The Gifting: A Supernatural Romance (The Gifting Series Book 1)

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So much of this book resonated with me! Although I have a very different story to Dr Eger's, I also recognised that I had a choice in how I respond to what was done to me and how I want to live my life.

All in all, I enjoyed this unusual historical fantasy. If you like character-oriented novels, don’t mind (or can skip over) triggering scenes, and have no problem with multiple perspectives or magical realism, do give this a try. As the long list of ‘ifs’ indicates, this isn’t a book for everyone. there’s much I’ve gained and lost and almost lost. All of it has taught me how much I have, and how to celebrate each precious moment, without waiting for someone else’s permission or approval. I am reminded again and again: to choose hope is to choose life. Hope does not guarantee anything about what will happen in the future... But choosing hope affects what gets my attention every day." I’m very selective about who’s going to get my anger, because when I’m angry, I’m the one who suffers.” Multiples points of view came in short chapters so very well linked that I didn't lose the thread for a second. The story is narrated in short vignettes, alternating between the voices of the two women with wings, a feisty would-be female journalist, and the wife of the surgeon who sees an opportunity to achieve fame and fortune by exploiting the winged women, the ‘gifts’ of the title, sent to him by God.I rarely have a soft spot for foreshadowing, but this book uses it effectively. I liked the hinted tidbits that sealed the gap between scenes without disclosing major spoilers. We don’t have to like the difficult or painful things that happen to us. But when we stop fighting and resisting, we have more energy and imagination to move forward, instead of nowhere.” Sydney hops off Pete’s knee and pulls the drapes across the large picture window. The swinging vertical blinds chop apart the waning daylight. The politically correct term is Native Americans, Syd.” Dustin pops a handful of M&M’s into his mouth.

Rose—a senior with beautiful ebony skin and a killer volleyball spike—wraps her long leg over the arm rest of the love seat. “You can light all the candles you want, the only thing this board can do is teach J.R. the alphabet.” What an unexpected joy ‘The Gifts’, Liz Hyder’s adult debut is. My delight at receiving an early proof copy only increased as I read, giddy and enthralled. What a treat! A tale of the unexplained within the everyday. Fiction set in the past, yet fresh and relevant to today; a vein of darkness within, yet wondrous and filled with hope. One chapter is fittingly titled "The Nazi in You", and it's compelling reading today when alt-right militia groups are rearing their hatreds in cities all over America. Let go of judgment, Dr. Eger advises us, starting with yourself. We all have a Nazi within us and are capable of withholding compassion from others. Hatred is learned, and we need to learn from other's mistakes and release the past.As long as you're avoiding your feelings, you're denying reality. Invite the feeling in, sit down with it, keep it company. And then decide how long you're going to hold onto it." Unsettling, captivating and beautifully written, with vividly descriptive landscape from Orkney to London, The Gifts is an enthralling tale of ambition and the lines of knowledge for science sake and obsession being crossed, of women finding an inner strength, being resourceful and tenacious and not willing to conform. I loved it, and although my proof copy just had placeholder text, I’m sure that the finished copy with its chapter illustrations will be a thing of beauty indeed. There are several layers to the book, that I thought deserved further exploration than we were given, but I feel this is admirable on the author's part- to leave things open-ended and mysterious. we’re human, no more, no less, and human means fallible. Freedom lies in accepting our whole, imperfect selves and giving up the need for perfection.”

Este o lectura facila, care se concentreaza mai mult pe aspectele vietii de zi cu zi si cum ne putem elibera de anumite "inchisori" in care ne incatusam de unii singuri decat pe a continua cu alte povesti din lagar. The book is well paced with short chapters and is written from five different points of view - four women and one man who is a doctor with very high and dangerous aspirations. These five people have their paths all intertwine as you delve deeper into their stories as these women grow and spread their wings - literally! Reading all about these strong, intelligent women battling against the patriarchy and societal pressures that were part of Victorian life was so thrilling and empowering! October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in the English countryside as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.

What I will say is that ‘The Gifts’ touches on the beauty of the natural world, superstition and science, the lure of ambition and pride; it is also the story of four women determining their own right to be, their talents and gifts undimmed by society’s constraints. My thanks to Bonnier Books U.K. Manilla Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Gifts’ by Liz Hyder in exchange for an honest review. In a Nutshell: A historical fantasy written in literary fiction style. Won’t work for every reader due to the slow pacing and the writing approach, but I liked the plot. Triggers galore! You think Pete is exaggerating?” Mom’s voice wobbles. “James, our son said she was hitting and scratching herself. He said she was screaming for something to get off her.”