The Gifts

I loved this book so much that when I was offered an audio version from Netgalley I couldn’t wait to read it again. This book highlights the plight of women over the years. It focuses on their gifts, varied and pretty cool. But it also pulls on your heart strings, the unfairness showered on women over the years. So well written- and the audio version is brought to life by the talented narrator.

Setup in 1840s the book is narrated from multiple PoVs. It's those times when women have not been treated equal to men and had to endure their wishes of the simplest things such as Education. Now in this historical fiction tale when you mix a dose of magical realism and a sprinkle of fantasy - it becomes an ultimate cosmopolitan cocktail to get you dreamy.

Now as there are so many characters and PoVs, an audio narrative helps you distinguish them all. Now, this is one of those books where I cherished the plot more than the characters. A few of them were strong enough to leave a mark (like Edward and Annie) but other than that I think the side characters lacked lustre.

However, the overall book has enough charisma to keep you going and coming from a debut author I am yet amazed!

1) historical fiction with a touch of fantasy
2 ) Stacey Hall readers will love it

I was sold immediately on this book!! A woman in the woods growing wings and a fame hungry surgeon. It was so interesting and immersive. I loved the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job!

This audiobook had me spellbound it is set in Victorian London - the year being 1840 and it is so ethereal and atmospheric I felt I was there beside each character and I could not stop listening to it. Etta is running in a forest when she suddenly grows a pair of wings to help her out of a difficult situation. Meanwhile a woman is pulled out of The Thames wearing wings - a ‘ Fallen Angel’ London is rife with rumours of these women with wings - The Gifts as they are known. Edward Meakin is a surgeon who is ‘desperate for fame and fortune’ and has become obsessed with these women. His ruthless compulsion will affect so many women in his life as he discards their feelings and continues to destroy them but he will stop at nothing to to achieve what he wants. The story is told from the points of view of so many fabulous characters within the story - from Annie who is Edwards wife - Natalya and Etta who are winged women and many more and of course Edward who is at the very core of it all. I particularly loved Liz Hyder’s descriptions of Victorian England and the social aspects and also the magical and believable touches in the book. This is an excellent gothic audiobook ‘that explores science, nature and religion’ which is narrated with perfection by Tuppence Middleton who brings the whole gothic storm to life. A perfect autumn listen. Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Uk Audio.

An enthralling tale, beautifully narrated. Set in the Victorian era, Edward, a surgeon, and Annie, his wife, are the central characters of this historical fantasy. Edward is adored by his wife Annie. She craves a child whilst he craves fame and recognition for his work. He is tempted by fate when he is offered the unusual body of a girl for his research. Deluded by the idea that he is doing what God wants, he decides to keep her a secret. The consequences of this are multiple. The mix of history and fantasy kept me captivated. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Set in 1840, this beautiful book follows 5 narratives to draw you into a mesmerising tale that is the perfect October read. This haunting tale of women struggling against the roles they are forced into by society, the power of grief and the way lives can be changed by friendship is at times heartbreaking but incredibly powerful. I loved the feminist themes and strong characters. By the end of the book I was completely captivated by them and find myself wondering how their lives continued afterwards.

The writing is lyrical and I could almost feel the stunning Shropshire countryside and the oppressiveness of industrial London as I was reading.

The narrator was perfect. I often felt like I was in the story rather than listening to someone reading it. Sometimes with audiobooks some of the voices the narrator uses for characters can grate a little but I did not find that at all with this book.

Many thanks to Bonnier Audio and Liz Hyder for the advanced audio copy of The Gifts via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.

I enjoyed listening to The Gifts. I was drawn in by the cover art and was not actually sure what it was going to be about, so the entire story came as an unknown surprise to me!

I live in Shropshire, so listening to the beautifully written descriptions of the Salopian countryside of the 1840s was lovely. It was obvious that the author either had a lot of pre-existing knowledge or did a lot of research into botany for the book.

The narrator, Tuppence Middleton, was very nice to listen to. The audio quality was superb, with no obvious edits, volume changes or errors. The accents were done well and smoothly.

The different POVs were initially perhaps a bit daunting but after a couple of chapters were easy enough to adjust to. By the end of the book, however, each chapter was a hodgepodge of characters’ views contributing to that chapter’s content.

Overall, The Gifts is a well-written piece of fantastical historical fiction. It will appeal to both readers of light fantasy and historical women’s fiction.

Moods: challenging, dark, emotional, mysterious, reflective
Pace: medium
Character development: strong
Plot or character driven: 50/50
Diversity: medium
Spice: 0/5
Trigger warnings: Alcohol abuse, Amputation, Animal abuse/death, Blood/Gore, Death, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical or mental abuse, Physical illness, Racism, Violence
Rating:
Story: 4/5
Audio: 5/5

Set in the Victorian era - 1840, when women were second class citizens and poverty levels were high, this tale follows the frustrating lives of four women after a winged woman is dragged from the Thames. A wonderfully dark historical fiction, with a sprinkling of magical realism, the slowly interlinking tales really bind this narrative together. (I have given a brief outline of each woman below, as it was a little hard to remember each at first).


Natalia - Scottish traveller and gifted storyteller who journeys by ship to London after being disowned by her family.


Etta - A talented and entirely unappreciated botanist, who lives with her cruel half brother after her fathers demise.

Mary - An excellent writer, who lives with her uncle Joss, a grieving drunk, but a successful journalist whom she often covers for when he is in a drunken stupor.

Annie - Skilled artist and lonely wife of Edward - an ambitious surgeon who is desperate for prowess and status as he overlooks his wife’s sadness as they struggle with infertility.

This really is a brilliant and beautiful book, it took me about 25% to get into it properly, but thoroughly worth it as I couldn’t stop listening after that.

