this book is exactly that. If that is something that piques your interest then you'll be going into this book with the most satisfying expectations. Just like both Gossip Girl and The Craft, the high school drama was catty and messy and, for me, was absolutely delicious to read. I loved seeing the lives of these girls get more and more entangled in each other. Add to that an intricate magic system, easy but interesting writing, a murder mystery plot, angsty twisty romance and deeply buried family secrets, and this book had all of the ingredients I absolutely adore.
I think perhaps the only downsides were that the main character, Anna, felt a little distant at times - so much so that there were some big portions of the book where she felt like a vehicle for the plot rather than a character that you could really get to know well. (However, this is something that I think is quite common with the main POV character in a lot of Dark Academia books.) And, it was a little on the long side, with some sections of the book seeming a bit superfluous to the overall plot and not doing much to drive forward character. That being said, these things didn't annoy me enough to overshadow my love for this book.
In addition to Gossip Girl and The Craft, this book also reminded me a lot of The Furies and A Deadly Education, so if any of that appeals to you, definitely check out Threadneedle!
I was first interested in reading Threadneedle when I saw it referred to as 'Gossip Girl meets The Craft' on twitter and... this book is exactly that. If that is something that piques your interest then you'll be going into this book with the most satisfying expectations. Just like both Gossip Girl and The Craft, the high school drama was catty and messy and, for me, was absolutely delicious to read. I loved seeing the lives of these girls get more and more entangled in each other. Add to that an intricate magic system, easy but interesting writing, a murder mystery plot, angsty twisty romance and deeply buried family secrets, and this book had all of the ingredients I absolutely adore.
I think perhaps the only downsides were that the main character, Anna, felt a little distant at times - so much so that there were some big portions of the book where she felt like a vehicle for the plot rather than a character that you could really get to know well. (However, this is something that I think is quite common with the main POV character in a lot of Dark Academia books.) And, it was a little on the long side, with some sections of the book seeming a bit superfluous to the overall plot and not doing much to drive forward character. That being said, these things didn't annoy me enough to overshadow my love for this book.
In addition to Gossip Girl and The Craft, this book also reminded me a lot of The Furies and A Deadly Education, so if any of that appeals to you, definitely check out Threadneedle!
October 6, 2024
3.75 stars rounded up⭐️ This book was nothing like what I was expecting based on both the summary and overall cover aesthetic. I expected this to have “historical-fiction-meets-the-Shadowhunter-books” vibes. I thought it would be a quintessential urban fantasy packed with action scenes and different types of shapeshifters & magic users.
I would describe this more as a witchy, academia teen drama exploring the highs and lows of girlhood. I’m almost positive it’s set in the present day. Once I realized what this was…I did enjoy it. The writing was very easy to get into and I liked the characters. It did take me a while to love it because this book is long (coming in hot at 550 pages.) I think it would have had even better if it was 100-150 pages shorter.
There were a few points that I was 😦😦 about including how often one character was fat shamed, negative conversations surrounding sex and how they went about resolving bullying at school.
You will like this book if you like:
-teenage girls forming a witch coven
-a very slow build with a good ending
-shy character coming out of her shell
-petty gossip & high school dynamics
-books set in london
I would describe this more as a witchy, academia teen drama exploring the highs and lows of girlhood. I’m almost positive it’s set in the present day. Once I realized what this was…I did enjoy it. The writing was very easy to get into and I liked the characters. It did take me a while to love it because this book is long (coming in hot at 550 pages.) I think it would have had even better if it was 100-150 pages shorter.
There were a few points that I was 😦😦 about including how often one character was fat shamed, negative conversations surrounding sex and how they went about resolving bullying at school.
You will like this book if you like:
-teenage girls forming a witch coven
-a very slow build with a good ending
-shy character coming out of her shell
-petty gossip & high school dynamics
-books set in london
January 12, 2021
Sixteen-year-old Anna lived with her Aunt in London. She never knew her parents they died eshe was a few months old. But her Aunt said that they died because of magic. But it is cursed. So, since Anna can remember, her aunt has been preparing her for her magic to be bound and in a year’s time and join her aunt and become a Binder. As her aunt believes that magic is a sin, and it is cursed and should not be used. But as a teenager, they don’t always do what they say they going to do. So, with her friend Effie and Atticus and some other girls from school they build their own Coven.
Thank you, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for a copy of Threadneedle the first in The Language of Magic series. This is not only a great debut novel but, also a great start for a new fantasy series. This is aimed at adults but to honest more of a Young adult story of a group of teenagers. Who are on the brink of adulthood and discovering who they are and magic, curses, witches, and magical libraries and evil aunts. The school and library parts reminded me a bit of a Harry Potter vibe, but the rest was original an unique storyline that I enjoyed very much. 5 stars from me.
Thank you, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for a copy of Threadneedle the first in The Language of Magic series. This is not only a great debut novel but, also a great start for a new fantasy series. This is aimed at adults but to honest more of a Young adult story of a group of teenagers. Who are on the brink of adulthood and discovering who they are and magic, curses, witches, and magical libraries and evil aunts. The school and library parts reminded me a bit of a Harry Potter vibe, but the rest was original an unique storyline that I enjoyed very much. 5 stars from me.
May 29, 2021
You can find my full review for this as well as other books on my blog here
It has been such a long time since I read a really good witchy book and I have to be honest guys, this one blew my mind!
Threadneedle is book one in a new young adult fantasy series and I can say without a doubt that I am already eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
Cari manages to breathe new life into the genre with a unique take on witchcraft that is inspired by both the traditional as well as something entirely new.
The writing style is excellent and easy to follow and the pacing is average-fast. At nearly 600 pages long I was surprised to find that I flew through this one in only a few days.
So what’s Threadneedle all about?
Our main character Anna is a witch who lives with her Aunt since her mother tragically died. Aunt is cruel, abusive and strict but she does care about Anna in her own twisted way and thinks that she is doing the best she can by raising her the way that she is.
Aunt is terrified of magic and the reasons for this are only fully explained toward the latter end of the book so I’ll not spoil the story by talking about the why of it all.
Aunt is a binder, this is a witch who believes magic is dangerous and that it is a sin to even want to use it and has had her magic bound away.
The binders are a sort of cult in my opinion but the way different covens are referred to in the story are as “groves” with each grove practicing their own distinct “language” of magic of which there are literally infinite numbers of (for example potions, plants etc) The type of magic practiced by Aunt is knot magic and this is what she teaches Anna, using these knots to tie up emotion and keep them under control.
I found the magic system in this story to be completely fascinating and I loved the idea that there are so many different ways to practice and that a witch has to try various types of casting to find the language that calls to them.
Once you are introduced to Anna and her aunt the polar opposite is then thrown into the mix with the arrival of Effie and Attis.
Aunt is very unhappy to find out that these two will be starting at Anna’s school and warns Anna about letting them influence her and constantly reminds her to stay true to their beliefs and on the path of the binders.
Effie wants to show Anna everything she’s been missing out on and Anna becomes more and more tempted.
As a character I found Effie to be quite annoying actually. I don’t think she was likable but I did enjoy how she managed to bring Anna out of herself and form a group of close friends out of girls who were otherwise bullied, lonely outsiders basically.
A big part of the setting is actually in a high school and I found a lot of what went on there to be so true to life that it was hard to read sometimes.
There is a lot of bullying, body shaming and just basically nasty girls out to cause as much trouble as they can. The journey these girls take as they learn more and more about their powers and go from being nobodies to somebodies is brilliant but there are a lot of bad and wrong decisions made to get there!
Using magic to get back at the bullies causes a lot more problems than it solves!
Effie shows Anna a whole magical world she never knew existed including shops full of magical items and a library buried deep underground that has a mind of its own!
As Anna learns the truth about her mother’s death and what that means for her a whole lot of drama unfolds which leads to an incredibly exciting final few chapters!
Everything is wrapped up with the story with no cliff-hanger ending but with a promise of more drama to come in book two and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds!
It has been such a long time since I read a really good witchy book and I have to be honest guys, this one blew my mind!
Threadneedle is book one in a new young adult fantasy series and I can say without a doubt that I am already eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
Cari manages to breathe new life into the genre with a unique take on witchcraft that is inspired by both the traditional as well as something entirely new.
The writing style is excellent and easy to follow and the pacing is average-fast. At nearly 600 pages long I was surprised to find that I flew through this one in only a few days.
So what’s Threadneedle all about?
Our main character Anna is a witch who lives with her Aunt since her mother tragically died. Aunt is cruel, abusive and strict but she does care about Anna in her own twisted way and thinks that she is doing the best she can by raising her the way that she is.
Aunt is terrified of magic and the reasons for this are only fully explained toward the latter end of the book so I’ll not spoil the story by talking about the why of it all.
Aunt is a binder, this is a witch who believes magic is dangerous and that it is a sin to even want to use it and has had her magic bound away.
The binders are a sort of cult in my opinion but the way different covens are referred to in the story are as “groves” with each grove practicing their own distinct “language” of magic of which there are literally infinite numbers of (for example potions, plants etc) The type of magic practiced by Aunt is knot magic and this is what she teaches Anna, using these knots to tie up emotion and keep them under control.
I found the magic system in this story to be completely fascinating and I loved the idea that there are so many different ways to practice and that a witch has to try various types of casting to find the language that calls to them.
Once you are introduced to Anna and her aunt the polar opposite is then thrown into the mix with the arrival of Effie and Attis.
Aunt is very unhappy to find out that these two will be starting at Anna’s school and warns Anna about letting them influence her and constantly reminds her to stay true to their beliefs and on the path of the binders.
Effie wants to show Anna everything she’s been missing out on and Anna becomes more and more tempted.
As a character I found Effie to be quite annoying actually. I don’t think she was likable but I did enjoy how she managed to bring Anna out of herself and form a group of close friends out of girls who were otherwise bullied, lonely outsiders basically.
A big part of the setting is actually in a high school and I found a lot of what went on there to be so true to life that it was hard to read sometimes.
There is a lot of bullying, body shaming and just basically nasty girls out to cause as much trouble as they can. The journey these girls take as they learn more and more about their powers and go from being nobodies to somebodies is brilliant but there are a lot of bad and wrong decisions made to get there!
Using magic to get back at the bullies causes a lot more problems than it solves!
Effie shows Anna a whole magical world she never knew existed including shops full of magical items and a library buried deep underground that has a mind of its own!
As Anna learns the truth about her mother’s death and what that means for her a whole lot of drama unfolds which leads to an incredibly exciting final few chapters!
Everything is wrapped up with the story with no cliff-hanger ending but with a promise of more drama to come in book two and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds!
March 26, 2025
An entertaining book to read on a road trip. Every book about witches offers a different take on magic and witchcraft and how they work. Some work better than others. Thomas has built an elaborate structure to support her novels. There are multiple languages of magic, groves and covens of witches. Various underground institutions support their magical life. Epigraphs for each chapter are from the Binders' Handbook and many of the quotes pervade the narrative. The Binders are a particularly noxious grove of sado-masochistic haters of magic, a very peculiar kind of witch. Everything is well thought out and internally consistent.
The characters are engaging (except when they are repellent). Anna is a realistic study in adolescent angst and insecurity, and a very likable character. Attis is an enigma. And the crazy witch Nana Yaganov is a stitch, as is Pesachya, the crazy witch who inhabits the bowels of the British Library.
The narrative is well-plotted, with a lot of suspense. While I figured out some of it before the end, there was a really unexpected twist. The writing itself is quite good; not something to take for granted these days. A fun book.
Memorable Quotes:
"You're in so fucking deep you can't see how deeply fucked it is."
The characters are engaging (except when they are repellent). Anna is a realistic study in adolescent angst and insecurity, and a very likable character. Attis is an enigma. And the crazy witch Nana Yaganov is a stitch, as is Pesachya, the crazy witch who inhabits the bowels of the British Library.
The narrative is well-plotted, with a lot of suspense. While I figured out some of it before the end, there was a really unexpected twist. The writing itself is quite good; not something to take for granted these days. A fun book.
Memorable Quotes:
"You're in so fucking deep you can't see how deeply fucked it is."
December 8, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
¿Es adictivo? Sí, a tope; la magia, los dramas adolescentes, y todo el misterio han sido estupendos.
Pero también hay que decir que es una historia a la que le ha costado bastante arrancar: la introducción se alarga durante muuuucho rato, pero omg las últimas cien páginas, ¡menuda locura!
