If I could read the future, I'd definitely say this one is going to be huge (expect a lot of people to make this remark)

It's packed full of atmosphere, and descriptive detail that makes locations come alive.
THEN you get to the characters.
They're all larger than life, and immediately recognisable, familiar somehow.
Throw in the cards and knowing for a bit of spooky creepiness and it's a sure fire winner.
As the book closes, as much as I loved it, I can't help but think I would love more.....

A very involving read that draws you into the strange world of the tattooist, tarot reader and seance. There is a lot of cruelty involved particularly towards women and girls. The author shows amazing imagination and brings everything to a satisfactory resolution.

This absolutely gorgeous debut novel from Emma Hinds is truly spectacular.

From the first line to the very end I was entranced by the story that unfolds.

Florence, a young tattoo artist with a special gift. The Knowing, able to comminicate with the spirits of the dead, living in the slums of 19th century New York trapped in a relationship with a man who doesn't love her as much as he thinks he's entitled to her, she is his property, to do with as he pleases and no more.

When Flora meets the enigmatic Minnie everything changes and what unfolds is a story of hope, tragedy, love and the sheer will to survive in a world where men make the decisions and women live by their rules.

Beautifully written, immersive and utterly addictive. I have never rooted for a character so much as I did for Flora, I was so invested in her "happy ending" and finding her peace, it broke my heart and made it smile at the same time.

I cannot praise this one enough, it was absolutely wonderful and a fantastic debut novel!

Thank you for the opportunity and absolute pleasure of reading this one prior to release.

A visceral, tale of love betrayal and the dead in 1800s New York. Flora, a Five Points orphan turned lady tattooist has been under the yoke of a brutal master who uses her as his living canvas. A chance encounter with diminutive Minnie leads her into a life that on the surface seems comfortable but is perhaps more
dangerous than her life on the streets. Flora's tarot cards and her mystical abilities will not be silenced for much longer. This novel is breathtaking, brutal, and bewitching.

"The Knowing" by Emma Hinds is just the type of book I love: tarot-card readers, mystics, freak shows, the grimy underworld in which they live and much more. What elevates this book above the rest is that it brings to life New York, Dublin and Manchester with the descriptions of those who dwell there. I loved the story of Flora meeting Minnie and trying to get away from Jordan who used her as a human advertising board for his tattoos. Great story and bound to be a big hit in 2024.

This was so good I read it twice!

Emma Hinds has written a dark powerful novel and if you're going to read any book in January 2024 this needs to be top of you're list!

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.