Cover reveal for V. E. Schwab’s The Fragile Threads of Power

The long wait is finally over for fans of V. E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy. Entertainment Weekly debuted the cover for the highly anticipated first book in the Threads of Power trilogy (a sequel series to Shades of Magic), alongside new information about the release date and the plot of the book itself.

The Fragile Threads of Power will return readers to the magical worlds of Red London, Grey London, and White London (and technically a fourth London, Black London, although it has long since been sealed away for the safety of the other worlds). The story takes place seven years after the concluding events of the Shades of Magic trilogy, and will “introduce readers to a heroine with an unusual magical ability and a new Antari, the magicians capable of opening the doors between the worlds [of the different Londons].”

Readers will remember the “only three Antari […] in recent memory—Kell Maresh of Red London, Delilah Bard of Grey London, and Holland Vosijk, of White London.” These characters were unique in the Shades of Magic series because Antari are so few in number. It seems that in The Fragile Threads of Power, they’re even more rare, and “barely a glimpse of them have been seen in the last seven years.” Where have these characters disappeared to?

The book description continues to say that “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.”

There’s also a new heroine for this novel, who “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.”

What is V. E. Schwab’s new book The Fragile Threads of Power about?

The cover released by Tor Books features a character on the front somewhat engulfed by blue shadow. It’s a fair assumption that this is Tes. Given that Tor is repackaging the old cover designs of the Shades of Magic series with singular protagonists on the front, matching the aesthetic of The Fragile Threads of Power, Tes featuring on the front of this novel would fit with everything we know.

What this mysterious device is, and what Tes’ role in the story will be, is something fans will have to hang on a little while to find out. The Fragile Threads of Power is set for release on October 3.

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