Scan barcode
A review by finding_novel_land
The Familiars by Stacey Halls
3.0
3.5 STARS
I've really struggled to rate this book.
On the one hand it didn't grip me at all until all the action of the last 80 or so pages. But on the other hand, it was an interesting concept, and I can appreciate a well written book even if it is very different from fast action YA fantasies I normally reach for. It's a slow burner this one (ooh, no pun intended...).
The novel follows Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a minor aristocrat who has struggled to carry a child to full term. Convinced that she is going to die giving birth to her current child, she enlists the help of Alice Grey, a local wise woman who becomes her first ever friend. However, a friend of her husband is rounding up supposed witches to forward his political career and Alice gets wound up in the accusations. Can Fleetwood save her within the limited power she has being a 17thC woman (*cough, bribery)?
As someone who studied witchcraft in Britain during her degree and loved it, I was really excited by the concept of this book and was psyching myself up for a 'women-on-the-run' style book of danger and adventure. However, like I said earlier, this book follows a much slower pace, with Fleetwood racing around Lancashire to piece Alice's story together and find someone who will speak of her innocence. This is interesting and all, but, again, not the fast-action pace YA books I normally read, and had just read before picking this up. It did take me a few reading sessions to adjust.
So in summary, I think I've reached the conclusion that it ain't a 4 star book because I just wasn't reaching for it every second of the day I had spare to see what happened next.
But why not a 5 star book?
As much as I appreciate that this is based on real people and real places and real events, I honestly found it a bit confusing. And I'm putting this down to the names and number of people. I've finished the book and am only 80% certain that Richard is her husband and not Roger. And there are just so many sub-plot characters that she is investigating and so many strands of the story to piece together that I just got lost every time a revelation that happened 3 chapters ago was brought back up. Basically, the plot needed simplifying ever so slightly for drowsy, nighttime readers like me.
Finally, I want to end with some myth busting. Near the end of the book, Alice's father says 'They burn witches don't they', a phrase that starts to haunt Fleetwood as she fears for Alice's safety.
HOWEVER
No witches were ever burnt in England!
A few were in Scotland according to this website (https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/eight-witchcraft-myths/) but not in England. So I thoroughly doubt that Alice's father, a poverty stricken recluse would have thought anything but that they were hung. Sorry, I just had to point this out as for a book that has evidently been very lovingly researched, this error really griped me.
So, would I recommend?
If you like a (nearly) well researched historical novel with witchcraft, danger and women pushing the boundaries society ensnared them in, then this is for you. But be warned, if you normally go for 'action on every page' type books, then this might take some adjusting to.
I've really struggled to rate this book.
On the one hand it didn't grip me at all until all the action of the last 80 or so pages. But on the other hand, it was an interesting concept, and I can appreciate a well written book even if it is very different from fast action YA fantasies I normally reach for. It's a slow burner this one (ooh, no pun intended...).
The novel follows Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a minor aristocrat who has struggled to carry a child to full term. Convinced that she is going to die giving birth to her current child, she enlists the help of Alice Grey, a local wise woman who becomes her first ever friend. However, a friend of her husband is rounding up supposed witches to forward his political career and Alice gets wound up in the accusations. Can Fleetwood save her within the limited power she has being a 17thC woman (*cough, bribery)?
As someone who studied witchcraft in Britain during her degree and loved it, I was really excited by the concept of this book and was psyching myself up for a 'women-on-the-run' style book of danger and adventure. However, like I said earlier, this book follows a much slower pace, with Fleetwood racing around Lancashire to piece Alice's story together and find someone who will speak of her innocence. This is interesting and all, but, again, not the fast-action pace YA books I normally read, and had just read before picking this up. It did take me a few reading sessions to adjust.
So in summary, I think I've reached the conclusion that it ain't a 4 star book because I just wasn't reaching for it every second of the day I had spare to see what happened next.
But why not a 5 star book?
As much as I appreciate that this is based on real people and real places and real events, I honestly found it a bit confusing. And I'm putting this down to the names and number of people. I've finished the book and am only 80% certain that Richard is her husband and not Roger. And there are just so many sub-plot characters that she is investigating and so many strands of the story to piece together that I just got lost every time a revelation that happened 3 chapters ago was brought back up. Basically, the plot needed simplifying ever so slightly for drowsy, nighttime readers like me.
Finally, I want to end with some myth busting. Near the end of the book, Alice's father says 'They burn witches don't they', a phrase that starts to haunt Fleetwood as she fears for Alice's safety.
HOWEVER
No witches were ever burnt in England!
A few were in Scotland according to this website (https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/eight-witchcraft-myths/) but not in England. So I thoroughly doubt that Alice's father, a poverty stricken recluse would have thought anything but that they were hung. Sorry, I just had to point this out as for a book that has evidently been very lovingly researched, this error really griped me.
So, would I recommend?
If you like a (nearly) well researched historical novel with witchcraft, danger and women pushing the boundaries society ensnared them in, then this is for you. But be warned, if you normally go for 'action on every page' type books, then this might take some adjusting to.