I did not manage to read this unfortunately, due to unforeseeable issues at home but I have preordered this book as I’m interested in reading it once I get the opportunity.

I was transported back in time by this novel.
Fast paced & enjoyable, with an eerie supernatural side.

A solid debut & I'll be on the look out for what Hinds does next.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

I love a bit of historical fiction and this is a real treat - we meet Florence in 19th century New York, a female tattoo artist taken from the Five Points slums and used as a living canvas by her master who treats her as his property to do with as he pleases.

It is not love it is at best survival and Flora is used to making herself smaller, less than - but she has a gift for tarot aswell as tattoos and a connection with The Knowing which is all around and has secrets to share if she'll only listen.

One day she meets Minnie and Abernathy and her world expands and changes - on the surface things are more comfortable and affluent but underneath the darkness reaches everywhere and touches everyone, or so it seems.

This is a story of men and their world, where they make the decisions and have the control - and the women living in the same world, their will to survive and finding love and comfort despite all the odds.

I was completely pulled into Flora's world and devoured this in a couple of days - I found all the characters well developed and was rooting for Flora to find her happiness, even when things are brutally desolate. I can see this being adapted for TV or possibly Netflix - grim and atmospheric, great story and flawed characters.

Before I start with this one, there’s some content that some readers might want to be aware of - check out at the end for more detail.

At the start of this, I wasn’t sure I liked Flora’s story, and I will admit that I thought it would take me in a certain direction. (Imagine she’s a tarot card reader solving mysteries with her fellow circus freaks). But I’m pleased to say there is so much more.

Hinds brings the world of 19th century slums (from both sides of the Atlantic) to life as you follow Flora who flees the tyrant who ‘owns’ her and stumbles into the dangerous household of Chester Merton and his mistress. The blurb pitches this as a love triangle - but that doesn’t sit with me. The love does not flow across Flora, Minnie and Chester. This one takes you to some dark places as the seedy and underbelly of Victorian society are uncovered. And the great addition with this is that Flora has the gift of seeing and communing with spirits - and some of them are not ready to pass onto the afterlife.

This is a great debut - I really enjoyed seeing how Flora’s gift fitted in with her circumstances and the people in her life.





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⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: includes reference to suicide, rape, bereavement, abuse, child abuse, drug use⚠️

I absolutely loved this book, could not put it down and didn’t want it to end! Great twists and turns. Just can’t believe this is her first book! Eagerly awaiting Emma’s next book. Would definitely recommend to anyone and everyone 😃

The premise promised a lot, and I was hoping I'd end up loving this book since it has everything I usually love, from unusual magic, to mystery, to a gothic setting, but unfortunately I never fully connected to the story or the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was full of trauma and while it was done really well, I would advise any reader to check the trigger warnings above carefully. There was a content warning at the start of the book, but it didn’t even mention the pedophilia, which I would have thought a pretty big trigger. There are also zero healthy relationships in this book, so if you’re looking for romance, perhaps go elsewhere.

Though the trauma was very authentic, I wasn’t so keen on the plot. It didn’t seem very cohesive at all. Like the author was kind of directionless. I also wasn’t that keen on the characters, so there wasn’t anything that was really driving me to keep reading.

One thing I will say for this book, is it had a disabled woman in the role of love interest, which I have never seen before. It’s why I picked up the book in the first place and although there was some mistreatment and ableist language used, it was more a reflection of the times and the lack of language they had to describe people gently, than the author just using slurs for no reason. Minnie had agency, she had a strong character and she wasn’t seen at all as lesser or unattractive because of her disability. I was really, really encouraged by how she was portrayed. Just be careful if you’re disabled yourself or if you’re sensitive because there are slurs.

If you’re looking a dark read, with an authentic view of trauma, then this could be the book for you.

This debut novel from Emma HInds appealed to me as it's set in the Victorian period, in NY and later in Manchester in Britain, a fave period of mine also in the world of Barnum and the circus with its sideshow freaks and references the first acknowledged female tattoo artist, Maud Wagner, whose life I've read about.
Hinds is excellent at creating the sounds, smells and sensations of the NT slums of the 1860s and circus life, as seen through the eyes of her protagonist, Flora, a tattooed Tarot card reader, and genuine mystic cursed/gifted (?) with the titular 'Knowing' :- an ability to summon the dead.
This is not an easy read at times, with abuse and sexual violence so dominant and prevalent in Flora's world being given centrestage. But there is hope and joy and friendship in her story, as Flora fights for her own autonomy, voice and life.
This is a richly written, powerful, thought-provoking historical novel which does not fear to swim in some murky waters.

A dark, atmospheric fantasy, filled with ghostly visitations and dangerous twists. This novel kept me guessing throughout.

set in 19th-century new york, emma hinds' the knowing was full of mystic energy, adventure, and enough mystery to get my brain working.

i am a huge fan of anything involving tarot, psychics and the meanings of tattoos (hello blindspot) so this was a really fun read that was infused with magic.

flora has enough agency to choose her path but wasn't overly pushy, her relationship with the 'other side' was interesting enough to keep me reading, and i really liked her tentativeness towards using her powers.

the romantic relationship between flora and minnie didn't feel forced despite the short time they had known each other. the golden thread pulling the two together was evident from the beginning and i was devastated to read about minnie's demise.

i gave it 3.5 as it took a while to get into the climax of the book but hinds set it up well. the characters were fully developed and the setting was completely the right choice. i just had some trouble at times keeping up with what was happening, and the continued up and down of lull and action. overall, a really great debut and one i will be recommending!

I am not ashamed to say that I was mostly drawn to this book because of its stunning cover - the designers knew exactly what they were doing in illustrating this tale of a gritty, mysterious, 19th-century tale. Unfortunately, I don't think the story itself lived up to my expectations that the cover, and its premise of a girl, branded an outsider because of her tattoos and her ability to commune with the dead, fighting to survive in a society filled with men trying to control her. I really liked the first half of this book, of Flora escaping the clutches of her abusive relationship and forging a more independent future for herself, but there never felt like any real sense of revolution, and I think Hinds was trying to do too much with the gang element alongside Flora's paranormal abilities and her relationship with Minnie that I wasn't a fan of.

Dark and gritty, The Knowing explores sapphic love against the backdrop of 1900s New York. Flora and Minnie, two women who have been in abusive relationships with men, meet and have an immediate connection. Whilst being in love, Flora has to confront whether love is enough, or if the past will catch up to both of them.

This was a very atmospheric read with high stakes. as Flora tries to move up in the world and find freedom, sometimes with dire consequences. The supporting cast were really interesting and all provided different perspectives and angles which contributed to the worldbuilding. Some of the suffering in this book was absolutely heartbreaking, but a highlight was definitely the love between women, whether that be romantic, platonic or familial.

I actually read this book twice, once as an ebook and once as an audiobook to further immerse myself in the world that was built, and my rating went up on my second read. It's dark and twisty and frustrating at times, so whilst it might not be for everyone, it was very much for me.

‘Something Powerful Is Coming.’ - cover tag line.

My thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Knowing’ by Emma Hinds.

1866, Five Points, New York City. Florence lives with tattoo artist, Jordan, who is associated with the infamous Dead Rabbits gang. Flora reads the Tarot for customers and is the only lady tattooist in the city. One day circus performer, Minnie, comes to the shop and requests that Flora ink her.

Minnie offers Flora refuge from the abusive Jordan in an opulent townhouse that is home to the menacing Chester Merton. Flora earns her keep reading tarot cards for his guests and struggles to harness her gift, the Knowing - an ability to summon the dead. Soon, she, Minnie, and Chester end up in a dark love triangle…

In addition, at her first public séance in the notorious Hotel du Woods, Flora is possessed by the spirit of a murdered boy prostitute setting off a deadly train of events.

I found ‘The Knowing’ an atmospheric historical thriller. I appreciated the inclusion of the Tarot and the way that the author approached Flora’s gifts with respect to her communicating with the dead. The story took some fascinating turns.

While I know very little about 19th Century New York City, I felt that Emma Hinds established a strong sense of the period setting both there and later when they relocate to Manchester, England. The relationship between Flora and Minnie was quite moving.

