#fragile threads of power

[indigoreed1]

I wonder if VE Schwab knows that Kell’s outfit when he’s Kay in my mind is literally just Westley from The Princess Bride. I wonder if she knows how much it plagues me.

#the literal outfit #adsom #a darker shade of magic #the fragile threads of power #fragile threads of power #ve schwab #kell maresh #reading #young adult books #books #the princess bride

[lilsciencequeen]

Kell Maresh is an absolute disaster of a man and I love him

#a darker shade of magic #a gathering of shadows #a conjuring of light #ve schwab #fragile threads of power #victoria schwab #kell maresh #kell x lila #adsom

[orions-garden]

KELL!!!! DON’T DETERMINE YOUR WORTH BY HOW USEFUL YOU ARE TO OTHER PEOPLE!!!! THAT’S AN UNHEALTHY COPING MECHANISM!!!!!! KELLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

#he can’t hear me through the page 😔😔😔 #lila rolling up about to share her terrible coping mechanisms instead of telling kell to go to therapy: 😏 #anyway guess what I just started #the fragile threads of power #fragile threads of power #a darker shade of magic #kell maresh #my posts

[antaripirate]

Some silly little Kellila headcanons I think about often:

Kell buys *at least* one new tea from every market he visits. He then sits Lila down and makes her try them all. She goes along with it to make him happy, even if she secretly thinks they all taste the same.

A secret pet name Kell has for Lila is ‘my demonic angel’, but he generally keeps it to himself, except when he’s tired and it just slips out (or when he’s REALLY tired and it comes out as a mumbled ‘my angel’).

Lila likes to kiss the freckles on Kell’s shoulders (modern-day Kell would get an ‘X marks the spot’ tattooed on the spot she kisses most).

Kell likes to collect maps he finds in different port towns - he stashes them all under the bed and after Lila finds them, they make it a tradition to go and find another whenever they dock.

Lila received her first-ever birthday present on her 20th birthday - it was a knife from Kell. She cried. No one’s ever done something like that for her before.

Kell teaches Lila how to dance in the captain’s cabin one night after they talk about the ball during the Essen Tasch.

If Kell knows Lila has to travel between worlds alone he always gives her his coat so she has a piece of home with her.

Kell always wanted to learn how to cook but Maxim and Emira thought it was ‘beneath him’ (plus, it would take his focus off protecting Rhy). When he sails away with Lila he finally gets to learn how. Plus, he likes to cook her fancy meals to show he loves her. She never has to go without food again. (This is one i’ve spoken about a lot with @bluecichlid, who had a similar hc about Kell and cooking!)

#if anyone wants to hear any more lmk there are hundreds swimming around in my brain #also note i’ve had like all of these in my head since before threads of the odd bit doesn’t completely align #but i think they do pretty well #adsom #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic #kell maresh #a conjuring of light #lila bard #a gathering of shadows #v e schwab #delilah bard #kellila #fragile threads of power #tftop #the fragile threads of power #threads of power

[adamsrcnan]

a book about the fall of black london following a young magician (or even an antari) who is forced to watch helplessly as their world is quickly consumed by magic and the doors sealed shut around them, with the pages getting darker and darker in colour until they're totally black like this and the pov fades from magician to simply magic

#stole the picture from twitter #and this was the first thing that came to mind #but like if there's one thing i woukd beg victoria schwab for it's this!!!! #shades of magic #a darker shade of magic #the fragile threads of power #fragile threads of power #ftop #ve schwab #victoria schwab

[emilyrosecreatives]

finally got around to drawing these two 🥹

#rhy maresh #alucard emery #adsom #ve schwab #a darker shade of magic #digital art #procreate #digital illustration #fanart #a gathering of shadows #fragile threads of power #digital drawing

[luciehercndale]

I wonder if we'll ever get more about Lila's past and if Kell is ever going to meet his biological parents again. Way back, Victoria said she didn't share some of the backstories yet because she may use them in the future. We had bits on Lila's past, but maybe there's more than we don't know and that may come up in the following Threads books. I'm curious to know whether her father knew she was Antari and if they have a chance to meet again in Grey London. She might ask him without revealing her identity. Likewise, it would be intriguing to see Kell meeting his parents again, even if he wouldn't probably recognize them. Maris seemed to imply that the forgetting spell she did on him when his parents gave him up should've faded by now, but it didn't. Or maybe it did, but Kell isn't interested about finding his biological parents.

#adsom #fragile threads of power #kell maresh #lila bard #shades of magic #a darker shade of magic #tftp #the fragile threads of power #my posts 3

[ghoulorghost]

I have an inkling possession is going to make an appearance in the next two books. Specifically Kosika being possessed by Holland's supposed ghost.

