The Familiars’ excerpt was engaging and atmospheric. The 17 year old main character, Fleetwood Shuttleworth, has failed to provide an heir for her husband, having suffered several stillbirths. Her husband is anxious for an heir. She is currently pregnant for a fourth time, but finds a letter from her doctor, addressed to her husband, informing him that Fleetwood would not survive another pregnancy. Fleetwood seems older than her years and she is preoccupied by her predicament. She is spunky, smart, and even in these few pages, reveals that she is funny. The novel is well-written, and I would like to read more.