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.

I received a copy from NetGalley - all thoughts are my own.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did. I kept going with it because I hoped it would hit the point where I could enjoy the story unfolding and not feel let down, unfortunately, that never came.

Honestly, I don't think it was a bad book? I think there are a lot of people who would enjoy this and I think I'm just not the audience for it.

+ The book was very well written, the author definitely has talent and I wouldn't be opposed to reading anything else by them in the future.
+There was a diverse cast, which was great - I liked the effort the author went to ensure all the characters felt real, and it definitely seemed as if the author had gone to great lengths to make the portrayal of characters feel authentic.
+ The Manchester setting felt real and lived in - I enjoyed that!
+ Flora was a likable heroine who I genuinely wanted to succeed.

- The romance and fantasy elements weren't as embedded as I'd hoped. I think this is a genre mismatch between me and the book. I usually like a trifle more fantasy than this offered.
- I didn't like any of the other characters. The dynamic between Flora and Minnie made it incredibly difficult to root for them as a couple.

Synopsis:

In the brutal slums of 19th century New York, tattooed mystic Flora fights for survival. As a lonely orphan she did so by turning tarot cards for pennies, before being picked up and becoming a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist who controls her every move.

When the wheel of fortune spins and Flora meets Minnie, an enigmatic circus performer, she is offered a second chance at her uptown townhouse, also home to Minnie’s predatory lover Chester Merton. To earn her keep Flora returns to tarot reading for Charles’ wealthy friends, but unbeknownst to Minnie and Charles Flora has the Knowing - the ability to summon and speak to the dead. She may pretend for readings, but once she let the Knowing in her readings become dangerously true, seeing into the darkest depths of her customer’s soul and exposing the horrors found there.

Caught in a love triangle and grappling with her mystical abilities, Flora’s affinity to see ghosts will take her from fake seances in New York and across the ocean, but secrets always have a way of catching up with you, and Flora especially cannot outrun the dead.

My thoughts:

The Knowing is a spellbinding debut of obsession, betrayal and revenge, inspired by various historical figures such as Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, the Dead Rabbits gang and acts from PT Barnum's infamous circus. I loved its sapphic romance, Flora’s strength and Minnie’s determination, and found the ending to be perfect but bittersweet. While I cheered at the fates of some characters I was heartbroken by others, and that range of emotion is always the sign of a brilliant read. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what else Emma Hinds writes in future. A massive thank you to Netgalley and Bedford Sq publishers for the e-ARC.

I absolutely adored the dark, gothic atmosphere of the book. The whole story was beautifully written. The paranormal aspects made the hair raise on the back of my neck.

I was pulled in by the characters as much as the plot. I think this was an excellent debut novel and I'll sure keep an eye out for the author.

An intriguing story set in a world that mixes occult and music-hall, mystery and historical fiction.
Compelling, atmospheric and well written. A story I thoroughly enjoyed and loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Five Points, New York, 1866.

Flora is a Roma tarot card reader and the only female tattooist in the city. She works for Jordan, who is in the pocket of the Irish gang, The Dead Rabbits.

Jordan ‘rescued’ Flora from the slums promising her great things, however, he now views her as his property and he physically and mentally abuses her.

Flora has ‘The Knowing’, the ability to communicate with the dead.

One day Flora meets Minnie, who asks to be tattooed by her. Flora feels an instant connection to Minnie, and when Minnie offers her a new chance, an escape, Flora agrees.

She manages to flee from Jordan’s clutches and finds herself living in Chester Merton’s grand house. Minnie is his mistress, but now Chester takes a shine to Flora.

Then, during Flora’s first public tarot reading/ seance, she sees a ghost of a young boy, who was murdered by his lover. Flora exposes the killer, but her life is now in danger and she must flee…

I really wanted to like this book!

The synopsis sounded amazing, right up my street, but for some reason I just didn’t enjoy it.

I didn’t warm up to any of the characters (well, maybe apart from Abe) – even Flora managed to be unlikeable at times.

