A review by jazhandz
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

From a pure craft standpoint, Leigh Bardugo’s writing is at a peak in this book. It’s sensory and rich and compelling. The character work is lovely. Where this book falls flat for me is the relationships - and not only the central relationship, but the entirety of the relationships, romantic and platonic and familial and antagonistic. None of them will stick with me in a meaningful way. Which is a shame! I think if this book had stronger relationships it would be an easy favorite. As it is, it was fine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Confinement, Torture, and Body horror

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Infertility

Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Vomit, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent