Not often does a book affect me as much as this. I will admit, I bought it because it looked pretty and had it sat on my side for over a year. When I finally started reading it, I didnt want to put it down. The intrigue, the mystery, it made me think about it when i wasnt reading it. Longing to pick it back up. Then the love story. A love story like no other I've read. One that has you falling in love too. And when hearts break, it isnt just in the book. I gasped, I laughed, I cried, and now I have a heavy heart that I've finished the book. Undoubtedly I'll read it again, but I cant imagine it will compare to the way I felt reading it for the first time. Thank you, Bridget Collins, for bringing this book into my life. It is superb!

I did not yet read “The Binding”, however, the general make up of this book is simply wonderful....clear print on ecru good smelling paper, the yellow headband in contrast to the purple page block and the wonderful golden designs on the cover and back of the book and dust cover..... Am practicing in the moment Tsundoku which is aquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one’s home without reading them. I will get to The Binding soon. In this moment I will give 5 stars just for its beautiful design.

At the risk of sounding dramatic, this book took over me. It was the last thing I thought about at night and the first thing I thought about in the morning. I was transfixed from the first to last page, and it reminded me just why I love reading fiction - to escape the real world. To me, it was almost dystopian in feel. The notion of binding memories into a book to erase trauma (a revolutionary idea in itself), the ethical responsibility that brings and it having potential for economic exploitation - could’ve been written by Atwood. There’s definitely something philosophical going on there. It’s a little bit Black Mirror. *Technically* though it’s ‘magical realism’, the supernatural component disqualifying it as a dystopia. I think what I’m getting at is that it’s not completely otherworldly, it’s reminiscent of Victorian England - polarised wealth, dirt, industry, cold weather PLUS this underlying message, magical sentiment. It’s interesting. Anyway. The Binding is fantastic whatever it is. It’s quietly haunting, chilly, the characters are well-realised. It’s unpredictable, the plot has hooks, cliff hangers, romance! It’s just so unusual, and unlike anything I’d normally pick up. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Omg omg omg!! I honestly bought the book because of the cover and the brief skim of it but wow! It’s my new favourite book! Bridget Collins is such a vibrant and amazing writer. I really cannot recommend it enough!

Imagine, your memories are taken from you and stored in a book and you completely forget them. Then, people can read them like written novels without your permission. This is a fantasy novel with a difference, achingly romantic ; a haunting story of forbidden love, longing, lust, magic and betrayal. Bridget Collins was able to bind the elements of fantasy, Gothic historical drama and romance in the pages of this wonderful book. I forgot to tell you that the book cover is gorgeous, enough on its own to justify buying this book.