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The Threads of Magic
Pip lives on his wits in the city of Clarel. When he pickpockets the wrong man, he finds himself in possession of a strange object – a heart in a silver casket. What’s more, the heart seems to be trying to communicate with Pip, and the royal officials who lost it will stop at nothing to get it back.
Pip has unwittingly broken an ancient spell, and his theft will have far-reaching consequences for the whole city. As the ancient war between the Spectres and witches of Clarel reignites, the heart prepares to seek revenge for all it has suffered…
Pip has unwittingly broken an ancient spell, and his theft will have far-reaching consequences for the whole city. As the ancient war between the Spectres and witches of Clarel reignites, the heart prepares to seek revenge for all it has suffered…
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2020
About the author
Alison Croggon
52 books1,709 followersAlison Croggon is the award winning author of the acclaimed fantasy series The Books of Pellinor. You can sign up to her monthly newsletter and receive a free Pellinor story at alisoncroggon.com
Her most recent book is Fleshers, the first in a dazzling new SF series co-written with her husband, acclaimed playwright Daniel Keene. Her latest Pellinor book, The Bone Queen, was a 2016 Aurealis Awards Best Young Adult Book finalist. Other fantasy titles include Black Spring (shortlisted for the Young People's Writing Award in the 2014 NSW Premier's Literary Awards) and The River and the Book, winner of the Wilderness Society's prize for Environmental Writing for Children.
She is a prize-winning poet and theatre critic,, and has released seven collections of poems. As a critic she was named Geraldine Pascall Critic of the Year in 2009. She also writes opera libretti, and the opera she co-wrote with Iain Grandage was Vocal/Choral Work of the Year in the 2015 Art Music Awards. Her libretto for Mayakovsky, score by Michael Smetanin, was shortlisted in the Drama Prize for the 2015 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. She lives in Melbourne..
Her most recent book is Fleshers, the first in a dazzling new SF series co-written with her husband, acclaimed playwright Daniel Keene. Her latest Pellinor book, The Bone Queen, was a 2016 Aurealis Awards Best Young Adult Book finalist. Other fantasy titles include Black Spring (shortlisted for the Young People's Writing Award in the 2014 NSW Premier's Literary Awards) and The River and the Book, winner of the Wilderness Society's prize for Environmental Writing for Children.
She is a prize-winning poet and theatre critic,, and has released seven collections of poems. As a critic she was named Geraldine Pascall Critic of the Year in 2009. She also writes opera libretti, and the opera she co-wrote with Iain Grandage was Vocal/Choral Work of the Year in the 2015 Art Music Awards. Her libretto for Mayakovsky, score by Michael Smetanin, was shortlisted in the Drama Prize for the 2015 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. She lives in Melbourne..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 27, 2019
Yes! Dear lord, yes!
Thank you, Alison Croggon. You've written the kind of kid's novel I've always hoped to read.
A dark, rich, complex setting and plot, just teeming with the kind of prickly, hardened, sly ( yet somehow utterly sympathetic) characters more usual in a Dickens or Susanna Clarke novel than children's fantasy. I usually hate switches in POV, but every unexpected twist and turn brought a new delight or a new terror that dragged me - grinning and fearful - through this excellent, excellent, story.
I can't wait for this to be published so I can have squealing fangurl conversations about it. I'm even tempted to do some fan art - I love it that much.
PS: if this book isn't made into a movie, I'll cry.
Thank you, Alison Croggon. You've written the kind of kid's novel I've always hoped to read.
A dark, rich, complex setting and plot, just teeming with the kind of prickly, hardened, sly ( yet somehow utterly sympathetic) characters more usual in a Dickens or Susanna Clarke novel than children's fantasy. I usually hate switches in POV, but every unexpected twist and turn brought a new delight or a new terror that dragged me - grinning and fearful - through this excellent, excellent, story.
I can't wait for this to be published so I can have squealing fangurl conversations about it. I'm even tempted to do some fan art - I love it that much.
PS: if this book isn't made into a movie, I'll cry.
February 28, 2021
This was a dark, thrilling read! I’d say definitely upper MG. We have royals, witches, Spectres who eat souls, & a heart trapped in a stone.. just to name a few things lol Pip & his sister El are orphans. He is also a pickpocket. 1 night he steals what he thinks is a treasure, in a very fancy expensive looking silver casket. What he finds is a stone that looks like a heart. Stranger, it seems to be trying to communicate w/him. The evil people who lost it will stop at nothing to get it back. Pip has unknowingly broken an ancient spell, & it will have consequences. An ancient war b/n the Spectres & the witches reignites, & the heart wants revenge for all it has suffered. There are a lot more characters than this in the book, & it’s amazing how they are all connected by the same thing. How all the ones that are on “goods” side, have to come together to beat this evil. The author weaving all of that together was just brilliant. I saw some reviews that didn’t like how some of the characters were annoying. Well they’re kids, & kids tend to annoy me sometimes lol If they were written like perfect well mannered kids(one a spoiled prince, one a over confident princess, & one who is easily scared & has asthma) then I would have liked the story less. The characters that have their annoying moments, have them b/c of the kids they are. It’s exactly how they would be. This was dark, atmospheric, creepy, suspenseful, & full of danger. Also, full of a ragtag bunch of a found family of sorts lol & full of so much hope. Doing what’s right. Righting wrongs. Highly recommend. Love this beautiful cover by Matt Saunders too!💜
May 6, 2020
Thank you so much to Walker Books for sending me a copy of The Threads of Magic in exchange for an honest review!
Pip and his sister are living hand to mouth on whatever Pip can steal. When he manages to scoop up a strange, but expensive looking box, he's convinced their financial woes are over. When the pair open the box though, there's just a strange, shrivelled black lump inside, that looks kind of like an old heart. Pip's sister is convinced the heart is evil and demands Pip get rid of it immediately, but Pip feels like the heart is almost alive, and he can hear it talking to him... As it becomes clear the men who lost the heart are some of the most powerful men in the kingdom, Pip and his sister have to do everything they can to avoid being caught.
This is one of those middle grade books that is probably more suited to older middle grade to YA readers. It had a middle grade vibe, but the subject matter was a little heavier than most middle grade books. Full of forbidden magic, witches and sinister plots, The Threads of Magic skilfully weaves a story where you're never quite sure who is in the wrong. I loved the way the narrative shifted between several of the characters points of view, it felt like we got to know each and every characters' intentions and personality so well. With plenty of morally grey characters and themes revolving around what true friendship and kindness should look like, this was a spellbinding read I enjoyed immensely.
Pip and his sister are living hand to mouth on whatever Pip can steal. When he manages to scoop up a strange, but expensive looking box, he's convinced their financial woes are over. When the pair open the box though, there's just a strange, shrivelled black lump inside, that looks kind of like an old heart. Pip's sister is convinced the heart is evil and demands Pip get rid of it immediately, but Pip feels like the heart is almost alive, and he can hear it talking to him... As it becomes clear the men who lost the heart are some of the most powerful men in the kingdom, Pip and his sister have to do everything they can to avoid being caught.
This is one of those middle grade books that is probably more suited to older middle grade to YA readers. It had a middle grade vibe, but the subject matter was a little heavier than most middle grade books. Full of forbidden magic, witches and sinister plots, The Threads of Magic skilfully weaves a story where you're never quite sure who is in the wrong. I loved the way the narrative shifted between several of the characters points of view, it felt like we got to know each and every characters' intentions and personality so well. With plenty of morally grey characters and themes revolving around what true friendship and kindness should look like, this was a spellbinding read I enjoyed immensely.
November 28, 2019
An advanced reading copy of this book arrived at my work and I picked it up because the blurb sounded cool and it was recommended for fans of Francis Hardinge, of which I am one (because her stuff is great). After reading about 50 pages I realised that it was actually a kids book recommended for ages 9+, but I kept reading it because whatever it'd be a quick, nice read in between my masses of epic fantasy series that I normally read.
The general plot is that
I finished it in like 5 days. And it was not good. It took me that long to read 380 pages because I had to force myself to keep going.
First off, none of the characters were at all likeable. At all. If they weren't crying at a minor inconvenience, they were getting angry at each other and acting like arrogant, annoying, immature little brats. They also argued with each other nonstop over stupid things. These traits extended to all the ADULT characters in the book that should be mature but spend the ENTIRE time you know them sitting around a table arguing or blowing up over something someone else did.
There were a few themes and scenes that also shouldn't be in a children's book. A recurring theme was that "if you're a girl, your only purpose in life is to be owned by your father and then your husband and you're not good for anything except breeding". This is not something we should be telling young girls!! And although the author tried to balance this out by having a few "strong" female character's, I was not at all invested and did not buy the crappily handled "look how strong this girl is!! She's cool!" (because she wasn't either of those things). There was also a torture scene that, while PG, was still rather too explicit I feel for a kids book.
The plot was disjointed and just frankly a mess. There was hardly any flow and most of the time the explanation and world history was forced down your throat but still didn't make sense. It also fell for the age old plot hole of building up the massive baddie and giving him untouchable power and no-one could ever beat him now!! And then boom he's dead in half a paragraph in a very anticlimactic climax. Another plot hole was that at the start of the book, it makes such a fuss about how magic is illegal and banned and strictly forbidden, but then less than halfway through suddenly all the characters are witches and using magic left, right, and centre, and all the city citizens are talking about magic and "oh this thing happened?? The only explanation is witchcraft, which we were all told had been exterminated and if we ever talked about magic ever we would be thrown in the dungeons". Also, there was a decision by one of the baddies to It made zero sense. And then What?? That makes no sense either.
And the confusion keeps going. Pretty much all of the baddies and their henchmen are "assassins" taken off the streets and trained in orphanages, but honestly there was no assassin-ing. Everyone knew the assassins by name and appearance (which kind of defeats the point??) and all they did was wear black and walk around town. The amount of times the author said "assassin" also made it feel suspiciously like she has no idea what a real assassin is/does and thought that 'maybe if I just say assassin a billion times it will convince the reader that these people who do nothing at all are assassin's'.
Finally, the POV jumped around way too much and too disjointedly and it was confusing and just shoddily done. In fact, the only book that I've ever read that does this style of writing really well was Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer duology (which is fantastic!!). Every other time I've read a book like this it's been done really poorly and actually distances me from the story because I can't relate to any one character well enough.
Overall, I liked the idea of the book a lot. It was just done very, very poorly. I'll cut it some slack because I know it's a children's book, but really that's not an excuse for bad writing. There are some really GREAT children's books out there in the same genre e.g. Nevermoor (Jessica Townsend), Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan), among others. I had high hopes for this book when I picked it up. But I was rather disappointed....
Guess it's back to the fantasy epics.
The general plot is that
I finished it in like 5 days. And it was not good. It took me that long to read 380 pages because I had to force myself to keep going.
First off, none of the characters were at all likeable. At all. If they weren't crying at a minor inconvenience, they were getting angry at each other and acting like arrogant, annoying, immature little brats. They also argued with each other nonstop over stupid things. These traits extended to all the ADULT characters in the book that should be mature but spend the ENTIRE time you know them sitting around a table arguing or blowing up over something someone else did.
There were a few themes and scenes that also shouldn't be in a children's book. A recurring theme was that "if you're a girl, your only purpose in life is to be owned by your father and then your husband and you're not good for anything except breeding". This is not something we should be telling young girls!! And although the author tried to balance this out by having a few "strong" female character's, I was not at all invested and did not buy the crappily handled "look how strong this girl is!! She's cool!" (because she wasn't either of those things). There was also a torture scene that, while PG, was still rather too explicit I feel for a kids book.
The plot was disjointed and just frankly a mess. There was hardly any flow and most of the time the explanation and world history was forced down your throat but still didn't make sense. It also fell for the age old plot hole of building up the massive baddie and giving him untouchable power and no-one could ever beat him now!! And then boom he's dead in half a paragraph in a very anticlimactic climax. Another plot hole was that at the start of the book, it makes such a fuss about how magic is illegal and banned and strictly forbidden, but then less than halfway through suddenly all the characters are witches and using magic left, right, and centre, and all the city citizens are talking about magic and "oh this thing happened?? The only explanation is witchcraft, which we were all told had been exterminated and if we ever talked about magic ever we would be thrown in the dungeons". Also, there was a decision by one of the baddies to It made zero sense. And then What?? That makes no sense either.
And the confusion keeps going. Pretty much all of the baddies and their henchmen are "assassins" taken off the streets and trained in orphanages, but honestly there was no assassin-ing. Everyone knew the assassins by name and appearance (which kind of defeats the point??) and all they did was wear black and walk around town. The amount of times the author said "assassin" also made it feel suspiciously like she has no idea what a real assassin is/does and thought that 'maybe if I just say assassin a billion times it will convince the reader that these people who do nothing at all are assassin's'.
Finally, the POV jumped around way too much and too disjointedly and it was confusing and just shoddily done. In fact, the only book that I've ever read that does this style of writing really well was Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer duology (which is fantastic!!). Every other time I've read a book like this it's been done really poorly and actually distances me from the story because I can't relate to any one character well enough.
Overall, I liked the idea of the book a lot. It was just done very, very poorly. I'll cut it some slack because I know it's a children's book, but really that's not an excuse for bad writing. There are some really GREAT children's books out there in the same genre e.g. Nevermoor (Jessica Townsend), Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan), among others. I had high hopes for this book when I picked it up. But I was rather disappointed....
Guess it's back to the fantasy epics.
April 18, 2021
This was ok.
In parts I found it long winded.
It was action packed with lots of adventure.
In parts I found it long winded.
It was action packed with lots of adventure.
April 3, 2024
While I was initially really enjoying this story it got to a point where it started to feel like it was dragging on, and this caused me to lose a lot of focus and interest. I also at times felt like the story was too big, which I know you're probably sitting there going "well that contradicts what you just said" and true it does, but if this was a planned duology where the story could been properly told without feeling like it was dragging but also feeling like it was too full I probably wouldn't have felt this way and it all boils down to how many plot threads were moving and how many characters were involved, it started to feel like a burden keeping up with and that's where the dragging out feeling comes from.
I don't have an issue with a lot of characters but they do usually work better in a multi set series, not usually one book, and unfortunately because there was so many characters no one stood out. I honestly thought this was going to be about Pip, but at times I felt like he wasn't really there. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, something about it just didn't work for me, and i'm not entirely sure why.
January 12, 2023
I had a few mixed feelings on this book. There was so much I really enjoyed, but on a deeper level, I couldn't connect and it didn't feel well developed.
I liked the overall story quite a bit. It's a really cool high fantasy world. It basically deals with the persecution of witches, bad magic, a couple of orphaned kids, and a princess who's been treated like property her whole life.
All of the elements in the story worked, but I felt like everything needed more development. Like I enjoyed the princess subplot, and the subversion of a few princess tropes, but there was so little time spent on it that I never felt like I could connect with her storyline. The brief explanation of the magic system was super cool, but for the most part, I didn't understand how it functioned. I don't need a step by step guide, but they'd mention things like persuasion spells and I want to have a basic understanding of how that works and how it affects people.
There were so many things that weren't explained, or at least not explained until later in the book. There are assassins who are basically hired by the government and there were a lot of weird things around them. People kept talking about the assassin uniform or recognizing certain assassins, which confused me. Until later in the book it was mentioned that assassins double as guards in addition to all their murdery fun. Like I didn't realize this until the book was almost over. It would have been good to know that early on and it would have explained a lot. That's just a small example, but there was so much that I felt was just glossed over that hindered my overall understanding of the book.
I really liked all the characters. Pip is a 13 year old pickpocket who pretty much spearheads the story, along with his sister, their witchy friend, and a teenage princess. Pip is funny and pragmatic and very much behaves like a child, which I appreciated. For all his responsibilities, he felt like a little brother. Even in this fantasy world where children have to grow up young and provide for themselves, you could still see their immaturity. I love middle grade for that.
But as much as I loved the characters, I never quite connected with them emotionally. Some very sad things happen and I want to be emotionally affected. When they're talking about people they care about being potentially dead, I want to feel that pain. And I didn't. It often seemed like the characters' emotions were muted as well. The way they behaved wasn't always in line with how traumatic the situation should have been.
And I think something that contributed to that was how easily some situations were resolved. Something would happen that seemed awful and hopeless and everyone was scared, but then within a couple pages they'd be well on their way to everything being totally fine again. It never felt like the stakes were high enough for what was happening in the world.
I'm a bit confused as to the audience. The story and main characters felt like a lovely middle grade, but the language felt way too mature. Not in terms of profanity or anything like that, but just the overall vocabulary and sentence structure. I don't think I'd have been able to follow this well as a 10 year old. The plot was also sometimes very complex with a lot of moving pieces, that were not always well explained. Even as an adult there were a few times I got lost. I'm sure there are middle grade readers who would enjoy this, but it would have been confusing for me at that age. But I also feel like because the characters and overall story were geared toward a younger audience, the average YA reader would be dissatisfied as well.
I did enjoy a lot of this book, but it felt like it could have been so much better. Either lengthened and much more developed, or simplified into a smaller story. I just needed a lot more from it. But it was a very enjoyable three stars and I'm glad I read it. I don't think this was bad by any means and I'd recommend it to adults who enjoy middle grade fantasy, but I just wanted so much more.
I liked the overall story quite a bit. It's a really cool high fantasy world. It basically deals with the persecution of witches, bad magic, a couple of orphaned kids, and a princess who's been treated like property her whole life.
All of the elements in the story worked, but I felt like everything needed more development. Like I enjoyed the princess subplot, and the subversion of a few princess tropes, but there was so little time spent on it that I never felt like I could connect with her storyline. The brief explanation of the magic system was super cool, but for the most part, I didn't understand how it functioned. I don't need a step by step guide, but they'd mention things like persuasion spells and I want to have a basic understanding of how that works and how it affects people.
There were so many things that weren't explained, or at least not explained until later in the book. There are assassins who are basically hired by the government and there were a lot of weird things around them. People kept talking about the assassin uniform or recognizing certain assassins, which confused me. Until later in the book it was mentioned that assassins double as guards in addition to all their murdery fun. Like I didn't realize this until the book was almost over. It would have been good to know that early on and it would have explained a lot. That's just a small example, but there was so much that I felt was just glossed over that hindered my overall understanding of the book.
I really liked all the characters. Pip is a 13 year old pickpocket who pretty much spearheads the story, along with his sister, their witchy friend, and a teenage princess. Pip is funny and pragmatic and very much behaves like a child, which I appreciated. For all his responsibilities, he felt like a little brother. Even in this fantasy world where children have to grow up young and provide for themselves, you could still see their immaturity. I love middle grade for that.
But as much as I loved the characters, I never quite connected with them emotionally. Some very sad things happen and I want to be emotionally affected. When they're talking about people they care about being potentially dead, I want to feel that pain. And I didn't. It often seemed like the characters' emotions were muted as well. The way they behaved wasn't always in line with how traumatic the situation should have been.
And I think something that contributed to that was how easily some situations were resolved. Something would happen that seemed awful and hopeless and everyone was scared, but then within a couple pages they'd be well on their way to everything being totally fine again. It never felt like the stakes were high enough for what was happening in the world.
I'm a bit confused as to the audience. The story and main characters felt like a lovely middle grade, but the language felt way too mature. Not in terms of profanity or anything like that, but just the overall vocabulary and sentence structure. I don't think I'd have been able to follow this well as a 10 year old. The plot was also sometimes very complex with a lot of moving pieces, that were not always well explained. Even as an adult there were a few times I got lost. I'm sure there are middle grade readers who would enjoy this, but it would have been confusing for me at that age. But I also feel like because the characters and overall story were geared toward a younger audience, the average YA reader would be dissatisfied as well.
I did enjoy a lot of this book, but it felt like it could have been so much better. Either lengthened and much more developed, or simplified into a smaller story. I just needed a lot more from it. But it was a very enjoyable three stars and I'm glad I read it. I don't think this was bad by any means and I'd recommend it to adults who enjoy middle grade fantasy, but I just wanted so much more.
September 14, 2021
Tightly woven intrigue and a vibrant world make this a read which is hard to put down and easy to get lost in.
Pip is a street thief and does his best to keep himself and his younger sister alive. When he gets his hands on a silver box inlayed with jewels, he's sure their fate is about to take a change. That is, until he discovers what is inside. Magic is forbidden, and witches long destroyed and erased from the kingdom, but somehow, he's managed to stumble right into a spell. But this isn't any spell, and his thievery has opened a dark secret, one which threatens to destroy life as he knows it...and unveil a darkness lurking behind the kingdom's facade.
This is a darker tale and does deal with death, murder, and blood magic. So, more sensitive readers should beware. That said, it is still very middle grade appropriate and does push any of these areas too far.
I was looking forward to reading this one and wasn't disappointed. Pip is an orphan with a huge heart. He's quick witted but does make mistakes. If it wasn't for his younger sister, best friend, and new friend (which I'm not going to say who it is because that gives away some of the plot), he'd stumble into more trouble than is good for him. In other words, friendship is important in this book and especially concentrates on the aspect of trust. Family relations also play an important role, and this one involves a mother/daughter one, which is simply warming.
The pacing is well done and molds the world building right in, so that there's never a boring moment. The world forms as the story speeds along, allowing the reader to sink in and feel as if they were joining Pip and his sister in the adventure. There's a lot going on in this book...I did wonder how the author was going to manage to stuff such a complicated plot into only one book...but it's well done. By changing up the points of view as necessary, time is saved and the action is kept front and center. Since the scenes changes hold to the chapters, it's never confusing, either. Unfortunately, the author does do perspective changes between characters sometimes from one paragraph to the other, which jolted, but the tale was intriguing enough to make this only a small stumble. The quick space also allowed a couple more emotional moments to loose their impact and especially one, almost was too shallow to be believable. Otherwise, everything sits wonderfully, and I couldn't put this one down, since I had to see what happened next.
Summed up, this one is definitely worth a read. The world is rich, the tale is packed with adventure, and it never talks down to the audience. So, yep, put this one on your to be read list.
Pip is a street thief and does his best to keep himself and his younger sister alive. When he gets his hands on a silver box inlayed with jewels, he's sure their fate is about to take a change. That is, until he discovers what is inside. Magic is forbidden, and witches long destroyed and erased from the kingdom, but somehow, he's managed to stumble right into a spell. But this isn't any spell, and his thievery has opened a dark secret, one which threatens to destroy life as he knows it...and unveil a darkness lurking behind the kingdom's facade.
This is a darker tale and does deal with death, murder, and blood magic. So, more sensitive readers should beware. That said, it is still very middle grade appropriate and does push any of these areas too far.
I was looking forward to reading this one and wasn't disappointed. Pip is an orphan with a huge heart. He's quick witted but does make mistakes. If it wasn't for his younger sister, best friend, and new friend (which I'm not going to say who it is because that gives away some of the plot), he'd stumble into more trouble than is good for him. In other words, friendship is important in this book and especially concentrates on the aspect of trust. Family relations also play an important role, and this one involves a mother/daughter one, which is simply warming.
The pacing is well done and molds the world building right in, so that there's never a boring moment. The world forms as the story speeds along, allowing the reader to sink in and feel as if they were joining Pip and his sister in the adventure. There's a lot going on in this book...I did wonder how the author was going to manage to stuff such a complicated plot into only one book...but it's well done. By changing up the points of view as necessary, time is saved and the action is kept front and center. Since the scenes changes hold to the chapters, it's never confusing, either. Unfortunately, the author does do perspective changes between characters sometimes from one paragraph to the other, which jolted, but the tale was intriguing enough to make this only a small stumble. The quick space also allowed a couple more emotional moments to loose their impact and especially one, almost was too shallow to be believable. Otherwise, everything sits wonderfully, and I couldn't put this one down, since I had to see what happened next.
Summed up, this one is definitely worth a read. The world is rich, the tale is packed with adventure, and it never talks down to the audience. So, yep, put this one on your to be read list.
