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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)
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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Murder
verbosevespertine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
briannafenty's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
aroth638's review against another edition
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
darcyparcy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
i had trouble rating this book. the structure and pacing affected my reading experience enough that i had to dock my rating significantly. going from emmett's perspective then to all his memories that were in his book and finally to lucian's perspective was a bit jarring and made the plot feel disconnected for me. however, i did enjoy the characters and the relationship between emmett and lucian. i enjoyed that it wasn't love at first sight for them, and that they had to see past their own pride to let themselves fall in love. i just wish the plot was more cohesive and the world the characters lived in could be developed a little more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicide
nunchikoi's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and Grief
It is extremely bittersweet, but not without hope.acasiamae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, and Murder
thewileyseven's review against another edition
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: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Outing, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
sapphicmacbeth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
katy_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
A reread for me as it was this month's book club pick. I lived it the first time around and I wondered if it would lube up to memory. Actually it has, I feel swept up in Emmett and Lucian's story, the ways in which they're trapped, make mistakes, try and be authentic, let people down and ultimately find a way through. The world building around book binding is consistent and well drawn (although if magic worlds simply aren't your thing, this might feel a bit much in places). The background characters are also interesting. Women are mostly victims in the narrative and in particular they're victims of sexual violence- so heed the content warnings - but for me that felt in keeping with the world and narrative. I would have liked to see some light at the end of the tunnel for some of those characters whose trauma seemed perhaps diminished by the fact that their stories simply end when Emmett and Lucian's story is tied up but they're the main characters so perhaps unsurprising.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism