Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Familiars

This book was enjoyable, but you really have to suspend your disbelief. Some of the behavior of the characters is definitely ridiculous for the time period. For instance the protagonist is married at 4 years old??? Maybe someone may have been betrothed but not married…

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spookyreader's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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deliriah's review

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adventurous 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? Yes

3.75

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mary_lake's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

Really fantastic book. I picked it up because I'd already read The Foundling and Mrs England and loved them but, having exhausted the witch trials during my history class a few years ago, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it.

I was completely wrong.

This book has an utterly compelling narrative, intertwining together the lives of Fleetwood, mistress of the manor, and Alice, a poor girl who lives in the village a little way away. Both women were fascinating characters and I enjoyed reading them.

The mystery surrounding whether or not Alice was a witch

and what exactly the other Pendle Witches were doing was crafted really well and I thought it a good ending that many questions were left unanswered or only hinted it.

I knew of the Pendle Witches but my school had focused on the Matthew Hopkins period, during the English Civil War, so I really had no idea about this particular witch trial until reading this book. I was surprised to find out halfway through, by Google, that all the characters were real historical figures from 1612, all either involved in the witch trial or living near it when it happened. Of course, this story weaved from this figures is made up and there's no evidence the real Fleetwood and Alice knew it each other, but knowing the characters were based on real people, made this already fascinating story even more so.

Having read The Foundling and Mrs England now as well, I've noticed Halls has a habit of placing two very different, well developed female characters together (often where one is in a position of power over the other) in a historical setting and having that relationship, with its shifting dynamics, guide the story. There are also very strong themes of motherhood and the mother/mother figure's relationship to their children, as well as feminism and what it meant to be a woman at that time in history. All of this I love and I think Halls' portrays these themes and characters excellently.

I'm so glad I picked this book up in the end; I absolutely devoured it and anxiously await Halls' next novel!

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alomie's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Solid book, it took me a while to get through the audio book, it's not one that will stay on my shelves, but definitely worth picking up if you like historical fiction based on real people and events.

It was possibly about 100 pages longer than I would have liked but overall I enjoyed the story.

Fleetwood the main character is a strong leading lady and very worthy in trying to save her poor midwife Alice who is accused of witchcraft and the murder of a child.

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wallflovver's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

there's something about this book that had me absolutely hooked, i was spending my days looking forward to unravelling more of this story as soon as i had the chance.

im a sucker for female friendship stories, especially ones where the two seemingly have nobody else and grow together, making their days less lonely and filled with light.

i especially loved the imagery of foxes following Fleetwood, to represent her bond with Alice even when they are apart.

i generally disliked the male characters, and felt great sympathy for the women in this story. as is true for women at the time, the society they lived in cost them their lives.

the mix of fiction and historical fact in this book was really interesting, i enjoyed the way it was presented.

the writing style was really nice and easy to consume, i got thru this book really quickly and had no issues with understanding the story and its plot points

overall i was completely gripped by this story and was pleased with the ending

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labbradorite's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.75

I love the writing style of this book, it felt like i was reading a classic but much much easier to understand

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nataliaf4's review

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dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5 stars! This book gripped me from cover to cover. I adored the characters and gothic setting and the main friendship in this is one of my favorite literary female/female friendships to date!

TW: descriptions of miscarriage and stillbirth, animal death, gaslighting, blood, and mentions of sexual abuse of a minor.

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