Liz Hyder Collection By Liz Hyder 2 Books Collection Set - Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set:
The Gifts
The Illusions

Condition: Paperback
Format: Paperback

Overview:
Step into Liz Hyder’s immersive two-book collection, where history and magic entwine to illuminate women’s resilience and the costs of pursuit. The Gifts opens in the 1840s, in a wooded shire of Shropshire, where a young woman staggers through a forest and a pair of impossible wings tears from her shoulders. Across London, whispers about a fallen angel ignite fevered speculation, while a surgeon hungry for fame is drawn into a dangerous obsession that threatens everyone around him. The Illusions moves the gaze forward to 1896, where a troupe of illusionists prepares for a grand spectacle and Cecily Marsden guards a secret gift she barely understands. Meanwhile Eadie Carleton, an aspiring filmmaker, fights to be heard in a male-dominated world, and magician George Perris envisions moving pictures as a path to greatness. When these lives begin to intersect, Hyder crafts a richly layered meditation on power, identity, and the peril and beauty of daring to change the world. This collection invites adult readers and fans of literary fantasy to savor lush prose, intricate plots, and deeply drawn characters.

What This Collection Covers:
Across The Gifts and The Illusions, Hyder examines how art, spectacle, and invention collide with gender norms and social expectation. The 1840s narrative uses transformation—literal and metaphorical—as a lens on autonomy, otherness, and the risks of being seen. In the 1896 arc, performance becomes a doorway to technology, cinema beginnings, and a reimagined citizenry capable of altering narrative through innovation. Both stories dwell in the tension between secrecy and visibility, between risk and reward, and between the pull of fame and the price of truth. The set offers a cohesive exploration of women who seize agency in eras when they were sidelined, delivered in lyrical, precise prose that rewards close reading and discussion. It’s ideal for readers who relish historical fantasy, slow-burn character work, and questions about how art shapes society.

Book-by-Book Guide:
The Gifts follows a woman in a restless 1840s world whose startling transformation—wings tearing from her shoulders—turns a private crisis into a public reckoning. As London rumors swirl of a fallen angel, a fame-hungry surgeon entangles himself with dangerous pursuits, pulling vulnerable figures into a perilous web. Hyder blends mythic imagery with historical texture to probe identity, fear, and the consequences of power when desire and danger collide. The Gifts is a moody, atmospheric entry into Hyder’s dual-vision universe, balancing rural mystery with urban intensity and delivering a haunting meditation on what it means to belong when the extraordinary arrives unbidden.
The Illusions centers on 1896 London, where a troupe of illusionists plans a spectacular show while Cecily Marsden guards a potent secret—powers she barely understands. Parallel strands follow Eadie Carleton, an ambitious early filmmaker fighting for recognition, and George Perris, a magician who sees cinema as a route to greatness. As their paths converge, the lines between stage magic and early cinematic magic blur, revealing characters who risk everything for vision, validation, and voice. Hyder crafts a luminous, suspenseful portrait of invention, resilience, and the costs of chasing fame in a world hungry for spectacle.

Who This Set Is Perfect For:
This collection is ideal for adult readers who enjoy literary fantasy with rich historical detail and strong, complex female leads. Fans of immersive world-building, morally nuanced storytelling, and multi POV narratives will find both novels deeply rewarding. The Gifts offers dark folklore-inflected drama, while The Illusions provides cinematic intrigue and period drama. It’s a great pick for book clubs eager to discuss gender, power, art, and how societies respond to those who defy expectations. Gift buyers will appreciate the elegant packaging and the way the two books complement each other as a cohesive reading journey. Perfect for fans of magical realism, historical fiction, and provocative, character-driven stories.

Key Benefits:

• Two immersive, beautifully written novels in a single collection
• Rich historical settings with mythic undercurrents
• Strong, multi-dimensional female protagonists
• Thought-provoking explorations of power, art, and identity
• Ideal for book clubs and thoughtful gift-giving
• High-quality paperback editions that are comfortable for long reads

About the Author:
Liz Hyder is a British author known for blending history with magical realism to create lush, character-driven narratives. In The Gifts and The Illusions, Hyder explores the ambitions and vulnerabilities of women at pivotal moments in the 19th century, weaving folklore, performance, and technology into a seamless, atmospheric voice. Hyder’s work is celebrated for its intricate world-building, evocative settings, and a keen eye for social dynamics. Her stories invite readers to consider what it means to wield power, to be seen, and to claim one’s own story in worlds where the extraordinary resists easy categorization. Hyder’s distinctive storytelling remains memorable for its emotional depth, lyric prose, and fearless exploration of brave, complicated women.

Why You’ll Love This Set:
Owning this set gives you a complete viewing of Liz Hyder’s distinctive approach to historical fantasy: two novels that feel intimate yet expansive, each anchored in meticulous research and luminous prose. The Gifts and The Illusions offer a cohesive, transformative reading journey—perfect for curling up with a weekend or for a thoughtful evening discussion with friends. The pairing highlights Hyder’s talent for creating believable futures that still feel deeply human, where the allure of art, invention, and self-definition comes with cost and courage. It’s an ideal gift for readers who adore lyrical storytelling, complex heroines, and stories that reward rereading as new layers come into view with each visit to these remarkable worlds.

Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.