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loverrbboy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
bought this years ago purely for the cool cover. would be rated higher but there is a DISTINCT lack of fox patting. not anything i’d usually read, but the 15th century lingo was very cool to read. much horse riding. learned a lot about the rich of England and how those sorts of households are run. i don’t really understand the climax of the story, where she had some real life version of the Nightmare. was she cursed?? idk i was hoping for more explanation, as well as more happy reuniting and thanking.. maybe a room in the manor for fox girl??? regardless this captivated me more than i expected after putting it off for so long
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Medical trauma
Minor: Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
livlostinstereo's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Excrement, Miscarriage, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Police brutality
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Rape
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Grief, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
megangrace's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Violence
Minor: Child death
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
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 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
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
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