Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Binding by Bridget Collins

14 reviews

mooncraftbujo's review against another edition

mysterious 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? It's complicated

1.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Vomit, Slavery, Sexual content, and Pedophilia

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

hannahlou93's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

This book took my by surprise. First I was drawn in by the stunning cover, the blurb caught my imagination. It had similarities to the “eternal sunshine of a spotless mind” film, is having your greatest regrets or painful memories removed something that is good for us as humans or are we destined to repeat the same actions without the pain as a reminder of them? So of course I bought the book… I always prefer a first person narrative and I enjoyed Emmet’s voice however I must say I found the first part of the book frustrating just due to the quantity of unknowns the character had (I must say that if I was to read the book again now having finished it, I think I’d have enjoyed this section a lot better). Yet, I still found my self liking Emmet, in fact I missed his voice when it changed. This book is bursting with dark truths of magic and yet it all feels kind of real. I’d definitely recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, Suicide, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

uparrowhead's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

This book was definitely a challenging read for me, weaved in the huge emotional plot of the story. It does have a hopeful ending, but there is a lot of darkness and pain that you'd need to get through first. I found it rewarding, however, and a very interesting read that touches on a few issues that are faced both now and throughout history.

Many of the reviews I've read call the book slow-placed. With that, I have to agree. However, I think that the pacing of the book fits the content and story that it tells quite well. At certain points, however, like the climax of the story, I can understand how it was annoying and boring to read through, but I mostly didn't mind it.

Something that I have to appalude Bridget Collins for is her use of language and description. Many of the settings of the book were written out in a way that easily sucked me right into the novel, and the writing in the book was, overall, of high quality.

I really enjoyed the premise of the novel; the idea that you could take someone's memories and bind them into a book that they will forget forever. It gave way and allowed the book to explore darker concepts of society, and made the story much more engaging to read through.

I do believe that certain parts of the story weren't developed as much as they could have been,

with the death of Seredith, which seemed to stop effecting Emmett as soon as the book moved into Part Two and Three, and the ending which (although heartwarming) left some questions opened and unanswered in the story.

However, I liked how the majority of the plot played out and, despite times where I wanted to throw this book across the room (which I didn't do, courtesy to it's beautiful cover), I was left satisfied and happy in the long-term of the book.

WARNING : The book does change its POVs throughout Part One, Two, and Three of the story. I personally liked how it was executed, but I know it is not for everyone, and a lot of reviews I've read on here say that it was done poorly and left readers confused.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Outing, Rape, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual harassment, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

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.

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

robin_reads's review against another edition

emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this. (In the best way possible)
One star less because the first part is incredibly slow, almost excruciatingly so but the next two are so much faster and it’s followed by an abrupt end. That kinda killed the mood for me.
Heart wrenchingly beautiful. I wished there had been one more chapter at least.

2nd read; audiobook:

The audiobook narration is very well done and extremely immersive. 
I forgot how much I hate the sister. She’s extremely manipulative and self-centered. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse

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.

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