fe_aye's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Death, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Confinement, Dementia, Homophobia, Outing, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Vomit
marleywrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Suicide, Death, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Classism, Vomit, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Cursing
maeverose's review against another edition
TL;DR: I love the concept of this book so much, I really liked the romance, the writing style is hit and miss for me, why does everyone have to interrupt each other in every conversati—
The Romance
Spoiler
I liked the progression of Emmett’s feelings for Lucian. The way it was written I genuinely wasn’t sure how that was gonna go at first. The slow progression of hate to attraction without Emmett even seeming to recognize it as attraction at first. Idk I just liked that. And the dance scene !! I almost wish they explored how Emmett being a binder effects their relationship being as Lucian hates binders, but also I don’t like relationship angst so I don’t entirely mind that it was kinda just dropped.Writing
Plot Structure
Spoiler
I really like how we start out following Emmett after he’s been bound, then the way he eventually finds out, immediately leading into part two which is entirely just his memory. I definitely liked part three the least, but I think part three had to have been from Lucian’s pov or it wouldn’t’ve worked. And I definitely didn’t mind it. I think it could grow on me after a re read. Overall I just think the way the plot was structured was really smart.Dislikes
There was also a plot point that was just dropped that I felt needed more explanation.
Spoiler
When Emmett used that weird voice to tell off the people who wanted to burn Seredith’s house down, it was only brought up again once. When Emmett brought it up to Seredith she basically told him ‘that was nothing’. But it definitely seemed like something..? He seemed almost possessed to me.Alta annoyed me a bit but maybe that’s a me problem…
Graphic: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Homophobia, Murder, and Vomit
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Ableism, Blood, and Incest
Minor: Fatphobia, Slavery, Abandonment, and Cursing
There is one use of the slur for Romani people. Does the dog die:Spoiler
Yes. The dog is killed, rather violentlyxbernadette's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, Classism, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Alcohol, Incest, Blood, Hate crime, Animal death, Vomit, Death, Sexual harassment, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, and Adult/minor relationship
evie_lumby's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
When Lucian thought that them having sex didn’t mean anything actually broke me, and when Emmett said he loved LucianGraphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Death, Vomit, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
thecheshire_cat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Child death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Vomit, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Rape
vigil's review against another edition
4.0
it does leave several things up to interpretation for the reader. binding is the main characters true calling, and it’s repeatedly emphasized throughout the story. despite this, binding is given a very conflicting portrayal, and its more negative than you’d think. we don’t get to see really anything of the magical portion of emmett’s binding despite the concept being central to the plot.
this book is split up into three parts, all interconnected, but so varying in tone it can seem like you’re reading a different book.
if you enjoy character driven stories, heavy introspection, ambiguous interpretations, and a book more focused on a journey than an ending, i’d recommend this.
this book is pretty difficult to write a review about, and i suggest you go in knowing as little as possible. that being said, heed all content warnings.
Graphic: Outing, Physical abuse, Death, Blood, Suicide, Animal death, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization
bri__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Animal death, Gore, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Suicide, Vomit, and Violence
adelll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Abortion, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Incest, Murder, Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide, and Sexual violence
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pregnancy, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
himangi's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Outing