On a side note the cover art was stunning.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Unfortunately, I was unable to download this book before it was archived and so am leaving this as a review/explanation as I didn't know what else to do after finding a few books I had managed to miss in a section of my account entitled Not Active: Archived, Not Downloaded; so I thought it best to clear it up. I have already bought a copy and will leave a review on places like Amazon, Goodreads, Waterstones, etc, once I've completed it and formed my thoughts on it. Apologies for any inconvenience and thank you for the opportunity.

Something powerful is coming…

Darkly atmospheric, intoxicating, unapologetic and consuming, The Knowing is pure gothic escapism. This magnificent debut brought the past to life in a breathtaking story of love, passion, self-discovery, secrets, lies, betrayal and murder that is inspired by real people from history including Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum’s circus.

Flora, the only female tattoo artist in New York, lives in the slums with her abusive tattoo artist boyfriend and reads cards for a living. She meets Minnie, a charismatic circus performer, who offers Flora a new life in her upmarket home. Still earning cards to read her keep while struggling to harness the Knowing - her gift for summoning the dead. When the Knowing begins to whisper dark secrets that some don’t want revealed it sparks a chain of events that sees Flora fighting for her life.

Wow! What a phenomenal start to 2024’s Squadpod Book Club. This is one of those decadent reads that you want to luxuriate in and savour every word, providing a sensory experience that makes you forget the world around you and lose yourself in the one the author created. Emma Hinds has immediately secured a place on my autobuy list with this magnificent tale and I still can’t believe this is a debut. The writing is exquisite and evocative, transporting me back in time and across the ocean to Flora’s world. It was like the story had been conjured into being around me in vivid technicolour and I could see the grimy streets, smell the stench of the slum, and hear the whispers of the dead from the shadows. From the opening pages there’s a sinister suspense that pervades every page which comes from the Knowing and the ghosts who lurk in the shadows and I loved the memorable moments where Flora’s gift takes centre stage and the atmosphere is at its darkest. It leaves shivers down your spine and I read most of the book in a sense of breathless anticipation.

“I'd learned to turn my eyes away from dark corners where spirits might lurk. The Knowing was like having a broken bone that never healed quite right. It twinged. Occasionally the world would show and the shadows would lengthen, my breath would catch in my windpipe and my heart would lurch, but I would look away. Growing up in Five Points had knocked the truth into me: there was safety in not knowing.”

The book is filled with richly drawn characters that I loved reading. The women are strong, fierce, courageous, and inspiring who have a fire that can’t be extinguished whatever they are put through. They have the misfortune to be born in an era where men own and control them but they fight for their power and independence wherever they can. On the flip side, most of the men were vile, menacing, dominating and predatory. These are the kinds of men who see women as things, not people, and care only about power and control, using them as reasons to subject women to terrible things. Much of what is on these pages is taken from history, so of course the women who refused to be submissive or behaved in a way they didn’t like were labelled as ‘hysterical’ or ‘insane’. No matter how often I read this kind of behaviour it always enrages me. Heaven forbid women have their own thoughts and feelings.

Unsettling, haunting, potent and mesmerising, I was bewitched by this gorgeous gothic debut. It is the kind of book that is just screaming for an adaptation and I’m going to need that to happen ASAP. An absolute must-read, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

The Knowing is a glorious read. It is beautifully written, dark and sumptuous. Often replete with crude language, sometimes violent, it deals in abusive and coercive relationships and recognises a time when ownership of people was accepted and buying and selling them was by no means unheard of. This is not the conventional slavery that the American Civil War was fought over, but slavery it is, all the same.

Set in the mid-1800’s this story belongs to Flora, a young woman from the Five Point slums of New York who has the ability to read the Tarot. When we meet her, she is living with Jordan, a tattoo artist who uses her and abuses her by using her body as his canvas. She is a life model to advertise his wares. She shares his bed and he abuses her there, too.

So when she meets the amazing, imperious Minnie and her silent companion the tall, badly scarred Abernathy, she is drawn to this woman who has much that you might expect to go against her, but who nonetheless has command of her space and control of her audience. Flora is drawn to Minnie like a moth to a flame and once invited decamps with her to the grand townhouse where Minnie lives.

