The Binding

<p><strong>A gritty hopeful narrative with emotionally rich characters <em>Kirkus Reviews Our Verdict: Get it</em></strong></p><p></p><p>In an America where the West was never colonized the Appalachian Mountains mark the border between starkly different worlds: The Atlantic States of America a corporate-run dystopia; and the United West standing defiant in its quest to preserve its egalitarian culture and autonomy.</p><p></p><p>Ruby Roth is a legacy conscript fighting to survive while protecting a young boy in her care. Burdened with a gift for binding she clings to the hope of one day fleeing West. But when she's threatened with a forced marriage to a brutal officer she must choose between submitting or risking her life and the lives of those she loves for freedom.</p><p></p><p>Kaileh Clearwater Lewis a warrior of the West wants nothing more than to safeguard her people and uncover the truth behind her brother Tareq's death. When her quest brings her face-to-face with Ruby she must confront a moral reckoning that could shatter everything she believes in.</p><p></p><p>The Binding is a tale of transformation and resilience where two women from opposing cultures but bound by fate navigate intrigue loyalty and the unbreakable bonds of family in a divided America that could have been.</p><p></p><p>An alternate history of America perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.</p>