What do you think?
Rate this book
The Fortune Tellers #1
The Fortune Tellers
THE BRAND-NEW WARTIME SAGA SERIES BY MAGGIE MASON, MUCH-LOVED AUTHOR OF THE HALFPENNY GIRLS
'In the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool Lass
Troubles lie ahead - will friendship see them through?
BLACKPOOL, 1918.
Martha is seventeen and alone in the world. Of Irish decent, her flashing green eyes see into your soul. Foretelling the future is a gift passed down by her late grandmother and is how she earns her living on Blackpool Promenade. Though she spends hours in a little tent, waiting and hoping for a customer.
Tricia is Martha's neighbour and quickly becomes her dearest friend, but she is pregnant and married to a brutal man. And when tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone, her future uncertain.
Together, on one of the poorest streets in Blackpool, the girls face poverty, as is their lot, but they're determined to help each other any way they can, and they never stop dreaming of a brighter future.
Will a chance encounter on the promenade change their fortunes?
The first in a brand-new series from Maggie Mason, much-loved author of The Halfpenny Girls. A heart-warming family saga about overcoming hardship and the value of friendship. Perfect for fans of Val Wood, Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin
'In the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool Lass
Troubles lie ahead - will friendship see them through?
BLACKPOOL, 1918.
Martha is seventeen and alone in the world. Of Irish decent, her flashing green eyes see into your soul. Foretelling the future is a gift passed down by her late grandmother and is how she earns her living on Blackpool Promenade. Though she spends hours in a little tent, waiting and hoping for a customer.
Tricia is Martha's neighbour and quickly becomes her dearest friend, but she is pregnant and married to a brutal man. And when tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone, her future uncertain.
Together, on one of the poorest streets in Blackpool, the girls face poverty, as is their lot, but they're determined to help each other any way they can, and they never stop dreaming of a brighter future.
Will a chance encounter on the promenade change their fortunes?
The first in a brand-new series from Maggie Mason, much-loved author of The Halfpenny Girls. A heart-warming family saga about overcoming hardship and the value of friendship. Perfect for fans of Val Wood, Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin
416 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 1, 2024
Probably the main issue for me was this unnatural friendship. Since Martha and her Granny moved into new home, Martha and Trisha were like the best friends in the world. Maybe I just can't believe that or something.
I'm not into future telling and for me that was absolutely unnecessary. But the book was not about that which was good. I did like it. Sometimes I had no idea how everything would turn out and that is so good.
Someone managed to borrow the 2nd book from the library while I was reading this one. :D But I hope to read it as well.
I'm not into future telling and for me that was absolutely unnecessary. But the book was not about that which was good. I did like it. Sometimes I had no idea how everything would turn out and that is so good.
Someone managed to borrow the 2nd book from the library while I was reading this one. :D But I hope to read it as well.
Read
May 7, 2024Really enjoyed this book, the characters and the way the plot developed. It didn’t irritate me as much as the last book of hers that I read with the overuse of terms like, ‘me lovely.’ I did find stumble over several sentences because ‘that’ was place in unusual places in the sentence as far as I was concerned. I tripped up on several sentences, meaning rereading them several times. But the lovely characters and the way that they just never gave up, no matter how much adversity they encountered more than compensated for it.
March 8, 2024
The Fortune Tellers
Absolutely amazing read . Enthralling through and through . An absolute must have , you really won’t be disappointed .
Absolutely amazing read . Enthralling through and through . An absolute must have , you really won’t be disappointed .
February 27, 2026
Was unsure how many stars to give this as, although the story was good, the book needs a really good editor to sort out the typing as the paragraphs, punctuation and alignment was all over the place which made you feel a bit sea-sick.
The story itself was about love, loss, grief and the strength women have to find in themselves to overcome life’s obstacles in the 1916 era.
A lovely tale of families pulling together and a loving matriarch who shows her granddaughter the way.
Thank you to #netgalley for allowing me to read this book
The story itself was about love, loss, grief and the strength women have to find in themselves to overcome life’s obstacles in the 1916 era.
A lovely tale of families pulling together and a loving matriarch who shows her granddaughter the way.
