Title: The Knowing
Author: Emma Hinds
Publisher: Bedford Square Publishers
Genre: General Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQIAP+
Release Date: 18th January 2024
BLURB from Goodreads
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. It is a hard-hitting story of love, obsession and betrayal.
Whilst working as a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist in the slums of 19th-century New York, Flora meets Minnie, an enigmatic circus performer who offers her love and refuge in an opulent townhouse that is home to the menacing and predatory 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. Then at her first public séance in the infamous cathouse Hotel du Woods, Flora hears the spirit of a murdered boy prostitute and exposes his killer, setting off a train of events that leaves her fighting for her life.
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 in the 1800s.
Something Powerful Is Coming.
REVIEW
The central character of this book is Florence, who at the beginning of the book is a Tattooist and canvas for her rather domineering boyfriend Jordan.
Jordan is the head/main tattooist & also has control over Florence and the artwork/tatoos on her body but has no interest in her 'too flabby' stomach or feet. Jordan says feet, & bony crevices are womens work to tattoo so Jordan tends to pass off any tattoos he doesn't really want to do onto Florence.
Jordan tells everyone providence brought them together....however it was the man who took her from a ragtag of foundling gypsies when he saw her talent reading tarot cards, he promised to take her out of the slums, and give her a better life.
Jordan is extremely possessive yet also excessively abusive of Florence. He orders her to dress in a certain way to attract more business by showing off her tattoos, but Jordan doesn't like it when other men ask if he 'leases her out' or leer at her too much. However he blames Florence for drawing the men's attention as if she somehow she really entices them to be like this with her, promising them favours etc. Jordan beats Florence & has sex with her, though Florence doesn't particularly give her consent to the sex or how rough and abusive it is. He is basically raping her as a punishment or a way to have dominance over her. Jordan also has a gun hidden under the floorboards & is a fighter so Florence is understandably scared of him. Though she may want to leave, where would she go, she has nothing, no friends and no where to go. Jordan also associates with the gangs such as the Dead Rabbits who he would task to find her and bring her back.
Florence has what is referred to as 'the knowing' she knows what tarot card is coming next, she can hear whispers but has learnt the hard way not to speak to other people about having 'the knowing' Florence can speak to the dead and she sees them when she leaves her body as it's being beaten & abused by Jordan. I think in a way they help her escape the abuse she is being subjected to.
When Florence literally bumps into Abernathy and then Minnie who offers her somewhere to escape to and a level of protection she quite blindly jumpd at the chance. However it seems Minnie expects Florence to use 'the knowing' and become a sort of act in her collection of artistes. Minnie refers to Florence as 'the painted mystic' and she is expected to perform to read cards and speak to the ghosts.
I loved the character of Florence who takes what she sees as her only chance of escape and goes to people she has only just met. I felt so sorry for her, not remembering much about her younger life except this one protective female figure. Then ending up with Jordan who treats her as a possession, almost like a slave. He decides where he wants to tattoo her. He wants her to dress proactively, yet when she receives attention, he blames her and beats her for it. It really is an abusive relationship. Physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse are all experienced by Florence on a daily basis. I found her reaction and escapism techniques very believable and realistic. When the opportunity to escape arises she doesn't have long to make a decision and I couldn't help wondering if she was 'jumping out of the frying pan into the fire' Especially when at one point Minnie actually says 'I'm keeping you now'. Sadly, Florence seems to still being controlled and told what to do.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I found it intriguing, emotive and addictive reading. There were lots of twists and turns with subtle clues along the way to pick up on. It's a really interesting story, with some great characters set in a time when men basically took what or who they wanted and treat them however they wanted. There was no help for a woman in an abusive relationship. This book covers some serious subjects such as abuse, rape, and violence all of which are well written and part of the greater plot of the book.
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