Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Binding by Bridget Collins

32 reviews

elphayes's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

The book is solid but a little flowery in how it's written. I'd have liked a more direct narrative, and the conversations seemed a little 'up to interpretation' in terms of those between the main character and his love interest. 

I'd have liked more focus on the MC and his craft, maybe more focus on how he learned to do it and finish a book etc. It kind of jumped from his sole life story to sudden romance, and was a bit jarring. Given the plot it does make sense but I think it could have been done a little better.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Sexual assault, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Sexual content and Child death

andreapap15's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Alcohol, Violence, Death, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Child death

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.

rhosynmd's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

One of those rare books where I wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Vomit, Animal death, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

mmikadze's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

zbzzzz's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Animal cruelty, and Suicide

Moderate: Child death, Murder, Rape, and Alcoholism

Minor: Incest

lisa00's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Gaslighting

lalunablue's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.5

I made myself finish this book. I had such high hopes, but I did not like a single character. Scratch that, the one character I liked had minimal time.

I feel when you write about horrible situations and horrible people, the main characters should make you root for them, not shake your head in frustration. 

I am disappointed in the lack of world building and what Binders actually do, it was such a neat concept that fell to the wayside. 

The queer rep was ... Questionable. I am all for good representation and stories we are so sorely lacking, but this just wasn't it. As much praise as this book has received, I didn't see the appeal.

The writing was beautiful and the only reason it got an additional half star , but that doesn't make up for characters I can't even force myself to care about.  There was little to no growth, either. 

Overall, it was a profound idea that fell flat and relied far too much on shock and triggering subject matter that shouldn't be the sole purpose of a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Blood, Animal death, Child abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Vomit

Do not read if animal death upsets you, a dog is flat out murdered in a bag. It's brief, but horrible. Rape and child abuse are a running theme, and while not outright described it is enough to be jarring. There is also a graphic suicide scene of a rape victim. All of these are horribly triggering. There are instances of homophobia throughout.

katiiekhaos's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

I found the beginning very slow and almost stopped reading, however I am glad I kept going as the 2 and 3 part are much faster paced. 

My biggest problem with this book is that I wish there was more about book binding, I feel like it was set up to be this huge part of the world and story but it became more a love story, which I enjoyed, but I wanted more about the world and the magic.

But I still thought this book was brilliant and I really loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Child death

zoeelizabethk's review against another edition

2.5

I actually really liked the writing style - it's pretty atmospheric and the tone kinda reminded me of Red Rising actually. But I just felt like I wasn't interested enough to keep going another 250 pages. The events and magic are confusing - which is part of the point - and it just lacked drive or direction to move forward. Then I looked at reviews and evidently Parts 2 and 3 are completely different. But I don't feel like struggling to acclimate to part 1 then start all over in part 2. Anyway, I think this will really appeal to some - and I don't dislike it - I just feel like I have better things to do with my time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Abandonment