"A gritty, hopeful narrative with emotionally rich characters" Kirkus Reviews, Our Verdict: Get it! 2025 Page Turner Book Award Finalist 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.