You will not put this book down!!! Complete MAGIC

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read the second one, it covers so much, from bullying and coercive behavior to magic and mystery. I was drawn to this book because of the cover and it did not disappoint, the writing is fantastic, easy to understand and makes the book unputdownable, it's quick paced and leaves you wanting more.

I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of this so would like to thank Harper Voyager and Cari Thomas for the opportunity to read it ahead of publication. I found Threadneedle an excellent and compelling read, full of well written characters and an intriguing storyline. The main crux of the story follows Anna, a witch who lives with her over-bearing Aunt and who has been brought up to believe that Magic is a sin and must be controlled and eventually "bound", she lives a tedious life, and her only excitement is when her mother's friend Selene comes to visit. Selene has quite the opposite view on magic, as does her daughter Effie who is a bit of a rebel and has just moved to Anna's school with her mysterious friend Attis. As Anna, Effie, and Attis get to know each other, their lives become entwined in ways which will have consequences on all involved. Its a tangled web of lies, secrets and sorcery, with lovable and detestable characters. I can't wait until the next book arrives!

I admit, it took me a little while to get into this book, maybe because I just wasn't in the right mood for it the first time around. Once I did get into it though, I was hooked! I think it was the moment in the magical antique shop was when I properly fell in love. It's a bit like Mean Girl's meets Harry Potter, with satisfyingly dark and twisted undertones. It's a great plot that really keeps you guessing, the characters are superbly crafted and the magic system is out of this world. Utterly brilliant, could not recommend enough.

This book was an all-round five-star read. The story was great, the characters were fully developed and believable (as much as fantasy characters can be!), and the prose was beautiful. There was a real sense of ever-changing atmosphere throughout the book, suspense and twists and turns. It was a real joy to read. I underlined so many quotes in the book, as I met another beautifully turned phrase that made the scene and/or characters come alive. Our heroine, Anna, is an orphan – raised by her aunt following her mother’s murder by her father. Anna’s mother and aunt had magic – as does Anna – but Aunt sees it as an evil to be hidden and supressed, along with all emotions: “When she was young, Anna had quickly learnt that there was nothing fairy tale about the Binders’ magic. No magical lamps. No wands or capes. Knots were the only magical language tolerated by the Binders. A knot is concise. It is secure. Above all, it is discreet, Aunt had explained. It can be done out of sight without anyone seeing. It keeps our secrets safe.” The Binders are a group of paranoid, embittered female witches, somewhat akin to religious fundamentalists who believe in Original Sin, and use it as a means to restrict and imprison the will and activities of females. All Binders have their magic bound – only when they reach the higher levels of their order may they perform magic – but never without pain, to remind them of magic’s evil. Anna’s life is full of pain, cruelty and darkness. At school she perfects her role as a Nobody to avoid the notice of others – especially the notice of the queen of nastiness: “Darcey Dulacey front and centre, scanning the rows of pupils before her regally, bone structure pure-bred pedigree, hair bronzed, make-up impeccable, a proprietorial smile and cruel eyes, judging and assessing.” The one bit of light in Anna’s life, is the occasional visits by her mother’s best friend, Selene: “Golden hair, blazing yellow coat, red lips: Selene arriving like a comet to their house, radiant against the darkness around her.” For Anna’s birthday this year, Selene turns up with her daughter, Effie, and Attis. Who or what Attis is, is a mystery: “His accent was strangely nomadic as if it had collected the interesting parts of other accents on its travels.” Neither meets with Aunt’s approval: “‘Witches like them ought to be bound on the spot. That girl should not be allowed to practise magic, so untethered and impulsive, she has no idea of the consequences. She’ll end up like your mother, mark my words.’ Both Effie and Attis are now enrolled at Anna’s school, and Anna’s life takes an abrupt turn. She is introduced to Rowan (rather over-weight and daughter of a witch) and Miranda (with very strict Christian parents) – other misfits like Anna – whom Effie decides will form their coven, learn and practice magic. Darcey describes them as: “The Whore, The Virgin, The beast, The Nobody” Effie is a force of nature: “No one quite seemed to know what to make of Effie and the rumours swirling around her had taken the unimaginative turn into the realms of what a whore and slut much, the only category they seemed to have for a girl who scared them.” “‘I don’t think the men in this school know what to do with you.’ ‘Men can’t handle me because I play by the same rules as them.’ There is a strong whiff of misogyny in this book – perpetuated mainly (but not only) by the females, such as the Binders, Darcey and her acolytes. However, blaming all for the sins of few, did not sit well with me (or Anna): “‘Does this other man really deserve this punishment?’ ‘He’s a man, Anna. They have done us enough harm across the ages that any harm we do to them now is insignificant.’” The Binders live in fear of the Hunters, whom they believe will kill all witches, so they must remain hidden and supress their magic. Anna must decide whether to continue to ally herself with Effie and her friends, to become a free magical person, or to become bound. At the start of the book, the choice is very clear to any thinking person – but by the end, so much has happened, so much has changed, that the choice is no longer a foregone conclusion. Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean that they’re not out to get you. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, or who revels in wonderful writing and story-telling. I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher