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A review by chasinggrace
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.5
*Update: I reread this right after finishing it and I am bumping to a 4.5⭐️ review. The prose and foreshadowing in this book are beautiful.
Leigh Bardugo you have DONE IT AGAIN!! A dark romantic fantasy set in 1400’s Spain that features a determined girl and a cursed immortal man. The pure YEARNING from this man absolutely made the book for me. The way he phrased his love for her was beautiful - this writing was fantastic.
This is gothic fantasy, so slightly slower and darker than epic or ramantasy novels. But I loved it just the same. Not all of the characters were likable, and many were hatable. I found myself thinking, “this is gonna end badly” so many times because I couldn’t see a way out for our FMC.
I’m SO HAPPY that this book had a positive ending for Santangel and Luzia. I needed a fantasy book with a happy ending and they are such a beautiful couple ❤️
Leigh Bardugo you have DONE IT AGAIN!! A dark romantic fantasy set in 1400’s Spain that features a determined girl and a cursed immortal man. The pure YEARNING from this man absolutely made the book for me. The way he phrased his love for her was beautiful - this writing was fantastic.
This is gothic fantasy, so slightly slower and darker than epic or ramantasy novels. But I loved it just the same. Not all of the characters were likable, and many were hatable. I found myself thinking, “this is gonna end badly” so many times because I couldn’t see a way out for our FMC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Infertility, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism