I really wanted to like this book - the premise (magic is always good!) is interesting and even the physical book itself is a beautiful thing to behold with its attractive design and embossed cover.
There are genuinely some lovely ideas - the magical library and the suggestion of an alternative enchanted underbelly to London in particular - and in fact the book is at its best when describing the landscape of the city and its nuances. The main protagonist (Anna) is well-portrayed and complex, you truly feel all that she has to grapple with.
But there are some serious issues. Firstly, the tone is odd. There are some disturbing/nasty episodes and the relationship between Anna and her aunt (and the circle to which her aunt belongs) is downright abusive. The fate of those who have antagonised Anna and her friends in school is prolonged and tasteless. Strong language is often employed yet a great deal of the book reads more like derivative teen-fiction. There are far too many chapters given over to 'girl-talk' and general banter which whilst well observed does little to further the plot. Which leads to the second problem. This book is far too long. A story which takes well over five hundred pages and even then has a deeply unsatisfying conclusion (albeit one which hints at a second book) could - with better editing - have been condensed to perhaps two thirds of its length.
There is only one male character of note amongst a sea of girls and women (who even then is somewhat devalued after the revelation of 'what' he is), any others are deeply stereotyped and one-dimensional. Any subsequent book will have to address this since the feeling is of deep imbalance and is unlikely to appeal to male readers.
All in all, this book is probably worth a look in that it is nicely written and Cari Thomas clearly has a passion for things magical and of the occult and has researched her subject well. But sadly not a page-turner.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
![Threadneedle: SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and most anticipated debut fantasy release of the year (Threadneedle) by [Cari Thomas]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bsSQmOl5L._SY346_.jpg)
Follow the author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobooks, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
£0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
Next 2 for you in this series
See full series
Total Kindle Price:
£7.48
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Price set by publisher.
Books In This Series (2 Books)
From the Publisher
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
A magical coming-of-age tale set in contemporary London
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2021
“Goddess of Silence and Secrets: Seal our mouths, so we can’t speak. Pierce our eyes, so we can’t seek. Knot our hearts, so we can’t feel. Bind our spells; to you we kneel. What is forgotten, can’t be known. What isn’t planted, can’t be sown. Lock the door and turn the key. We bear our magic silently. - The Binders’ Blessing”‘Threadneedle’ is Cari Thomas’ debut novel and the first in her four book ‘Language of Magic’ series, set in contemporary London. This was a smashing novel, brimming with magic. I did a dual read/listen and its unabridged audiobook edition is narrated by Bea Holland.Anna is a fifteen-year old orphan, gifted (or cursed) with magic. She has been raised by her Aunt Vivienne, who has always warned her of the dangers of magic. In a year’s time Anna will undergo the Knotting, a ceremony that will bind her magic and she will become a Binder like her Aunt. Then Selene, an old family friend of Anna’s mother and aunt, moves to London with her daughter, Effie, and Attis, a young family friend, who has been living with them in New York.Effie is enrolled in Anna’s school and while Anna has been lectured her whole life about not exposing her magic, Effie delights in being provocative with her magical talent. Anna reflects that “sending Effie into the ordinary, humdrum corridors of St Olave’s was surely like throwing a live firework at a haystack?”Effie identifies two other misfit girls at the school as having latent magical talent and before long she’s encouraged them to form a coven and then we enter ‘The Craft’ territory. Teen witch shenanigans follow and all the while Anna has to evade her Aunt’s surveillance. No further details to avoid spoilers.I enjoyed this novel very much. Cari Thomas clearly knows her subject and I was delighted to discover that the magic in ‘Threadneedle’ was grounded in traditional witchcraft and Wiccan practices rather than the more fantasy based magic found in much fiction of this type. I was especially impressed by the structure of the rituals. Such authenticity carries a lot of weight with me.In terms of the audiobook, I have enjoyed Bea Holland’s reading of a few audiobook titles and felt that her narration on ‘Threadneedle’ was excellent. She has a clear confident voice, which is something that I always appreciate in an audiobook reader. Even with the younger characters she didn’t voice their dialogue as ‘squeaky’.This was undoubtedly a long novel though I felt that this gave the author the space to develop her characters and world building including the hidden London populated by magical folk and esoteric locations. There’s a great deal of potential within and I can hardly wait to see where Thomas takes her readers in the future books.Just to note that while ‘Threadneedle’ is a coming-of-age story with young protagonists it has not been classified by the publisher as a Young Adult novel but as Occult Horror/Fantasy Horror/Urban Fantasy. So, no need for more mature readers to feel guilty.On a side note, its cover design is simply gorgeous and I am happy to add the hardback to my bookshelf.This was exactly the kind of magical-themed novel that I love and I am planning to recommend it widely and also look forward to further books in the ‘Language of Magic’ series.Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2021
Images in this review
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 October 2021
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2021
‘Threadneedle’ is Cari Thomas’ debut novel and the first in her four book ‘Language of Magic’ series, set in contemporary London. This was a smashing novel, brimming with magic. I did a dual read/listen and its unabridged audiobook edition is narrated by Bea Holland.