January 30, 2020
Alison Croggon (author of the phenomenal Books of Pellinor series) has woven a mesmerising story, the like of which I have been longing to read. With flowing, lyrical writing and complex world-building, you are thrown into a world of sinister schemes, impossible possibilities and ancient enchantments come to life. Fantasy? Oh yes; but every word is completely believable and fully real as it tells a story of loyalty, sacrifice and bravery. The setting of the story is so expertly described that the reader moves fluidly through, envisioning each space to such extent that it is filled with sights, sounds, smells. Each character is well-rounded; the heroes are indeed heroic, but very flawed. The 'bad guys' are full of evil and maliciousness, but there is also something...likable(?), understandable(?) about them. The whole book vibrates with a dark, delicious tension relieved by bits of humour sprinkled here and there before tossing the reader back into the fray. Its' pace is pitch-perfect. It pulls on the readers' heart while causing you to think and see; really see; at the same time. Vivid, compelling, utterly, utterly magical.
December 2, 2021
This fantasy novel weaves a great tale but not for its intended audience. The book appears to be aimed at the middle grade crowd, based on the ages of the main characters and the way the story is presented, but its extremely high-level vocabulary and complex passages almost ensure that no one in that age group could get through this novel. The book is very readable for an adult or highly motivated teen fantasy reader. The story also involves complicated relationships and kingdoms, some of which are outlined in a family tree before the first chapter, but this aspect just adds another difficulty in an already-complex book. Still, the writing is high-quality, and the story line is interesting and resolves in a satisfying way. This book is recommended as an optional purchase for middle or high school collections, especially those where fantasy is popular.
April 17, 2020
This charming middle grade book really impressed me! It's so nice to read a standalone fantasy once in a while.
Croggan build a lovely world with princesses, street thieves, witches and talking owls. The bad guy is really bad, and the main characters are all relateably flawed teens doing their best to figure out ethics, friendship, loyalty and courage, while never falling into the trap of sounding like an after school special. If I had had a copy of this when I was 10 or, I probably would have read it again and again until the binding fell off.
If you have a middle grade kid in your life who likes fantasy books, pick this up for them. There's a lot of adventure and friendship here, and it all wraps up satisfactorily.
Croggan build a lovely world with princesses, street thieves, witches and talking owls. The bad guy is really bad, and the main characters are all relateably flawed teens doing their best to figure out ethics, friendship, loyalty and courage, while never falling into the trap of sounding like an after school special. If I had had a copy of this when I was 10 or, I probably would have read it again and again until the binding fell off.
If you have a middle grade kid in your life who likes fantasy books, pick this up for them. There's a lot of adventure and friendship here, and it all wraps up satisfactorily.
February 4, 2020
An exciting fantasy for middle grade readers - combines witches, friendship, loyalty & resistance in a heartstopping adventure.
April 7, 2021
The plot of The Threads of Magic involves a powerful magical artifact, an ancient war between Specter's and the witches of Clarel, and the royals who want to claim the artifact to further their power. A long time ago, one of the witches created the artifact by taking the heart of a little boy, her intent was to use it to stop the Specter's. However the artifact came with its own difficulties and was thought to be too unstable, it was meant to be imprisoned in the box as its casket. Then Pip took possession of the heart and accidentally unleashed its powers. The heart began to communicate with Pip, telling him his story, how he once was a young Prince named Clovis. All the while, Clovis motives aren't clear to Pip, can Clovis be trusted or is he evil or dangerous? Clovis had a very youthful quality, behaving just as a young child might, he gets angry easy and is very uncertain even untrusting of others. What Clovis is eager for is a friend, which is understandable given how long he was confined in that box. At times, Pip doesn't want to be bothered by Clovis, but eventually through the help of Georgette, Oni and El, he starts to realize that it's important to teach Clovis what being a true friend entails. I quite enjoyed my read of The Threads of Magic. The story shifts between the perspectives of various characters building on their relationships to Clovis and what the Specter's hope to accomplish with him. There's a good bit of magic, especially when it comes to the witches, which was fun and I was vested in wanting to find out how things would resolve for Clovis. Plus it sort of had a Dicken's vibe going for it which I enjoyed.
May 19, 2021
I love this author's YA series, The Books of Pellinor, so I was very excited when she published a middle-grade fantasy because I get to share her with my sons. The Threads of Magic was rather an epic fantasy middle-grade read; great world building, fantastic cast of characters, dynamic friendships, evil to be vanquished, and all sorts of themes available for discussions. The one thing I was really surprised at was the number of big words (!) so I'd highly recommend this novel for advanced middle grade readers or at least, those willing to tackle those tricky words.
October 22, 2024
A bit like A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, but for kids. There are some differences, however. Though both are of the sword and sorcery genre, A Song of Ice and Fire has too much sword and not enough sorcery, while The Threads of Magic has too much sorcery and not enough sword. But there is plenty of political wheeling and dealing, power struggles, and back-stabbing, on all sides.
In the city and kingdom of Clarel, the royal family had been taken over by evil being called spectres, though a non-spectral usurper had temporarily ousted the spectres from the royal family itself, but were clearly no better than spectres. The church's leadership, represented by a sole Cardinal, is possibly also infested with spectres, who eliminated their enemies, the witches, a century earlier, and have a team of assassins to ensure they never reappear.
And then there is Pip, a 12-year-old orphan who lives with his older sister Eleanor, and supports them by picking pockets in the Dickensian city. Unfortunately he picks the pocket of an assassin, getting a magical artifact in a jewelled box. He pawns the box and is about to throw away the artifact, the shrivelled heart of Clovis, the heir to the throne and next-in-line for spectreship, had the throne not been taken by the usurper and his heart by a witch when he was seven. And Clovis, whose spirit is trapped in the heart by the witch, wants Pip to keep him.
Oh, and there's a Princess Georgette, whose father wants to marry her off to a neighbouring King for the sake of a political alliance. And there are numerous other characters too, all taking part in this complicated wheeling and dealing political dance, with each party dancing to the music of its own band, playing its own tune, and out of tune and with sudden changes of tempo.
I found it hard to like any of the characters very much. They all seemed emotionally unstable, being kind one moment and nasty the next. The settings seemed inconsistent too -- witches had been eradicated a century earlier, and then one or two appear, and then suddenly they are there in large numbers and have been all along, and even dominate one quarter of the city, and are behind the running of a midsummer festival in which everyone takes part. And at the end of the story, no one seems to know, or care, what happened to the heart that started all the trouble.
In the city and kingdom of Clarel, the royal family had been taken over by evil being called spectres, though a non-spectral usurper had temporarily ousted the spectres from the royal family itself, but were clearly no better than spectres. The church's leadership, represented by a sole Cardinal, is possibly also infested with spectres, who eliminated their enemies, the witches, a century earlier, and have a team of assassins to ensure they never reappear.
And then there is Pip, a 12-year-old orphan who lives with his older sister Eleanor, and supports them by picking pockets in the Dickensian city. Unfortunately he picks the pocket of an assassin, getting a magical artifact in a jewelled box. He pawns the box and is about to throw away the artifact, the shrivelled heart of Clovis, the heir to the throne and next-in-line for spectreship, had the throne not been taken by the usurper and his heart by a witch when he was seven. And Clovis, whose spirit is trapped in the heart by the witch, wants Pip to keep him.
Oh, and there's a Princess Georgette, whose father wants to marry her off to a neighbouring King for the sake of a political alliance. And there are numerous other characters too, all taking part in this complicated wheeling and dealing political dance, with each party dancing to the music of its own band, playing its own tune, and out of tune and with sudden changes of tempo.
I found it hard to like any of the characters very much. They all seemed emotionally unstable, being kind one moment and nasty the next. The settings seemed inconsistent too -- witches had been eradicated a century earlier, and then one or two appear, and then suddenly they are there in large numbers and have been all along, and even dominate one quarter of the city, and are behind the running of a midsummer festival in which everyone takes part. And at the end of the story, no one seems to know, or care, what happened to the heart that started all the trouble.
May 5, 2021
I love Alison Croggon’s work, and this one is no different.
(I would also like to say from the beginning I’m not one to rehash what you can find out by reading the description. That’s not my way of reviewing. I’d rather discuss what worked for me and what possibly didn’t.)
Thank you for making this a stand-alone and not turning it into the ever increasingly, not always necessary trilogy.
Even as an adult, I appreciated the shorter chapters, although others felt this was negated by the opinion it was a bit long for the target audience.
I personally feel as if it could have actually been extended a bit, so that the end didn’t appear as abbreviated and rushed, as other reviewers mentioned as well.
I am somewhat surprised at what age group this is written for. There are certain scenes, and even the level of grammar used, that seemed to be at a higher level than assigned. I can’t imagine my nieces and nephews in the targeted age group having an easy time with some of this.
A few of the scenes are quite graphic, and disturbing in a nightmarish inducing way, for young impressionable minds.
I really enjoyed the multiple “main” characters that were identified and followed throughout the book. Quite an eclectic blend to cheer for, as well as the others you were hoping that justice would be meted out appropriately to in the end.
The finale still produced an excellent wrap up, and I often think the reason so many feel it has arrived too soon, is more a matter of disappointment that the conclusion of such an exceptional book has arrived. The journey has reached its climax, and I personally dislike “filler” pages pushing up the page numbers. Nothing wrong with the inevitable, succinct conclusion!
(I would also like to say from the beginning I’m not one to rehash what you can find out by reading the description. That’s not my way of reviewing. I’d rather discuss what worked for me and what possibly didn’t.)
Thank you for making this a stand-alone and not turning it into the ever increasingly, not always necessary trilogy.
Even as an adult, I appreciated the shorter chapters, although others felt this was negated by the opinion it was a bit long for the target audience.
I personally feel as if it could have actually been extended a bit, so that the end didn’t appear as abbreviated and rushed, as other reviewers mentioned as well.
I am somewhat surprised at what age group this is written for. There are certain scenes, and even the level of grammar used, that seemed to be at a higher level than assigned. I can’t imagine my nieces and nephews in the targeted age group having an easy time with some of this.
A few of the scenes are quite graphic, and disturbing in a nightmarish inducing way, for young impressionable minds.
I really enjoyed the multiple “main” characters that were identified and followed throughout the book. Quite an eclectic blend to cheer for, as well as the others you were hoping that justice would be meted out appropriately to in the end.
The finale still produced an excellent wrap up, and I often think the reason so many feel it has arrived too soon, is more a matter of disappointment that the conclusion of such an exceptional book has arrived. The journey has reached its climax, and I personally dislike “filler” pages pushing up the page numbers. Nothing wrong with the inevitable, succinct conclusion!
January 15, 2020
'The Threads of Magic' is a book filled with soft chimes of terror threatening to engulf you whole. It is a fantasy adventure based on forbidden magic that also tackles the themes of friendship and courage.
Reading this made me feel lost but not totally lost. I had a sense of direction of where the plot was going. At the same time, I wasn't sure where I was. This story spans 384 pages and is quite substantial for younger readers. You thought that there would be a destination the story was going towards. Unfortunately, the whole experience seems to me like winding through many small and anonymous streets.
I didn't exactly warmed up to the characters either. Well, except for Amiable the cat. She's sassy and is probably the only rational one.
What's good about this is the message of friendship and courage which is so important for the targeted audience who are learning so much about people and the world. The author showed that anything is possible with the right people supporting you. Having courage is more than not being afraid. It's not letting the fear stop you from achieveing your goals.
Overall, it was slightly underwhelming. The climax appears out of reach, teetering to the edge. And nothing really happens. The real gem is what the author is trying to convery through her story. The themes covered is something worth unravelling. Thank you #pansing @definitelybooks for the arc! Whoa, I was not expecting for my favourite character to be a sassy cat but I'm glad for the surprise!
..
Slightly underwhelming but the underlying themes of loneliness and courage makes up for it.
Not a huge fan of the other characters. Amiable the cat won me over hands down !
Reading this made me feel lost but not totally lost. I had a sense of direction of where the plot was going. At the same time, I wasn't sure where I was. This story spans 384 pages and is quite substantial for younger readers. You thought that there would be a destination the story was going towards. Unfortunately, the whole experience seems to me like winding through many small and anonymous streets.
I didn't exactly warmed up to the characters either. Well, except for Amiable the cat. She's sassy and is probably the only rational one.
What's good about this is the message of friendship and courage which is so important for the targeted audience who are learning so much about people and the world. The author showed that anything is possible with the right people supporting you. Having courage is more than not being afraid. It's not letting the fear stop you from achieveing your goals.
Overall, it was slightly underwhelming. The climax appears out of reach, teetering to the edge. And nothing really happens. The real gem is what the author is trying to convery through her story. The themes covered is something worth unravelling. Thank you #pansing @definitelybooks for the arc! Whoa, I was not expecting for my favourite character to be a sassy cat but I'm glad for the surprise!
..
Slightly underwhelming but the underlying themes of loneliness and courage makes up for it.
Not a huge fan of the other characters. Amiable the cat won me over hands down !
January 22, 2020
The Threads Of Magic is the story of the people of Clarel who goes through hardship and tackle down a villain together for an overall better life for everyone. Croggon has brought to life a story that is dark, complex and absolutely wonderful. I wish that everyone will get the chance to read this enchanting book that is full of adventure, evil and the greatness of friendship and loyalty.
There really was never a dull and boring moment as I spent my time reading this book. This book is complex and I am absolutely awestruck that this is a middle grade book because I, as an adult had so much fun going along with the characters, background and everything this book consists of.
Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint a plot hole because everything fits so well and this is overall a really amazing book. I like that it includes so many characters' point of views and I really got to know each and everyone, how different they all are and how much they fit the purpose of the story.
For a short book, the world building was absolutely perfect. But apart from that, the author has managed to tackle so many things in less than 400 pages and I really find that awesome. I really did not expect this book to be this way and I really am so glad that I picked this book up. It was absolutely magical, enchanting and spoke volumes regarding friendship that anyone is capable of anything when you have your friends beside you to support and be with you through pain, sadness, happiness and all the others.
There really was never a dull and boring moment as I spent my time reading this book. This book is complex and I am absolutely awestruck that this is a middle grade book because I, as an adult had so much fun going along with the characters, background and everything this book consists of.
Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint a plot hole because everything fits so well and this is overall a really amazing book. I like that it includes so many characters' point of views and I really got to know each and everyone, how different they all are and how much they fit the purpose of the story.
For a short book, the world building was absolutely perfect. But apart from that, the author has managed to tackle so many things in less than 400 pages and I really find that awesome. I really did not expect this book to be this way and I really am so glad that I picked this book up. It was absolutely magical, enchanting and spoke volumes regarding friendship that anyone is capable of anything when you have your friends beside you to support and be with you through pain, sadness, happiness and all the others.
August 14, 2020
My overall thoughts about this book is that I really enjoyed my time when reading it. It’s easy to read but it tackles some dark themes for a children’s book and it’s packed with action.
My favourite thing about this book was the setting. I think the author handled the worldbuilding so well. I could imagine every place the characters went in my head and put myself in the situation with them without the text getting overly explanatory and repetitive. The world of witches was so interesting to read about and I could read more books from the author just explaining the withes and their customs in this book. It was very easy to get invested in their history and their cause.
However, as much as I loved the setting and the witches there were still some problems with this book. My biggest issue was how the Witches Council acted in the end battle. Throughout the most of the book we see the witches as these smart women who are able to plan and get things done quickly and efficiently. We see that they KNOW how to deal with problems and they are strong and smart. However, in the end when the people start to rise against the king and we face our villain they don’t do anything. They just argue with each other and don’t get shit done. Our heroes are the children but they don’t become heroes because they plan something smart, they win the fight because of sheer luck. The ending felt like it was incompetent and rushes writing. It didn’t fit well with the rest of the book and it was kind of disappointing to read.
My favourite thing about this book was the setting. I think the author handled the worldbuilding so well. I could imagine every place the characters went in my head and put myself in the situation with them without the text getting overly explanatory and repetitive. The world of witches was so interesting to read about and I could read more books from the author just explaining the withes and their customs in this book. It was very easy to get invested in their history and their cause.
However, as much as I loved the setting and the witches there were still some problems with this book. My biggest issue was how the Witches Council acted in the end battle. Throughout the most of the book we see the witches as these smart women who are able to plan and get things done quickly and efficiently. We see that they KNOW how to deal with problems and they are strong and smart. However, in the end when the people start to rise against the king and we face our villain they don’t do anything. They just argue with each other and don’t get shit done. Our heroes are the children but they don’t become heroes because they plan something smart, they win the fight because of sheer luck. The ending felt like it was incompetent and rushes writing. It didn’t fit well with the rest of the book and it was kind of disappointing to read.
May 19, 2022
The Threads of Magic
1.5 Stars
Pip pickpockets the wrong man at the wrong time. His life spirals into a series of unfortunate events. Assassins are after him, and Pip and El are not safe anymore. Pip finds out that the object he stole is actually the heart of a child. A child; who was dangerous and killed by witches. Pip and El seek out their friend Oni. Secrets are unraveled, witches are revealed, and Georgette heir to the throne, has run away.
I really wanted to like this book. The thing about this book was I had no strong feelings. I didn't like it, love it, hate it, or find it okay. I drifted through it like a leaf without a branch. I felt as though I was watching something, and feeling completely disconnected. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. I couldn't care for any of the characters. The world-building felt very underdeveloped. I felt like most of this was stumbling until the ending. I do hope that everyone else who reads this will love it!
1.5 Stars
Pip pickpockets the wrong man at the wrong time. His life spirals into a series of unfortunate events. Assassins are after him, and Pip and El are not safe anymore. Pip finds out that the object he stole is actually the heart of a child. A child; who was dangerous and killed by witches. Pip and El seek out their friend Oni. Secrets are unraveled, witches are revealed, and Georgette heir to the throne, has run away.
I really wanted to like this book. The thing about this book was I had no strong feelings. I didn't like it, love it, hate it, or find it okay. I drifted through it like a leaf without a branch. I felt as though I was watching something, and feeling completely disconnected. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. I couldn't care for any of the characters. The world-building felt very underdeveloped. I felt like most of this was stumbling until the ending. I do hope that everyone else who reads this will love it!
