| “ | For the ones who still believe in magic | ” |
The Fragile Threads of Power is an adult fantasy book by V. E. Schwab. It is the first installment of the Threads of Power trilogy.
Synopsis[]
Once, there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power, and connected by a single city: London. Until the magic grew too fast and forced the worlds to seal the doors between them in a desperate gamble to protect their own. The few magicians who could still open the doors grew more rare as time passed, and now only three Antari are known in recent memory—Kell Maresh of Red London, Delilah Bard of Grey London, and Holland Vosijk of White London.
But barely a glimpse of them have been seen in the last seven years—and a new Antari named Kosika has appeared in White London, taking the throne in Holland's absence. The young queen is willing to feed her city with blood, including her own—but her growing religious fervor has the potential to drown them instead. And back in Red London, King Rhy Maresh is threatened by a rising rebellion, one determined to correct the balance of power by razing the throne entirely.
Amidst this tapestry of old friends and new enemies, a girl with an unusual magical ability comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds.
Her name is Tes, and she's the only one who can bring them together—or unravel it all.[4]
Seven years have passed since the doors between the worlds were sealed. Seven years since Kell, Lila and Holland stood against Osaron, a desperate battle that saved the worlds of Red, Grey and White London. Seven years since Kell's magic was shattered, and Holland lost his life.
Now Rhy Maresh rules Red London with his new family - his queen, Nadiya, their daughter Ren, and his consort, Alucard. But his city boils with conspiracy and rebellion, fuelled by rumours he is causing magic to fade from the word.
Now Kosika, a child Antari, sits on the throne of White London. The new queen leads her people in new rituals of sacrifice and blood in devotion to the altar of Holland Vosijk, summoning vast power she may not be able to control.
Now Lila and Kell, living free on the waves, are charged by the captain of the Floating Market to retrieve an immensely powerful artefact, stolen by secretive forces.
Now Tes, a young woman with a knack for fixing broken things, is thrust into the affairs of Antari and kings, traitors and thieves. And only her unique powers can weave the threads of power together.[3]
Parts[]
- White London: Seven years ago
- Part I: Clocks, Locks, and Clearly Stolen Things
- Part II: The Captain and the Ghost
- Part III: The King's Heart
- Part IV: The Open Door
- Part V: The Queen, the Saint, and the Sound of Drums
- Part VI: The Strands Converge
- Part VII: The Hand that Holds the Blade
- Part VIII: The Girl, the Bird, and the Good Luck Ship
- Part IX: The Threads that Bind
- Part X: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire
- Part XI: In the Wrong Hands
- Part XII: Unraveling
Summary[]
| “ | Magic is the river that waters all things.It lends itself to life, and in death calls it back, and so the stream appears to rise and fall, when in truth, it never loses a single drop. | ” |
Characters[]
Red London[]
- Tes Ranek — A girl who can pull the threads of magic. She runs Haskin's shop.
- Vares — Tes' dead pet owl.
- Nero — A con-artist and thief. He pretends to be powerless, but is actually a bone magician.
- Bex Galevans and Calin Trell — A pair of assassins who, begrudgingly, have to work together despite wanting to kill each other.
- Kell Maresh — The adopted Antari Prince of Arnes. He is currently travelling the world aboard the Grey Barron with Lila Bard.
- Captain Lila Bard — The Greyworlder Antari. Lila is a skilled thief and the current captain of the Grey Barron.
- King Rhy Maresh — The King of Arnes. Rhy is the younger brother of Kell. While his adoptive brother is an Antari, Rhy barely possesses any magic. A rebellion is threatening his position.
- Alucard Emery — The king's consort and guard. A royal from the House of Emery and a powerful magician, capable of handling earth, water, and air.
- Queen Nadiya Loreni — The Queen of Arnes and an inventor.
- Princess Ren Maresh — The Princess of Arnes and heir to the throne. She is the daughter of Rhy, Nadiya, and Alucard.
- Ezril — The new Aven Essen of the London Sanctuary.
- The Hand — Rebels who strive to dethrone Rhy Maresh.
Grey London[]
- Ned Tuttle — An Enthusiast and the owner of the Five Points.
White London[]
- Kosika — The 14-year-old[5] Antari queen of Makt. She does everything to keep White London safe and afloat, but might also be its downfall.
- Lark — Kosika's best friend.
- Nasi — A servant at the White Castle and a close friend of Kosika.
- The Vir — White London's royal guard.
[]
- This is a compilation of previously shared teaser snippets specific to The Fragile Threads of Power. For more general information on the series, click here.
- Note: Many teasers were shared before the book was finalized.
[]
She lived and worked in the little shop, surrounded by broken magic and a dead owl named Vares.
[]
- Partially shared for the first time here. This was the original first sentence of the first book.
Kell's coat lay cast aside, his shirt soaked through with sweat and rain.
[]
Lila didn't so much sit in the chair as sprawl across it.
[]
- This was originally from the first chapter[6]; it was later shifted to the second chapter
Her steel kissed his skin, but didn't draw blood.
"You're lucky," she said, "that I have such a steady hand."
[]
Lila had taken to playing a game. Every time she fought, she gave herself a different challenge. Tonight, she'd think, I will only use fire. Tonight, I will only use ice. Tonight, I will let them strike first. I will only use my knives. I will fight as if I have no magic, as if I am back in London, my London, and I have nothing to lose but my life.
[]
Kell rose on unsteady legs, unsure if it was the ship, or the wine, or the pain that made the cabin tilt beneath his feet. He braced himself against the desk, reached for the empty glass, but instead of taking it up, he swept it from the table. Watched it shatter as it hit the floor.
'Pick it up,' he told himself, wrapping his will around the shards of glass.
The pieces shivered and rose, haltingly, into the air. Kell's chest hitched. His hands trembled.
Put it back together, he thought.
Put yourself back together.
[]
Truth be told, Lila Bard had never spent much time in pleasure gardens.
Not that she scorned pleasure—she enjoyed fine wines, and sharp knives, and the things Kell did with his mouth when he put it to good use—but once a thief, always a thief. Someone placed a glass in her hand, someone grazed their fingers down her sleeve, someone's body whispered against hers, and every time, her muscles stiffened, and her nerves told her she was being robbed.
[]
- from V. E. Schwab's October 2022 Newsletter
Kell forced himself back up to his hands and knees. A drop of red hit the ground. Blood was dripping from his nose, his body pleading with him to stop. Instead, he wiped his hand across his face and pressed his stained palm to the damp floor. "As Steno," he said, bracing for what happened next. A sheen of ice spread beneath his hand, coating the wooden planks, and Kell felt a bright, brief flare of relief as the blood magic worked. And then his vision dropped away, and his world went black as the white-hot horror carved beneath his skin. He fought the urge to scream, and failed, the sound tearing free as he collapsed, his burning cheek against the icy patch of floor, and sobbed in pain, and anger, and grief. Who was he without magic? What was he worth? His sight flickered back, but the room was spinning now, and he squeezed his eyes shut, and tried to force air back into his aching lungs. He was still lying there when he heard the door open, boots stomping across the wooden floor. The world darkened behind his eyes as a shadow fell across his face. "Enough," said Lila, and he could hear the anger in her voice, but it wasn't enough. He couldn't stop, not until the magic spoke to him again. Not until it remembered who and what he was. Not until he was strong enough to take it back. "You're scaring the crew." "My apologies," he murmured. If Lila were someone else, she might have stroked his hair, might have even laid down there beside him on the cabin floor, tangled her fingers with his, and told him it would be all right, they would get through this, they would find a way, he would be whole again. Instead, she took out a knife. He heard the scrape of the weapon sliding free from its sheath, and a moment later, the steel dropped to the floor beside him, the edge within reach. The message seemed rather clear. "If I could put myself out of my misery, I would," he muttered, and in that moment, it felt true. But Lila only hissed through her teeth. "Idiot," she said, dropping into a nearby chair. "Do you know what else you are, Kell?" "Tired?" "Spoiled. And lazy." "I'm already down," he said with a wince. "You don't have to kick me." Lila sighed and leaned back in her chair. "There was a sell sword, back in London." She never called it Grey London, but he knew that's what she meant. Her voice took on a different quality, whenever she spoke of her other life, the one before. Kell took a questing breath. The pain had faded, leaving exhaustion in its wake. He tried to sit up, but couldn't manage yet, so he summoned the strength to roll onto his back. And looked at the ceiling instead of her. "What was his name?" |
[]
Lila turned toward the bed, cocking her head as her gaze raked over him. "This reminds me," she said, "of the night we met. Do you remember?" "When you robbed me, and then used the stolen magic to conjure a double who tried to kill me?" Kell crossed his ankles. "How could I forget?" She waved her hand. "I meant after the robbery, and before the spell. When I bound you to a bed." A glint in her eye. "Just like this one." "Lila, don't," he said, but it was too late. "The wood was already peeling away from the frame. He tried to sit up, but it wrapped around his wrists like fingers, and forced him back against the narrow cot. Lila Bard smiled, and sank onto the edge of the bed. "Let me go," warned Kell, but her hand settled on his chest, the gesture firm, fingers splayed, as if laying claim to the body beneath. She met his gaze, and he couldn't believe he'd ever thought those eyes a matching set. One was vivid, alive, the other flat. The difference between an open window and a locked door. She leaned down until her hair grazed his cheek. Until her mouth hovered over his. His chest rose and fell beneath her palm. "Let me go," he said again, lowering his voice. And this time, she did. But when the binds crumbled from his wrists, Kell didn't pull away. He reached up, threading his fingers through her hair. "Why didn't you stay on the ship?" he asked again, because now and then, it was not enough to dance around the truth. He wanted to hear her say it. Even if she would not wear the ring. He wanted to know that she chose to be here, with him. Lila held his gaze so long he could have counted the shards of light in her good eye. And then, at last, almost grudgingly, she said, "Because the bed would feel empty. Without you in it." |
[]
"Your scars are my favorite part of you," said the king, running a finger from the molten lines on Alucard's skin all the way to the brands at his wrists. "I love them all. Do you know why?"
