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A review by leahrdswan
The Binding by Bridget Collins
5.0
Definitely read this without expectations. I didn't even read what the book was about and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much more. So if you are reading my review before reading the book, I would advise you to just stop and read the book instead.
Reading through other reviews, I can definitely see where this book could have been developed more and there are many valid points.
That being said, this book physically hurt me. Especially during the second part like I would be hurting from one line then another line would come and I would hurt even more. That's why I rated it a 5 ⭐️.
I do wish we got to see them together in the end more just because I had just gone through that whole story of emotional damage and I wanted payoff.
I think it's important to note that the magical realism elements are not fully developed but that's because it's not supposed to be. It's there to support the romance rather the romance support it.
This book covers topics such as greed and capitalism, pain and why someone would want to erase their memories, rape, and forced consent.
First part: Emmett is sent to work with a Binder after working at his family's farm has been tainted by his sickness. This part is slow but it uncovers the secret that Binders bind people's memories into books. Emmett discovers he is a Binder and that's why he's been sick. Working as a binder will help him feel less sick. When his apprenticeship ends due to Seredith (the Binder teaching him) dying.
Second part: Emmett finds himself working for another Binder who is more on the capitalist side of creating a Binding factory. He discovers he has his own book and burns it to find what memories he lost. In this section we go back in time to his lost memories of the love story between Emmett and Lucian. Lucian was a rich man's son visiting the country. Emmett initially hates Lucian but part of that hate is misplaced for his feelings towards Lucian and the fact that Lucian is courting his very young sister. They eventually fall in love while Lucian is still courting the sister (He wasn't really courting her. In fact he really came by for Emmett and was just kind to the sister). The sister finds them having sex basically and betrayed she tells her parents who also tell Lucian's father. Emmett tells his sister that Lucian would have married her had she not done this. Lucian's father forces Emmett to bind his memories of them or else he will hurt Emmett's sister.
Part 3: Lucian's father is a corrupt businessman who forces people to bind their memories but he advises his son to never bind his memories. Still, we find the Lucian has due to finding out later that Emmet has bound his memories. Now back in the present, with Emmett and his memories back, Emmett attempts to burn Lucian's book so that he can have his memories back. They are successful after burning a house of stolen books.
Reading through other reviews, I can definitely see where this book could have been developed more and there are many valid points.
That being said, this book physically hurt me. Especially during the second part like I would be hurting from one line then another line would come and I would hurt even more. That's why I rated it a 5 ⭐️.
I do wish we got to see them together in the end more just because I had just gone through that whole story of emotional damage and I wanted payoff.
I think it's important to note that the magical realism elements are not fully developed but that's because it's not supposed to be. It's there to support the romance rather the romance support it.
This book covers topics such as greed and capitalism, pain and why someone would want to erase their memories, rape, and forced consent.
First part: Emmett is sent to work with a Binder after working at his family's farm has been tainted by his sickness. This part is slow but it uncovers the secret that Binders bind people's memories into books. Emmett discovers he is a Binder and that's why he's been sick. Working as a binder will help him feel less sick. When his apprenticeship ends due to Seredith (the Binder teaching him) dying.
Second part: Emmett finds himself working for another Binder who is more on the capitalist side of creating a Binding factory. He discovers he has his own book and burns it to find what memories he lost. In this section we go back in time to his lost memories of the love story between Emmett and Lucian. Lucian was a rich man's son visiting the country. Emmett initially hates Lucian but part of that hate is misplaced for his feelings towards Lucian and the fact that Lucian is courting his very young sister. They eventually fall in love while Lucian is still courting the sister (He wasn't really courting her. In fact he really came by for Emmett and was just kind to the sister). The sister finds them having sex basically and betrayed she tells her parents who also tell Lucian's father. Emmett tells his sister that Lucian would have married her had she not done this. Lucian's father forces Emmett to bind his memories of them or else he will hurt Emmett's sister.
Part 3: Lucian's father is a corrupt businessman who forces people to bind their memories but he advises his son to never bind his memories. Still, we find the Lucian has due to finding out later that Emmet has bound his memories. Now back in the present, with Emmett and his memories back, Emmett attempts to burn Lucian's book so that he can have his memories back. They are successful after burning a house of stolen books.