I did like the writing and premise of this but i just found it kind of underwhelming and lacking in the spark it promised to offer. The mystery element needed to be bigger and expanded on but i did like the relationship dynamic that was going on in places with what mystery was there. This had some really interesting moments in this and they were explored well by Hyder.

It was interesting to read from 5 different narrative viewpoints. We hear from four women and one man; Mary, Annie, Etta, Edward and Natalya and they each bring unique prescriptive to the story.. They each tell a different story of social hierarchy, power, religion and patriarchy. We go on a journey of who they are and how they reached a point in their lives today.

A fab female led novel!

Wow what a beautifully written unique novel that had me wanting to shout at the characters to be careful when danger was heading their way and hold my breath as the tension increased.

All the characters have depth and strength that I connected to and I couldn't put it down. It's deliciously dark, original and one for my forever shelf.

Okay. I feel really bad about this because this review is unfair to the author. The Gifts by Liz Hyder - what I read of it - is really well written. The London setting is evocative, the characters are well written and the multi-perspective narrative is really good but the type of story and the way the story developed just wasn’t my cup of tea. I think other people will like it and I desperately did want to but I couldn't get invested in the story.

The Gifts by Liz Hyder is available now.

For more information regarding Liz Hyder (@LondonBessie) please visit her Twitter page

For more information regarding Bonnier Books (@bonnierbooks_uk) please visit www.bonnierbooks.co.uk.

Woah. This book packs a punch.

I will first share some trigger warnings for: animal (dog) cruelty (aka not one for my friend Jay), dissection, surgery, infertility, narcissism and all of the patriarchy.

This is an historical tale with a modern feminist outlook and a soupçon of magical realism.

It is told from the perspectives of five different characters. Etta, Natalya, Mary, Annie and Edward. The story alternates between them with very short chapters which aids with pacing and helps to keep you reading. There was some head hopping within these chapters which did take me out of the story a little at times in order that I could double check whose perspective we were with.

I read an ARC but am intrigued to see the illustrations alluded to in the final copy - Annie is an artist and Edward also likes to document his discoveries.

One of the reasons given for potential infertility was “Reading too Much.” Not going lie that line hurt. But it also reminded me of the list of ridiculous reasons that women were put into asylums. Be you not meek and docile you are a threat to patriarchy!

The male characters in this were mostly (with a notable exception) fairly rotten; in particular Edward and his colleague. The inhumanity shown in an early amputation scene which was completed as a display of who was fastest and not who was safest was only the start of the cruelty shown. Just because ‘man’ can do something doesn’t mean we should. It might have well been penis measuring or shooting rockets into space or starting an unnecessary war! Edward reminded me of Frankenstein and this book had a gothic slant. Morality, religion and science were themes explored throughout.

All in all this book is sumptuously written and realised but it did bite a little close to home at the moment.

The female characters were all unique and you root for them and there is enough hope to cut through the disturbance.

However, if you like your books neatly wrapped up with all questions answered - such as why the women grow wings - then you may not be as keen on how thus story concludes, but if you are in the mood for a challenging and dynamic read then pick this up and allocate time to dissecting it (pardon the pun).

Thank you to Tracey at Compulsive Readers and the publishers for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review.

A lovely historical fiction novel that shows how strong women can be when they work together and find their own voices.

I love a bit of historical fiction, but I haven’t read any with a fantasy edge, how fantastic!!

This was right up my street, The Victorian times are my favourite era, so I was instantly gripped by this.

I loved the authors writing style and am excited to read more by her.

What a delight it has been reading The Gifts. A true sense of place and scenery. With characters that only enhance the story. Richly written with historical detail and medical terms that Edward Meake and Samuel Covell best friends and colleagues, use when in their theatre’s amputating a limb in-front of students and onlookers. Before Edward returns home to his wife Annie, who’s desperation for a child of her own fills her thoughts daily.

Mary who’s life is spent looking after her drunken uncle Jos. Who’s often too drunk to create his work for the local paper that Mary takes over writing it. The tales of a local boatman bring her and her cousin Richard close to the brink of a fascinating story about ‘fallen angels’.

Etta branded a ‘difficult woman’ by her half brother, purely for wanted to think and use her mind is head strong and clever with it. Down trodden and over looked, purely because of her sex, her knowledge of nature and botany, far out weights many male counterparts. Dismissed as a ‘hobbyist’ time and time again, she’s ousted from her family home, pushed aside after her fathers death, by her half brother. Who rather she didn’t exist. And kept quietly to herself.

Natalya is looking for more than she has. She wants a new life in London and heads there to find her cousin. As often is the case when you turn up unexpected, the person in question has moved on and this leaves Natalya in a dilemma of where to stay, in a city she doesn’t know with no one to rely upon.

All these women’s lives are entwined by Edward’s discovery of the ‘fallen Angel’ but Mary, Annie, Natalya and Etta are linked already, by the fact they are oppressed and challenged. They feel contained and will not be confined. I like these strong women, they know there’s more to the world to be seen, that they should be heard and will fight for their beliefs.

Cleverly written and carefully plotted, this is pure indulgence, dripping with historical dialogue and scenery.

I loved the gothic feel of this! It's beautifully written and the world is very well described. My only negative is that I would have liked an explanation for where the wings came from, even if that was a fantastical reason.

I love a bit of historical fiction mixed with an element of fantasy so the gifts was right up my street. Liz managed to suck me into victorian London with her language and warmed me to her female characters, who were fierce and independent despite being curtailed by the men surrounding them!

Thank you to Net Galley and Bonnier Books UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really interesting read, historical fiction but with a supernatural twist, beautifully written. The characters are intriguing and you really are drawn in as their stories unfold. There are lots of themes, the roles that nature and science play alongside religion. Strong female leads in a man's world, how they survived and thrived. If you like the premise then it's well worth reading, an author to look out for.

In Victorian London, the story of the Angel of the Thames isn't a new one. But when rumors begin to circulate about an actual angel being pulled from the river, everything changes.

Edward Meake is one of the few who knows the truth. He was lucky enough to be called for when the body was recovered and he paid to take it home to his basement lab. After careful study he has determined that the angel was in fact real. Such a discovery would not only make his career, but he feels it is a sign from God himself. And yet, he keeps his artist wife, Annie, and everyone else completely in the dark.

Mary may not be a formal journalist—it is not yet a career open to women—but when she hears of the angel, she thinks there could be more to it than just rumor. And she's lucky enough to stumble upon just the right source for key information. But is it a farce and a waste of her time? Or is there truth to the rumor after all?

Hyder's novel is one of magic and wonder, but it's also one of pain and sadness. And it highlights the treatment of women and the poor in Victorian London.

There are a lot of characters to wrap your head around in this one. In addition to Edward, Annie and Mary, chapters alternate between a bevy of additional POV characters including: Richard, a journalist and close friend of Mary's family; Natalya, a woman kicked out of her own community and traveling to London to meet her cousin in hopes of a new start; Etta, a botanist whose brother has kicked her out of her childhood home; and a few additional side characters along the way as well.

The Gifts is a slow burn and it takes a while before the angel appears. But it is incredibly engaging and atmospheric. In no small part because so much time is spent letting the reader get to know each individual character.

It's the women in particular who drive the story. Etta, Natalya, Mary, and Annie.

Etta comes from a comfortable background and lucky enough to be taken in, raised, and educated by her father after her mother died. And yet, after her father passes away, her own half brother has little love for her. She's relegated to a ramshackle cottage on the estate's grounds and given an allowance but little else. In fact, she has to sneak into her father's home to borrow books from the expansive library! Her passion is botany and she spends her time collecting seeds and cataloging plants with her faithful dog, Scout, by her side.

Natalya is a storyteller, a gift she learned from her grandmother. She's exiled from her home, an island off the coast, and is determined to make a new start in London. She's saved money by doing small jobs along the way and means to connect with her cousin who moved there years ago. But when she arrives, she finds her cousin died in a workhouse. With nothing and no one, she has to decide whether to try and make a life in London or leave. And luck is not with her.

Mary and her Uncle Jos are barely scraping by after the death of her Uncle George. But the return of their family friend and Jos's one time protege, Richard, is reason for excitement. And when he begins to offer her writing jobs—real writing jobs of her own, not just finishing her uncle's papers when he's too inebriated to do so himself—things are truly looking up. But it's precarious considering there are few jobs open to women at this time. And journalism certainly isn't one of them!

Annie loves her husband, Edward. But after three years, they have yet to be blessed by the children she longs for. And Edward has been increasingly losing himself in his work. Work he keeps hidden in their basement and secret from his wife. But Annie trained as an artist and has decided to throw herself back into painting as a way to pass the time and keep herself from worrying about her husband's spending habits. She believes, wholeheartedly, that things will work out in the end.

And then there's the angel situation. There is never any real explanation as to why women start sprouting wings. And there's certainly no explanation as to why the particular women who do grow wings grow them in the first place. They do ponder over this themselves, wondering if it's the fact that they're "wild" women with an appreciation of the natural world, but ultimately it's left to the reader to decide.

The Gifts is one of those reads that straddles the borders of fantasy and historical fiction, making it perfect for fans of both genres (and book clubs especially). Hyder's writing is excellent as a whole but it's her characters that make this a truly special read! I am glad to have read their story and that the kept me company during yet another bout of super fun insomnia :)

This is an unusual book and very different from anything else I have read. Set in the 19th century when superstition and an obsession with anything out of the ordinary was common place. It opens with a young lady sprouting wings which is unusual in itself but before you have time to question what and why the story moves to London and 2 surgeons caught up in discovering all there is to know about the human body through dissection. The book unfolds through a number of characters and it is difficult to say anymore without giving the plot away. An unusual book.

I was all for reading this book as soon as I read the synopsis. The main characters are women (tick) and there is a supernatural twist to this historically set tale (tick). It sounded right up my street and I’m pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

There are several characters that the book focuses on, their paths converging as the plot develops. We have Annie, an artist and wife of Edward, an ambitious surgeon whose chance discovery leads to obsession and Mary, a clever young woman and aspiring writer who is determined to follow up on a strange rumour in the streets of London. Then there are Natalya and Etta, two woman who have both been cast out from their homes in varying degrees, who both have a deep love for the natural world and both who are given a remarkable gift.

I think out of all of them, Mary was my favourite. She is smart, determined and resourceful, and I enjoyed the developing relationship with Richard, an old friend of the family.

The setting worked well for the plot, and I could easily conjure up the imagery of the novel from Hyder’s writing – from the fields of Shropshire that Etta explores daily, to the streets of London that Mary traverses and Natalya finds herself stranded in. These places, as well as the period setting, really worked well with the magical realism at play in the book.

The actual story and writing aside, I LOVED the way the book was littered with small illustrations. It just added to the experience of reading.

I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This book takes the subject of angels (a supernatural or spiritual phenomenon?) and weaves a tale around a few main characters using imaginative and evocative prose. I found it to be much like a modern version of a fable where the reader is meant to divine the moral of the tale as this touches on diversity and equality in many forms. Additionally there are instances of cruelty performed by some characters who believe in a God and regularly pray; they appear unable to link their thoughts and beliefs with their actions.
If the information provided had given a hint of this content and meaning I would not have chosen to read the book although it clearly resonates with other reviewers.

A wonderful cautionary tale set in the 1840s with relatable, likeable characters and an authentic atmosphere. The author has created a well-crafted novel which captivates the reader and transports you to a different and more unsophisticated era. I couldn't put it down - definitely an angel delight!

The Gifts is a multilayered and riveting story, a fascinating piece of historical fiction with elements of fantasy and gothic.
There're multiple voices, there's the representation of a society and the inner patriarchalism of the Victorian age.
The author did and excellent job in delivering plot and characters, the historical background is vivid, and the storytelling great.
I can't wait to read another story by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press for an eARC of 'The Gifts' by Liz Hyder.
I really enjoyed this historical fantasy, and was drawn in by the beautiful cover and synopsis. Initially, I found it quite hard to get into as there are many different characters to follow, and at the start of the book it took me a while to familiarize myself with them. However once I got more into the book and got to know the characters and stories more, I could not put it down, and grew to love the main female characters of this book.
'The Gifts' is set in 1840's Victorian England, and follows four very talented women, Annie, an artist and wife of Edward Meake, a power hungry surgeon, Etta, a botanist, Mary, a writer, and Natalya, a storyteller, whose stories I adored.
It explores some important themes, such as abuse, religion, class, and nature, and I would highly recommend.

Good for people who like: Historical fiction with a touch of magic, women overcoming societal constraints, modern gothic fiction.

The Gifts is a stunning historical fantasy set in 1840. Victorian London comes to life, and the characters are memorable. There are several narrators alternating between short chapters - each is distinct and adds something important to the story.

Wings painfully sprout from the back of a woman in a forest in rural Shropshire. The body of a fallen angel is found washed up in the Thames. Three other women struggle to carve a life for themselves under different kinds of constraint and pain: marriage in the mid to upper levels of society, a grieving unmarried mother who has lost her child at birth, and a journalist finding her voice despite poverty and gender discrimination. A surgeon believes he has been granted a miracle from God when both the body of the Thames angel and a living angel are granted to him. It will make his career, but at what cost? The stories of these characters intertwine and build to an emotional finale.

There is a moralistic element of the downward spiral of a flawed character driven by career vanity, and a strong theme of women trying to find their place in a world built for men. The age of discovery and battle between nature and science weaves their way through this book. Delusion and misogyny combine to a dangerous obsession.

A beautiful story which is easy to devour. Highly recommend for readers of gothic historical fiction or light fantasy.

This book was reviewed by Cathy.

With thanks to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Shelves: General Fiction (Adult); Historical Fiction; Fantasy; February 2022

I am woman; hear me roar. Liz Hyder’s scintillating novel is set in the past but has tremendous resonance for today. I loved her YA book, Bearmouth, but with The Gifts, Hyder has excelled herself, using her love of nature and science to create a magnificent book that is both elemental and profound.

The Gifts is about the importance of nature and treasuring your environment and at the same time it is a feminist cry. Set in nineteenth century London, amid the male medical fraternity, it shows us in illuminating fashion just how vainglorious men can be and how ambition and vanity can come together with the dominant ideology of the patriarchy to create monsters.

The Gifts is told from the perspective of 5 women. Mary is a journalist, scraping a living and supplementing her income by sewing buttons onto card. Etta is an outcast in her own home. Spurned by her half-brother, she is sent to live in the grounds of her Shropshire home where she studies and documents the nature and wildlife around her. Stupidly supposing her work will be of value to the men who write learned tomes about such things, she finds that her sex militates against her observations being taken in any way seriously. With her brown skin, she is already an outcast before her sex is taken into account.

Natalya is grieving a profound loss; she is hurting to her very core and being so far away from home, she is lost and so very alone. She seeks refuge in a place where everyone should feel safe, but houses of worship are no barrier to those whose god like aspirations drive them forward.

Annie is a painter. Married to Edward, she wants to see her husband succeed in his chosen profession as a surgeon and man of science, but Edward has more grandiose dreams; dreams that come to obsess and consume him until he loses all reason.

There is one other woman who is lost almost before we begin, but it is she who begins our magical journey and becomes the catalyst for all that follows.

Each of these women is gifted in different ways. Each is an individual who has suffered because of who they are and what life has bestowed on them. Their experience manifests itself in a glorious, stunning fashion.

Liz Hyder creates a fascinating, repressive world that is both gothic and magical. Her gift is for the best kind of storytelling and I was entranced. I was wholly drawn into this world and I loved that as I read and heard these stories, it made me think about my own life and my relationship to the values that I hold close.

Verdict: An immersive, spell-binding, propulsive story with fabulous characters that allows you to get wholly drawn into the story of their lives which makes the violence perpetrated against them all the more devastating. This is a glorious book that combines historical fiction with magical realism and yet carries huge contemporary resonance. I absolutely adored it and it is undoubtedly one of my books of the year. Go and buy it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.