"Because you were jealous of my looks?" he quipped.
For once, Rhy didn't laugh. He brought his hand to Alucard's cheek, and turned his gaze away from the mirror. "Because they brought you back to me."
[]
The first chapter can be read here.
[]
Special editions[]
- Barnes & Noble edition: This edition includes the exclusive short story "A Friendly Game" about a pair of mercenaries—Bex Galevans and Calin Trell—who constantly try to kill each other while they are between jobs.[7]
- Books-A-Million edition: It includes exclusive end papers and an unique color case stamp.[8]
- Forbidden Planet edition: This edition includes the short story "A Friendly Game." It is signed and features exclusive digitally sprayed edges and special end papers.[9]
- Indigo edition: This edition has exclusive end papers.[10]
- Target edition: It includes an exclusive poster and a letter from the author.[11]
- Waterstones edition: This edition is signed and has exclusive stencilled edges, end papers, and board design.[12]
Gallery[]
Covers[]
Art[]
Trivia[]
- The book was originally set to be published on October 3, 2023[13] before the release date was pulled forward to September 26.[1]
- Unlike the US hardcovers, the cover for The Fragile Threads of Power is so colorful because the protagonist Tes "is bombarded by color. She can see and touch all the threads that run through the world. And it's a cacophony of color."[14]
- Titan Books (UK) created special ARCs for The Fragile Threads of Power: There are four different variants, one for each London.[15]
- In April 2022, Schwab finished the first draft of the first installment. The draft was 170k words long, making The Fragile Threads of Power the longest Shades of Magic book so far,[16] and the longest book Schwab has ever written overall.[17] The revised draft ended up at 195,200 words.[18] If The Fragile Threads of Power had been set and printed like the Shades of Magic books, it would have been nearly 800 pages long.[19]
- The first-shared names for Part I and V were "The Apprentice, The Consort, and the Thief."[17] and "The Queen and the Saint"[20] respectively. "The Girl, The Bird, and the Good Luck Ship" used to be Part VII.[21]
- Schwab once mentioned an epilogue for the novel.[22] It is unknown if she referred to Part XII: Unraveling, or if she ended up cutting the epilogue.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "That's right, Threads is now coming out September 26th, not October 3rd!"
(V. E. Schwab on Instagram) - ↑ "The Fragile Threads of Power" — Amazon
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Fragile Threads of Power" — Waterstones
- ↑ "The Fragile Threads of Power" — Macmillan
- ↑ "I'm so excited for you to meet the 14-year-old queen of White London: KOSIKA."
(V. E. Schwab on Instagram) - ↑ File:IG Cheeky dialogue.png
- ↑ "The Fragile Threads of Power (B&N Exclusive Edition)" — Barnes & Noble
- ↑ "Fragile Threads of Power (Books-A-Million Exclusive)" — Books-A-Million
- ↑ "The Fragile Threads Of Power (Signed Forbidden Planet Exclusive Edition Hardcover)" — Forbidden Planet
- ↑ "THE FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER INDIGO EXCLUSIVE EDITION" — Indigo
- ↑ "The Fragile Threads of Power - Target Exclusive Edition by V.E. Schwab (Hardcover)" — Target
- ↑ "The Fragile Threads of Power: Signed Exclusive Edition (Hardback)" — Waterstones
- ↑ "V.E. Schwab expands Shades of Magic series with The Fragile Threads of Power — see the cover" — EW
- ↑ File:IG ToP cover colors.png
- ↑ UK ARCs — Titan Books on Instagram
- ↑ "It's done. After a year and a half, the next book in the Shades of Magic series in finally a finished draft. And clocking in at 170k, it's the longest in the series. I'm just sitting here. I can't believe it's done.*
*this is the first draft, so obviously it's not DONE and soon the work will turn from making it to making it better. But I have a finished thing. It has bones, and muscle, and skin. And I feel overwhelmed."
(V. E. Schwab on Instagram) - ↑ 17.0 17.1 ToP Revision — V. E. Schwab on Instagram
- ↑ The Visible Life of V.E. Schwab — October 2022
- ↑ The Visible Life of V.E. Schwab — January 2023
- ↑ File:IG ToP Part Five.png
- ↑ File:IG ToP Part Seven.png
- ↑ File:IG Epilogue addition.png