¿Es adictivo? Sí, a tope; la magia, los dramas adolescentes, y todo el misterio han sido estupendos.
Pero también hay que decir que es una historia a la que le ha costado bastante arrancar: la introducción se alarga durante muuuucho rato, pero omg las últimas cien páginas, ¡menuda locura!
June 10, 2024
Thoughts: this book was good but also reaaaaally long.. the audiobook was over 20 hours 🤦🏼♀️
Because of this I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series as it is very time consuming, it may be one I put on hold and come back to in the future.
The plot follows Anna, a teenage girl being raised by her aunt who is part of the binders (a group of women who bind a witches magical powers for “safety and protection” from the “hunters). Her aunt uses this an excuse to control Anna and give her unethical punishments on a regular basis.
When Anna’s cousin Effy moves to her school they begin to form a bond together and with another two girls from school they discover are also witches. Together they form a coven and begin experimenting with their powers.
I enjoyed the magical elements of the book, the twist reveal at the end, the mystery behind Anna’s childhood and murder of her parents, the mystery behind the family curse and other magical groups. I also loved the secret basement in the library where all the magical books were.
There is school drama, bullying, revenge plots, love triangles. Overall I enjoyed the plot and the read I just wish the book had been condensed to half its size.
Because of this I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series as it is very time consuming, it may be one I put on hold and come back to in the future.
The plot follows Anna, a teenage girl being raised by her aunt who is part of the binders (a group of women who bind a witches magical powers for “safety and protection” from the “hunters). Her aunt uses this an excuse to control Anna and give her unethical punishments on a regular basis.
When Anna’s cousin Effy moves to her school they begin to form a bond together and with another two girls from school they discover are also witches. Together they form a coven and begin experimenting with their powers.
I enjoyed the magical elements of the book, the twist reveal at the end, the mystery behind Anna’s childhood and murder of her parents, the mystery behind the family curse and other magical groups. I also loved the secret basement in the library where all the magical books were.
There is school drama, bullying, revenge plots, love triangles. Overall I enjoyed the plot and the read I just wish the book had been condensed to half its size.
May 27, 2021
Threadneedle is the first instalment in The Language of Magic series and undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated fantasy novels of the year. Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic, so even though she's a witch at heart she is not allowed to cast spells. Aunt has taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly. It was, after all, magic that killed her parents and she was forced to live in modern-day London with her controlling aunt in order to be under the care of her family. It’s why she has been protected from the magical world and, in one year’s time, what little magic she has will be bound. She will join her aunt alongside the other Binders who believe magic is a sin not to be used, but denied. Only one more year and she will be free of the curse of magic, her aunt’s teachings and the disappointment of the little she is capable of. Nothing - and no one - could change her mind before then. That is, until Effie and Attis join her school. Luring Anna into a coven they unleash magical chaos throughout the corridors and plunge her into London’s fantastical underbelly. But when Anna’s magic begins to reveal the symbol of a curse, she is forced to unravel the secrets of her past and the truth about her parents’ violent death.
Torn between her aunt and magic, Effie and Attis, lies and the truth, Anna soon finds herself and her heart utterly tangled, yet time is running out. This is a spellbinding and utterly captivating fantasy and the first of a proposed four-part series, which is entertaining and addictive, sinister and compelling. With breathtaking world-building and remarkably assured plotting, Thomas’s bewitching debut sees a girl burdened by her magical abilities descend into a London filled with the supernatural and enchanted. It's richly imagined, sumptuous and I mean, how could you not be dazzled by contemporary London where magic exists on the fringes. There are vintage shops that sell memories, underground libraries where librarians feed off words, and most of all, clubs where revellers get high on spells. I fell head over heels with Anna’s world, and from her aunt’s knot magic, to the hidden magical library hidden beneath our own British Library, Cari’s book weaved its spell over me. I’ve always loved books that hide magic within the modern-day and not only are Cari’s characters brilliantly formed and fully developed, but her world within Threadneedle is one you’re aching to explore. This is simply exquisite fantasy, and I cannot wait for the sequel to see what Ms Thomas has in store for us next. Highly recommended.
Torn between her aunt and magic, Effie and Attis, lies and the truth, Anna soon finds herself and her heart utterly tangled, yet time is running out. This is a spellbinding and utterly captivating fantasy and the first of a proposed four-part series, which is entertaining and addictive, sinister and compelling. With breathtaking world-building and remarkably assured plotting, Thomas’s bewitching debut sees a girl burdened by her magical abilities descend into a London filled with the supernatural and enchanted. It's richly imagined, sumptuous and I mean, how could you not be dazzled by contemporary London where magic exists on the fringes. There are vintage shops that sell memories, underground libraries where librarians feed off words, and most of all, clubs where revellers get high on spells. I fell head over heels with Anna’s world, and from her aunt’s knot magic, to the hidden magical library hidden beneath our own British Library, Cari’s book weaved its spell over me. I’ve always loved books that hide magic within the modern-day and not only are Cari’s characters brilliantly formed and fully developed, but her world within Threadneedle is one you’re aching to explore. This is simply exquisite fantasy, and I cannot wait for the sequel to see what Ms Thomas has in store for us next. Highly recommended.
May 4, 2021
3 Stars
I was really looking forward to reading Threadneedle and although I did enjoy it, it also let me down in many ways and here is why...
Threadneedle is a book about magic, intrigue, drama, danger and love. Anna is our lead character who is 16 and has magic but is being forced by her aunt to have it locked away. The story is based around a bug mystery and also Anna finding other young witches, creating their own coven and enjoying all magic has to offer. There are also some rather dark themes invovled as well.
What I enjoyed was the magic. It was really interesting to learn about all the different types of using magic and to see them put to use. I also enjoyed the magical world that Anna dipped into and wish there had been more of this and Anna practicing her magic.
The writing was also very good with good usenof language. On the whole it really sold the story, was verbalised well and there were very few mistakes even in the and ARC.
The story was decent and although on the whole I generally enjoyed it, it involves alot of high school drama which I found really tiring and quite boring. I think the book would have been better if the lead characters had been 18 or over and not had to deal with the high school pettiness.
The book is incredibly long at 555 pages and reads partly as a YA fantasy and partly as adult fantasy. This created a rather odd read as one page was high school drama and the next was darker themes. I also feel I am too old to connect with the high school aspect which is why I found it so tedious. The plot was way too drawn out for me. I feel the book could have been over 100 pages shorter and it would have been better. At times it seemed to drag and for aspects to be repeated which made me a little bored at a few points.
The characters were good, if a little over dramatised with use of stereotypes like the high school bully, the fat girl, the "slut" and the geeky christian. I did connect with the lead Anna to an extent but not enough to really care.
I hated that every mention of sex was so negative. The use of the words "slut" and "whore" and portraying women that have sex in a bad light. I found this rather frustrating.
The ending was almost too convenient in some aspects and a bit ridiculous in others. I am not a fan of how things ended so openly and sadly it hasn't enticed me enough to continue the next book.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really looking forward to reading Threadneedle and although I did enjoy it, it also let me down in many ways and here is why...
Threadneedle is a book about magic, intrigue, drama, danger and love. Anna is our lead character who is 16 and has magic but is being forced by her aunt to have it locked away. The story is based around a bug mystery and also Anna finding other young witches, creating their own coven and enjoying all magic has to offer. There are also some rather dark themes invovled as well.
What I enjoyed was the magic. It was really interesting to learn about all the different types of using magic and to see them put to use. I also enjoyed the magical world that Anna dipped into and wish there had been more of this and Anna practicing her magic.
The writing was also very good with good usenof language. On the whole it really sold the story, was verbalised well and there were very few mistakes even in the and ARC.
The story was decent and although on the whole I generally enjoyed it, it involves alot of high school drama which I found really tiring and quite boring. I think the book would have been better if the lead characters had been 18 or over and not had to deal with the high school pettiness.
The book is incredibly long at 555 pages and reads partly as a YA fantasy and partly as adult fantasy. This created a rather odd read as one page was high school drama and the next was darker themes. I also feel I am too old to connect with the high school aspect which is why I found it so tedious. The plot was way too drawn out for me. I feel the book could have been over 100 pages shorter and it would have been better. At times it seemed to drag and for aspects to be repeated which made me a little bored at a few points.
The characters were good, if a little over dramatised with use of stereotypes like the high school bully, the fat girl, the "slut" and the geeky christian. I did connect with the lead Anna to an extent but not enough to really care.
I hated that every mention of sex was so negative. The use of the words "slut" and "whore" and portraying women that have sex in a bad light. I found this rather frustrating.
The ending was almost too convenient in some aspects and a bit ridiculous in others. I am not a fan of how things ended so openly and sadly it hasn't enticed me enough to continue the next book.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2021
Su tía siempre ha advertido a Anna de los peligros de la magia, cómo envenena todo, y las consecuencias fatales que acarrea usarla. Por eso, Anna está impaciente por que se lleve a cabo la ceremonia que confine sus poderes... hasta que conoce a Effie y Attis, quienes le muestran el lado divertido y fantástico de esta que ella desconocía, sin embargo, a medida que se adentra en ese oscuro mundo, comienza a preguntarse si tal vez su tía no tendría razón al advertirle de esos peligros.
Bueno... ha sido todo un viaje esta lectura: lo empecé con muchísimas ganas, y aunque sí me estaba interesando, y me enganchaba, también sentía que le estaba costando bastante a la historia arrancar, que la introducción se alargaba más, y más. Es verdad que hay mucho que contar acerca del funcionamiento de la magia, de la vida de Anna, su pasado y su relación con su tía, y el resto de personajes... pero es que no es hasta mucho después, pasada la mitad de la novela, cuando al fin empieza a desvelarse algo de todo el misterio y al fin avanza la trama realmente.
Por otro lado, los personajes me han parecido la mar de interesantes, por lo diferentes y peculiares que eran, aunque también me han frustrado bastante, sobre todo Effie y la tía de Anna, cuyos actos no parecen tener demasiado sentido, y están más encasilladas en su arquetipo de "chica mala" y "tía malvada/madrastra". Pero, a pesar de ello, me resultaba imposible separarme de estas páginas, dejar de leer, ¡porque necesitaba descubrir hacia dónde iba todo, y el oscuro misterio y los terribles secretos que me imaginaba!
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
Bueno... ha sido todo un viaje esta lectura: lo empecé con muchísimas ganas, y aunque sí me estaba interesando, y me enganchaba, también sentía que le estaba costando bastante a la historia arrancar, que la introducción se alargaba más, y más. Es verdad que hay mucho que contar acerca del funcionamiento de la magia, de la vida de Anna, su pasado y su relación con su tía, y el resto de personajes... pero es que no es hasta mucho después, pasada la mitad de la novela, cuando al fin empieza a desvelarse algo de todo el misterio y al fin avanza la trama realmente.
Por otro lado, los personajes me han parecido la mar de interesantes, por lo diferentes y peculiares que eran, aunque también me han frustrado bastante, sobre todo Effie y la tía de Anna, cuyos actos no parecen tener demasiado sentido, y están más encasilladas en su arquetipo de "chica mala" y "tía malvada/madrastra". Pero, a pesar de ello, me resultaba imposible separarme de estas páginas, dejar de leer, ¡porque necesitaba descubrir hacia dónde iba todo, y el oscuro misterio y los terribles secretos que me imaginaba!
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
May 31, 2021
Oh my god. Oh my GOD. This book was so incredibly well thought out, planned and executed.
Only once everything starts being revealed does it make sense but wow. Was not expecting ANY of those reveals.
I loved the coven and how they all had their reasons for wanting to be part of it (or to refuse that they wanted to be part of it in one members case haha). The school setting was amazing, it truly made it possible for some of the most wild antics to go down. You just get so attached to the characters, wow.
The overall plot was amazing and I love that it mentioned instances of magic not attached to the main characters, the world building was IMPECCABLE. It also definitely left enough open to make me want to continue the series and find out what's going on.
The magic system was something so new and fresh.
I also loved that each chapter began with passages from the Book of the Binders, as it really added to the overall atmosphere of the book.
Overall, I absolutely adored this book. If you're looking for the perfect witchy, atmospherically beautiful read then look no further! Cari Thomas is a phenomenal writer and this book was absolutely brilliant. Could not recommend it enough.
Only once everything starts being revealed does it make sense but wow. Was not expecting ANY of those reveals.
