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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
DNF at about 40%. I did want to like this book as I want to get more into historical fiction but I just couldn't do it. I felt no connection to the characters and didn't want to pick the book up. If you like this kind of thing then you might really like this book but I'm coming to the conclusion that it just isn't for me.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.75
I flew threw this book and was prepared to give a higher rating. I love how well the book was researched and find it fascinating and horrifically sad reading the ordeals women had to go through during the period of the witch trials.
I did enjoy the story used to join together, but I did feel it dragged in some places, and for such a research driven story, I wasn’t overly satisfied with the ending.
I think it would be an interesting book for a club, as all involvements of magic could be seen as supernatural or scientific depending on interpretation. I’m on the no-magic side myself!
I flew threw this book and was prepared to give a higher rating. I love how well the book was researched and find it fascinating and horrifically sad reading the ordeals women had to go through during the period of the witch trials.
I did enjoy the story used to join together, but I did feel it dragged in some places, and for such a research driven story, I wasn’t overly satisfied with the ending.
I think it would be an interesting book for a club, as all involvements of magic could be seen as supernatural or scientific depending on interpretation. I’m on the no-magic side myself!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Pedophilia
Minor: Child death
The Familiars was a recent Goodreads recommendation, probably because I'd recently read Laura Purcell's historical-fiction horror thrillers [b:The Corset|39098246|The Corset|Laura Purcell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521746242l/39098246._SY75_.jpg|60683917] and [b:The Silent Companions|35458733|The Silent Companions|Laura Purcell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500725504l/35458733._SY75_.jpg|55746774] and the algorithm decided that these were the types of books that I'd enjoy. And while The Familiars was definitely a decent read and taught me about the Pendle witch trials (which I'd never heard of, prior to this), there was just that something extra missing that would've taken the book to a four-star read for me.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is the seventeen year old mistress of Gawthorpe and the sprawling estate that her husband, Richard, is heir to in Lancashire. Despite her young age, Fleetwood had previously been pregnant three other times and each time, she had miscarried. Much like any other noblemen of his time, Richard is keen to have an heir and Fleetwood wants nothing more than to please her husband. That is, until she discovers that she a letter that her husband has hidden from her, suggesting that she would not survive another child. And Fleetwood is currently pregnant with their fourth.
It is under these circumstances that Fleetwood comes across Alice Grey, a poor woman of the working class who unnerves her but who also promises her that she will ensure that both Fleetwood and her child survives. Fleetwood feels like she has no other choice than to place her trust in Alice but her pregnancy is also unfolding in the background of the Pendle witch trials, where her close family friend, Roger, is keen to demonstrate their loyalty to King James, no matter the cost:
When Alice Grey is accused of being a witch herself, along with the Devices and others that were seen at a gathering with them, Fleetwood becomes desperate to save her midwife. However, it seems like the tide has turned against the wise women of Lancashire as everyone else around her seems determined to believe that these women are wrapped up in something evil.
There were aspects of the book that I enjoyed, such as the historical context of the Pendle witch trials. Fleetwood also grows up a lot during the course of the novel, with the scales gradually falling away from Fleetwood's eyes as she realises exactly how much privilege she has been accorded by way of her station in life and her husband's wealth. Equally, she realises that no matter how well-to-do she is and how much money she has brought to her husband's family, she does not stand equal to him, as a man. I also really liked how Halls show much how the men fear these so-called witches, how little the sense the fear makes because Fleetwood quite accurately points out that a man cannot claim that he is too upright for the devil to touch him and yet accuse a woman of being in cahoots with the devil without having any proof of it. Fleetwood's quest to clear Alice's name was also pretty heart-wrenching, as she is one woman going up against a system that is predisposed not to believe her.
However, I struggled a little with Fleetwood and Alice's friendship, because I found it difficult to understand the deep connection that Fleetwood has supposedly wrought with Alice - which was the justification for why she was fighting so hard to free her.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is the seventeen year old mistress of Gawthorpe and the sprawling estate that her husband, Richard, is heir to in Lancashire. Despite her young age, Fleetwood had previously been pregnant three other times and each time, she had miscarried. Much like any other noblemen of his time, Richard is keen to have an heir and Fleetwood wants nothing more than to please her husband. That is, until she discovers that she a letter that her husband has hidden from her, suggesting that she would not survive another child. And Fleetwood is currently pregnant with their fourth.
It is under these circumstances that Fleetwood comes across Alice Grey, a poor woman of the working class who unnerves her but who also promises her that she will ensure that both Fleetwood and her child survives. Fleetwood feels like she has no other choice than to place her trust in Alice but her pregnancy is also unfolding in the background of the Pendle witch trials, where her close family friend, Roger, is keen to demonstrate their loyalty to King James, no matter the cost:
"Oh, Fleetwood, you need not concern yourself with matters of the court, they hardly affect the life of a young gentlewoman. You do your duty and give your husband lots of little Shuttleworths, and I will do my duty in keeping Pendle safe." I must have looked displeased, because he looked more kindly on me, becoming genial. "Well, if you must known, His Majesty is still very...uneasy after the events at Parliament seven years ago. And you may have heard the whisperings about some of the traitors escaping to Lancashire. Something must be done to demonstrate the county's loyalty to the Crown, because currently the king is very mistrustful of our little part of the north, and the lawless people within it. He thinks us a pack of animals, compared to the genteel lords and ladies of the south. We are very far from society here, and I think he is afraid. But do you know what else he is mistrust of?"
I shook my head.
"Witches."
When Alice Grey is accused of being a witch herself, along with the Devices and others that were seen at a gathering with them, Fleetwood becomes desperate to save her midwife. However, it seems like the tide has turned against the wise women of Lancashire as everyone else around her seems determined to believe that these women are wrapped up in something evil.
There were aspects of the book that I enjoyed, such as the historical context of the Pendle witch trials. Fleetwood also grows up a lot during the course of the novel, with the scales gradually falling away from Fleetwood's eyes as she realises exactly how much privilege she has been accorded by way of her station in life and her husband's wealth. Equally, she realises that no matter how well-to-do she is and how much money she has brought to her husband's family, she does not stand equal to him, as a man. I also really liked how Halls show much how the men fear these so-called witches, how little the sense the fear makes because Fleetwood quite accurately points out that a man cannot claim that he is too upright for the devil to touch him and yet accuse a woman of being in cahoots with the devil without having any proof of it. Fleetwood's quest to clear Alice's name was also pretty heart-wrenching, as she is one woman going up against a system that is predisposed not to believe her.
However, I struggled a little with Fleetwood and Alice's friendship, because I found it difficult to understand the deep connection that Fleetwood has supposedly wrought with Alice - which was the justification for why she was fighting so hard to free her.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The book has a nice pace, with short chapters and each chapter revealing something new about one of the characters. In my notes I’ve asked myself whether I like Fleetwood’s husband, Richard. In some parts of the story I admire how much he evidently loves and adores his wife but in other parts, I find myself disliking him. He is often too quick to disapprove of Fleetwood’s actions, even though she is doing her best to keep her, her baby and her friends safe.
We are introduced to a character called Alice later on in the book who helps Fleetwood back to health and gives Fleetwood the strength she needs to carry on. Yet you will have to decide for yourself whether she is a witch or not.
Although The Familiars is a fictional story, the character of Alice was actually a real woman who was arrested and held in prison as a suspected witch. What I love most about this story is that it is not centered around the witch hunts themselves. We only hear about recent progress in the hunts and trials through conversations with friends that visit Fleetwood. I thought that that was a nice added touch by Stacey Halls, as it makes us understand what the general thinking was of the public when it came to witches. I loved finding out that Alice was in fact a real person, making the factual history of this local story feel closer to home than ever before.
I would highly recommend this book, it is a bit longer than I would have hoped for but Stacey Halls does a good job of keeping you interested. Her other book, The Foundling is out now and I for one cannot wait to read it. I’ve heard good things and bad. Some prefer The Foundling to The Familiars. Some people prefer The Familiars. I guess I’ll have to read it and let you know.
We are introduced to a character called Alice later on in the book who helps Fleetwood back to health and gives Fleetwood the strength she needs to carry on. Yet you will have to decide for yourself whether she is a witch or not.
Although The Familiars is a fictional story, the character of Alice was actually a real woman who was arrested and held in prison as a suspected witch. What I love most about this story is that it is not centered around the witch hunts themselves. We only hear about recent progress in the hunts and trials through conversations with friends that visit Fleetwood. I thought that that was a nice added touch by Stacey Halls, as it makes us understand what the general thinking was of the public when it came to witches. I loved finding out that Alice was in fact a real person, making the factual history of this local story feel closer to home than ever before.
I would highly recommend this book, it is a bit longer than I would have hoped for but Stacey Halls does a good job of keeping you interested. Her other book, The Foundling is out now and I for one cannot wait to read it. I’ve heard good things and bad. Some prefer The Foundling to The Familiars. Some people prefer The Familiars. I guess I’ll have to read it and let you know.
“Neighbours denouncing neighbours–it was the most reliable trait of humanity, and was how the dungeon was filled in the first place. Rumour spread faster than disease, and could be just as destructive.”
Continuing my autumn trend of reading a lot of novels about witches, this is set in the North of England during the court of King James, and in a bid to win the King’s favour, local noblemen seek to identify a coven of witches. Caught up in this, is young wife Fleetwood, whose pregnancy is in peril, using local midwife Alice to coach her through it. Fleetwood comes into her own, understanding her own strength, and looks to free Alice from the accusations.
I enjoyed the novel, it was well-paced and I liked the character of Fleetwood and her narrative arc. I think the Household is a better novel than the Familiars so you can tell how the author has developed over time.
A solid 4 star read, particularly around Halloween.
Continuing my autumn trend of reading a lot of novels about witches, this is set in the North of England during the court of King James, and in a bid to win the King’s favour, local noblemen seek to identify a coven of witches. Caught up in this, is young wife Fleetwood, whose pregnancy is in peril, using local midwife Alice to coach her through it. Fleetwood comes into her own, understanding her own strength, and looks to free Alice from the accusations.
I enjoyed the novel, it was well-paced and I liked the character of Fleetwood and her narrative arc. I think the Household is a better novel than the Familiars so you can tell how the author has developed over time.
A solid 4 star read, particularly around Halloween.