Threadneedle

By: Cari Thomas

Narrated by: Bea Holland

Length: 20 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The Sunday Times number four best seller.

Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with magic.

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?

©2020 Cari Thomas (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"An enthralling and original fantasy, woven inside a magical web of lies." (Jay Kristoff, Sunday Times best-selling author of Nevernight and Empire of the Vampire)

"The magic both gleams and threatens. There are riddles and puzzles to be solved and there’s a library - trust me, it’s a good one. You’ll want to give this a try." (Sunday Times best-selling author Robin Hobb)

"A bewitching tale of magic, family secrets and twisted affections, of finding your true self in a world of treacherous mystery. Prepare to be charmed!" (David Wragg, author of The Black Hawks)

loved it! Harry potter for a mature audience

I will admit at first I was a little sceptical it was just another YA magic book that would be predictable. it almost convinces you that it is until everything flips on you and you realise all these tiny detailed weaved into the story lead to plot twist after plot twist. I won't say anything more to spoil it but this story is far from predictable (I'm my opinion at least). the only think I will say is it need a big bold trigger warning as it deals with many mature and difficult topics that may be uncomfortable for people expecting an innocent story about 16 year olds. they did feel a bit young to be dealing with the issues they did but I think its probably sadly a reflection of the stolen childhoods that some 16 yours old don't get. overall this story was wonderful, I was lost in it time and time again, it gave me the same sensation as reading Harry potter for the first time as a child. loved it! now to try wait for what's next in the story!

Wonderful with reservations.

The downside for me was the juvenile interactions especially surrounding the high school. The book should have been classified as a YA novel. There is nothing wrong with that, I just prefer to know what I am getting involved with. Anna's restraint was less than believable, though it was one way to move the story towards its conclusion. All that said, Aunt was the best villainous character I have come across in ages. There were some minor characters that I wish had played more of a part such as Rowan's mother and Nana Yaganov. Bea Holland was a fantastic narrator.

Three times longer than it needs to be

This really should carry a YA rating: this lengthy book doesn’t hold up well under scrutiny: the characters are not believable, and although we get pages upon pages of unnecessary dialogue and explanation, there is scant evidence for the interior motives of any of the characters. It reminds me of a soap opera: you can stop watching for years and pick back up right where you left off because the plot is so slow and labyrinthine. I really struggled to finish this; quite the opposite of an addictive read.

Everyone is toxic

Everyone in this book is either an abusive and manipulative, or a willfully naive doormat. I kept expecting it to get better, but only got worse till the very end. Made me feel depressed and yucky and like love isn't real. Any kind of love. All fake.
If you enjoy that kind of thing, you'll love this book. It was very well written and suspenseful, and the narrator did a wonderful job.
I just found myself rolling my eyes at the main character and all she was putting up with in the name of love. I'm sorry, but no. People who love you don't do things like this. I don't care who they are.