The Gifts
The captivating historical fiction novel - for fans of THE BINDING
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Publisher Description
'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls, bestselling author of The Familiars
'Fierce and touching' Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
'Your next obsession. . . Unique and captivating' Cosmopolitan
Discover the extraordinary, luminous novel that everyone is talking about, perfect for fans of The Binding, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock and The Doll Factory
It will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are . . .
October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in Shropshire as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.
Meanwhile, when rumours of a 'fallen angel' cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grips of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger . . .
THE GIFTS is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of BEARMOUTH. A gripping and ambitious book told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.
'A boldly feminist novel that lingers long after the last page' Susan Stokes Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Pandora
'Imaginative, extraordinary . . . Brimming with historical detail and beautifully written, the soulful prose soars' Daily Express
'Remarkable . . . for fans of fantasy-inflected historicals such as The Essex Serpent' Publishers Weekly STARRED review
'A stirring tale of female empowerment, full of vivid imagery and evocative settings' Observer
'Extraordinary . . . For any who loved The Essex Serpent, this is one that will sing to your soul' Jackie Morris, The Lost Words
'Bewitching . . . addictive' Essie Fox
'I loved The Gifts. Brilliant storytelling, magical realism, historical fiction that discusses feminism, religion, art and motherhood' Kate Sawyer, Costa shortlisted author of The Stranding
'I devoured The Gifts, eager to find out the fate of its wonderfully drawn characters . . A real gem' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City
'A stunning book . . . Captivating and thrilling. Hyder's writing really is magnificent. I was drawn inexorably into the narrative and completely bewitched by it. I didn't so much read this book as live it with the characters' My Weekly
'A glorious, evocative read, ripe for a movie adaptation. Victorian girl power? You bet' Apple Books
'In this glorious novel both women and words take flight. Don't miss it' Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily
DON'T MISS LIZ HYDER'S EXTRAORDINARY NEW NOVEL THE ILLUSIONS OUT NOW!
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
An ensemble cast of vividly drawn characters against a backdrop of grimy, gory, 19th-century London—now, does that remind you of anyone? YA author Liz Hyder’s debut adult novel is Dickensian in both feel and scope, with additional dollops of magic realism and feminism for good measure. Her ambition pays off—it’s a glorious, evocative read, ripe for a movie adaptation. Edward, a villainous surgeon with a God complex, hopes to make his name by capturing and studying angels—the mysterious women with wings who are popping up across the city. But he underestimates the pioneering, rule-breaking chutzpah of his artist wife Annie, journalist Mary, storyteller Natalya and botanist Etta. Victorian girl power? You bet.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hyder's remarkable adult debut (after the YA novel Bearmouth) involves the discovery of winged women in 1840 England. London surgeon Edward Meake has invested heavily in his medical practice, but hasn't achieved the fame or wealth he thinks he deserves. When a boatman pulls a winged female corpse from the Thames, Edward, believing the woman is proof that angels exist, pays the man for the body, which he spirits into his basement lab. Then he runs across two more women with wings, both of them very much alive. Driven by divine mission and professional ambition, he imprisons them and plans to make his name with a lecture and a public reveal of his specimens. Meanwhile, the women, an amateur botanist and a gifted Scottish storyteller, discuss their metamorphoses and ideas for possible escape; Edward's wife grows alarmed by Edward's increasing paranoia and secrecy, and aspiring writer Mary Ward catches rumors about the "Angel of the Thames" and pursues the story to a dramatic end. Hyder skillfully juggles the many threads, never slowing the momentum of her propulsive plot, and by blending realistic and fantastic elements, she perfectly captures the era's uneasy attempts to marry faith and science. This memorable outing has special appeal for fans of fantasy-inflected historicals such as Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent.
