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erinkane's review against another edition
5.0
oh my GOD
LEIGH BARDUGO YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN. there was a dramatic single tear that rolled down my face when i closed this book. this was the most i’ve been engaged in a book in years. good god
LEIGH BARDUGO YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN. there was a dramatic single tear that rolled down my face when i closed this book. this was the most i’ve been engaged in a book in years. good god
haleyraber's review against another edition
4.0
This historical fantasy takes place during the Spanish Golden Age. Luzia Cotado is a scullion who uses her magic, “little miracles”, to make minuscule parts of her everyday life a little bit easier. When she accidentally gets discovered by her mistress, Valentina, her life takes off on a perilous course that neither she nor Valentina could’ve predicted.
The pacing of this novel is quite slow, but the author does a great job at building tension throughout, until it hits you halfway through the book. There are many themes that are excellently weaved throughout the narrative as well. Luzia plunges into these magical trials set by Antonio Perez. But she must hide the fact that she is Jewish and convince everyone that her “little miracles” are indeed from God. Bardugo uses this to talk a lot about the importance of knowing one’s culture and history, even when you could be persecuted for outwardly showing it. As Luzia continues throughout the trials, her ambitions grow as well. Which is something she has been cautioned against all her life.
Luzia is trained for the trials by her patron’s familiar, Santangel. Their relationship grew a bit too quickly for me to find it believable, but I still enjoyed their scenes together. Bardugo’s prose really shines in this book. It was very evident that a lot of time, research, and care went into this novel.
The pacing of this novel is quite slow, but the author does a great job at building tension throughout, until it hits you halfway through the book. There are many themes that are excellently weaved throughout the narrative as well. Luzia plunges into these magical trials set by Antonio Perez. But she must hide the fact that she is Jewish and convince everyone that her “little miracles” are indeed from God. Bardugo uses this to talk a lot about the importance of knowing one’s culture and history, even when you could be persecuted for outwardly showing it. As Luzia continues throughout the trials, her ambitions grow as well. Which is something she has been cautioned against all her life.
Luzia is trained for the trials by her patron’s familiar, Santangel. Their relationship grew a bit too quickly for me to find it believable, but I still enjoyed their scenes together. Bardugo’s prose really shines in this book. It was very evident that a lot of time, research, and care went into this novel.
readingwith_grace's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
leaballerina's review against another edition
4.0
I felt a pretty deep connection to this story especially since my grandfather spoke Ladino and was born in Salonika. It was a little slow at times and the main character seemed to change her mind on a whim. I think that was just her nature but it was a little confusing and hard to predict her actions. I liked the love story and the competition aspect. I’m still going to recommend this to practically anyone who asks me. It was very moving to exist in that time period for a little while through the words of Leigh Bardugo. Thank you Leigh.
jessmviv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
peonyblue's review against another edition
5.0
Y'know how sometimes, you'll finish reading a book, and you just sit there for fifteen minutes trying to slowly extract your brain from the world you were just in?
The Familiar is one of those books.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, the characters deep and sometimes infuriating, and the plot? If it says anything, I sat down with this book at 8 this morning and realized at 6p.m. that I forgot to eat. It's like that.
I'm left feeling a weird despondency about the state of our world, btw. I don't know if it was Bardugo's intent, but I'm struck by how much power some have over others, and worse, how we all just accept it and uphold it in the name of society or religion or nobility. Whatever they decide becomes our reality, too, and most of us just trot right along behind, ignoring the fact that they're burning people as witches just down the street and *oh, look, isn't that pyre nice tonight? So much glow.".
Which is all a little too deep for a goodreads review, but probably tells you about what the experience of this book is, if you sprinkled in a little actual magic. Well worth the time spent reading it.
The Familiar is one of those books.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, the characters deep and sometimes infuriating, and the plot? If it says anything, I sat down with this book at 8 this morning and realized at 6p.m. that I forgot to eat. It's like that.
I'm left feeling a weird despondency about the state of our world, btw. I don't know if it was Bardugo's intent, but I'm struck by how much power some have over others, and worse, how we all just accept it and uphold it in the name of society or religion or nobility. Whatever they decide becomes our reality, too, and most of us just trot right along behind, ignoring the fact that they're burning people as witches just down the street and *oh, look, isn't that pyre nice tonight? So much glow.".
Which is all a little too deep for a goodreads review, but probably tells you about what the experience of this book is, if you sprinkled in a little actual magic. Well worth the time spent reading it.
idontevengohere's review against another edition
5.0
Leigh is steady becoming one of my favorite authors. This story was well written, character development was nice, cute love story, pleasant ending.
I wanted more towards the end actually. I felt like the closing for Valentina could have been its own chapter, that felt a tad bit rushed; but I get it. That may be my only complaint. I really enjoyed this novel.
I wanted more towards the end actually. I felt like the closing for Valentina could have been its own chapter, that felt a tad bit rushed; but I get it. That may be my only complaint. I really enjoyed this novel.