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A review by tsunni
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I found the story beautifully written. I loved the 16th century Spanish setting, Lucia’s struggles hiding her Jewish heritage in a society that is intensely Catholic and intolerant, her arc from downtrodden scullion to finding her own way of taking control of her destiny. Her story, Santángel’s, Valentina’s, and many others, all had an old fable-esque quality to them that I really liked.
I think that fable like quality and stylized prose was a bit of a double edge sword for me as I struggled to read this at my usual pace. Part of it is my own unfamiliarity with Spanish style names and titles of which there’s plenty. Part might be the pacing which felt uneven. The romance and plot felt a little dry. I couldn’t engage with this emotionally as much as I wanted to (or as much as I engaged with Ninth House which I adore) but I loved it in other ways.
Also the Illumicrate red and gold special edition is absolutely GORGEOUS
I think that fable like quality and stylized prose was a bit of a double edge sword for me as I struggled to read this at my usual pace. Part of it is my own unfamiliarity with Spanish style names and titles of which there’s plenty. Part might be the pacing which felt uneven. The romance and plot felt a little dry. I couldn’t engage with this emotionally as much as I wanted to (or as much as I engaged with Ninth House which I adore) but I loved it in other ways.
Also the Illumicrate red and gold special edition is absolutely GORGEOUS