I loved the coven and how they all had their reasons for wanting to be part of it (or to refuse that they wanted to be part of it in one members case haha). The school setting was amazing, it truly made it possible for some of the most wild antics to go down. You just get so attached to the characters, wow.
The overall plot was amazing and I love that it mentioned instances of magic not attached to the main characters, the world building was IMPECCABLE. It also definitely left enough open to make me want to continue the series and find out what's going on.
The magic system was something so new and fresh.
I also loved that each chapter began with passages from the Book of the Binders, as it really added to the overall atmosphere of the book.
Overall, I absolutely adored this book. If you're looking for the perfect witchy, atmospherically beautiful read then look no further! Cari Thomas is a phenomenal writer and this book was absolutely brilliant. Could not recommend it enough.
November 5, 2021
¡Hola, lector@s!,
Hoy vengo a hablaros de una novela a la que ya le tenía echado el ojo en inglés 😉, puesto que todo lo que tenga que ver con la ciudad de Londres, la magia y la brujería siempre me llama mucho la atención y es algo con lo que suelo disfrutar enormemente. Así que cuando Leo Teti, el editor de Puck y Umbriel (sellos de Ediciones Urano), comentó que este último traería esta novedad antes de que terminara el año, no pude ser más feliz.
Este libro es el inicio de una saga, así como la primera novela de su autora. En él se nos cuenta cómo Anna, una huérfana que vive con su tía, se ha criado bajo una educación y unos preceptos muy estrictos. Ello se debe a que su madre fue asesinada por su pareja, la cual se quitó la vida posteriormente. Desde entonces, su tía considera la magia y el amor como algo malo y sumamente peligroso y, por ello, somete a su sobrina a una constante vigilancia, llegando a extremos insospechados. (Os vais a quedar ojiplátic@s, de verdad).
De hecho, su tía forma parte de Las Encorsetadoras, un clan mágico que defiende el amarre de la magia como manera de proteger a su grupo y a las más jóvenes de la amenaza de los Cazadores y de las personas normales que tienen miedo de lo que no logran entender. Para ello, y hasta que se lleve a cabo la ceremonia en la que los poderes de Anna quedarán confinados, Anna se adiestra desde hace años en la magia de nudos o amarre, una de las más complejas, la cual ayuda a mantener a raya las emociones y la curiosidad. Además, esto permite el uso de la magia tan sólo para lo estrictamente necesario, aunque su práctica siempre tiene un precio doloroso.
No obstante, con la llegada de Selene a Londres, una antigua amiga de su madre, y su hija Effie, el universo de Anna se pondrá patas arriba, ya que ésta siempre se ha sentido atraída por la magia y nada le gustaría más que poder practicarla libremente, tal y como hacen ellas. Pero eso no es todo, junto a Selene y Effie, también llega Attis, un muchacho enigmático que vive con ellas. A partir de entonces, Anna encontrará un poco de la libertad que le han arrebatado desde que tiene uso de razón y dejará de ser invisible para pasar a formar parte de algo. Incluso hará algunas amigas por el camino, como Manda o Rowan.
La trama está llena de secretos y giros, con los cuales la autora nos mantiene intrigad@s, y hace que llegue un punto en que no podamos parar de leer debido a las revelaciones que se hacen y lo que va aconteciendo. Por otra parte, lo novedoso del sistema de magia también es algo muy atrayente, puesto que vamos a ir descubriendo cómo funciona esta sociedad mágica, los distintos clanes que existen y cómo hacen magia cada uno de ellos. De igual manera, el argumento de la novela se centra tanto en el pasado de Anna, como en su historia familiar, que quizás no es como se la han contado, y en los conflictos de las brujas y las diversas formas de magia.
En cuanto a los personajes, es muy fácil empatizar con nuestra protagonista: Anna; sometida a su tía y a sus estrictas reglas, con un futuro sentenciado de antemano, y que busca ser invisible para que no se burlen de ella en el instituto. Ahora bien, lo más interesante es ver cómo evoluciona y cómo se va abriendo poco a poco al mundo exterior y a sus deseos, persiguiendo ser la dueña de su propia vida, a pesar de que puede salirle caro. Huelga decir que la tía de Anna no va a ser santo de vuestra devoción.
Todo lo contrario, sucede con Selene y Effie, que practican la magia y que son muy extrovertidas. Son el contrapunto perfecto a Anna y muy necesarias para que ella comience a cuestionárselo todo.
Con respecto a los personajes de Rowan, Manda y Attis, he de decir que la primera es una chica parlanchina y con sobrepeso que pondrá el toque divertido a esta historia. Manda, en cambio, vive un poco como Anna, intentando ser perfecta. Por último, qué puedo deciros de Attis. Es un donjuán, pero también trata de ayudar a los demás y no podemos evitar preguntarnos qué es. Ahora, uno de los numerosos aciertos, tanto con la trama como con los personajes, es que os lo cuestionaréis todo porque, ¿acaso son lo que parecen?
Pasando a comentar algunos aspectos de la ambientación, he de decir que las novelas que se sitúan en Londres siempre me fascinan. No obstante, en este caso, Londres solamente es el escenario en el que transcurre la historia, por lo que no vamos a recorrer sus calles en profundidad. Tan sólo aparece algún edificio emblemático o la tipología de casas características de algunos barrios.
Por último, me gustará señalar que el estilo de la autora es muy acorde a lo que nos narra. “El lenguaje de la magia” es una historia compleja y muy ambiciosa, pero que no te dejará indiferente debido a su originalidad y a lo bien dosificado que está todo. Y mucho menos con ese final. Una vez pasamos el ecuador de la novela, las piezas del tablero se van moviendo y el ritmo se vuelve vertiginoso debido a lo que va sucediendo.
Y ahora contadme: ¿Os gustan este tipo de historias de magia y brujería? ¿También sois como yo y las novelas con una determinada ambientación os ponen ojitos *.*? ¿Os llama la atención esta novedad?
No dudéis en recomendarme más historias de este estilo 😉.
Un besito de tinta y hasta pronto :D
Lo mejor: un universo mágico nuevo, diferente, complejo y novedoso en el que querrás zambullirte cada vez más y más.
