Bookseller Reviews
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Hauntingly good historical fiction!
As a lover of gothic reads, I was super excited to read this.
Hinds captures the grittiness of the dregs of 1900s New York with a wonderful, stylistic vo... READ MORE
A debut worthy of the greats!
The slums of nineteenth-century New York, a mysterious and tattooed mystic fights for her future, her very survival weighing in the balance of a tarot card... READ MORE
Smell the poppies, feel the ink
I have had some intense reads this month, and just needed one that I would enjoy, so as if by magic, I spotted this copy of The Knowing, that had clearly b... READ MORE
Synopsis
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.
Whilst working as a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist, Flora meets Minnie, an enigmatic circus performer who offers her love and refuge in an opulent townhouse, home to the menacing 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.
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.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Bedford Square Publishers
- ISBN: 9781915798145
- Number of pages: 304
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allA masterpiece
Something powerful is coming…
Darkly atmospheric, intoxicating, unapologetic and consuming, The Knowing is pure gothic escapism. This magnificent debut ... READ MORE
An atmospheric work of historical fiction
‘Something Powerful Is Coming.’ - cover tag line.
My thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Knowing’ by Emma Hinds.
1... READ MORE
Beautifully Atmospheric
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 c... READ MORE
A Stunning Debut
What a stunning debut by Emma Hinds!
The Knowing is set in 19th-century New York, where a young slum-dwelling girl has a gift for card reading and communi... READ MORE
Gripping historical fiction
Read this if you like; Stacey Halls, Bridget Collins
In 19th century Manhattan, Flora, a gifted psychic, grows up in the gang-ruled slums, living a life... READ MORE
A great debut novel for lovers of the occult.
A creative power has been unleashed in Emma Hinds debut novel The Knowing. For anyone with an interest in the occult, Emma's descriptive powers puts flesh ... READ MORE
A big hit for 2024
"The Knowing" by Emma Hinds is just the type of book I love: tarot-card readers, mystics, freak shows, the grimy underworld in which they live and much mor... READ MORE
All I can say is: WOW!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
All I can say is: WOW!
The Knowing is beau... READ MORE
Beautifully handing historical fiction
Read this if you like; Stacey Halls, Bridget Collins
In 19th century Manhattan, Flora, a gifted psychic, grows up in the gang-ruled slums, living a life... READ MORE
Unique
The Knowing is a truly unique novel, that has been inspired by the lives of real historical figures such as Maud Wagner, one of the original female tattoo ... READ MORE
Utterly compelling.
I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book and thought I would give it a try even though I wasn't sure if I would like it. Fantasy is my usual go to so i... READ MORE
A must read!!
This was so good I read it twice!
Emma Hinds has written a dark powerful novel and if you're going to read any book in January 2024 this needs to be top... READ MORE
A dark historical gothic novel
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 ser... READ MORE
Beautifully haunting historical fiction
Read this if you like; Stacey Halls, Bridget Collins
In 19th century Manhattan, Flora, a gifted psychic, grows up in the gang-ruled slums, living a life... READ MORE
Highly recommended
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 t... READ MORE
Know The Knowing
Early days, but I think this a stunning novel to start 2024. It’s a horror novel that is scary where it needs to be scary, a romance novel where the romanc... READ MORE
Not an easy book but a fascinating one
4.5 stars rounded up to five
They weren’t kidding when they said this was a serious book; it is full-on and unapologetic from the very start to the very... READ MORE
Very good
I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second. The characters and the setting of the story were done so well, they really came alive. I though... READ MORE