Before I start, this isn’t one of the best reviews I’ve written. I’m still getting back into the swing of things after my break. I hope you bear with me while I get back on track, I promise this book is amazing in every way though!
The Familiars is the stunning debut from Stacey Halls, inspired by the Pendle Witch Trials in 1612. I was sold from the moment heard “witch trials” and immediately signed up for a review copy. I’d never heard of these particular witch trials before hearing about the book, as someone fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, I can’t believe I didn’t know about this one. Everyone in the book were real people either directly involved in the trials of on the periphery, though Fleetwood and Alice Gray are for the most part fictional as the former was on the periphery and very little is known about the latter.
I can’t tell you how much I adored this book. It’s so easy to over-hype a book in your head, especially when you’ve had a year to do it. I can safely say this one didn’t disappoint, I was still up at half three finishing it and went straight onto Google to read up about it. I’m in awe of the writing, it’s so beautiful and vivid, it felt like you were actually there. Don’t even get me started on the plot and character development. One of my favourite things was the relationship between Fleetwood and Alice, how it evolved throughout the book, I can’t say too much on this without spoiling it. The strength and resilience Fleetwood shows during the trials, pregnancy she won’t survive and everything thrown at her is incredible. There is so much to love about this book, from the cover to the gorgeous writing and setting. The Familiars is definitely one to add to your TBR, even if, like me, you don’t typically read historic fiction.
The Familiars is the stunning debut from Stacey Halls, inspired by the Pendle Witch Trials in 1612. I was sold from the moment heard “witch trials” and immediately signed up for a review copy. I’d never heard of these particular witch trials before hearing about the book, as someone fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, I can’t believe I didn’t know about this one. Everyone in the book were real people either directly involved in the trials of on the periphery, though Fleetwood and Alice Gray are for the most part fictional as the former was on the periphery and very little is known about the latter.
I can’t tell you how much I adored this book. It’s so easy to over-hype a book in your head, especially when you’ve had a year to do it. I can safely say this one didn’t disappoint, I was still up at half three finishing it and went straight onto Google to read up about it. I’m in awe of the writing, it’s so beautiful and vivid, it felt like you were actually there. Don’t even get me started on the plot and character development. One of my favourite things was the relationship between Fleetwood and Alice, how it evolved throughout the book, I can’t say too much on this without spoiling it. The strength and resilience Fleetwood shows during the trials, pregnancy she won’t survive and everything thrown at her is incredible. There is so much to love about this book, from the cover to the gorgeous writing and setting. The Familiars is definitely one to add to your TBR, even if, like me, you don’t typically read historic fiction.