A beautiful combination of the domestic and the supernatural 'The Familiars' paints a picture of the fate of women in the 1600s. Bred to be daughters, wives, housekeepers and mothers and scorned for being anything but. The tale of Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a young woman with tom-boyish personality who struggles with her daily conflict between being herself and fulfilling her family duty, is poignant and a little heartbreaking.
The historical portrayal of the political state of the North of England at the time focussing particularly on the perceived threat of papism and accusations of witchcraft is weaved into the story throughout and lends an air of credence to the fictional accounts of womanhood portrayed in the book.
I must admit that the stunning artwork of the cover inspired me to read this book but the beautiful portrayal of friendship, loyalty and female determination kept me turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and was disappointed when it ended, partially because I felt a number of sub-plots were left without a conclusion. Despite this though I would certainly recommend this book.
The historical portrayal of the political state of the North of England at the time focussing particularly on the perceived threat of papism and accusations of witchcraft is weaved into the story throughout and lends an air of credence to the fictional accounts of womanhood portrayed in the book.
I must admit that the stunning artwork of the cover inspired me to read this book but the beautiful portrayal of friendship, loyalty and female determination kept me turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and was disappointed when it ended, partially because I felt a number of sub-plots were left without a conclusion. Despite this though I would certainly recommend this book.