Lo peor: es posible que te cueste un pelín engancharte, puesto que el comienzo de la novela es algo introductorio y pausado. No obstante, esto es necesario para comprender el sistema de magia y conocer a los distintos personajes. Llegará un punto en el que no podrás dejar de leer.
Deberías leer esta novela si eres un@ gran fan de todo lo que tiene que ver con la magia y la brujería. Esta primera entrega no te va a dejar indiferente.
Hoy vengo a hablaros de una novela a la que ya le tenía echado el ojo en inglés 😉, puesto que todo lo que tenga que ver con la ciudad de Londres, la magia y la brujería siempre me llama mucho la atención y es algo con lo que suelo disfrutar enormemente. Así que cuando Leo Teti, el editor de Puck y Umbriel (sellos de Ediciones Urano), comentó que este último traería esta novedad antes de que terminara el año, no pude ser más feliz.
Este libro es el inicio de una saga, así como la primera novela de su autora. En él se nos cuenta cómo Anna, una huérfana que vive con su tía, se ha criado bajo una educación y unos preceptos muy estrictos. Ello se debe a que su madre fue asesinada por su pareja, la cual se quitó la vida posteriormente. Desde entonces, su tía considera la magia y el amor como algo malo y sumamente peligroso y, por ello, somete a su sobrina a una constante vigilancia, llegando a extremos insospechados. (Os vais a quedar ojiplátic@s, de verdad).
De hecho, su tía forma parte de Las Encorsetadoras, un clan mágico que defiende el amarre de la magia como manera de proteger a su grupo y a las más jóvenes de la amenaza de los Cazadores y de las personas normales que tienen miedo de lo que no logran entender. Para ello, y hasta que se lleve a cabo la ceremonia en la que los poderes de Anna quedarán confinados, Anna se adiestra desde hace años en la magia de nudos o amarre, una de las más complejas, la cual ayuda a mantener a raya las emociones y la curiosidad. Además, esto permite el uso de la magia tan sólo para lo estrictamente necesario, aunque su práctica siempre tiene un precio doloroso.
No obstante, con la llegada de Selene a Londres, una antigua amiga de su madre, y su hija Effie, el universo de Anna se pondrá patas arriba, ya que ésta siempre se ha sentido atraída por la magia y nada le gustaría más que poder practicarla libremente, tal y como hacen ellas. Pero eso no es todo, junto a Selene y Effie, también llega Attis, un muchacho enigmático que vive con ellas. A partir de entonces, Anna encontrará un poco de la libertad que le han arrebatado desde que tiene uso de razón y dejará de ser invisible para pasar a formar parte de algo. Incluso hará algunas amigas por el camino, como Manda o Rowan.
La trama está llena de secretos y giros, con los cuales la autora nos mantiene intrigad@s, y hace que llegue un punto en que no podamos parar de leer debido a las revelaciones que se hacen y lo que va aconteciendo. Por otra parte, lo novedoso del sistema de magia también es algo muy atrayente, puesto que vamos a ir descubriendo cómo funciona esta sociedad mágica, los distintos clanes que existen y cómo hacen magia cada uno de ellos. De igual manera, el argumento de la novela se centra tanto en el pasado de Anna, como en su historia familiar, que quizás no es como se la han contado, y en los conflictos de las brujas y las diversas formas de magia.
En cuanto a los personajes, es muy fácil empatizar con nuestra protagonista: Anna; sometida a su tía y a sus estrictas reglas, con un futuro sentenciado de antemano, y que busca ser invisible para que no se burlen de ella en el instituto. Ahora bien, lo más interesante es ver cómo evoluciona y cómo se va abriendo poco a poco al mundo exterior y a sus deseos, persiguiendo ser la dueña de su propia vida, a pesar de que puede salirle caro. Huelga decir que la tía de Anna no va a ser santo de vuestra devoción.
Todo lo contrario, sucede con Selene y Effie, que practican la magia y que son muy extrovertidas. Son el contrapunto perfecto a Anna y muy necesarias para que ella comience a cuestionárselo todo.
Con respecto a los personajes de Rowan, Manda y Attis, he de decir que la primera es una chica parlanchina y con sobrepeso que pondrá el toque divertido a esta historia. Manda, en cambio, vive un poco como Anna, intentando ser perfecta. Por último, qué puedo deciros de Attis. Es un donjuán, pero también trata de ayudar a los demás y no podemos evitar preguntarnos qué es. Ahora, uno de los numerosos aciertos, tanto con la trama como con los personajes, es que os lo cuestionaréis todo porque, ¿acaso son lo que parecen?
Pasando a comentar algunos aspectos de la ambientación, he de decir que las novelas que se sitúan en Londres siempre me fascinan. No obstante, en este caso, Londres solamente es el escenario en el que transcurre la historia, por lo que no vamos a recorrer sus calles en profundidad. Tan sólo aparece algún edificio emblemático o la tipología de casas características de algunos barrios.
Por último, me gustará señalar que el estilo de la autora es muy acorde a lo que nos narra. “El lenguaje de la magia” es una historia compleja y muy ambiciosa, pero que no te dejará indiferente debido a su originalidad y a lo bien dosificado que está todo. Y mucho menos con ese final. Una vez pasamos el ecuador de la novela, las piezas del tablero se van moviendo y el ritmo se vuelve vertiginoso debido a lo que va sucediendo.
Y ahora contadme: ¿Os gustan este tipo de historias de magia y brujería? ¿También sois como yo y las novelas con una determinada ambientación os ponen ojitos *.*? ¿Os llama la atención esta novedad?
No dudéis en recomendarme más historias de este estilo 😉.
Un besito de tinta y hasta pronto :D
Lo mejor: un universo mágico nuevo, diferente, complejo y novedoso en el que querrás zambullirte cada vez más y más.
Lo peor: es posible que te cueste un pelín engancharte, puesto que el comienzo de la novela es algo introductorio y pausado. No obstante, esto es necesario para comprender el sistema de magia y conocer a los distintos personajes. Llegará un punto en el que no podrás dejar de leer.
Deberías leer esta novela si eres un@ gran fan de todo lo que tiene que ver con la magia y la brujería. Esta primera entrega no te va a dejar indiferente.
May 4, 2021
‘How can I know who I am without knowing who I came from?’After a tragedy left her an orphan, Anna was raised by her Aunt. She’s known her entire life that she’s going to be a Binder when she grows up.
