A review by sarahholliday
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

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

4.25

Part of what makes Bardugo's works so entertaining and enthralling is her belief in the intelligence of her readers. She doesn't over-explain or worry over the details of her world-building, and yet all of her characters and settings feel fully fleshed out and realized. I loved all of the side characters in this story, and the way we see everyone—from kings to servants—tangled and trapped by the specter of empire and zealotry.

As a historian, I appreciated the nuance Bardugo brought to discussions of miracles and witchcraft. It was all very historically accurate, and captured the constant state of peril that those on the margins lived in under the Inquisition.

The frequent and extensive metaphors became a bit tedious, and the third act felt a bit rushed compared to the pace of the beginning, but overall I think The Familiar is an extremely well-crafted story that drew me in and made me fall in love with its cast of beautifully flawed characters.
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