The Fragile Threads of Power Review
Like putting on an old favorite pair of fuzzy socks you thought you’d lost.
V. E. Schwab’s newest addition to her formidable oeuvre delighted me. The Fragile Threads of Power is a follow-on of her wildly successful Shades of Magic series that follows the four Londons seven years after Lila, Kell, and Rhy save Red London from the encroaching terrors of Black London. Now, seemingly, the Londons have gained a new balance and the trio’s biggest problems are healing from the trauma of an inter-dimensional war and interstate politics. They are, however, about to be thrown back into a cauldron of turmoil.
The mix of new characters interspersed with familiar favorites keeps the narrative from feeling stale. The characters we know from the original trilogy still have immense growth ahead of them (processing all that trauma — if you know, you know) and it never feels like they or Schwab are coasting on previous books. The two main additions are Kosika, the young new queen of White London, and Tes, a shopkeeper who fixes magical items. They both have a rich backstory that we have hints about in this book and will [presumably] be explored as the series continues.
The threads of power shone so bright that no place in the world was ever truly dark.
I was sad to see this book did not perform as well as I had hoped, but for those of us who love the original trilogy, this book brought back the world-building we already love with a new threat to the balance of power. The origins of the new threat are different to that of the first trilogy, but the origins of the political movements that oppose the Maresh dynasty in Red London can be traced back to the internal politics during Shades of Magic, giving continuity to the fantasy world’s politics. I am also impressed that the inter- and intra-state politics feel so real and relatable to me — I have a degree in international relations and often feel that fictional politics, especially in fantasy, should be fleshed out more.
I won’t elaborate further for spoiler purposes, but I am ready to be emotionally toyed with and devastated again. Book 2 isn’t out until 2025.
