Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Binding by Bridget Collins

31 reviews

greymalkin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Writing is decent enough and I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the idea of what binders do.  But wow does this book feel like it needs to have all the content warnings included.

I didn't much like any of the characters and the terrible abuse of all the female characters (not a single one is spared) was really upsetting.  Especially as the male characters tended to be the abusers and awful people and for the most part had zero repercussions or punishment.  I also wish that the book had lingered more on the actual bookbinding part instead of just a few descriptions of materials and tools that we never "see" used so we don't know what they do.  Since the author has actually taken a lot of bookbinding classes I expected more but it felt more like what someone might add after an evening of googling and youtube videos.  Since it was such a huge part of the magic system of the world, I wanted more details.  All the bits about "trade" and fakes were intriguing but we never get to interact with them "onscreen".  Humans are storytellers, how is that no one has written down stories before?  If they didn't, then why isn't there more of an oral tradition?  My questions really took me out of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Violence, Child death, Suicide, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Self harm

Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, Torture, Stalking, and Kidnapping

In case the massive block of content warning tags is not enough, this book has multiple serial pedophilic rapists in it and disturbing homophobic violence. And no, the perpetrators don't get punished. Only their victims get punished and killed.

anapthine's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Biphobia, Bullying, Vomit, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual content

Minor: Addiction, Blood, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

cursedepub's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

excellent pacing, immersive and lush prose, and a very interesting premise. i enjoyed the complex bonds woven between characters and the incisive commentary on abuse of power and cycles of harm. the POV shift was very expertly done, it came at the perfect moment. it was a nice touch how

both Emmett and Lucian came off better and were portrayed more flatteringly in the other's POV than in their own - a beautiful and subtle way to show their feelings for each other.

 

that being said, the book was 4 stars for me until its extremely abrupt and unsatisfying ending, and Lucian spent too much of his half behaving in a way that made it hard to really root for him. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Death, and Suicide

thecheshire_cat's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Child death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Vomit, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, and Grief

Minor: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Rape

rjstellar's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, and Homophobia

Minor: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Vomit

graybat's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

this book stressed me out bc i had to speed read it in a day 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Outing, Homophobia, and Infidelity

Minor: Classism and Sexual content

alymac42's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Classism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Outing, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Vomit, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

bemaline's review

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I should have heeded the content warnings. It don't know that I would recommend it to most, but it was interesting. Could have done without the animal death.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Animal death, Bullying, Dementia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Vomit, Classism, Alcohol, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence

dnlrbchd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The first part of this book is slow and I almost abandoned it but I'm glad I stuck it out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

Moderate: Fatphobia, Confinement, Incest, Child abuse, Rape, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Classism, and Emotional abuse

himangi's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Outing