Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Familiars by Stacey Halls

24 reviews

bookish_kirst's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

4.5


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honkinggoose's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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yolanda_h's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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livlostinstereo's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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shonalikesreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25


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kibiiiariii's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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chloemakesbooks's review against another edition

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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? No

3.0

A good story. Could have used a little haircut, and a deeply flawed main character that I don't think I liked... And a heaping dose of classism. I wanted a little more historic in my fiction, I think. 

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reka111's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

What do we say to Father when he goes on a hunt?                                               Don’t kill the foxes!

Date: 2022.09.01
STOPPED AT 21%
I will probably continue in the future, but right now it somehow doesn't enchant me, even though it is an interesting and well-written book.
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Date: 2022.10.19
I definitely had to give this book time.  And this time I made the right decision (it's a miracle haha). If anyone asks me if I liked this book, I really can't say yes or no, because it's much deeper than that.
———————————————————
Fleetwood was one of my favorite characters in this book, she wanted the child just as much as her husband Richard and her mother. Her friendship with Alice was really close and she needed her just as much as Alice needed her, she was there and saved her from death just as Alice saved her. 

I can compare Alice to a mouse, a very brave mouse. My soul wept for her, wept because she was treated this way, and she was innocent! 

I hate Roger, in fact I feel something much deeper than hatred for him. 

Richard is very complicated for me, I can't adjust to him and I don't want to, a part of me despises him very deeply, but another is grateful to him for ultimately doing the right thing. 

Basically, the action takes place in 16th century England during the reign of James I (who was very famous for the witch hunts) and I have to admit that this is one of my favorite eras! It was relatively easy to read and interesting (especially the witches, who I would have liked to have read more about them) I didn't know what I needed in this life, but now I know, whatever force, creature or even fate made me continue this book, I owe its my soul!

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heather_lt's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? No

4.5

My first Stacey Halls novel and I wasn't disappointed.

The Familiars is set during the frenzy of the witch hunts in the 17th century, specifically the Pendle witch trials in Lancashire. The story isn't necessarily about the witch trials, but rather follows a desperate young woman who happens to  befriend one of the women accused of witchcraft and from there the author brings to life a fictional explaination for why Alice Gray was the only accused witch to be acquitted. 

This book held me firmly in its grip from start to finish. I enjoyed so much about it - the general sombre atmosphere with that fantastic creeping sense of dread, the descriptive writing giving a sense of otherworldliness, and the relationships the main character has with her husband, her mother, and her friend. 

4.5 stars because I have a slight issue with the ending... Everything was wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking, everything explained with everyone at peace. Too picture perfect. 

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megangrace's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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