Started: 12 March 2023
Finished: 20th August 2023
Rating: 3/5
What makes a story ‘original’? I suppose if a reader were to look in the most obvious place a.k.a The Oxford dictionary they would know the word, ‘original’ refers ‘to the earliest form of something’.
In the writing profession, originality is still very much encouraged. Certainly was in my university days. But as today’s review will likely prove, being ‘original’ is not as easy as it seems.
A hefty tome to a (possibly) planned series, R.R. Virdi’s The First Binding (2022) is an epic fantasy with a creative but all too familiar narrative that will easily be identified by the more keen-eyed reader.
The story follows narrators, Ari and Eloise; travelling performers trying to escape their past and set right the world’s wrongs. Judging from the books size this s going to take a while. As already mentioned this book is long; an aspect I’m sure some of the most hardcore fantasists will appreciate. It certainly shows Virdi’s dedication to flesh-out a diverse universe and experiment with its narrative.
The First Binding is a story built on stories, a combination of character flashbacks, mythological tales and poetic verses that, along with Virdi’s use of the first person, embodies its tagline 'Every Great Story Starts With A Lie’.
The decision to have its narrators as performers reinforces this, Ari and Eloise, collectors and weavers of tales, presenting mysteriousness to themselves. This is particularly the case with my favourite narrator, the songstress Eloise, whose late night wanderings amongst the cities’ dark underbellies and keen interest in Ari suggest unspecified intentions for the enraptured storyteller.
However, while I acknowledge Virdi’s creativity, his narrative highlights the main flaw I found with this book.
For readers of Patrick Rothfuss’ The KingKiller Chronicle (2007-) The First Binding will feel familiar. A bit too familiar. In fact if those readers were to pay close attention to certain moments within the book, they would realize The First Binding is pretty much a rewritten version of Rothfuss’ The Name of The Wind (2007). Just with a Southern Asian twist and a couple of name changes.
Admittedly, if considering the book’s tagline, it could be argued that this is Virdi’s cheeky way to wall-break through reality. However I felt it had to be addressed due to the struggle I had to continue reading
I’m not a huge fan of Rothfuss’ work. I mean I liked The Kingkiller Chronicle books but I wouldn’t say I liked them so much I would re-read them. So reading The First Binding often made the outcomes in some chapters predictable and at times I began to skim read my way through, questioning the meaning of, ‘plagiarism’. Of course that subject is going down a road I don’t desire to travel. I’m sure Virdi’s love letter to Rothfuss is just what it is, and, while similar in some sections, there are scenarios he adds that did re-invigorate my high fantasy vibes for a bit. However, if intended to become a series I do pray The First Binding will provide more of its own originality rather than piggy backing on another. Keep the story within a story format sure, but try not to make the plot so noticeable that it will start to make readers wondering whether they should have brought this book at all.
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