I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The writing was exquisite, presenting the reader with the kind of imagery that takes one to the place, to ‘feel’. Intriguing and thought provoking.

For a book with no real locations, this has one amazing sense of place. Set in the small town of Castleford (there is a Castleford in Yorkshire) this is a wonderfully immersive story about books, magic and inner human turmoil. It's very magical and fantastical but gothic at the same time. During the first few chapters, we learn that the people in the story are scared of books and ban them from their houses. What!? I cried, what is this nonsense? But it turns out there is a very good reason for their fear. Books in their world can hold pain, tension and release it too. People can ask for their bad memories to be bound in a book and then stored away. This gives them peace of mind...for a while. The craft of book binding is described with loving delight. You realise that this is a true art but how somehow it's being used for dark arts in this book. The apprentice of our story, Emmet Farmer goes off to become one of these elusive bookbinders. And then he sees a book with his name on it.. Jeepers this was twisty, immersive, eerie and ghostly all at once. Then we learn more about the bookbinders themselves - how some are honest and willing to help others and how others are there to corrupt and cheat people from their pasts and their memories. Deliciously evil when you think about it! Imagine the potential of having the worst of you in a book, of someone else locking away your memories in a book without your knowledge. Gives a whole new meaning to the power of reading! There's a love story in here too and this was magically conjured as a novel about social class, social divide, bookbinders and those in their grasp, two people coming together can unravel the tightest of threads and create new ones... Can't say more without spoilers so read it now! And next time you see an old, bound book, take a look at the names on the cover...the author might not be who you think.

A clever take on the art of book binding, gluing a tangled love story together. A great read.

The first book I have read in a while, and it's got me hooked to reading again. I stayed up well past bedtime trawling through the pages because I just wanted to know more. Fabulous read thoroughly enjoyed, perfect quarantine read

The prose flows easily, the story keeps your attention and the descriptions are interesting. Overall an extremely pleasant read.