Imagine if you could erase dark secrets, grief and pain from your memory forever. In The Binding, you can and these are trapped in beautifully bound leather books and stored in vaults. I thought this was a beautifully written book and so descriptive. This historical fantasy novel is written in three parts and is a real page turner. I would recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for review. As you can probably tell from all of the glowing reviews from Waterstones booksellers and customers alike, this book certainly has a lot going for it. It's beautiful inside and out (that cover! those endpapers!) and has a dark, gripping and incredibly emotional story. The love story at the heart of this book is wonderful - two tortured souls brought together then wrenched apart, then together again in a perfectly Gothic, Bronte-esque manner- but my favourite aspect of the book was definitely the book-binding. The sections near the beginning in which Emmett was learning the craft and the dark truth behind why his family fear and revile books was intriguing and compelling. I also very much enjoyed the examinations of how people could misuse and abuse the power of books, and how they affected the rich and the poor in various ways. Anyone who is a lover of books will enjoy this and the impressive feats of imagination Bridget Collins has demonstrated with this novel. I will definitely be picking up whatever she publishes next!

An enjoyable, well-spun tale set somewhere, somewhen in the past, following the heartfelt struggles of of a young man finding his feet in a harsh world. As he contends with family, memory, love, and the occult secrets that permeate every aspect of his life, we become submerged in his point of view, almost as he does for the patrons' minds he is tasked to tinker with in his peculiar line of work. As much as this is a story about the young binder, so it is a testament to the power of the written word. Superb. *Recommended books are along the lines of 'young voices struggling with supernatural/extraordinary forces outside of their control'.

The Binding is probably the most beautiful book I’ve ever seen, both outside and under the dust jacket, and probably one of the most spellbinding books I’ve ever read. I read this book over four flights I took over the last three days, and hated every minute that I couldn’t be reading The Binding in the middle. ALL THE THINGS I LOVED: 1. I loved almost every part of this book, despite its slow beginning. It took me a while to get into the story, especially before Seredith started explaining the art of binding, but there was a point where I looked up (probably in the middle of the first flight) and realized that I was invested in the story, waiting for the unraveling of secrets, hoping for the best possible ending and everyone to just be… happy. 2. I am OBSESSED with Bridget Collins’ writing style. I loved how she created her characters, her descriptions, and her world-building. I loved the chemistry between two certain characters (no spoilers though) and how she created their relationships. It was wonderful, immersive writing. 3. I loved the art of binding and the world that Bridget Collins’ created in The Binding. It’s very hard to describe what it all felt like without giving away spoilers but suffice it to say that reading this book was like reading magic on a page. 4. I loved that this wasn’t told in linear form, because it raised the ‘I’m intrigued and invested’ factor SO MUCH. THE ONE THING I WISHED WAS BETTER: 1. As Emmett moves from his farm to the marshes to the big city, The Binding touches upon the social implication of giving people the power to wipe someone else’s memory. It was especially interesting because I thought that Emmett and Lucian, as a binder and rich person whose family employs the services of a binder respectively, were going to take on the systemic abuse of power and money and exploitation that had come with binding for money which would have made this book unforgettable, but they didn’t. I LOVE THE STORY AS IS, but I also wish it had more in terms of a social crusade. Would I recommend this book? ABSOLUTELY. The Binding is magical, spellbinding and captivating with fluid, immersive writing and stunning worldbuilding. I loved it and I hope you will too.

For the first hundred or so pages I felt this book was rather slow. I’m not someone who typically enjoys slow burn events interspersed by artful yet dense descriptions of settings, but I can without a doubt appreciate the artistry of Collins’ prose. After reaching the second Major Plot Event the pace picked up somewhat and my absorption in the vivid, compelling story carried me straight through to the end. My only real issue with this book is that women are treated quite terribly throughout. I don’t think this is something to hold against the book or author though, because I know this is pretty historically accurate. It’s just, for me on a personal level, it definitely stood out and I wasn't even trying to find it. Magical realism is one of my favourite genres, one that I often find difficult to find reading material for, but I think I struck gold with this book. This story is perfect at intertwining the desolate environment of Victorian England with exploration of the consequences of the binding trade on both the Binder and the Bindee. I’ve never had much interest in period pieces, but this book is a very good starting point for the genre as the dialogue is accessible and engaging. I would recommend this book to any reader, regardless of whether or not they have read historical fiction before.