Anna is a fifteen-year old orphan, gifted (or cursed) with magic. She has been raised by her Aunt Vivienne, who has always warned her of the dangers of magic. In a year’s time Anna will undergo the Knotting, a ceremony that will bind her magic and she will become a Binder like her Aunt. Then Selene, an old family friend of Anna’s mother and aunt, moves to London with her daughter, Effie, and Attis, a young family friend, who has been living with them in New York.
Effie is enrolled in Anna’s school and while Anna has been lectured her whole life about not exposing her magic, Effie delights in being provocative with her magical talent. Anna reflects that “sending Effie into the ordinary, humdrum corridors of St Olave’s was surely like throwing a live firework at a haystack?”
Effie identifies two other misfit girls at the school as having latent magical talent and before long she’s encouraged them to form a coven and then we enter ‘The Craft’ territory. Teen witch shenanigans follow and all the while Anna has to evade her Aunt’s surveillance. No further details to avoid spoilers.
I enjoyed this novel very much. Cari Thomas clearly knows her subject and I was delighted to discover that the magic in ‘Threadneedle’ was grounded in traditional witchcraft and Wiccan practices rather than the more fantasy based magic found in much fiction of this type. I was especially impressed by the structure of the rituals. Such authenticity carries a lot of weight with me.
In terms of the audiobook, I have enjoyed Bea Holland’s reading of a few audiobook titles and felt that her narration on ‘Threadneedle’ was excellent. She has a clear confident voice, which is something that I always appreciate in an audiobook reader. Even with the younger characters she didn’t voice their dialogue as ‘squeaky’.
This was undoubtedly a long novel though I felt that this gave the author the space to develop her characters and world building including the hidden London populated by magical folk and esoteric locations. There’s a great deal of potential within and I can hardly wait to see where Thomas takes her readers in the future books.
Just to note that while ‘Threadneedle’ is a coming-of-age story with young protagonists it has not been classified by the publisher as a Young Adult novel but as Occult Horror/Fantasy Horror/Urban Fantasy. So, no need for more mature readers to feel guilty.
On a side note, its cover design is simply gorgeous and I am happy to add the hardback to my bookshelf.
This was exactly the kind of magical-themed novel that I love and I am planning to recommend it widely and also look forward to further books in the ‘Language of Magic’ series.
Highly recommended.
A magical coming-of-age tale set in contemporary London
By V. O'Regan on 27 May 2021
“Goddess of Silence and Secrets: Seal our mouths, so we can’t speak. Pierce our eyes, so we can’t seek. Knot our hearts, so we can’t feel. Bind our spells; to you we kneel. What is forgotten, can’t be known. What isn’t planted, can’t be sown. Lock the door and turn the key. We bear our magic silently. - The Binders’ Blessing”By V. O'Regan on 27 May 2021
‘Threadneedle’ is Cari Thomas’ debut novel and the first in her four book ‘Language of Magic’ series, set in contemporary London. This was a smashing novel, brimming with magic. I did a dual read/listen and its unabridged audiobook edition is narrated by Bea Holland.
Anna is a fifteen-year old orphan, gifted (or cursed) with magic. She has been raised by her Aunt Vivienne, who has always warned her of the dangers of magic. In a year’s time Anna will undergo the Knotting, a ceremony that will bind her magic and she will become a Binder like her Aunt. Then Selene, an old family friend of Anna’s mother and aunt, moves to London with her daughter, Effie, and Attis, a young family friend, who has been living with them in New York.
Effie is enrolled in Anna’s school and while Anna has been lectured her whole life about not exposing her magic, Effie delights in being provocative with her magical talent. Anna reflects that “sending Effie into the ordinary, humdrum corridors of St Olave’s was surely like throwing a live firework at a haystack?”
Effie identifies two other misfit girls at the school as having latent magical talent and before long she’s encouraged them to form a coven and then we enter ‘The Craft’ territory. Teen witch shenanigans follow and all the while Anna has to evade her Aunt’s surveillance. No further details to avoid spoilers.
I enjoyed this novel very much. Cari Thomas clearly knows her subject and I was delighted to discover that the magic in ‘Threadneedle’ was grounded in traditional witchcraft and Wiccan practices rather than the more fantasy based magic found in much fiction of this type. I was especially impressed by the structure of the rituals. Such authenticity carries a lot of weight with me.
In terms of the audiobook, I have enjoyed Bea Holland’s reading of a few audiobook titles and felt that her narration on ‘Threadneedle’ was excellent. She has a clear confident voice, which is something that I always appreciate in an audiobook reader. Even with the younger characters she didn’t voice their dialogue as ‘squeaky’.
This was undoubtedly a long novel though I felt that this gave the author the space to develop her characters and world building including the hidden London populated by magical folk and esoteric locations. There’s a great deal of potential within and I can hardly wait to see where Thomas takes her readers in the future books.
Just to note that while ‘Threadneedle’ is a coming-of-age story with young protagonists it has not been classified by the publisher as a Young Adult novel but as Occult Horror/Fantasy Horror/Urban Fantasy. So, no need for more mature readers to feel guilty.
On a side note, its cover design is simply gorgeous and I am happy to add the hardback to my bookshelf.
This was exactly the kind of magical-themed novel that I love and I am planning to recommend it widely and also look forward to further books in the ‘Language of Magic’ series.
Highly recommended.
Images in this review