But that house is no safe place. For Minnie turns out to be the mistress of Chester Merton, a man who married a rich older woman and then refused to do anything but spend her money. So she has gone to Europe, leaving Chester to debauch himself as he pleases – and he pleases himself a lot.


Poor Flora is caught between Minnie and the lascivious Chester who is drawn to her tattoos. Minnie tells her she will always look out for her, but the more Flora learns, the less certain she can be of this. Minnie tells her that her skill in reading the tarot is what will help her earn her keep, but what Minnie doesn’t know is that Flora has a special skill – the dead speak to her and try as she might sometimes she can’t keep them out of her head. That has disastrous consequences and soon Flora and Minnie are fleeing for their lives.

If you have read and loved Essie Fox’s The Fascination as much as I did then you’ll love The Knowing, too. It has such rich storytelling with vibrant characters in the world of the Victorian freak show. A deeply gothic setting of a New York that teams with the gangs who smell of the sewers in a city that never sleeps and a slum dwelling community that never bathes.

Everything about this book is vivid and immersive. Emma Hinds’ ability to draw you into her settings and characters is astonishing. Her descriptive passages are never overblown but she really puts you in the heart of the story. Her pacing and tension are spot on and she manages the transition of tone perfectly when the setting moves from New York to Manchester

The Knowing is a book that will captivate you with its wonder and its beauty; a book that will draw you into its darkness and make you fearful and a book that will haunt you as you see the way that characters manipulate, control and despise for their own ends.

Verdict: The Knowing is a dazzling debut novel, so beautifully written it draws you into its world. Dark, sumptuous, rich and gothic, this is a haunting historical novel that oozes style and substance. A highly recommended five star read from me.

This debut novel is one for gothic, historical fiction readers.

Underneath its beautiful cover is a dark story of obsession (bordering on ownership). The main protagonist Flora, a female tattooist who reads cards and has ‘The Knowing’ the ability to conjure spirits during readings.
That talent leads her to the home of Chester Merton and his mistress Minnie, and life changes forever when she finds herself in a violent love triangle.

This wasn’t an easy read but overall I enjoyed it. It’s incredibly descriptive and I was transported into the grimness of the 1900s New York slums and later in the book to Manchester.

Well done to the author on a cracking debut!

TW contains themes of sexual violence, grooming, ableism

Thanks tobedfordsq.publishers netgalley, Rachel Quinn and the author for my early copy.

In the slums of 19th Century New York, orphan Flora is doing what she needs to do to survive. Initially, this means putting herself under the protection of a tattoo artist who uses her as a living canvas for his work. However, his ‘protection’ comes at quite a high price for Flora, so she jumps at the chance of a new opportunity to move uptown and provide tarot readings to the upper echelons of New York society. But has she traded one type of danger for another?

From New York to Manchester, this book takes the reader on a tour of the darker sides of Victorian society on both sides of the Atlantic. After the success of The Fascination by Essie Fox last year, this type of book is having a moment and, if you loved that book, you will enjoy The Knowing, which has a similar feel but explores different themes.

I don’t think I am the only person who is intrigued by the lives of people who survived in the underbelly of Victorian society and were exploited by a world ghoulishly fascinated by folk perceived as ‘different.’ This book explores those lives without pulling any punches – you really get the sense of how tough life was in both the New York slums and in Victorian Manchester for people without wealth. The constant threat of exploitation and the feeling of menace is palpable throughout; this is not a relaxing book to read, I felt quite stressed all the way through.

In addition, there is a supernatural; element running through the book. Flora’s life is touched by the constant presence of spirits trying to speak to her. But these are no benign ghosts with messages of hope and positivity. They are greedy, pushy spirits that Flora must keep at bay for her own safety. Listening to and passing on their messages never results in positive outcomes for her or the people they are trying to contact and she fears they may consume her.

If you like you novels, tense, dark but beautifully written and full of historical detail that will bring the period to vivid life, The Knowing is the book for you.

This novel engaged me from the very first page. I was deeply invested in Flora's story and her character. I thought the dynamic between Minnie and Flora was wonderfully written.
The book deals with very complex themes and does so with carefully written emotion. I am looking forward to reading more from Emma Hinds. The prose was beautifully and I felt every word.
I would recommend reading the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book before reading.