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kcup_espresso's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia and Vomit
Minor: Incest
millie_who_loves_books's review against another edition
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Incest
maeverose's review against another edition
TL;DR: I love the concept of this book so much, I really liked the romance, the writing style is hit and miss for me, why does everyone have to interrupt each other in every conversati—
The Romance
Writing
Plot Structure
Dislikes
There was also a plot point that was just dropped that I felt needed more explanation.
Alta annoyed me a bit but maybe that’s a me problem…
Graphic: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Homophobia, Murder, and Vomit
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Ableism, Blood, and Incest
Minor: Fatphobia, Slavery, Abandonment, and Cursing
There is one use of the slur for Romani people. Does the dog die:prashiie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. While I really love the (queer) characters, the general outline and the uniqueness of the story, I also think it did not deliver its full potential. This book could have been so much more. Getting into the story was especially troublesome as the writing really threw me off. The detailed description of the surroundings part one almost felt cinematic. The writing in parts two and three on the other hand was more pleasant.
Although the majority of people loathed binders, she didn't let that influence her character. She stayed true to her profession until the end.
“There was sympathy in her face, as if I could tell her everything and she would understand.”
It is with Seredith that Emmett finds a real home. He carries her sympathy, morality and loyality while her own son, de Havilland, chooses a different path.
It's a pity that the point of view changes after Emmett goes to his first binding and gets his memories back. It would have been interesting to see how he gets to know his own powers and proceeds to become a fine binder. For example, the voice that he uses to curse the people that threatened to burn down Seredith's bindery with Seredith in it? This never gets mentioned again in the story.
The story also goes to show how greed and power can destroy any noble art.
Graphic: Animal death, Kidnapping, Rape, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, and Homophobia
Moderate: Incest, Infidelity, Alcohol, Outing, Violence, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder
maggiethejuggler's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Rape, Homophobia, and Animal death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Child death, and Murder
xbernadette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, Classism, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Alcohol, Incest, Blood, Hate crime, Animal death, Vomit, Death, Sexual harassment, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, and Adult/minor relationship
archkyrology's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
In an attempt to play around with the memory wiping aspect to create a mystery, it just becomes confusing. The first half of the book is slow, relaxed, and curious enough to keep you reading. The second half was very fast and genuinely upsetting almost the entire time. I wish a lot of aspects had been done differently. Also a very cliffhanger ending for a book that doesn't have a sequel.
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Suicide, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Excrement, Incest, and Ableism
abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition
1.5
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, Abandonment, Alcohol, Incest, Death, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
juniperbranches's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In Emmet Farmer’s world, life on the family farm, life is filled with hard work and small joys. One day he falls sick and can no longer do farm work, and is claimed by the local Book Binder as her apprentice.
When a desperate young woman comes to them and begs to be rid of the memories of her fathers abuse, Emmet soon learns that books are used to bind and seal terrible memories away. A book binder takes away the painful memory, allowing the person to continue their lives unscathed. Unfortunately, the peace that the book binding process is supposed to bring is a process that is abused by powerful people to continue to perpetuate harm against their unknowing victims again and again.
This book spins a beautiful and touching queer romance while weaving in a storyline that reads like a Gothic conversion camp narrative. I also think this is the hands down best romance I’ve ever read in a novel. Emmet and Lucian are going to be with me for a long time
Graphic: Gaslighting and Homophobia
Moderate: Suicide, Rape, and Incest
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
katkinslee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Incest, Infidelity, Animal death, Misogyny, and Rape