Despite Flora having The Knowing, she spent 75% of the time resisting it and not using it. When she did though, there were fireworks.

Overall, this unfortunately wasn’t a book for me.

Thank you to Bedford Square Publishers for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

With a stunning build of atmosphere with elements of romance and the supernatural, this is a compelling yet enchanting book that will grip your attention from moment 1.

Anyone who shies away from violence should not read this book. Nor should anyone looking for a classic love story.

Instead, "The Knowing" offers an intriguing story full of examples of power relations.

The author has a good feel for creating atmosphere. Both the slum in New York where Minnie finds Flora and the house in which they both later live are oppressive and foreboding. Danger lurks around every corner. As the two women find each other in a relationship that may be love, may be out of addiction, things unfold.

This is a solid debut and I look forward to seeing what else author Emma Hinds writes in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square House for an ARC
The setting was very exciting and made a big change to most of the books I see at the moment. I am a big fan of anything that has a gothic vibe so I really liked the way this was written. The main characters had so much depth and I loved Flora and Minnie's relationship, I would have liked a little more background on this to be honest. All in all a super fun historical fiction and I'm excited to see where this author goes.

I was provided with an eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully atmospheric book that often gave me chills. The descriptions are so detailed that I could see, smell and feel everything perfectly.

While the story covers a large amount of time, the pacing is great and the story never drags. In fact, I wanted more of it so would have been happy if things slowed down slightly as some moments felt a bit rushed.

The supernatural elements are so well done and are suitably spooky. Combined with the detailed descriptions, moments with The Knowing are unsettling but I couldn't stop reading.

On to trigger warnings, this book deals with a number of issues including sexual assault, pedophilia, abuse and forced abortion. All of these are dealt with well and are important to the story - they are not included for shock value and there are no super graphic depictions.

The Knowing combines history with supernatural mystery perfectly, tying in with the obsession with mysticism of the time period.

The Knowing is not the sort of book I would normally pick but something about the description intrigued me. Unfortunately once I started reading I realised it really wasn't for me. The subject matter was far too dark for me. I did finish it as I don't give up on books but it was a struggle.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Firstly, a huge thank you to the publisher for approving me for an e-ARC of this!

The premise of this sounded absolutely unmissable; gothic historical fiction, tarot, tattoos and mysticism? What an utterly captivating mix! But whilst this is still undoubtedly an impressive debut, it didn't quite deliver all that I hoped it would, which is a shame.

TW: rape, SA, abusive relationships, ableism, coercion, abortion (chosen and forced) paedophilia, murder
Set in 19th century New York, Flora is a heavily inked woman working as a tattoo artist and a mystic. She has a strange gift; 'The Knowing' which allows her to see and communicate with the dead. Flora is living under the juristiction of Jordan, her 'boyfriend' (read: keeper). an abusive partner and hiding her gift whilst reading tarot cards for punters for some extra coin. One day, Flora meets Minnie, a circus performer with dwarfism who offers her refuge and a chance at escape but inviting her to move in with her and her lover, Chester Merton in a townhouse the other side of the city, the future seems bright - but this is truly just the beginning of the turmoil Flora has yet to face.

Almost every character in this book has or is in an abusive relationship of some kind with almost all the other characters simultaneously. I really enjoy reading unlikeable characters but with this I just couldn't resonate with Flora's mindset or motivations, particularly when it came to her relationship with Minnie. There's stockholm syndrome, sure, but I just couldn't understand how she would fall so deeply in love when Minnie was so blatantly coercive and unpleasant a lot of the time. I also didn't feel like Minnie's motivations or actions were clear enough for me to know if we were meant to like her or loath her. I wanted it to be obvious if she was setting up a long game or calculating how to double cross Flora for her own gain - but it all just felt a bit murky and icky.

However I loved the notions of the girls of the slums and orphanages banding together and the fight to survive and make your own way in the world were powerful, and the premise of The Knowing is such a cool idea. It was also so interesting to read about a time when a woman with tattoos could be considered exceptional enough to be part of a 'freak show'.

Honestly, I couldn't put this down for the first 20 - 30% but after that it seemed to slow and my attention dipped because I just didn't feel emotionally attached or invested in any of the characters. I also felt like so much of this had beautiful writing and such strong potential, but it just felt a little convoluted from the midpoint onwards and lost its way a little.

I'd still be interested to read anything this author writes in the future!

In the slums of 19th-century New York.

A tattooed mystic fights for her life.

Her survival hangs on the turn of a tarot card.

Powerful, intoxicating and full of suspense. The Knowing is a darkly spellbinding novel about a girl fighting for her survival in the decaying criminal underworlds. It is a hard-hitting story of love, obsession and betrayal.

Whilst working as a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist in the slums of 19th-century New York, Flora meets Minnie, an enigmatic circus performer who offers her love and refuge in an opulent townhouse that is home to the menacing and predatory Mr Chester Merton. Flora earns her keep reading tarot cards for his guests whilst struggling to harness her gift, the Knowing - an ability to summon the dead. Caught in a dark love triangle between Minnie and Chester, Flora begins to unravel the secrets inside their house. Then at her first public séance in the infamous cathouse Hotel du Woods, Flora hears the spirit of a murdered boy prostitute and exposes his killer, setting off a train of events that leaves her fighting for her life.

The Knowing is a stunning debut inspired by real historical characters including Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum's circus in the 1800s.

Something Powerful Is Coming.



Please note, THE KNOWING contains themes of sexual violence which some readers may find challenging.

The central character of this book is Florence, who at the beginning of the book is a Tattooist and canvas for her rather domineering boyfriend Jordan.

Jordan is the head/main tattooist & also has control over Florence and the artwork/tatoos on her body but has no interest in her 'too flabby' stomach or feet. Jordan says feet, & bony crevices are womens work to tattoo so Jordan tends to pass off any tattoos he doesn't really want to do onto Florence.

Jordan tells everyone providence brought them together....however it was the man who took her from a ragtag of foundling gypsies when he saw her talent reading tarot cards, he promised to take her out of the slums, and give her a better life.
Jordan is extremely possessive yet also excessively abusive of Florence. He orders her to dress in a certain way to attract more business by showing off her tattoos, but Jordan doesn't like it when other men ask if he 'leases her out' or leer at her too much. However he blames Florence for drawing the men's attention as if she somehow she really entices them to be like this with her, promising them favours etc. Jordan beats Florence & has sex with her, though Florence doesn't particularly give her consent to the sex or how rough and abusive it is. He is basically raping her as a punishment or a way to have dominance over her. Jordan also has a gun hidden under the floorboards & is a fighter so Florence is understandably scared of him. Though she may want to leave, where would she go, she has nothing, no friends and no where to go. Jordan also associates with the gangs such as the Dead Rabbits who he would task to find her and bring her back.

Florence has what is referred to as 'the knowing' she knows what tarot card is coming next, she can hear whispers but has learnt the hard way not to speak to other people about having 'the knowing' Florence can speak to the dead and she sees them when she leaves her body as it's being beaten & abused by Jordan. I think in a way they help her escape the abuse she is being subjected to.

When Florence literally bumps into Abernathy and then Minnie who offers her somewhere to escape to and a level of protection she quite blindly jumpd at the chance. However it seems Minnie expects Florence to use 'the knowing' and become a sort of act in her collection of artistes. Minnie refers to Florence as 'the painted mystic' and she is expected to perform to read cards and speak to the ghosts.