Thank you to #netgalley for allowing me to read this book
February 26, 2023
A real tear jerker to a fabulous start to a new new trilogy from this author.
The story starts in Dublin Ireland 1916, Martha O'Hara and her mammy pappy and granny in a small farm cottage and Martha's granny often saw things before they happen and Martha find she also has the gift in her of telling the future and believed her visions, the loss of her parents sets both her and granny Bridie to sail across to England and head to Blackpool Bridie's gypsy relative romany gypsy Rosa Lee, life is turned upside down and England are at war, a new home a new beginning, a new friend in the next door neighbour Trisha Rathbone they both form a forever bond that will see them through the rest of their years together. The fortune tellers on the Blackpool beach, I'm ready to sit back and enjoy ever single page as we meet lots of character.
This book became so addictive and I could not put it down. This is the author at her best once again that makes you want to jump in and be with the characters and be their best friend. A new start to a new series and one of Maggie Mason's best yet.
I cried , I laughed, and flutters in my tummy, these two girls go through so much together and are so young, I would not like to be in their position.
This is not the end , its just the beginning, and I hankered deeply for more as I await Book Two.
If marked would get a big 10/10 and with stars in definitely a big 5 from me.
The story starts in Dublin Ireland 1916, Martha O'Hara and her mammy pappy and granny in a small farm cottage and Martha's granny often saw things before they happen and Martha find she also has the gift in her of telling the future and believed her visions, the loss of her parents sets both her and granny Bridie to sail across to England and head to Blackpool Bridie's gypsy relative romany gypsy Rosa Lee, life is turned upside down and England are at war, a new home a new beginning, a new friend in the next door neighbour Trisha Rathbone they both form a forever bond that will see them through the rest of their years together. The fortune tellers on the Blackpool beach, I'm ready to sit back and enjoy ever single page as we meet lots of character.
This book became so addictive and I could not put it down. This is the author at her best once again that makes you want to jump in and be with the characters and be their best friend. A new start to a new series and one of Maggie Mason's best yet.
I cried , I laughed, and flutters in my tummy, these two girls go through so much together and are so young, I would not like to be in their position.
This is not the end , its just the beginning, and I hankered deeply for more as I await Book Two.
If marked would get a big 10/10 and with stars in definitely a big 5 from me.
August 31, 2023
Young Martha aged sixteen and her Granny, living in Dublin Ireland during the time of the rising, 1916, decide to move to Blackpool England for a safer life. Even though England has its problems too, it’s wartime.
Moving to England, Martha meets Trisha her next door neighbour. The two young girls form an instant bond, and friendship.
At first I found the dialects a little complicated, but soon got into the way of the speech.
I had hoped by the title that this book was a lot to do with fortune telling, but this wasn’t to be, although it was a theme that ran through the book.
An interesting holiday read, of how the girls met and dealt with life’s challenges.
There are some sensitive issues in the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.
Moving to England, Martha meets Trisha her next door neighbour. The two young girls form an instant bond, and friendship.
At first I found the dialects a little complicated, but soon got into the way of the speech.
I had hoped by the title that this book was a lot to do with fortune telling, but this wasn’t to be, although it was a theme that ran through the book.
An interesting holiday read, of how the girls met and dealt with life’s challenges.
There are some sensitive issues in the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.
August 25, 2023
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This emotional Saga begins in Ireland 1918 with 16 year old Martha, she has a gift and she can see the terrible future that will happen to Ireland and to the ones she loves, so she sets sail to a safe place with her Granny, the safe place for a better future is Blackpool.
16 year old Trisha is Martha’s neighbour she’s suffered a terrible loss and is now stuck with her abusive husband after marrying him in haste with a shotgun wedding.
This was so interesting I was hooked, it’s the perfect saga story.
Martha and Trisha are so much more than friends, they’re like sisters bound together through poverty and tragedy.
This is a real page turner and a fantastic start to a new series.
This emotional Saga begins in Ireland 1918 with 16 year old Martha, she has a gift and she can see the terrible future that will happen to Ireland and to the ones she loves, so she sets sail to a safe place with her Granny, the safe place for a better future is Blackpool.
