Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Binding by Bridget Collins

60 reviews

kynajayne's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed the structure of this book, with the three distinct parts/acts. The concept of binding memories into books is an interesting one, and the world building around that was explored well, especially around the ethics of binding. I will say towards the end I was nearly driven to distraction with annoyance of the narrator’s inability to put two and two together, it was so obvious I was raging! But it is a good love story in an interesting world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Minor: Rape and Murder

sneeuwsuusje's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Loved this book, easy to read. The ending was a bit rushed and therefor somewhat dissatisfying. Also I wanted to read more about Lucians reaction and what happened to him as his father found out. 
As you have finished the book It is recommendable to read the first section again. You than fully understand what part everybody plays.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Suicide, and Animal cruelty

kmbbb's review

emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Rape

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

ttimemachines's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

you know, honestly? i for one was not mad about the romance bait and switch. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Homophobia, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

readhaileyread's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

nunchikoi's review

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Picked this book out of the shelf on a whim and was pleasantly surprised at the romance! Did not take the turn I was expecting, but again just so pleasantly surprised so I didn't mind. You can tell that this is the author's first foray into adult fiction, and there are some regrettable parts in the plot, but I think it's an overall earnest queer story. 

I will say that the premise of memory-bound books could've been fleshed out more, towards the end, it felt more like a gimmick but that might be more of a personal preference as again, I didn't really know what to expect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Sexual assault

Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Homophobia, Rape, and Grief

It is extremely bittersweet, but not without hope.

saedith's review

3.0

Based on the first part of the book, I expected a very different story. It was intriguing, and I wanted to learn more about the world and binding. However, the book took a turn and then another in the third part, and especially the third one I wasn't a fan of. The second part was full of romance, and I hadn't even realised that was one of the book's genres. Not too bad, though, I was mainly just sad to leave most of the built up story and plot from part one behind. The third part, however, was just very violent and descriptive and didn't really introduce anything new to the book/world.

So I find it hard to rate the book, might change it to a lower rating later but let's leave at three for now.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Sexual assault

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

c_lizziebeth's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.25

The text itself is so all over the place: mature and literary and trying to be poetic and then trashy and plain and funny and YA. It was a wonderful concept and a wild read, to me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Grief, Violence, and Vomit