Set in 18, The Weeds moves between the voices of these two women, interlocking their lives as they document the presence of (or absence of) plants. Observing, cataloging and communicating with these plants is the heart of Katy Simpson Smith’s impressive novel, as the narrative connects two women across time who are both performing these archival acts. The Roman Colosseum is full of wonders and history and secrets-and plants. Once the magical elements kick in and wings begin to unfurl, Hyder’s gift for narrative propulsion blends with this character depth to create a sumptuous reading experience. Each of the women is so finely drawn that we’re immediately invested not just in their lives but also in the ways they see the world, and how their perspectives shift as the events of the novel start to fall into place. We glean tremendous depth from Mary’s sense of duty and how it conflicts with her own ambitions. We learn so much through a single visit to Annie’s ornate house or Etta’s ramshackle country cabin.

Hyder’s novel unfolds through a series of short chapters that function like a sequence of character studies, each of which displays such a tight grasp on detail and emotional range that it could function as a short story. But at what cost does success come for Edward, and how does his relentless pursuit of notoriety and fortune change the lives of each of the four women? In this “fallen angel,” Edward sees his entire future in the form of a gift from God, and now he wants to get his hands on a living specimen. This immediately attracts the eye of Annie’s husband, Edward, an ambitious surgeon frustrated by the brighter spotlight shone on his flashier colleagues. As the story opens, a woman’s corpse is pulled from the Thames River, and from its back sprout what appear to be wings. Unexpected magical occurrences cause the lives of four women to intertwine: distressed wife and artist Annie, renegade naturalist Etta, drifting seeker Natalya and aspiring writer Mary. Set in England in 1840, The Gifts is a remarkable, unpredictable tale of ambition, faith and survival, a blend of historical fiction and fantasy from a deft storyteller. Acclaimed children’s author Liz Hyder’s first novel for adults has a richness of prose that immediately hooks readers and allows deep immersion within its strange world.

Alice winters ghost of lies