The Gifts

The captivating historical fiction novel - for fans of THE BINDING

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Pub Date 17 Feb 2022 | Archive Date 29 Sep 2022
Bonnier Books UK | Manilla Press

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Description

The luminous debut adult novel from the Waterstones Prize Winner, perfect for fans of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock and The Doll Factory.

'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls

'Fierce and touching. A beautiful, riveting novel' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne


In an age defined by men, 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.

The luminous debut adult novel from the Waterstones Prize Winner, perfect for fans of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock and The Doll Factory.

'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls

'Fierce...


Advance Praise

'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls

'Fierce and touching. A beautiful, riveting novel' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

'Extraordinary . . . Anyone who loved The Essex Serpent, this is one that will sing to your soul' Jackie Morris

'A deliciously intriguing mix of moral bankruptcy and resilience, with a captivating female friendship at its heart' Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry & Wild Rose

'An extraordinary novel - resonant, propulsive and utterly absorbing.' Katie Lowe, author of The Furies

'I devoured The Gifts . . . A real gem' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls

'Fierce and touching. A beautiful, riveting novel' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

'Extraordinary . . . Anyone who...

Marketing Plan

Please note: a previous PDF upload of this title had formatting issues which resulted in chapters running together without breaks. These are now resolved so please do re-download the PDF or epub to read. 

Please note: a previous PDF upload of this title had formatting issues which resulted in chapters running together without breaks. These are now resolved so please do re-download the PDF or epub to...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781786580733
PRICE £14.99 (GBP)
PAGES 400

Average rating from 98 members


Featured Reviews

Glorious
Wonderful
Dark and insightful
Poignant and compelling
Magical yet there are cloaked figures lurking in the shadows....
A world in which men *think* they hold all the power yet women plot in secret
A novel about hope, survival, how power corrupts and what it means to be free
A brilliant read highly recommended
All the stars. Tons more than 5.

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This wasnt at all what I was expecting, for all the right reasons. A great step back into Victorian England with lots of societal issues at the forefront, and the backdrop of this read.
A really interesting and wonderfully unusual concept that captured my attention immediately and had me hooked the whole way through.
This moves at a great pace and the ending is superb.
A compelling, emotional read.

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Liz Hyder's first adult novel is very different from her YA debut, but just as captivating and interesting. Her characters sing off the page, leaping into your throat and holding you hostage until you get to the last page. The hum of Victorian London - of discovery and botany and science and women taking charge of their own lives - weaves through the book with a skill I would expect from a far more established writer. Liz Hyder is the real deal. I loved this, I loved this, I loved this.

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Gorgeous! Hotly tipped to be one of the biggest reads of 2022.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

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Beautifully written with a unique slant on gothic Victorian London, this novel will suck you into a breathless journey of discovery. I enjoyed the shift of power between the characters and once I got used to the narrative jumping back and forward between the main protagonists, liked the slow way Liz Hyder developed each of their stories. Unusual and arresting and bound to be a huge success.

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The Gifts by :Liz Hyder is a stunning piece of historical fiction, set in 1840. A desperate young woman is fleeing unknown assailants through a forest in Shropshire, but she is no ordinary woman. From her back sprout huge angel wings.
In London, an ambitious surgeon is obsessed with possessing the other 'fallen angels' rumoured to exist, and he will stop at nothing to make his name in the world of science.
Told through the eyes of multiple characters, The Gifts is beautifully written, and explores themes of power and patriarchy, science and religion. I loved Liz Hyder's children's book Bearmouth, but this adult debut is utterly brilliant, and I can't wait to read more of her work

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I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to. I was not sure what to expect after Bearmouth but found this book about strong female characters really engaging and decidedly gothic in themes. Will be looking out for this authors next offering.

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Victorian London in the 1840s, South Shropshire, and some magical realism. What's not to appreciate about that? After writing Bearmouth for youngsters, Liz Hyder makes her adult debut with this novel. It's a really fantastic one. You won't be able to put it down once you start reading it. It includes short, punchy chapters and is mainly a story about four females trying to find their place in a male-dominated Victorian England. While there is a fantasy element, it adds a touch of enchantment and hope at the end of the day.

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