I loved the character of Florence who takes what she sees as her only chance of escape and goes to people she has only just met. I felt so sorry for her, not remembering much about her younger life except this one protective female figure. Then ending up with Jordan who treats her as a possession, almost like a slave. He decides where he wants to tattoo her. He wants her to dress proactively, yet when she receives attention, he blames her and beats her for it. It really is an abusive relationship. Physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse are all experienced by Florence on a daily basis. I found her reaction and escapism techniques very believable and realistic. When the opportunity to escape arises she doesn't have long to make a decision and I couldn't help wondering if she was 'jumping out of the frying pan into the fire' Especially when at one point Minnie actually says 'I'm keeping you now'. Sadly, Florence seems to still being controlled and told what to do.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I found it intriguing, emotive and addictive reading. There were lots of twists and turns with subtle clues along the way to pick up on. It's a really interesting story, with some great characters set in a time when men basically took what or who they wanted and treat them however they wanted. There was no help for a woman in an abusive relationship. This book covers some serious subjects such as abuse, rape, and violence all of which are well written and part of the greater plot of the book.

The narrative unfolds with a plethora of twists and turns, keeping readers engaged throughout. The subtle hints scattered throughout the plot add an intriguing layer of anticipation. The story unfolds in a fascinating era. Immersed in this historical backdrop, I found the setting to be captivating and thought-provoking.

This is a dark story about Florence ‘Flora’, who lives in the slums of Five Points in 19th century New York. Flora is living with tattooist Jordan who seriously abuses her both physically and mentally but she thinks she is better off with him than alone. To him she is a trophy and he uses her body to show his tattoos and they cover her whole body, and she also tattoos herself! But Flora has a gift, the Knowing, an ability to speak to the dead and she reads Tarot. The author has included some real characters, some of who made a living as freaks in travelling and resident shows, during this era as immortalised in the film The Greatest Showman.

Briefly, after meeting Minnie Flora leaves Jordan and moves, with Minnie, into the home of debauched and wealthy Chester Merton. She makes a living reading the tarot cards, always trying to hold back the Knowing, but when she holds her first public seance she is unable to hold back and speaks to the spirit of a murdered boy prostitute and reveals his killer, putting herself and her friends in extreme danger.

This a seriously creepy and scary read with this insidious ‘gift’ always fighting to get out through Flora to find what they perceive as justice for themselves, at any cost. The life Flora and her friends lived was quite heartbreaking, it was so difficult for women to own themselves as men held all the power. The love Flora and Minnie shared would be considered immoral and illegal so they always had to hide their true feelings. Although I felt compassion for Flora she was damaged, a product of her upbringing, and wasn’t a particularly loveable character. A very powerful, dark historical gothic read with great characters and an emotional storyline. I really enjoyed it.

This stunning debut by queer writer and playwright, Emma Hinds, is perfect for fans of dark historical fiction.

The book features two female protagonists: Flora whose body is used as a canvas and a lure by her tattooist boyfriend, and Minnie who uses her short stature and limb difference to create as comfortable a world for herself as she can. A chance meeting in New York leads to Flora escaping from her abusive situation and going to work alongside Minnie in the salons of Upper New York. At first it seems like an amazing opportunity for Flora, but things are not quite what they seem.

The book has content warnings for good reason. Its pages are filled with menace, reflecting the constant threat that Flora and Minnie face both day and night, This is shown very effectively through little details - the creak of a floorboard outside the bedroom, the change of light under the door, the sideways look under hooded eyes from an abuser, the glimpse of a familiar-looking tattoo or style of hat, This menace is sustained for the greater part of the book and provides great momentum, keeping you reading one chapter after another, needing to find out what happens to the characters.

The Knowing is a story of sisterhood and sacrifice. The book reflects the fact that women of that time - whether from high society or the slums - were chattels for the men, to be used or set aside as they pleased. More than one female character has to surrender their body to predatorial men to protect those younger and more vulnerable than them.

But before you think the book is about the solidarity of women in a patriarchal society, I'll just mention that when you inhabit this kind of world, everyone has to look out for themselves...

I found Flora very engaging and likable as a character. I found Minnie less so, simply because we only learn about her character in bits and pieces as more and more is revealed. Even at the end she felt something of a mystery to me.

The Knowing is a wonderful read, and I am already hoping that Emma is writing another historical fiction novel!