The Gifts

  • Author Liz Hyder
  • Narrator Tuppence Middleton
  • Publisher Bonnier Publishing Fiction
  • Run Time 12 hours and 45 minutes
  • Format Audio
  • Genre Historical fiction.
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What to expect

'Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it' Stacey Halls

'Your next obsession. . . Unique and captivating' Cosmopolitan

'A boldly feminist novel that lingers long after the last page' Susan Stokes Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Pandora

The luminous debut adult novel from the Waterstones Prize Winner, perfect for fans of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, The Essex Serpent and The Doll Factory

In an age defined by men, it will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are . . .

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.

'A glorious, evocative read, ripe for a movie adaptation. Victorian girl power? You bet' Apple Books

'In this glorious novel both women and words take flight. Don't miss it' Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily

'I devoured The Gifts. A real gem' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

'A beautiful, riveting novel suffused with luminous magic' Jenny Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

'I absolutely loved The Gifts. A fiercely feminist tale . . . Punchy, bold and glittering with brilliance' Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter

'Extraordinary. For any who loved The Essex Serpent, this is one that will sing to your soul' Jackie Morris, The Lost Words

Critics Review

  • Haunting, thrilling, wonderful. I loved it.

    Stacey Halls

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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