16 year old Trisha is Martha’s neighbour she’s suffered a terrible loss and is now stuck with her abusive husband after marrying him in haste with a shotgun wedding.
This was so interesting I was hooked, it’s the perfect saga story.
Martha and Trisha are so much more than friends, they’re like sisters bound together through poverty and tragedy.
This is a real page turner and a fantastic start to a new series.
May 4, 2024
I love Blackpool and chose this book because of that and the years it was set in.
It was good recognising places that Maggie wrote about. Loved it that it was about 2 strong women who literally battled everything in0 a time when women should have been seen and not heard.
I think she truly wrote about an era that women had a rotten life and men ruled. Love how she writes about Bobby and how he got his just desserts! Men definitely got away with anything and the women in their lives were looked on badly!
Well done Maggie, I am now going to get part 2 and look forward to learning more about the women and hopefully Blackpool.
It was good recognising places that Maggie wrote about. Loved it that it was about 2 strong women who literally battled everything in0 a time when women should have been seen and not heard.
I think she truly wrote about an era that women had a rotten life and men ruled. Love how she writes about Bobby and how he got his just desserts! Men definitely got away with anything and the women in their lives were looked on badly!
Well done Maggie, I am now going to get part 2 and look forward to learning more about the women and hopefully Blackpool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
A great start to a new trilogy. Set during World War One this tells the stories of Martha an Irish woman of gypsy descent and Trisha who meets her when Martha moves to Blackpool after leaving Ireland with her Gran. Martha and Trisha become the best of friends and help each other through some very difficult situations. The characters really come to life and draw you in so you can’t help but feel for them during their struggles. I look forward to catching up with Martha and Trisha again in book two out later this year.
April 16, 2024
A very good book and a good start to a series.
Martha moves from Ireland with her Grandmother to Blackpool. She meets Trisha her next door neighbour who is of similar age to Martha who lives with her husband. We see the trials and tribulations of these girls what they go through how some people are a bit prejudiced about them.
Will they have happiness only time will tell.
I thought the book was really good and enjoyed the characters.
Martha moves from Ireland with her Grandmother to Blackpool. She meets Trisha her next door neighbour who is of similar age to Martha who lives with her husband. We see the trials and tribulations of these girls what they go through how some people are a bit prejudiced about them.
Will they have happiness only time will tell.
I thought the book was really good and enjoyed the characters.
April 7, 2023
I really enjoyed the tale of Trisha and Martha - a great easy read that was interesting and full of character. Such a lovely tale of the girls, their true friendship and how they helped each other through life’s trials and tribulations. Would recommend if you enjoy sagas and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 12, 2023
What a brilliant start to this series. I loved the characters of Martha and Trisha such a wonderful friendship. Helping one another through their rollercoaster of lives. A true saga story and I cannot wait for the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.
September 17, 2023
Great story
I'm really looking forward to the next book. Every page has been wonderful and I love to see what they are starting to know. Maggie Mason has a great way of telling us all that she still loves us all. Thank you Maggie for giving us a wonderful couple
I'm really looking forward to the next book. Every page has been wonderful and I love to see what they are starting to know. Maggie Mason has a great way of telling us all that she still loves us all. Thank you Maggie for giving us a wonderful couple
October 16, 2023
Hate giving up on a book but found it was really winding me up! Loved all of Mary's previous books sadly couldnt bare this one.
November 8, 2023
Bit far fetched
Enjoyable but not at all believable. Not quite my cup if tea .
You might enjoy it! Have go.
I'm just a tad cynical
Enjoyable but not at all believable. Not quite my cup if tea .
You might enjoy it! Have go.
I'm just a tad cynical
February 19, 2024
Loved this book ,onto next in series
February 28, 2024
Loved this book and look forward to the next in the series to catch up with Martha, Trish,Sally and Bonnie
March 15, 2024
A lovely aidio read by Ann Dover
June 1, 2024
Enjoyed the book but a bit of a strange ending
February 26, 2026
First moment I really like it but then it's just boring😑. Unfortunately after 200 pages I give up.
January 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this book.
September 27, 2023
Maggie Mason does it once again a brilliant read which you do not want to end. A five star read from me.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews