Scan barcode
louisallama's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.75
It's a little bit hard for me to review because 1. the blurb doesn't tell you what the story is about and 2. it's not the type of book I usually gravitate towards, due in part to the somewhat misleading blurb (the blurb purposefully did 't including main plot points for story reasons). I was expecting exciting magical memory stuff, but instead this was an extremely character driven novel that was far more focused on the experiences of the main characters and the evil ways that memory binding could be used. Despite this, the story was lovely, and I definitely cried through the end of Part Two when Emmett and Lucien get found out. The prose was very nice, although it got a little flowery for me at times. None of these things are really criticisms of the book itself (except maybe the blurb I guess) and I can definitely see other people loving this book more than me, but I still definitely enjoyed it overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Suicide, Murder, Animal death, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Vomit, Physical abuse, Incest, Alcoholism, and Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
aroth638's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
2.75
This book had so many ideas that could have become really interesting and engaging world building elements but instead ended up being mostly abandoned. I think this book is mismarketed and should be labeled a romance. I did enjoy the romance but was overall disappointed by the lack of depth of everything else in the story. Probably half of my drive to finish this book came from frustration on things being unresolved, and in the end, they mostly stayed that way. 2.75 stars for good foundations, and a captivating love story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide
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.
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.
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
coffee_and_wool's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Outing, Suicide, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child death, Classism, Incest, and Pedophilia
spiderlilies's review
dark
emotional
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
4.5
It's a little slow to start with in part I, even though I love the premise of books being stories cut out of people's memories. Emmett isn't a very strong-willed person and much of the plot simply happens to him, while he gets pushed around and most of his protestation is limited to internal dialogue.
Part II, however, made me absolutely fall in love with the story although it becomes clear from there that this is not so much a grand story with a plot that will shift the whole binding world, but rather a more focused romance story. And I loved the romance. It had an enemies to lovers feel to it and the banter between Emmett and Lucian was a joy to read. Though be warned that the story gets pretty dark. There are a number of scenes with extremely homophobic reactions from their parents and Lucian's father is an all-around disgusting human.
Part III gets even darker as we get to Lucian's POV and see what kind of person he had the potential of being without the influence of part II. This is where the story picks up the pace and grows even more tense, with murders, arranged marriages, and missing memories all working against our protagonists. I finished this part in one setting, because I had to know how it was going to end. Great read!
Part II, however, made me absolutely fall in love with the story although it becomes clear from there that this is not so much a grand story with a plot that will shift the whole binding world, but rather a more focused romance story. And I loved the romance. It had an enemies to lovers feel to it and the banter between Emmett and Lucian was a joy to read. Though be warned that the story gets pretty dark. There are a number of scenes with extremely homophobic reactions from their parents and Lucian's father is an all-around disgusting human.
Part III gets even darker as we get to Lucian's POV and see what kind of person he had the potential of being without the influence of part II. This is where the story picks up the pace and grows even more tense, with murders, arranged marriages, and missing memories all working against our protagonists. I finished this part in one setting, because I had to know how it was going to end. Great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicide
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pedophilia
paper_bound's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, and Rape
dananana's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Child death, Outing, Suicide, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, Animal death, and Rape
Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Alcoholism, and Fire/Fire injury
ellahoward_'s review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This had potential and great premise but it just felt bleak and dark, compared to how it has been advertised. I did enjoy it and think the 3 acts were well written it just seemed a little unfinished and the ending underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia
hawkelf's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book was a slow start for me, due to the amount of characters very loudly Not Saying Something to the main. But the descriptions of bookbinding (both familiar and magical) were beautiful and compelling, and the goodreads reviews were questionable, so I carried on.
This book unwinds melancholic through three parts, with the middle at the beginning, the beginning in the middle, and a POV change for the end, but I think it works. If you're fond of the backstory sections of Black Sails, you'll like this too. It takes place at the beginning of the machination of industry in England, though that has little to do with it. It's a love story, and a story about how power can be - and would be, was, and is - abused by the powerful and money hungry. It has a quiet sense of strength and preservation, and hope. It has its heavy moments, and for sure period typical homophobia, though, so check the cw.
This book unwinds melancholic through three parts, with the middle at the beginning, the beginning in the middle, and a POV change for the end, but I think it works. If you're fond of the backstory sections of Black Sails, you'll like this too. It takes place at the beginning of the machination of industry in England, though that has little to do with it. It's a love story, and a story about how power can be - and would be, was, and is - abused by the powerful and money hungry. It has a quiet sense of strength and preservation, and hope. It has its heavy moments, and for sure period typical homophobia, though, so check the cw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Classism, and Rape
Minor: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
r_gale's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I was really intreged by the concept of the book and the fact it was in the lgbtq section but honestly I got bored not even half way though and before binding was explained and nothing lgbtq had happened.
Struggeled though the rest of the book but didn't like the change in narrative more to know how it finished and even then I was underwhelmed.
after seredith dies the whole book switches themes from comforting mystery with errie undertones to gritty world full of homophobia and abuse. And the repeat abusor side narrative that wasn't resolves was extra upsetting
Struggeled though the rest of the book but didn't like the change in narrative more to know how it finished and even then I was underwhelmed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence