Threadneedle by Cari Thomas

Synopsis

‘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?

Review

Threadneedle has been on my radar since last year, so I can’t tell you how excited I was to be given the opportunity to review and be part of the blog tour. Threadneedle is the story of Anna, who not only faces the usual pit falls of being sixteen, but she is different in a way none of her contemporaries could know. Anna is a witch, but her aunt teaches her that magic is a sin so she can’t do spells. She just wants to blend in and study, but her life is thrown into turmoil when Effie and Attis arrive like a bomb in her life. They show her a different side to magic, a different life if Anna is willing to take a chance.

I was really looking forward to reading Threadneedle and it didn’t disappoint. This is, pardon the pun, a magical read, full of drama, spells and amazing characters. Whilst the book is told from Anna’s point of view, this is also Effie’s story. Anna and Effie are total opposites, Anna is quiet, has no friends, doesn’t go out and is very much under the control of her aunt. Her parents died when she was a baby, leaving her in the care of her mother’s sister. Her aunt teaches her magic is sinful, she must fight it, not let her emotions take over. Anna’s life is hard, with plenty of chores before school and no life outside the house or school. Effie is everything Anna is not. She is attractive, popular, is able to perform magic, is rebellious and has Attis. Attis and Effie transform Anna’s life, she has friends for the first time and really starts to blossom as a young women and witch. I loved watching her learning to trust others, become part of a group and starting to question her aunts choices and begin to stand up for herself.

If you get the hardback copy of Threadneedle you will find a wonderful map at the front of the London with the usual sights we all know, but also with some of the magical sites in London, including a mailbox that will send a letter to anyone, a magical nightclub and a shop of memories where if you touch an object you can see the memory of the last person to own it. I loved the world Cari Thomas created, a feather that slows time, make up that hides all imperfections and a dew face wash that gives you a glow and perfect beauty. There are many laugh out loud moments but there are also consequences to learn from some of Anna and Effie’s actions. The writing is brilliant, capturing the emotions of the teenage years, the psyche and feelings of trying to find their way in the world. The words painted a picture in my mind of the familiar and magical settings and the very different houses of Effie and Anna.

I adored reading Threadneedle, it was as magical as I hoped for and had me spellbound. With characters I really cared about, and an amazing magical world. Cari Thomas perfectly balanced humour and drama that draw you in and make this such a pleasure to read. I’d love to think that there maybe a sequel as I’d love to spend more time with Anna, Effie and the gorgeous Attis. Simply sublime!!

I would like to thank Harper Voyager and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour in return for my honest review.