“Your dreams can come true. You just need to write them…” Age seven, I folded eight sheets of paper in half and scribbled my first book into existence. It was about a sheep who wanted to leave the pen and explore the world. I think I’ve been writing the same story ever since. By fourteen, I submitted my first manuscript to agents. I’d written my first full-length, young adult manuscript, and thought that was all you needed to do to be published. I wrote three more books before I went to university. I spent endless hours on writing sites, exchanging critiques and unknowingly building the foundations of both my craft as a writer and my analytical skills as a developmental editor. Writes sought me out from other writing sites to give feedback on their chapters, even offering to hire me. I might not have been writing bestsellers, but I seemed to have an instinct for helping others to succeed. During my A levels, I studied dystopian fiction and fell in love. My coursework was a b...
THREADS THAT BIND by Kika Hatzopolou Disclaimer time: As always, the following is just my opinion. Other opinions are available. THREADS THAT BIND is an epic fantasy with an urban feel. It has a fascinating magic system inspired by Greek mythology, and a story that explores the bonds of sibling relationships. Overall, it's a fast-paced book about fate, choices, and forgiving yourself, so prepare for morally grey moments and difficult sibling relationships. Io and her sisters are descendants of the Fates, which means they're able to see and manipulate the threads that connect people to the things they love. Io is the third sister, and therefore she is able to cut threads. The story kicks off when Io is hired by the 'mobqueen' to investigate murders linked to vengeful wraiths. To top it off, she has to work with the very person she's been avoiding for years, a boy she's fated to love - except he already has a girlfriend. If you think that the above sounds like t...