Review: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

A captivating piece of ancient historical fiction, The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova is an unpredictable plunge into deception, decadence, and the dangerous power of knowledge.

In a world where women are forbidden from higher education or the wealth of literature, young Aria is a rebellious exception – a polyglot and a sponge for knowledge, thanks to her father, the bookbinder. When she saves the son of the pharaoh’s life with her hidden talents, she is quickly adopted into his cadre as an aegis – a highly respected mistress, as well as a secret spy. However, hunting down the heart of palace intrigue can be a deadly game, and Aria must choose her allies, enemies, and lovers carefully. Complicating matters is her older sister, the new mistress of the pharaoh, who may be more involved in court conspiracies than Aria could ever have imagined.

From eavesdropping at royal receptions and deciphering servant gossip to unleashing her feminine powers and gathering influence that could remake an empire, Aria’s sharp mind and daring spirit make her the perfect undercover agent. When the hedonistic prince comes to power, Aria finds herself rising quickly through the halls of power, but her position hangs by a few delicate threads, including the expectation that she provide a male heir for the newly ascended pharaoh. Hypnotizing in its twists and revelations, the plot unravels like a well-laid trap, with new characters complicating the already twisted landscape of the pharaoh’s court.

Aria’s ferocity in defense of her own boundaries and body, and her rejection of the lower-class assignation of women, make her an inspiring protagonist, but she is also fascinatingly complex in her ethics. There are painful moments of compromised values, and growing up faster than Aria wants, but she also possesses a dauntless drive to survive. Learning what secrets to hold and which to share, leveraging sex and gossip to her advantage, observing treachery with detachment, and wearing an ever-changing mask is a tall order for a young woman on the cusp of adulthood, mirroring the myriad challenges faced by women in the real world. Aside from this central journey, there are other plot-driving themes of social rebellion in the face of oppression, a decaying ruling class disconnected from the people, and the disruptive forces of love and desperation, which give this novel visceral impact and relatability.

On the technical side, the prose is clean, impressively edited, and well-paced, but there isn’t as much tension as one might expect for a royal court plagued with espionage and betrayal. The writing is often declarative and straightforward, as is the dialogue, leaving little space for reading between the lines, cliffhangers, or uncertain interpretations. Similarly, some key events in the plot feel glossed over, such as the original pharaoh’s murder, or the fate of Elote in the aftermath. There are also some anachronistic phrases and idiomatic slips that break the illusion of the setting and era, which Cordova otherwise works hard to maintain.

On balance, however, this novel is smart, sexy, and unpredictable, working both as an intense coming-of-age story and a vivid palace drama, for a uniquely imaginative work of historical fiction.