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bookdrag0n's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
hersky's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
doom_inique's review
I've read this book at least 15-20 times and I think it's pretty neat. I hope you do too.
Merged review:
I've read this book at least 15-20 times and I think it's pretty neat. I hope you do too.
Merged review:
I've read this book at least 15-20 times and I think it's pretty neat. I hope you do too.
ladyinverse's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
absolutely wonderful. the story was a little slow to start, but once Celeste got on that mountain, by golly did it go fast.
I loved the eerie nature of the mountain and it's inhabitants. I can't wait to read more.
I loved the eerie nature of the mountain and it's inhabitants. I can't wait to read more.
helynalc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had the privilege to follow the journey of this book a little bit on social media and reading some early versions, and I'm so happy I can be here now talking about the ARC, and hopefully having a physical copy on my shelf very soon. The Binding of Bloom Mountain is the spooky, but somehow still comforting journey of Celeste, a woman finding herself without work and real goals one late August day. Out of necessity and perhaps some defiance, she takes on a mysterious job that leads her back into the forests and valleys of her half-forgotten childhood vacations and reveals a world that was carefully hidden from her thus far.
I loved discovering the "hike" and its nature along with Celeste. The people she met in and around the town of Milton were memorable additions to her journey and made me want to visit as well, although, well, maybe it's not the safest part of the wilderness. :D This parallel world was so interesting and I hoped to get to know more and more about it. Celeste was a protagonist I could relate to, from the anxiety attacks she went through to the guts she showed when confronted with the otherwordly (and psychological) dangers (I can only hope to also show that quiet but forceful sass in my own life, hehe).
I also loved the little bits of the mosaic of lore that infused the whole setting and the people living in it. There's so much space for worldbuilding still, and it's all very intriguing. The steps of the ritual were immersive, the creatures she met terrifying and lovely, and I was there with Celeste every step of the way. The descriptions were great, they really took me into that world. And then of course, we have some reveals and the solutions to some mysteries, and I already can't wait to read more about this world! :)
I also loved her realization during the final steps of the ritual. The growing will that she can, that she has to do this. Something new and wild that will help people and prove it to herself that she is able. And even though her blood sweat and tears performed the job, there was so much comfort that I found in the fact that to me, she was continuing something already ongoing. It was like she was part of a natural cycle that happened to help her in her personal life too. It was quite beautiful to me.
The peculiar mood and pace of the story truly remained with me after closing the book on the last lines. The image of Celeste trudging forward in the woods listening to the audio recording that told her the steps of the ritual will be something I won't forget very soon. I really recommend this novel to those who would like a quiet, mysterious, but somehow still familiar book about woods and the spookies and all the stories (human and otherworldly) living there.
I had the privilege to follow the journey of this book a little bit on social media and reading some early versions, and I'm so happy I can be here now talking about the ARC, and hopefully having a physical copy on my shelf very soon. The Binding of Bloom Mountain is the spooky, but somehow still comforting journey of Celeste, a woman finding herself without work and real goals one late August day. Out of necessity and perhaps some defiance, she takes on a mysterious job that leads her back into the forests and valleys of her half-forgotten childhood vacations and reveals a world that was carefully hidden from her thus far.
I loved discovering the "hike" and its nature along with Celeste. The people she met in and around the town of Milton were memorable additions to her journey and made me want to visit as well, although, well, maybe it's not the safest part of the wilderness. :D This parallel world was so interesting and I hoped to get to know more and more about it. Celeste was a protagonist I could relate to, from the anxiety attacks she went through to the guts she showed when confronted with the otherwordly (and psychological) dangers (I can only hope to also show that quiet but forceful sass in my own life, hehe).
I also loved the little bits of the mosaic of lore that infused the whole setting and the people living in it. There's so much space for worldbuilding still, and it's all very intriguing. The steps of the ritual were immersive, the creatures she met terrifying and lovely, and I was there with Celeste every step of the way. The descriptions were great, they really took me into that world. And then of course, we have some reveals and the solutions to some mysteries, and I already can't wait to read more about this world! :)
The peculiar mood and pace of the story truly remained with me after closing the book on the last lines. The image of Celeste trudging forward in the woods listening to the audio recording that told her the steps of the ritual will be something I won't forget very soon. I really recommend this novel to those who would like a quiet, mysterious, but somehow still familiar book about woods and the spookies and all the stories (human and otherworldly) living there.
analenegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to Diverse Collections PR and the author for gifting me a copy of this book for a bookstagram book tour.
This was a very fast-paced and short fantastical story rooted in the mountains and Appalachia. Our main character, Celeste, is a very relatable character who is emotional and loves intensely but struggles to express it, understanding when you find out that the character is not yet diagnosed autistic.
The magic of this story and of Bloom Mountain is fascinating and was a page-turner since it was hard to put down. The fantastical characters and Celeste's journey were very enjoyable to read, with mythology that Chambers has clearly thought a lot about.
I didn't really care for the romance in this book, not because it was bad but because it was just unnecessary to the story, and I think I would have enjoyed things more if Celeste's journey wasn't rooted in getting back to someone she just met and did not know at all.
Again, thanks for this copy and the author swag that came with it!!
This was a very fast-paced and short fantastical story rooted in the mountains and Appalachia. Our main character, Celeste, is a very relatable character who is emotional and loves intensely but struggles to express it, understanding when you find out that the character is not yet diagnosed autistic.
The magic of this story and of Bloom Mountain is fascinating and was a page-turner since it was hard to put down. The fantastical characters and Celeste's journey were very enjoyable to read, with mythology that Chambers has clearly thought a lot about.
I didn't really care for the romance in this book, not because it was bad but because it was just unnecessary to the story, and I think I would have enjoyed things more if Celeste's journey wasn't rooted in getting back to someone she just met and did not know at all.
Again, thanks for this copy and the author swag that came with it!!
harborwriter's review
5.0
This was a really delightful read. Celeste’s journey to bind Bloom Mountain is a fun, fantastical slow burn adventure with some outright creepy moments and a few twists that evokes a folkloric vibe. The setting descriptions are absolutely gorgeous and I loved the autistic rep. I really enjoyed how Celeste developed over the course of the book, working through coming to terms with herself, her past, and her growing feelings towards Marta. I definitely recommend this one!
azaleaforrest's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely, dark, chilling, and magical book. The Binding of Bloom Mountain is set up as a reluctant hero's journey, and I love that it stars a woman in her 30's. Celeste is at her wit's end in a long line of failures, on her way to take a crazy, nondescript job in the middle of nowhere just for some cash, because she's recently lost her job & has drank away whatever reserves she had left.
TBBM is a modern fantasy and I love how magic is interwoven and seamless throughout the town of Milton. Celeste's reactions to the world around her is believable, and her breakdowns familiar. I love all the nature--no scene ever feels repetitive, despite the consistent climb up the mountain.
The spirits are Really cool, and there are so many fun, magical moments during the journey of the Binding. Siggy creates such a picture as she describes these fantastical happenings, and I had a lot of fun reading.
My only gripe is that it felt like Celeste fell for her love-interest a little too hard & fast, but that's more a personal thing than the writing itself. They're cute, regardless! :)
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is not a terribly long read--quite comfortable, actually, and y'all should definitely give it a shot!
Merged review:
What a lovely, dark, chilling, and magical book. The Binding of Bloom Mountain is set up as a reluctant hero's journey, and I love that it stars a woman in her 30's. Celeste is at her wit's end in a long line of failures, on her way to take a crazy, nondescript job in the middle of nowhere just for some cash, because she's recently lost her job & has drank away whatever reserves she had left.
TBBM is a modern fantasy and I love how magic is interwoven and seamless throughout the town of Milton. Celeste's reactions to the world around her is believable, and her breakdowns familiar. I love all the nature--no scene ever feels repetitive, despite the consistent climb up the mountain.
The spirits are Really cool, and there are so many fun, magical moments during the journey of the Binding. Siggy creates such a picture as she describes these fantastical happenings, and I had a lot of fun reading.
My only gripe is that it felt like Celeste fell for her love-interest a little too hard & fast, but that's more a personal thing than the writing itself. They're cute, regardless! :)
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is not a terribly long read--quite comfortable, actually, and y'all should definitely give it a shot!
TBBM is a modern fantasy and I love how magic is interwoven and seamless throughout the town of Milton. Celeste's reactions to the world around her is believable, and her breakdowns familiar. I love all the nature--no scene ever feels repetitive, despite the consistent climb up the mountain.
The spirits are Really cool, and there are so many fun, magical moments during the journey of the Binding. Siggy creates such a picture as she describes these fantastical happenings, and I had a lot of fun reading.
My only gripe is that it felt like Celeste fell for her love-interest a little too hard & fast, but that's more a personal thing than the writing itself. They're cute, regardless! :)
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is not a terribly long read--quite comfortable, actually, and y'all should definitely give it a shot!
Merged review:
What a lovely, dark, chilling, and magical book. The Binding of Bloom Mountain is set up as a reluctant hero's journey, and I love that it stars a woman in her 30's. Celeste is at her wit's end in a long line of failures, on her way to take a crazy, nondescript job in the middle of nowhere just for some cash, because she's recently lost her job & has drank away whatever reserves she had left.
TBBM is a modern fantasy and I love how magic is interwoven and seamless throughout the town of Milton. Celeste's reactions to the world around her is believable, and her breakdowns familiar. I love all the nature--no scene ever feels repetitive, despite the consistent climb up the mountain.
The spirits are Really cool, and there are so many fun, magical moments during the journey of the Binding. Siggy creates such a picture as she describes these fantastical happenings, and I had a lot of fun reading.
My only gripe is that it felt like Celeste fell for her love-interest a little too hard & fast, but that's more a personal thing than the writing itself. They're cute, regardless! :)
The Binding of Bloom Mountain is not a terribly long read--quite comfortable, actually, and y'all should definitely give it a shot!
elsavaneden's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tandewrites's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5