The Binding

"A gritty, hopeful narrative with emotionally rich characters. ...reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's classic, The Handmaid's Tale..." Kirkus Reviews, Our Verdict: Get it

"The Binding blends a suspenseful, character-driven plot with bold questions about social justice, cultural values, and familial ties. This is both an engrossing escape thriller and a heartfelt exploration of resilience and compassion under stark oppression. Readers drawn to speculative fiction that interrogates our present through the lens of a reimagined past will find much to admire here. Caldwell's vision of two Americas divided not just by borders, but by radically different values, lingers long after the final page." The Independent Book Review

"Humming with urgency, The Binding carves a cleft into not just the imagination, but North American history and its evasive possibilities. Fraught with emotion and the layers of hurt laid down over generations, The Binding leaves the reader clutching a fragment of tentative hope in a world radically changed--and radically the same." Marisca Pichette, Bram Stoker Nominated author of Every Dark Cloud

The Binding is a spellbinding story of a future world that is as full of danger and futility as it is of compassion and hope. Caldwell creates a fascinating alternate history populated with strong characters who are driven by their joint and separate visions to create a better world. Libby Gill, Award-winning author of Malibu Summer

A gripping story set in a world that might have been, and a world that could yet be, rich with detail and rife with incident. Deft character work and intriguing worldbuilding grounds this suspenseful, political, and ultimately bittersweet story about identity, loss, and doing what it takes to survive. A rousing read. Khan Wong, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, author of 

The Circus Infinite and Down in the Sea of Angels

"In this nuanced portrayal of a continent split by an alternate history and a society ravaged by greed, The Binding takes the reader on a journey from hopelessness to hope, from alienation to community, and from loss to love. The ideas will challenge your mind while the characters capture your heart. Jennifer Sherman Roberts, Amazon best-selling author of The Village Healer's Book of Cures