Let me start by saying that this book is full of real life people. Halls has most certainly done her research on all of the named folk in this book and has magically spun a fictional story around a very true and horrifying part of British History.
Set in 1612 in what is now the infamous Pendle (Lancashire) we meet Fleetwood Shuttleworth. A 17 year old who has married into aristocracy. Whilst this was actually a real person, here is where Halls has woven her fictional tale into The Familiars:
Despite living in affluent means, not all is well for Fleetwood. Despite being so young, she has already lost 3 children before they had chance to be born and is now pregnant for the 4th time. Desperate to give her husband an heir, she finds a letter from a physician following her last miscarriage that any further pregnancies will likely kill both her and child.
Fleetwood dare not confront her husband about the letter. Instead she employs a local midwife to help her to bring her baby into the world - a woman called Alice Grey.
Set in what is arguably the most famous witch trial in Britain, Pendle is full of rumours of 'wise women' being witches (For clarity; in Pendle the same year there were 12 people tried for witchcraft and 10 were hung - another piece of truth woven into the story) . Alice Grey is one of those women who is accused and put on trial.
Fleetwood dares to do what most would not have dreamed of in this era; to save her friend she goes against her husband. Whilst it's all to easy to get caught up in the modern feminism of today, in the 1600's women had absolutely no rights whatsoever so to go against your wealthy husband was not only foolhardy but could genuinely be the end of you...
Halls has written a beautiful, well researched book. It's like a rich tapestry and you can almost feel the atmosphere and tension. To bring infamous names such as Alizon Device and Alice Grey into her fictional tale is brilliant. The story felt authentic and that the names weren't just dropped in for reference or a nod to the history. They really added depth and authenticity to the story.
Not only is it well researched and heavily peppered with actual events and people, it's an incredibly engaging story. As frustrated as I could become with the treatment (and sometimes meek actions) of the women involved (particularly Fleetwood's mother), I had to keep reminding myself in which the context and time period of the story was written. We take emancipation for granted that it's all too easy to impose your thoughts and opinions of what is really a different culture (despite me being British). I was invested in Alice and Fleetwood.
Like many, I'm fascinated with this period of history. The fact that King James 1st was so obsessed with witches himself (having become convinced that a witch cursed a voyage from Spain to Scotland in which he and his wife were on board), he wrote a book called 'Daemonologie' in the late 1500's which instructed his subjects to actively denounce any practioners or supporters of witchcraft. Catholic priests were once again in hiding, but Catholic mass was secretly practised in many areas, of which Pendle was one of them.
I wonder if some of the 'witches' remained silent or plead guilty to protect their fellow Catholics? Was the term Witch used to replace Catholicism and it's beliefs? Why the mistrust of 'wise women' and midwives when they had been entrusted for years? Was this to maintain control over the 'weaker sex' and make sure they knew their place?
But I digress. It's hard to categorise The Familiars as historical fiction as so many of the events and people featured are true.
This is an outstanding story. I devoured it. If there's one book you need to pick up in February it's this gorgeous book (I mean how can you not with such a stunning cover?!).
A 5 star read for me.
I would like to thank Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.