CW - Dissection, vivisection, amputation, graphic, infertility

I really enjoyed this audiobook. There are a few points of view but each character was clearly named at the start if each chapter so it was quite easy to follow who was who. Within the book there was a story about a farmer with three daughters, No One, Nothing and Nobody and I just loved this. I often listen to audiobooks and then buy the books of my favourites. This is one for my bookshelf

My thanks to Bonnier Books U.K. Audio Manilla Press for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The Gifts’ by Liz Hyder. The audiobook is narrated by Tuppence Middleton.

In February this year I read this superb literary historical novel and now have revisited it via its audiobook. I once again found myself completely swept up in this fantastical tale.

October 1840 and a young woman is wandering in a Shropshire forest gripped with sadness over the death of her canine companion. Without warning a huge pair of wings erupt from her shoulders. She is confused but then is struck by a crossbow bolt! We then are transported to London eight days previously. Quite an opening!

In London, there are rumours that the body of a 'fallen angel' was found in the Thames. An ambitious surgeon, desperate to make a name for himself, is gripped by a dangerous obsession. Desperate to find a live ‘specimen’ he is willing to do anything achieve his goal.

‘The Gifts’ is told through the perspectives of five characters, four women and one man, and moves quickly between them.

Liz Hyder utilises her historical backdrop of the nineteenth century to great effect. The novel explores the shifting spheres of science and religion, the relationship between humanity and the natural world as well as role of women in the patriarchal society of the day.

With respect to the audiobook, Tuppence Middleton is a well known British actor with stage, film, and television credits to her name. She has a polished, beautiful voice and I felt that her reading brought the novel’s characters, story, and setting vividly to life.

I fell in love with ‘The Gifts’ from the opening in the Shropshire woods through to its dramatic conclusion. I found Liz Hyder’s writing exquisite and loved the imagery of these mysterious transformations.

‘The Gifts’ is without doubt one of my favourite books of the year. That was true in February and has been confirmed now seven months later.

A big thank-you to Liz Hyder, Bonnier UK, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my hinest review.*
Set at the beginning of the Victorian era, the novel tackles the status women held in those days and the power men had over them. With elements of fantasy, Ms Hyder takes us on an excellent magical tour on which we encounter several characters who suffer and who need to come to terms with their lives. Some stories did move me .. The narrator, Ms Middleton does a wondeful job and her interpretation gives each character thier personal touch. A warning: some drastic descriptions of animal abuse.
If this is a debut novel, it promises a lot!

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

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.

This wouldn’t be my go to read, yet I loved it, a Victorian gothic read that is thrilling, chilling, exciting, raw, magical and real. A feminist message from history to the woman of the modern day. Fanbloodytastic. A must for your reading list!!!!! This is an author to watch. A truly brilliant novel.

I read the digital version of this book and loved it. This was my review:
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.
The audiobook and the excellent narrator add layers to the story and the characters making them even more interesting and intriguing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Audio review: Very much enjoyed the narrators performance





The gifts is a story of obsession based around that famous cryptid, the Angel of the Thames - first sighted just after the Great Fire of London. Told in third person, the book moves fairly seamlessly through multiple POVs - Dr Meak, his wife. Esther - a young black woman from a gentry family, Mary Ward (intrepid would be reporter) and Natalia, a young woman from Orkney. The story revolves around Dr Meak's personal quest for recognition and relevance in his field. When the body of a woman with wings is pulled from the Thames, he thinks he has made a great discovery. When two other living women sprout wings, it leads him to do unconscionable things. Meanwhile his wife desperately wants a baby and is trying to find balance within her marriage, and Mary Ward is being tempted into a life outside usual female expectation with her keen sense for a story. The five povs all come together well and the story has a good structure. The magical realism element - ie wings - has been done before but it was an interesting contrast against Victorian London and the progression of science warring with Christianity in one man's mind. Couldn't help thinking of the Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender though.



Overall I did enjoy this. Where I came a bit unstuck was over certain language choices. I can understand why certain historical terms were discarded by the author but the very 21st century replacements read as anachronistic especially in contrast to the mostly historical voice. The result was quite jarring an contributed to the sense that the book was just a bit too pleased with itself.

However, this was still a lovely read and if you like histfic with a touch of magical realism, I highly recommend it.

This was a charming and enchanting novel and amazingly written! Seriously the writing was stunning and in such a truly immersive and descriptive way, it could transport you back in time. Men ruled in this era and it was a wonderfully depicted historical fiction with women overcoming the constraints of the day. Oh yeah, and there’s angels!

The audiobook I listened to was great and made for very easy listening. Really well narrated. My only caveat was that it was the kind of book that you needed fo stay focused for and my brain did wander a few times and it was sometimes quite difficult from there to rejoin back into it. But the fault is definitely with me on that one and not the books!

The plot was a nice, slow and steady mover with plenty to keep you intrigued. Some great characters and a book once picked up, bound to keep you reading.

The Gifts is utterly fantastic. The story is really interesting at the start where we find out about the different characters, and then becomes more and more intriguing as the story progresses. It's a fascinating study in human behaviour, motivation, belief and of course womanhood. It gives a fascinating insight into life for women in the 1800s and the societal pressures. The characters are incredibly well developed and I love the way their stories weave together. The premise is enthralling and Hyder has achieved an intricate, elegant narrative that draws you in straight away and leaves you totally invested in the outcome. Beautiful, breathtaking and gripping, The Gifts is a must read for fans of historical fiction with a mysterious element and strong female protagonists. The narration of the audiobook was fantastic. Tuppence Middleton gave the characters depth and presence and really augmented the experience of the book. The voices were wonderful and I particularly liked the soft, lilting accent she gave Natalya. I am really grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

Really enjoyed this audiobook on the run up to Halloween.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.