Liz Hyder won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for the brilliantly original Bearmouth, and The Gifts is just as impressive - an imaginative, extraordinary flight of fancy firmly grounded in the grim realities of Victorian England. Brimming with historical detail and beautifully written, the soulful prose soars. It's an insightful, mysterious read celebrating female friendship and solidarity. * Daily Express *
Your next obsession. . . A unique and captivating read that we truly adored. * Cosmopolitan *
Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it. * Stacey Halls *
Fierce and touching... a beautiful, riveting novel suffused with luminous magic against the grimy backdrop of 19th century London. Wild female power clashes with dark scientific ambition in this compelling story. * Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne *
A strong and powerful novel of identity and ambition, it's a boldly feminist novel that lingers long after the last page. * Susan Stokes Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Pandora *
In this glorious novel both women and words take flight. Don't miss it. * Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily *
An extraordinary weaving together of the lives of four women. One is an artist who loves the names of colours, another a botanist who loves the shapes of plants. One of its fascinations is the blend of myth and magic, city and country, urban and wild. There are threads that spin a yarn and make this book a page turning success. For any who loved The Essex Serpent, this is one that will sing to your soul. For myself, I found it to be a dream of a book, one that I could lose myself in and escape from these curious times we live in. There's a darkness to it also, but also a fierce light, passion. It is utterly absorbing. * Jackie Morris, The Lost Words *
I devoured The Gifts, eager to find out the fate of its wonderfully drawn characters. A wonderful, atmospheric book that immersed me in the dirty streets of nineteenth century London and swept me away to the hills of Shropshire. A real gem. * Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City *
I loved The Gifts. Brilliant storytelling, magical realism, historical fiction that discusses feminism, religion, art and motherhood. Shades of Angela Carter and fans of Elizabeth MacNeal will enjoy it too. * Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding *
A stirring tale of female empowerment, full of vivid imagery and evocative settings. The Gifts' scope is impressive and it's sure to win Hyder new fans and, quite possibly, another film deal. * Observer *
From the moment the Thames gave up its astonishing secret, I was transfixed by this fantastical tale of winged women and their quest for liberation in the face of science turned into dark obsession. A deliciously intriguing mix of moral bankruptcy and resilience, with a captivating female friendship at its heart. * Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose *
An extraordinary novel-resonant, propulsive, and utterly absorbing. Once I'd picked it up, I truly couldn't put it down-I didn't want to leave Liz Hyder's vividly realised world, and I cannot wait to follow wherever she takes us next. * Katie Lowe, author of The Furies *
Bewitching. Lovers of Neo-Victorian fiction will be spellbound by this tale, taking flight on the wings of Hyder's addictive words. * Essie Fox *
An ensemble cast of vividly drawn characters against a backdrop of grimy, gory, 19th century London.... Liz Hyder's debut adult novel is Dickensian in both feel and scope, with additional dollops of magic realism and feminism for good measure. Her ambition pays off - it's a glorious, evocative read, ripe for a movie adaptation. Victorian girl power? You bet. * Apple, Best Books for February *
Haunting, magical, wonderful. At once a dark cautionary tale of unchecked ambition, and a sparkling story of love, loyalty and friendship. * Joanne Burn, The Hemlock Cure *
A stunning book. It's both beautifully written and illustrated, but with a stark, uncompromising uncovering of inhumanity, zealous greed and ambition, so that it lingers in the reader's mind long after it's finished. Liz Hyder's prose is richly textured with an intensity and a feminism that is both captivating and thrilling to read. I found myself holding my breath at times as the threads of the story drew together so superbly. Liz Hyder's writing really is magnificent. There may be aspects of The Gifts that are almost surreal, but they are presented with such convincing storytelling that I believed every word. I was drawn inexorably into the narrative and completely bewitched by it. I didn't so much read this book as live it with the characters. * My Weekly *
Full of rich historical detail, magic and romance, The Gifts is simply delightful. Engrossing and fresh and unusual in the best possible way, I really, truly adored it. * Kirsty Capes, author of CARELESS *
Stunning. A compulsive page turning adventure packed with everything I love in a book. Intrigue, adventure, rich descriptions, and difficult women. * Ericka Waller *
The Gifts instantly became one of my all time favourite books. It was everything I want in a novel: full, flawed characters, a hint of something magical, angst, the filth and strangeness of Victorian Britain, that ruthless consideration of the female body and who has agency over it. I just loved it. * Rebecca F. John *
A beautiful and powerful feminist parable. * Mimi Thebo *
A hugely satisfying read. Wonderfully imagined. Deep reading pleasure. So many people will love this book * Nicola Davies *
A heartbreaking yet hugely hopeful story of the power of wings, both real and metaphorical. * Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child *
I absolutely LOVED The Gifts. A fiercely feminist tale of science, obsession, hubris and what happens when 'wild' women start sprouting wings. Punchy, bold and glittering with brilliance, it's Frankenstein meets Nights at the Circus. * Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter *
An enjoyable, thought-provoking and entertaining novel which explores a number of important themes while remaining a lively and fast-paced story. * Historical Novel Society *
