A review by natalieba
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was my first book by Leigh Bardugo, and I could certainly see picking up another by her. This is historical fantasy with ties to real historical events and figures along with fable, myth, and mysticism woven in. I found the two main characters interesting and complex and their love story believable and compelling. The side characters did seem a bit flat (or perhaps rushed/not as well-developed), but that didn't bother me all that much. I enjoyed this reading experience so much and found myself reaching for this book even when I only had a small sliver of time free - it was great! I don't read a lot of fantasy and felt this had just enough magic to fit into the genre but not so much that the world-building needs to be overly complex or drawn out (which is what oftentimes causes me to struggle with fantasy). Overall, I would recommend this book to those interested in this time period (the Spanish Inquisition) or who enjoy light fantasy with smart women at the center. 
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