One of the best books I have read in recent years and it is for me personally right at the top with Philip Pullman's books as one of the best books I have ever read. Once started, it is hard to put back down and I read it within only a few days not getting enough of it! True masterpiece!!

Captivating, beautiful writing and a richly imagined universe. I would love to see more books set in this atmospheric and magical world. A book about books for people who love books!

When reading The Binding, I felt as though I had been transported to the workshop, marshes and all the other locations with Emmett. This book pulled on my heartstrings, made me smile and I loved this book so much that no other book will compare for at least a while, if not forever.

Although I have purchased Waterstones beautifully enhanced edition, I had previously received an advance review ebook from HarperCollins U.K./The Borough Press of this highly anticipated historical fantasy via NetGalley. ‘The Binding’ is set in and around Castleford, West Yorkshire in an unspecified historical period, which from the level of technology and other indicators may be sometime in the late 19th Century. In this alternative reality books are considered dangerous as bookbinders are able to extract painful memories when requested and store them in beautifully bound books. While most binders are ethical there are shadier aspects of the trade. It occurred to me that for some these books were made-to-order misery memoirs. Emmett Farmer is plucked from life on his family’s farm to apprentice with the eccentric local binder, Seredith. He is quite reluctant though assured by her that it is more than a trade. Events then take unexpected turns. I am wary about saying much more about those developments as it’s too easy to accidentally reveal spoilers. I feel it is better to allow the power of the story to carry the reader into a unique experience. In magical practice binding spells are used to control and depending on intent can be considered as positive or negative magic. Often objects are used to assist the practitioner and anchor the binding. As I began reading, although the story is about books being created to contain unwanted memories, the concept of magical binding kept coming to my mind alongside the binding of books. Loving books as I do the concept of a world where they are forbidden and novels are considered ‘fake’ makes me quite anxious, so was glad that this was an alternative reality. Yet I set that aside and just allowed myself to be caught up in Collins’ beautiful language and this moving tale of forbidden love. Though I found that I felt quite sad with the outcome for some characters but it can’t be rainbows and bluebells for all. Overall a very memorable story that is receiving praise from professional and reader reviews alike. Quite rightly the publishers have created an exquisite binding for the hardback and I quickly ordered a copy as I needed this on my bookshelf.

I read it years ago and still think about it