Also the idea that she has his magic seems to be a lie to me, to keep her compliant with whatever comes next. If she was chosen that obviously means she was done a favor, so she's virtually indebted to him and White London, and she'll be obligated to follow, no matter what he asks of her. I feel like she's being manipulated, her belief in the Saint and the respect she has for him being weaponized against her.

That's why it seems to me that the apparition is just someone masquerading as the real Holland. And the piece of dialogue about bringing something back from Black London? I think she already did, just nothing solid.

And the mention of the pull the magic in the Inheritor has over Tesali, Osaron attempting to grab at people even when sealed away, makes me theorise Kosika might have pulled on that magic when she tried to grow the plants in the courtyard and consequently fell ill for a week. Some part of him might have latched onto her, and activated the moment she made contact with Black London. He is sealed away together with the magic Holland lost so maybe he cloaks himself in that? Pretends to be someone that he is not? Puppeteering what's left of Holland in this realm?

And rekindling the magic in Black London sounds like a trick.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

#the fragile threads of power #adsom #ve schwab #fragile threads of power #fragile threads of power spoilers #the fragile threads of power spoilers #holland vosijk #kosika

[evenstarfalls]

So my first guess was wrong about Nadiya...

SHE'S FUCKING AROACE HOLY SHIT THIS IS SUCH A WIN

I knew V.E. Schwab wouldn't let us down like I figured she'd be some flavor of queer. And while lesbian was my first (clearly wrong now dkdjdjabfb) guess, aroace was my second and boy did she deliver!! Seeing her find a family and a place to belong and even thrive while being very clearly aroace (she may have lacked the words for it for it's obvious she's aware of it) was so wonderful. And as an asexual who is not sex averse, it was really lovely getting some representation in that regard.

Also the Loreni colors being purple and gray... I see you!! I see what this is!! 💜🩶

And like even beyond representation, she's such an interesting character! Her relationship with Alucard is really nice, and I'm excited to see where her and Lila's relationship goes, especially after Lila was hurt by the stolen invention. I think they're actually quite similar characters, which is definitely part of what makes them clash. And her inventing is probably also going to be important. I hope she continues to cook up dangerous shit I...hope she has fun :) I'm also curious about her and Rhy's relationship—I mean they're married of course, but we didn't actually get a lot of them together and I'm quite interested in that dynamic.

In short: all hail our aroace slightly unethical science queen

#nadiya loreni #the fragile threads of power #tftop #ftop #fragile threads of power #threads of power #the fragile threads of power spoilers #tftop spoilers #ftop spoilers #shades of magic

[typingwithmyhandstied]

Tes's characterization, storyline, and backstory has parallels and similarities to almost every other major character in The Fragile Threads of Power. (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Kell: Kell's parents traded him in for his powers. That's probably very similar to what Tes's father would have done to her if she hadn't gotten away. Both Kell and Tes want to be viewed as a human being and something beyond their powers. Neither really are. Both feel like people look at them and see their power not a person. They also seem to both have the urge to hide it as a means to not be viewed that way.

Lila: Lila's father sold her to pay off his debts. Tes fears---or really knows---that if her father knew her power, he would try to do something similar. He made use of all her sisters in similar ways. Both Tes and Lila had to leave and fend for themselves on their own because of this. They just did so in different ways.

Alucard: There's the very obvious fact that both Alucard and Tes can see the threads of magic, but both of them also have a bad relationship with their siblings. Obviously not exactly the same, but it is still very reminicent of the other.

Rhy: Tes and Rhy seem to share the same core goodness. Both of them are the kind of characters who don't seem to believe that their survival is anymore important than anyone elses.

Nadiya: Tes and Nadiya are both inventors to a certain extent.

Kosika: They are the two youngest characters. Kosika also had a parental figure that was ready to sell her for her potential power (maybe that is really just the repeated pattern throughout the books). Both were also thrust into a situation where they had a lot of independence at a young age.

Holland: He's the only character I can't really think of anything for.

#i'm probably forgetting something #i feel like this had to have been on purpose to a certain extent #the fragile threads of power #fragile threads of power #the threads of power #threads of power #tftop #tftop spoilers #tesali ranek #kell maresh #lila bard #alucard emery #rhy maresh #nadiya loreni #kosika #holland vosijk #adsom #v. e. schwab #v e schwab #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic series #shades of magic #a gathering of shadows #a conjuring of light #can you tell is my new favorite character

[unmaker-unmaker]

obsessed with the fact that even though kell and lila are literally partners he somehow has no idea she wears that ring around her neck for YEARS. no visibility during sexy times no slipping out during their hourly duels they literally sleep together and yet nothing

#fragile threads of power spoilers #fragile threads of power #lila bard #kell maresh

[indigoreed1]

I’ve seen people complain that VE Schwab didn’t fully explore her worlds in ADSOM, but speaking as a character driven reader, I don’t really care about worldbuilding. I like that it’s is so vague.

