A review by archcon
The Binding by Bridget Collins

adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found The Binding to be strangely challenging to read. I think this is in part because what I thought would be strictly fantasy turned into a slow burn story about a farm boy partway in. It wasn't what I expected, nor what I particularly wanted at the time. Overall, this book just really wasn't what I thought it would be based off the description, which was very disappointing.

Spoilery part:
I also have really mixed feelings about the two main characters having their relationship found out and then their memories wiped, essentially, of said gay relationship. At first realization, this made me quite upset and I didn't really want to continue reading.

Another thing - Emmett realizing at some point that his anger/aggression/distrust towards Lucian is because he has romantic feelings for another boy somehow left an even worse taste in my mouth. I think this is largely because that realization was just dropped in, with little to no constructive thought or conversation about it in the text. Just some casual internalized homophobia.
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