The Binding cover art

The Binding

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Binding

By: Bridget Collins
Narrated by: Carl Prekopp
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £17.22

Buy Now for £17.22

*PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF BRIDGET COLLINS' STUNNING NEW NOVEL, THE NAKED LIGHT*

LOSE YOURSELF IN THE BREAKOUT SENSATION OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019

SpellbindingGuardian

Magic’ Erin Kelly

ImmersiveSunday Times

Astounding’ Anna Mazzola

Emmett Farmer is a binder’s apprentice. His job is to hand-craft beautiful books and, within each, to capture something unique and extraordinary: a memory.

If you have something you want to forget, or a secret to hide, he can bind it – and you will never have to remember the pain it caused.

In a vault under his mentor’s workshop, row upon row of books – and secrets – are meticulously stored and recorded.

Then one day Emmett makes an astonishing discovery: one of the volumes has his name on it.

©2019 Bridget Collins
Classics Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

The Binding is a dark chocolate slice of cake with a surprising, satisfying seam of raspberry running through it. It is a rich, gothic entertainment that explores what books have trapped in them and reminds us of the power of storytelling. Spellbinding’ Tracy Chevalier
‘Truly spellbinding … readers will sink gratefully into the pleasures of its pages … Like a wonderful meal made from a few simple ingredients: the feeling in your chest when you hold someone in your arms for the first time; the sight of a host of bluebells. In recent years, the state of the world has threatened to make us forget the simple pleasures of kisses and bluebells and thick novels that tell stories of heartbreak. Here is a book to help us remember’ Guardian
‘Intense, immersive … A stirring, highly original piece of storytelling and world-making’ Sunday Times
‘With a twisting narrative that explores humans’ darkest moments and morals, Collins has created a fascinating fantasy world that evokes the atmosphere of Sarah Waters’ books with a nod to Philip Pullman. And, with a love story holding much of the story’s emotion together, this is definitely a book you’ll want to lose yourself to for hours on end’ Stylist
‘Part fantasy, part faux-history, part heart-in-your throat love story, it’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets The Miniaturist Grazia
‘More of an experience than a book, written with such grace and wisdom. Utterly brilliant’ Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep
‘Pure magic. The kind of immersive storytelling that makes you forget your own name. I wish I had written it’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said
‘An original concept, beautifully written. Collins’ prose is spellbinding’ Laura Purcell, author of The Silent Companions
‘A real treat … gothic, imaginative and dark’ The Times
All stars
Most relevant
If I had read this, I would certainly have cheated and skipped to the end. I was rapt all the way through. This is one of those rare stories that you cannot wait to finish but then mourn reaching the end. Thank you Bridget Collins, I adored The Binding. I look forward to more of you.

Carl Prekopp's narration and care of the distinctive voices of Bridget Collins's characters and their world was utterly delightful. Thank you Mr. Prekopp for your stunning delivery, I would love to hear more of your narration.

I will be purchasing a hard copy of this because I wish to make a home for The Binding in my bookcase of forever stories.


One of my best listens of 2019

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The storyteller's voice was just PERFECT for the characters and his accents impeccable. I need to find more books that he had narrated. The story was a little slow to start but I could never Jane imagined where it would take me. Perfect ending too. I'm at a loss now.

NARRATOR

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Hugely enjoyable period suspense novel with a unique plot. (well I haven"t come across Binders like these before).
Carl Prekopp reads with exactly the right pitch for the story and greatly enhances the piece with his performance.
I think we will be hearing more of this book and its writer.



Unturnoffable!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A beautiful and intriguing story. Had me gripped right from the start and I found myself rationing the end!

Absorbing and deeply moving

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Fantastic story that isn’t what you’d expect it to be - the first part of the book is really building the foundation for the story which I really didn’t mind! Narrator did a brilliant job, as a Northerner I throughly enjoyed listening to a Northern story told in our rich accent. It really does add character and make a difference to a story.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews