Seventeen year old Fleetwood Shuttleworth is pregnant with her fourth child when she discovers a letter from the family physician saying she and the baby are unlikely to survive the labour. A foretelling of her death. A letter husband, Richard, has concealed from her. Fleetwood bears the grief of loosing her babies, constantly, and alongside this a mounting pressure from Richard, her mother and everyone close to provide an heir. Fear, longing and desperation are tightly entwined. She lives a somewhat lonely life with her french mastiff, Puck, for company at Gawthrope Hall in Lancaster. The staff are silent, distant and she feels out of place, disliked, often choosing to retire to her room where there lies a semblance of comfort. But on discovering the letter, no comfort can be had from anything or anyone. Betrayal and looming death are a hard combination to bear.
Reeling from both the letter and Richard’s betrayal, Fleetwood escapes Gawthrope Hall and flees into the surrounding woodland, where she comes across a woman who claims to be a midwife. Fleetwood detects a distinct wisdom from the woman, a powerful knowledge that might free her from a frightening future. Agreeing to help with the birth, Alice Grey treats Fleetwood with herbs and tinctures, bark to chew for the pain and lavender to soothe fear. She vows to save her. And her precious baby. Over the next few months, a bond forms between Alice and Fleetwood, a friendship both have always sought. Witch and noblewoman. For a while, life seems brighter. But neither of them know their fates are about to twist together. Their lives balance on one another’s shoulders. And a single fall might mean doom for both of them.
I had high hopes for this book and The Familiars certainly hasn’t disappointed. I adored it. Based on real people in the lead up to the Pendle Witch Trials, this exquisite novel possesses a bounty of evocotive, well-drawn characters that suck you into the story. Alice and Fleetwood’s battle to overcome prejudice, accusation and lies is one fraught with peril. It’s apparent from very early on that Fleetwood has an inner strength and courage and it only grows as the story unfolds. She is a wonderful character, brought to life and made great by the author’s captivating prose.
The Familiars illuminates the large divide between men and women of the 17th Century, the rich and poor, the powerful and powerless and how important a voice – even a quiet voice – can be. It also examines the strength of friendship, courage and how large a part suspicion and false accusations can play in either building someone up or tearing them down. A truly brilliant debut!
Surprising. Emotional. Captivating.
Reeling from both the letter and Richard’s betrayal, Fleetwood escapes Gawthrope Hall and flees into the surrounding woodland, where she comes across a woman who claims to be a midwife. Fleetwood detects a distinct wisdom from the woman, a powerful knowledge that might free her from a frightening future. Agreeing to help with the birth, Alice Grey treats Fleetwood with herbs and tinctures, bark to chew for the pain and lavender to soothe fear. She vows to save her. And her precious baby. Over the next few months, a bond forms between Alice and Fleetwood, a friendship both have always sought. Witch and noblewoman. For a while, life seems brighter. But neither of them know their fates are about to twist together. Their lives balance on one another’s shoulders. And a single fall might mean doom for both of them.
I had high hopes for this book and The Familiars certainly hasn’t disappointed. I adored it. Based on real people in the lead up to the Pendle Witch Trials, this exquisite novel possesses a bounty of evocotive, well-drawn characters that suck you into the story. Alice and Fleetwood’s battle to overcome prejudice, accusation and lies is one fraught with peril. It’s apparent from very early on that Fleetwood has an inner strength and courage and it only grows as the story unfolds. She is a wonderful character, brought to life and made great by the author’s captivating prose.
The Familiars illuminates the large divide between men and women of the 17th Century, the rich and poor, the powerful and powerless and how important a voice – even a quiet voice – can be. It also examines the strength of friendship, courage and how large a part suspicion and false accusations can play in either building someone up or tearing them down. A truly brilliant debut!
Surprising. Emotional. Captivating.