March 6, 2021
Orphan Pip, a young, street-wise pickpocket, hides amongst the shadows of dark alleys to relieve his victims of some of their treasures. One night, unbeknownst to him at first, two nobles drop a curious silver box in a scuffle with other street-goers. Pip picks it up and it changes his life.
He brings the box home to the apartment he shares with his sister, El. There must be some valuable treasure inside to warrant such a magnificent box! Try as they may though, it does not open...that is until Pip politely 'asks' the box to open. What's inside astounds them. It is a blackened, shriveled human heart. What could that mean?
This sets off a series of events that involves witches & witchcraft, magic, specters, royalty, and good vs. evil. Pip and El, along with old friend, Oni and new friend, Georgette band together to right some wrongs and help a very lonely, little boy named Clovis.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, and Alison Croggon for this ARC.
He brings the box home to the apartment he shares with his sister, El. There must be some valuable treasure inside to warrant such a magnificent box! Try as they may though, it does not open...that is until Pip politely 'asks' the box to open. What's inside astounds them. It is a blackened, shriveled human heart. What could that mean?
This sets off a series of events that involves witches & witchcraft, magic, specters, royalty, and good vs. evil. Pip and El, along with old friend, Oni and new friend, Georgette band together to right some wrongs and help a very lonely, little boy named Clovis.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, and Alison Croggon for this ARC.
May 1, 2021
New and marvelous world-building with a trio PLUS of wonderful characters makes a fantasy worth reading. This is an adventure I could not stop reading. It begins in a Dickensian world with a young boy sliding through dark alleys, in and out, back and forth until he sees an opportunity for theft, his way of surviving. It begins with a dropped box, silvery glowing with jewels. He'll eat well tonight! Yet inside that box, that opens only when asked nicely, is something not so nice, actually repugnant. Thus, the tale begins, including frights and witches, specters and royals, goodness and evil. Just the book to read aloud perhaps to a class ready for an adventure. Last note: I struggled to keep track of all the characters who were introduced. This probably fits an older mid-grade reader best.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy, first published by Walker Books in the UK.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy, first published by Walker Books in the UK.
March 27, 2020
There was quite a lot of struggle reading this, which is odd because individually I really enjoyed the characters, plot, world...the witches. I think the headhopping held me back from becoming deeply invested in any, as my cold dead heart requires some coddling and a lot of page space to really FEEL.
I would have loved to read this story tethered to one or two characters, but if that were the case I don't know how all the information would find its way to the reader.
I nearly DNF'ed it at about the three quarter mark and am glad I pushed on- really enjoyed the final conflict and wind down.
I would have loved to read this story tethered to one or two characters, but if that were the case I don't know how all the information would find its way to the reader.
I nearly DNF'ed it at about the three quarter mark and am glad I pushed on- really enjoyed the final conflict and wind down.
April 1, 2020
As this is pitched at younger readers, it is easy to read quite quickly. I love the depth and imagination of Alison Groggons magical worlds. There are themes of friendships, bravery , ruling systems and women’s roles here. The witches had been forced underground, but they still were formidable enough, with the help of Clovis to defeat the Spectres. The children in this are special in some ways, but also retain childish traits. If you are prepared to step into this world, buckle your seat belts and enjoy the ride, as I did.
July 20, 2020
This was a fast paced cracking read set in an historical, fantasy country where witchcraft has fallen from favour and is now outlawed. Told from multiple perspectives, and set in the city of Clarel, the lives of four teenagers are intertwined. When Pip steals a silver box that holds a deep dark secret, danger and evil are unleashed as witches and spectres seek to take the heart within for good or evil. An atmospheric adventure younger teens. The ending was just a bit too neat and abrupt to be entirely convincing but still a great fantasy, stand alone read.
July 11, 2020
I enjoyed this! It's a great new standalone fantasy (and we always need more of those!) with dark magic, witches, friendship and bravery. This was a well-managed MG fantasy - the danger was very palpable, but not unnecessarily descriptive. While not the best book I've read recently, I was pleasantly surprised by the storyline and how readable it was. I'm definitely interested to see how younger readers find it!
May 29, 2021
If this book had been written for adults, it would be grimdark fantasy--a repressed populace, a usurper king trying for a male heir, the ominous presence of two undead body-snatchers ready to sacrifice anything and anyone for a chance at immortality, a murdered prince's unquiet soul. Since it's written for a middle-grade/YA audience, it is not grimdark, but I can feel the sharp edges beneath the carefully-chosen words.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 28, 2021 .The Threads of Magic follows the adventure of Pip, young pickpocket, little did he know ,he has pickpocketed the wrong person and finds himself in a bit of trouble. With various plot changes this book might keep you interested.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is the short chapters so I could take breaks and the connection I started to feel for the characters.
I would recommend this book.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is the short chapters so I could take breaks and the connection I started to feel for the characters.
I would recommend this book.
August 30, 2023
It took me a while to finish reading this as the dark parts of the story were really quite dark. There was a lot to like about it though, especially the way five young friends worked together to bring the darkness to an end. I read this book after finishing Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures, a book which also contained dark aspects. Both were very well written and both made me appreciate the quality of the writing and the story.
July 8, 2020
A wonderful tale bursting with adventure and magic!
The fusion of magic within the fabric of the crumbling kingdom created an amazing setting for this awesome middle grade tale. I loved how the streets above (and below!) the kingdom seemed to take on a life of their own alongside the characters.
To me, Pip had great development throughout the story. Though he acted out impulsively at times, it assisted the plot to move forward. I also enjoyed how he and his sister looked out for each other, despite all the challenges that were thrown their way.
This is definitely a fun adventure for those who are stuck at home!
Thank you @walkerbooksaus for gifting me this story to read and review!
The fusion of magic within the fabric of the crumbling kingdom created an amazing setting for this awesome middle grade tale. I loved how the streets above (and below!) the kingdom seemed to take on a life of their own alongside the characters.
To me, Pip had great development throughout the story. Though he acted out impulsively at times, it assisted the plot to move forward. I also enjoyed how he and his sister looked out for each other, despite all the challenges that were thrown their way.
This is definitely a fun adventure for those who are stuck at home!
Thank you @walkerbooksaus for gifting me this story to read and review!
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