Reviews

El Encuadernador / The Binding by Bridget Collins

meladaniel's review against another edition

5.0

This book had everything. Unexpected twists. Romance. Murder. Secrets. Suicide. Magic. Forbidden love. Loveable, interesting, complex and heartbreaking characters and relationships. Haven’t come across a book like this in a while.

annavvvv's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

very good concept!!! 

morticiaddams's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

cinnamooney's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was absolutely incredible. I could never quite tell what would happen next. I laughed. I cried. It's an emotional ride shrouded in mysteries. My only regret with this book was how long I put off reading it.

creepycrawlybookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

sminismoni's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this one. Set in a quasi-Victorian alternative world, where professionals called Binders operate. These psychic-cum-psychotherapists remove painful memories from people, erasing them, to be written and bound into books. The unscrupulous ones sell these books for entertainment, other clients pay large sums to have their books securely stored in vaults. Young Emmett Farmer is apprenticed to a Binder and begins to unravel the dark side of his new profession through the unexpected journey of his forbidden relationship with the aristocratic Lucian. Great stuff.

kiralymeli's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

antonella_taylorsversion's review against another edition

I think I'm going to dnf this book. I have literally no idea why but it's making me way too emotional and, mentally and emotionally, I'm not in a good enough place to feel this way 

anniemd's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

aotales's review against another edition

4.0

Straight up, not for everyone - and I truly wish this story could have continued as it began (a story about learning the craft of binding memories into books) - but I really enjoyed Collins’ writing. It is uncaringly slow, unflinchingly stark, and incredibly moody. If you’re looking for an atmospheric gothic historical fiction, and enjoy languidly descriptive and slowly built stories … this is a great one.

Full Review here: https://www.aotales.com/content/review-the-binding