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The First Binding

A Silk Road epic fantasy full of magic and mystery

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The First Binding

By: R.R. Virdi
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
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About this listen

 'A work of extraordinary depth; people are going to be unpicking the secrets of Tremaine for years to come' Richard Swan, Sunday Times bestselling author

All legends are born of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first.

I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I've stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I've called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster.

My name is Ari.

And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil.

Thus begins the tale of a storyteller and a singer on the run and hoping to find obscurity in a tavern bar. But the sins of their past aren't forgotten, and neither are their enemies. Their old lives are catching up swiftly and it could cost them the entire world. No one can escape their pasts and all stories must have an ending.

Readers love The First Binding:

'The world is extremely rich in its myth and history . . . I loved this book . . . it's only a matter of time until Virdi and the Tales of Tremaine will be remembered for many years to come' Novel Notions

'Once you lose yourself in this South Asian-inspired fantasy world, there's no turning back. The First Binding is a grand, mesmerizing story' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Lyrical, lovely, and beautifully South Asian' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'The First Binding is magnificent, it marks itself out because of the way the author has utilized South Asian culture and Hindu mythology to make this epic fantasy story more than a bit unique. R.R. Virdi [has written] a story for readers such as myself & thousands of South Asian fantasy readers' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'[There is something the] author infused into his story with that's completely him: South Asian mythology and culture were clearly the foundation of the world Virdi imagined, while ticking all the boxes of a classical epic fantasy' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'It's beautiful, like poetry. I love the stories within stories and genesis myths shown throughout it. My family is East African in origin ancestrally, and there are themes in here even though this is mostly Asian that feel so similar and like I'm reading bits of my own culture, and that is beautiful to see' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Dragons & Mythical Creatures Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Magic World Literature Mythology

Critic reviews

R.R. Virdi's The First Binding is engrossing and beautiful, joyous and painful -- always entertaining, sometimes profound. This book makes me remember why I love epic fantasy
Crafted with patience, passion and, most importantly, tremendous love. Read R.R. Virdi
R.R. Virdi spins a very personal epic fantasy about the consequences of our actions and the nature of heroism. Rich world-building, plenty of action, and devious twists abound. Very highly recommended
An epic like no other - grand, sweeping, dramatic, a love letter to fantasy burning with the dust and heat and mythos of South Asia. It reads like magic and tastes like saffron
If you loved The Name of the Wind and The Lies of Locke Lamora, this is your next reading addiction
The First Binding is epic fantasy at its finest -- an homage to storytelling and legend, richly told and endlessly engaging. Complex and luxuriant, this is an emotional, multifaceted gem of a book that examines the twists and turns a story takes on its journey from the truth
If you're a fan of The Kingkiller Chronicle, like me . . . well, The First Binding is for you . . . It is a novel about coming-of-age, found family, kindness, empathy, storytelling, magic, truth, and lies . . . [it's] the first volume in a new magnificent and ambitious high fantasy series to obsess over
Lavish in detail, a saga colourfully flavoured with the mythos of India, R.R. Virdi's The First Binding is a fantasy debut recommended for the exceptional promise that The Name of the Wind enthusiasts have been pining to discover and read
A work of extraordinary depth; readers will be unpicking the secrets of Tremaine for years to come
An ode to storytelling, complete with a rich mythology, turbulent adventures, and a flawed hero you'll root for
The First Binding is, at its core, a coming-of-age/underdog story with the found family and pet companion trope (and LOTS more)! . . . a new favourite of mine
The First Binding is a masterpiece of epic fantasy storytelling
The pattern woven by the recurring elements is beguiling. You'll want to sit down with this Storyteller again
I have read many good books this year, but The First Binding climbed incredibly quickly to the top and currently has wiped out every other amazing book I have read
An unforgettable, magical tale . . . A beautifully told story from start to finish, this is the kind of book that will stay with you long after you finish reading
One of my top reads this year. It celebrates storytelling, is written in lyrical prose, and contains elements that are immersed in South Asian mythos and culture
I recommend The First Binding to every epic fantasy fan . . . in a decade it'll be remembered as one of the cornerstones of this genre
All stars
Most relevant
I heard that this was a lot like the Name of the Wind. Is it? Yeah. If you gave two people a brief of a story and asked them to write exactly the timeline and characters to your specs, but name them whatever you like, set the story within whatever culture you like and mix up what happens inside the framed and outside the framed story - the outcome might be this and TNOTW. Is it a total ripoff? I don’t know. Could it be a fanfic that turned out to be a masterpiece? So far so good.

Is it as good? Imo its better. Way better. Virdi is a genius with words. His protagonist knows his own flaws. He knows when he’s being an ass. He admits when he isnt quite being honest and also admits to details he’s embellished. He’s likeable.

I guess the biggest topic, now that this book is out, is whether Virdi’s story will be finished before the Doors of Stone. Frankly, now that i have this, i can quit searching google for DOS updates. Virdi has a lot of published books under his belt. I believe in him. He’s brilliant. Buy the book, you won’t be disappointed!!

Brilliant from start to finish!!

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Loved this story. of course it is compared to name of the wind and there are much similarities, but but it stands strong on its own and is very entertaining to listen to. Also great performance on voice acting and narration

A very entertaining story

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I tried but couldn’t finish this. I found it very derivative from Patrick Rothfuss’ ‘Name of the wind’ series even down to the protagonist being socially unacceptable, time with theatre folk, street living, aiming for acceptance at the ashram (read arcanist university) and an enigmatic girl turning up. Even the magic described used similar mind beliefs alar/folding and binding/sympathy. Patrick did it better and created more believable characters. Narrator was good.

Good writing but needs to use his own ideas

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There's a fusing of two cultural ethoses in RR Virdi's The First Binding. The classical western fantasy genre, with influences from some of the most loved fantasy series from past decades and the Itihasa of South Asia.

The First Binding starts out just like any other fantasy epic. Using a lot of names, places, and a slow start. A template that reminds readers of the genre of other books. But slowly and steadily the story gets going and we learn about a complex, rich world and magic system that's inspired by Indian culture.

This is a story of an underdog, a person marginalized by the world in every manner and way possible. Someone who prevails despite it. When this book gets going, there’s nothing else like it. It stands on its own by its flair and sheer uniqueness. An epic of extraordinary depth, adventure, and heart. One of the best books I've read all year. A definite re-read before the sequel!

Incredible!

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Forget the comparisons…..read/listen for the pure art of storytelling.
You will not be disappointed.

Fantastic narration by Vikas Adam.

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