All I know about these Londons is that one is crusty, one is musty, one is dusty, and one is red.

And that’s all I need 😌

#adsom #a darker shade of magic #kell maresh #ve schwab #fragile threads of power #threads of power #lila bard #Reading #bookish

[lilyharvord]

It took two lines from Fragile Threads of Power for me to once again be chewing at the bars of my cage over Delilah Bard and Kell Maresh. Someone stop them, I swear they get two lines every book that I salivate over, and I am now throwing up over the fact I did not use the line: "there is no where you can go that I cannot follow" in my own writing before it was used here, but for fucks sake the absolute CHOKEHOLD that line has one me now is going to kill me.

#A darker shade of magic #ADSoM #fragile threads of power #kell maresh #lila bard #kell x lila

[mojomito]

For the ones who still believe in magic.

#fragile threads of power #threads of power #kell maresh #lila bard #kellila #shades of magic #adsom #I'm actually insane i kind of hate this now but #one cannot learn if they do not persevere #I already have so many ideas for more illustrations #my art

[antaripirate]

#please accept this humble offering while i continue to struggle putting my threads thoughts into words #i have like 10 long ass posts in my notes but the words are not wording #about to start a reread tho #can wait to be unhinged again #rumour has it that lila bard is actually the softest baby in arnes #she’s so in love and who can blame her #the fragile threads of power #threads of power #fragile threads of power #adsom #a darker shade of magic #shades of magic #kell maresh #lila bard #kellila #delilah bard #v e schwab #tftop

[adamsrcnan]

FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER WAS SO GOOD I AM ONCE AGAIN BLOWN AWAY AND READY TO SCREAM ABOUT IT

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Firstly seeing my babies after 6 years was so emotional omg i missed them all so much !!!

Lila naming the Alucard's ship after Barron???? kill me she's a little softie inside

Kell not being able to do magic was like HELL like i felt his pain so deeply my precious gum drop :(

The montage of him learning to fight with the swords was top tier though !

Kay is a sexy bastard

Lila going to find Kell at night when he passes out in his room at the palace and crawling into bed beside him??? Top tier ship let me tell you.

Kosika while i do like her, i felt her chapters were a little bit repetitive and kinda dragged a little for me in the middle, but the ending in black london..... my god

GHOST/SPIRIT HOLLAND???? I missed my husband so much like please i'm being tortured. He's there but he's not because they say it's him but something is definitely off there too???

Also i relate heavily to kosika because i too would do whatever Holland asked me too and worship him as a saint

URM RHY AND ALUCARD BEING MARRIED??? SHUT THE FUCK UP WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

I adore the whole dynamic between Rhy, Alucard and Nadiya i think it was so tastefully done and though i find Nadiya to be a little shady i like her whole inventor thing and i appreciate her loyalty towards her family

REN IS A PRECIOUS LITTLE CUTIE PIE

The fact that she's named Tieren and the way she adores animals and has a billion random pets, and the way she is fascinated by Lila and oblivious to any awkwardness Lila has around her. Just wonderful. Such a little sweetheart. If anything happens to her i will be banging on ms schwab's door !

Tes. I love her. I don't even know what else to say. I think she's brilliant. Her chapters were so entertaining to read. Her back story was intriguing. Her gift is so special. Her interactions with Lila were top tier and i definitely need them to work together again !

Delilah Bard. My wife!!! What can i say. She's a fucking icon. A legend. Never fails to disappoint.

"You came." "You called." URM I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE MADE LILA AND KELL DO THE THING???? SHE MADE THEM DO THE THING !!! THE WAY I SCREAMEDDD

KELL GETTING HIS MAGIC BACK !!!!!!!! HE'S BACK BABY!! I'M SO READY FOR HIM TO FUCK SHIT UP !!!

There's so much more i wanna say but like i'm trying to gather my thoughts. The book was so good. Everything i could hope for in a continuation of the series and more ! Victoria Schwab is a pure genius !!!

#fragile threads of power #fragile threads of power spoilers #ftop #ftop spoilers #shades of magic #shades of magic spoilers #threads of power #threads of power spoilers #SPOILERS #kell maresh #rhy maresh #lila bard #alucard emery #victoria schwab