Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Familiars by Stacey Halls

25 reviews

creativeworld's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

3.5

This book was a lot slow paced than Mrs England and I didn't enjoy it as much. The characters were based on real people during the witch trials which I loved! The second half really picks up so if you are struggling stick with it, it does get more exciting toward the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Vomit, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, and Death

shanno_h0's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Adult/minor relationship

heather_lt's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

Moderate: Child death, Blood, Grief, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

deliriah's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

Minor: Vomit

emmasanderson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Sexism

Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia

evelum's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Exactly the kind of heartfelt adventure I was looking for. Fleetwood's perseverance was touching, and I loved how down to earth all her relationships were. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Child death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

wallflovver's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death and Vomit

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

raemow's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

andrea_carroll123's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Pedophilia, Confinement, and Gore

laurenparham's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.25

Hate a husband redemption story but I did still enjoy this book!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, and Pregnancy