The Binders did all they could to prevent magic being exposed to the ordinary world, to keep it locked away behind doors; brushed under carpets; tied in necklaces and tucked beneath blouses.Now Anna is in sixth form and it’s only a year until her magic, such that it is, will be bound. As the school Nobody, Anna has always tried to fly under the radar. That won’t be as easy to achieve once she joins a coven.
‘We deal in that which cannot be known by the light of day and exact our punishments by dark.’Attis, resident eye candy/mystery boy, intrigued me, as did Effie, although I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be best friends with her or her archnemesis. She’s kinda prickly so I think I’d want to be cautious around her.
Having a religious girl in the coven initially confused me as I had trouble figuring out how the two could possibly intersect. I don’t think I like Miranda/Manda. There’s something about people who claim religion and then act in ways that fly in the face of their spouted beliefs that make me want to point my finger and hiss, ‘Hyprocrite!’ I know we’ve all been guilty of saying one thing and then doing another at some point in our lives but when it comes from someone who evangelises … I don’t know … it just seems different somehow.
Then there was Rowan, who I absolutely adored, except for the fact that so much time was spent body shaming her. If someone else wasn’t bullying her about her weight, Rowan was pointing it out herself. She was so much more interesting to me than whatever the scales say about her. Also, her mother is an absolute delight and I need to spend so much more time with her!
The Binders gave me cult vibes throughout the book. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you think there’s some truth to what they’ve been saying all along or not. I’m a bit on the fence about this and could argue either way. I suspect there’s some truth there but I definitely question (and that’s putting it nicely) their methods and some crucial core beliefs.
I’m usually all for magic, regardless of the form it takes, but some of the magic in this book gave me the heebie-jeebies. I’m not sure if I’ve simply never considered this before or if it was the way some of the magic played out here but it got me thinking about free will. If any spell removes free will from someone, whether it’s their thoughts or actions, then it seems to me that this tramples all over consent.
To force your will on someone else in a way that takes away their freedom to think or act in a way they choose feels really icky to me. My brain helpfully came up with the term ‘magical assault’ and now I can’t get it out of my head. I’m not sure if I’ll ever see certain types of magic in action again without my brain shouting that at me. Thanks for nothing, brain!
The bonds we have with family and friends and how these can be tied to fear and sacrifice are explored in this book. It’s not always clear whether someone is acting selfishly or in another person’s best interests. There are opposing truths at play, which complicates things even further.
One thing that definitely wasn’t complicated for me was my love of this book’s magical library. This could be one of my favourite libraries ever and I want to spend an entire book lost in there.
While I wish I’d learned more about the seven faceless women in this book, there are indications that they will play a vital role as the series unfolds. I am particularly interested in the seventh woman and am not so secretly hoping that we’ve already met her in this book but don’t know it yet. I already know who I want her to be.
‘People think stories are harmless but they are the most dangerous weapon mankind has.’Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, for granting my wish to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
August 10, 2021
I came into this book blind, with no expectations and I came out of it pleased.
4/5★
If I were asked to pitch this book, it would be Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Wild Child.
Anna is a witch and she lost her parents at such a young age. She's currently living with her aunt but her aunt is far from a loveable mother figure. She's strict, abusive and controlling. Anna's supposed to suppress her presence as a witch at school and attract as little attention as possible. She has no phone, no friends, no romance, no presence, she's a nobody. Until one day, Effie and Attis entered her school, messed up the school hierarchy and flaunt their magic here and there.
From there, Anna has to decide whether she wants to be a Binder as her aunt wanted her to, or a witch like her mother?
Here are my thoughts :
"Anna had never really considered if she had a choice; choice was simply not a consideration."
➢ I really love Anna and she's an easy character to root for. After being controlled for her whole life, Anna has made some plausible character growth throughout the book. We get to see as she slowly opens up her mind to other possibilities in this world and learn how to be brave. This is a very character driven story and reading about Anna's journey to find herself is very fun and I never actually got bored.
➢ This book has a healthy balance of friendship and romance which I LOVE! The coven is so much fun to read about! I love Rowan the most. She's a perfect friend for Anna and I never got tired of her scenes. She always do the most unthinkable things and say everything on her mind. While I do love to read about the romance,I'm an Attis hoe the friendship arc in this book gave me so much joy.
➢ The premise of the book is really simple, yet very well executed. It sets in a normal school in London, with witches hiding among them. If you have watched any witches show, you will probably know how they work but the author is able to take this simple recipe and brew a book with teenage drama, angst, coming-of-age story that is easy to love.
➢One of the things which I think could be better would be some of the cringey dialogues. It reminds me of all the coming of age movies I've ever watched my whole life lol.
Exhibit A :
"You're different from all the other girls here."
"ATTIS, HE'S NOT WORTH IT."
➢ All in all, I am pleased with this book and I can't wait to read book 2! I'd totally recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a teenage coming-of-age story with a dash of witches and magic.
TW : bullying, body shaming, mental abuse, physical abuse.
Thank you Times Reads for giving me a review copy in exchange for an honest review. ♥
4/5★
If I were asked to pitch this book, it would be Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Wild Child.
Anna is a witch and she lost her parents at such a young age. She's currently living with her aunt but her aunt is far from a loveable mother figure. She's strict, abusive and controlling. Anna's supposed to suppress her presence as a witch at school and attract as little attention as possible. She has no phone, no friends, no romance, no presence, she's a nobody. Until one day, Effie and Attis entered her school, messed up the school hierarchy and flaunt their magic here and there.
From there, Anna has to decide whether she wants to be a Binder as her aunt wanted her to, or a witch like her mother?
Here are my thoughts :
"Anna had never really considered if she had a choice; choice was simply not a consideration."
➢ I really love Anna and she's an easy character to root for. After being controlled for her whole life, Anna has made some plausible character growth throughout the book. We get to see as she slowly opens up her mind to other possibilities in this world and learn how to be brave. This is a very character driven story and reading about Anna's journey to find herself is very fun and I never actually got bored.
➢ This book has a healthy balance of friendship and romance which I LOVE! The coven is so much fun to read about! I love Rowan the most. She's a perfect friend for Anna and I never got tired of her scenes. She always do the most unthinkable things and say everything on her mind. While I do love to read about the romance,
➢ The premise of the book is really simple, yet very well executed. It sets in a normal school in London, with witches hiding among them. If you have watched any witches show, you will probably know how they work but the author is able to take this simple recipe and brew a book with teenage drama, angst, coming-of-age story that is easy to love.
➢One of the things which I think could be better would be some of the cringey dialogues. It reminds me of all the coming of age movies I've ever watched my whole life lol.
Exhibit A :
"You're different from all the other girls here."
"ATTIS, HE'S NOT WORTH IT."
➢ All in all, I am pleased with this book and I can't wait to read book 2! I'd totally recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a teenage coming-of-age story with a dash of witches and magic.
TW : bullying, body shaming, mental abuse, physical abuse.
Thank you Times Reads for giving me a review copy in exchange for an honest review. ♥
December 7, 2022
This was an incredibly atmospheric, character driven story. Threadneedle is the debut of Cari Thomas and the first in the Language of Magic series. It was a solid debut that allowed the reader to get acclimated to this version of London and its magic system. While also having a self contained story that developed over time and setting up something much larger and darker in the background.
Threadneedle excelled at telling a character driven story centering around Anna Everdell who at the beginning of the book is living with her Aunt Vivienne because her parents were killed due to magic. So Anna is forced into fear and loneliness because Aunt Vivienne deems magic the highest of sins. Threadneedle's plot develops from there as we are introduced to her London and the other characters Anna meets along the way. Threadneedle was able to deal with some heavy topics as well such as death of parents, grief, emotional and physical abuse, bullies. All in a way that I felt was handled with delicacy.
Cari Thomas' writing is effortless and smooth. Thomas' prose are lovely and for that made this reading experience so much better. I also couldn't put this book down when I was reading it. So that just goes to show you how lost I got within this story. Thomas was able to transport me to her version of London through her writing so that I felt like I was actually there whilst I was reading.
I am incredibly excited to continue on with this series and see where the story develops and goes from here. The ending to Threadneedle was wild, so I need book two like yesterday.
Threadneedle excelled at telling a character driven story centering around Anna Everdell who at the beginning of the book is living with her Aunt Vivienne because her parents were killed due to magic. So Anna is forced into fear and loneliness because Aunt Vivienne deems magic the highest of sins. Threadneedle's plot develops from there as we are introduced to her London and the other characters Anna meets along the way. Threadneedle was able to deal with some heavy topics as well such as death of parents, grief, emotional and physical abuse, bullies. All in a way that I felt was handled with delicacy.
Cari Thomas' writing is effortless and smooth. Thomas' prose are lovely and for that made this reading experience so much better. I also couldn't put this book down when I was reading it. So that just goes to show you how lost I got within this story. Thomas was able to transport me to her version of London through her writing so that I felt like I was actually there whilst I was reading.
I am incredibly excited to continue on with this series and see where the story develops and goes from here. The ending to Threadneedle was wild, so I need book two like yesterday.
August 3, 2021
3.5 THAT ENDING
Thank you to Tandem Collective Global for having me as part of a readalong for this book, and the publisher for sending me a copy of the book! This review first appeared on my my Instagram, @booktineus and Happy Indulgence Book Blog.
The Good Things
+ I read Threadneedle as part of the Tandem Collective's Aussie readalong!
+ A new upper YA contemporary fantasy series.
+ It had a really interesting and unique magic system! The magic and the world lore were my favourite parts. I couldn't get enough of them!
+ There were some quite gruesome moments which I didn't expect to see in this but loved!
+ It had some great characters! Rowan was my favourite, but Anna and Attis weren't far behind.
+ The plot took turns I was not expecting, especially during the last few chapters! I thought I knew where things were going, but I was completely wrong.
+ I cannot wait to see how the story and world expands in the sequels!
The Not-So-Good Things
- I didn't realise this would have a strong contemporary element. For some reason I was under the impression it was a historical fantasy (it's not).
- A large part of book is set in high school. Which is fine, but some of the character motivations and plot points revolve around popularity and high school drama and I just UGH. I have never enjoyed popularity-centric plot lines. It's why I don't read much YA contemporary anymore.
- I struggled through the first part because of those high school plot lines and slow pacing. I wanted more of the magic and mystery.
- Sometimes I wondered if this book was originally intended to be a New Adult story set in university. Mostly because I didn't think the way the characters described some things made sense for teenagers. For example, they occasionally referred to themselves as men and women... They're 16 years old.
TLDR;
While this wasn’t the historical fantasy I was expecting, I did end up enjoying Threadneedle. It has a really interesting magic system and took some intense turns that surprised me! I’m really looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds in the sequels.
Thank you to Tandem Collective Global for having me as part of a readalong for this book, and the publisher for sending me a copy of the book! This review first appeared on my my Instagram, @booktineus and Happy Indulgence Book Blog.
The Good Things
+ I read Threadneedle as part of the Tandem Collective's Aussie readalong!
+ A new upper YA contemporary fantasy series.
+ It had a really interesting and unique magic system! The magic and the world lore were my favourite parts. I couldn't get enough of them!
+ There were some quite gruesome moments which I didn't expect to see in this but loved!
+ It had some great characters! Rowan was my favourite, but Anna and Attis weren't far behind.
+ The plot took turns I was not expecting, especially during the last few chapters! I thought I knew where things were going, but I was completely wrong.
+ I cannot wait to see how the story and world expands in the sequels!
The Not-So-Good Things
- I didn't realise this would have a strong contemporary element. For some reason I was under the impression it was a historical fantasy (it's not).
- A large part of book is set in high school. Which is fine, but some of the character motivations and plot points revolve around popularity and high school drama and I just UGH. I have never enjoyed popularity-centric plot lines. It's why I don't read much YA contemporary anymore.
- I struggled through the first part because of those high school plot lines and slow pacing. I wanted more of the magic and mystery.
- Sometimes I wondered if this book was originally intended to be a New Adult story set in university. Mostly because I didn't think the way the characters described some things made sense for teenagers. For example, they occasionally referred to themselves as men and women... They're 16 years old.
TLDR;
While this wasn’t the historical fantasy I was expecting, I did end up enjoying Threadneedle. It has a really interesting magic system and took some intense turns that surprised me! I’m really looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds in the sequels.
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