Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - The Gifts That Bind Us

Honestly a beautiful haunting book. Every new chapter you learn something and gradually, more and more things keep going wrong.

I genuinely don't get this series keeps improving. Maeve is so violently a teenager girl that I feel like I am back at school. And the metaphors! They are beautiful.

And the complexities of Fiona's identity. Not relegated to a best-friend archetype, but give the freedom within the narrative to explore and grow.

I also loved the graudla shift of Lily and Maeve's relationship. How forgiveness has to be earned and rituals can't fix years of neglect and mistreatment.

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miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

I love this trilogy and i love maeve but god good that cheating sub plot is one of the most stressful experiences of my life

‘“Its almost September,” lily says, her eyes out the window. I don’t know why she says it except perhaps as a reminder of the longer nights and the fact that everything will get darker from here on out’

‘Everyone that craves power once had none.’

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barnesbookshelf's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was so excited to keep reading Maeve's story that i couldn't put this book down. And now I'm itching to find out the resolution!

It did bother me a little how all of the friends clearly had things they weren't telling the others. They are teenagers, so I'll give them the smallest pass. Hopefully they will communicate better in the next book.

I loved the new characters and the transition of the old ones. I can't wait to see where this story goes and how the crew handles COB!

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jaylulah26's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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deliak03's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

The book started out very slow, especially compared to the first book. I really enjoyed the added magic lore and background that was provided through this book, as well as getting to know the background characters better! The last six or so chapters of the book were so engaging that I couldn’t put the book down! If you like magic, this is a good book for you to read! There are also religious undertones throughout the book that are approached through multiple perspectives, which was interesting to see.

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zias's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I love this series! It’s easy to read, has great humor in parts, has great diversity and representation, and I love the story that we are taken on with these characters.

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weirdassfanta's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

A wonderful second book following the first. Watching each of the characters grow in their own way was such as nice touch. I love the LGBTQ+ rep in this book, especially matching the idea that pronouns don’t equal gender with Roe. It’s always nice seeing a book where there’s not only diversity, but the diversity is done correctly. The topics of mental health that were added in was also really an important feature that brings reality to the situation and shows people reading that it’s ok to struggle. Overall such a great book and I can’t wait to pick up the next one.

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.0

The first book was gifted to me from the book club that I am involved in, and this series have been on my TBR for ages, so I wanted to carry on with the series after the first book.

This book is still based on Maeve Chambers who we met in the last book, she and her friends have revealed their powers and banded together as a coven: Roe can pick locks, Lily sends sparks flying, Maeve can read minds and Fiona can heal any injuries. And even better than their newfound talents? Roe and Maeve are officially together. But with strange things happening at school, and old enemies appearing in new places, it soon becomes clear their powers are attracting all the wrong attention. It's not long before Maeve’s gift start to wane, drained by someone – or something – that's hiding even from her second sight.

The storyline was very strong, and it was an easy and interesting read. Maeve is such a badass even for how confused she can be during this book. I loved that Fiona was such a supportive best friend even when Maeve was ready to give up. The LGBT aspect of this book warms my heart with the love stories and how it was still a big part of this book and wasn’t just brushed under the carpet. I liked that Lily was becoming more of a character and was a complete badass. The conversation about mental health with Fiona and Lily was so important especially in a YA book. I loved the fact that Aaron had the change of character and hopefully he stays that way, though I still don’t trust him.

I missed the tarot cards aspect bit of it during this book because everyone had these powers, and it was all about the group dynamic. Also, who decides to gift a teenager a building that’s a school. That’s just messed up. The cliffhanger was mean, and the mystery of what is going to happen next and who is going to get rid of the Well, makes me want to read the next book in the series.

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