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lucyford's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Hate crime, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Death, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Sexual content, Deportation, Police brutality, Infertility, and Emotional abuse
dripdrop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
trying_ceratops's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was afraid this character would be another meek yet powerful character from Bardugo like Shadow and Bone (which I did not enjoy) but the character has great, believable, growth and doesn’t disappoint. The romance feels like it grows realistically and isn't superficial. I’d give it a .5 🌶️ for spice. It’s there but not overly explicit and only a small part of the book.
The era of it made sense and I felt like I was back then, but not so much that it’s the sole part that drives the story.
The magic system is lovely and I enjoyed the language aspect of it.
I’d suggest this for people who like magic set in the real world but the real world is historical. Who want romance but with a story that is about more than that. And who like characters who choose their own fates.
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Antisemitism
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Infertility, Sexual content, Gore, and Classism
morganish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What Worked For Me
The Characterization: I expected this story to be a little bit more straightforward in its depictions of good guys versus villains, but this one kept me guessing. Not every character gets what a reader might think they deserve, but its done in an interesting way that always kept me surprised. It felt a bit more truly adult for that. And in a way that's hard to describe, feels a little bit more like escapism for me personally, when I'm kept guessing and things aren't all predictable.
The Prose: The writing wasn't distractingly flowery, but there were moments of writing that felt beautiful and timeless. The writing style felt a little bit like it was leaning toward and influenced by fairy tales at times, and the last few paragraphs solidified that in a way that was really emotionally impactful for me.
What Wasn't My Thing
The Romance: I think that, because the story was a little removed emotionally, and because it's more historical, the romance didn't really work for me here. Especially because it followed a certain kind of trope which kind of seems like it's been done a lot (maybe that's just my age speaking). It almost felt like the writing decided it could skip big parts of the characters getting to know or fall for each other. The downside of that, for me as a slow-burn fan, is that it all felt really fast and I wasn't invested enough when I think the story expected me to be.
Who This Is For
My Personal Rating System
5 stars: I got so invested that it's definitely on my agenda to read other books by this author
4 stars: I would be excited to read another book by this author, but it's not a priority
3 stars: don't plan to read more by this author, but if assigned for a book club, I'd be cool with it
2 stars: don't plan to read more by this author, & if assigned for a book club, I'd be like, ugh, ok, fine
1 star: I will never pick up a book by this author again if I can help it (usually due to overt bigotry)
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Torture
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Gore, Misogyny, Infidelity, Slavery, Infertility, Grief, Sexual content, Bullying, Colonisation, and Death of parent
bergha1998's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Historic Fantasy, Romance Subplots, 1 🔥
Graphic: Cursing, Child abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
riaroo400's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Racial slurs, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Blood, Grief, Antisemitism, Classism, Racism, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, and Physical abuse
elena_r's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Mental illness and Antisemitism
eyeleash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Murder, Religious bigotry, and Antisemitism
sestep's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Torture, Murder, Blood, and Death
cha_len_novels's review against another edition
4.75
― Leigh Bardugo, The Familiar
In Spain’s golden age a scullion, an immortal, a lucky monster and a mistress set out in a tournament of miracles; or so they believe. The historical fantasy progresses with a heavy focus on religious and cultural oppression. These beautifully flawed characters attempt to survive if only to be, to have something more in their fates.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Torture