Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Binding by Bridget Collins

81 reviews

kirsty_b's review

I found the concept interesting. However I felt the storyline was slow and took a different path towards the middle especially with the themes such as the violence and suicide. Towards the end the change in themes caused me to lose interest and I never finished the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape

Minor: Incest

jo_bee's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An incredible read. If it starts a bit awkward, don't let that turn you away - there's reasons for it and soon enough it sucks you up and won't let you put it down. The characters are amazing, the romance is heartwrenching, there are so many hints dropped throughout the story the books come back to that are so satisfying to unravel. Some minor things are implied but never completely explained but personally I enjoy it like that. Truly enjoyed every page of it. Gets heavier in the second half so definitely check trigger warnings if you need to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Animal death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Sexual assault

Minor: Incest

maria_e_p's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape

joonjxne's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

armstrongangela83's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH OH MY GOD

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, and Incest

rxbynelena's review

dark mysterious sad 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? Yes

2.0

The structure of this book really threw me off - our characters only really came to life half way through in Part 2. 

Personally, I think part 1 and part 2 could have been structured differently, or perhaps swapped. 

Such a good concept, and fantastic characterisation. People really stayed true to themselves. 

Huuuuge trigger warning for sexual violence. Some really grim content in here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Homophobia

Moderate: Vomit

sternfrl613's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

2.75

This was a tough read that opened a couple of wounds I didn't need opening. I only read it till the end because I needed a happy end, and thankfully received one that I can make peace with. 
LGBTQIA*, SA survivors and children of abusive families: check the content warnings before reading to make sure you're up to what you're getting here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Murder, Sexual assault, Animal death, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Excrement

animaniac17's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Incest, Violence, Sexual content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Rape, Vomit, Cursing, and Pedophilia

Minor: Alcoholism, Abortion, and Classism

welgan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

This is a very dark story, please pay attention to the trigger warnings beforehand. That said, even if I prefer cosy books at this time of my life, I very much enjoyed the Binding because a bit of angst is always cathartic, and because the author has one great concept (the binding) and explores it very well, from several points of view and possibilities. It felt thoroughly explored and I liked that a lot.
The beginning is a bit slow but the second and third parts of the book really bring the story to a great level of aching for the characters.
The ending lacked a bit of resolution of some old tensions between the two main characters in my opinion but was fine, and the whole book was an enjoyable experience !

Also the summary of story spoils way too much in my opinion X)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Vomit, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Murder

thewileyseven's review

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

I feel complicated in this rating--I really loved the book and, especially once I got to part II, I could hardly put it down! But I also have some major qualms. The uneven pacing left a lot to be desired for me. I understand why Part I was paced the way it was (considering

the impacts of binding on Emmett's mind--I kept wondering why he spent so much time just staring off into space. Now I know!

, but ultimately Parts I and II both dragged in places for me. 

I also agree with another review I read regarding the treatment of women in this book. All completely sidelined, used as plot devices, killed off to further men's emotional development, and worse. Rough! Again, I can understand why, with commentaries on gender violence, historic sexism, and more, but I dunno. The main characters' complicity in this was a bummer. 

Part II, however, sang for me. Beautiful, aching, blossoming. And the system of binding is a splendid magic. Overall, I think this was 100% worth the read for me. But there are just pieces that grated at me a little too much to go unsaid. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Outing, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence