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The Familiars
The Essex Serpent meets The Miniaturist in this rich and compelling historical novel, set against the frenzy of the real 1612 Witch Trials of Pendle Hill, that explores the rights of 17th century women, as the fate of a nobelwoman and her unborn child rests on proving the innocence of her midwife, an accused witch.
Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, noblewoman of Gawthorpe Hall, one of the finest houses in Lancashire, is pregnant for the fourth time. None of her previous pregnancies have been successful, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a hidden letter from the doctor who delivered her last stillbirth, she learns of the prediction that she will not survive another pregnancy. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby and prove the physician wrong. But Alice herself is soon drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the area. Fleetwood must risk everything to help clear her name.
But is there more to Alice than meets the eye? As the two women’s lives become inextricably bound together, the now infamous Witch Trials of 1612 approach, and Fleetwood’s impending delivery looms. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth, Alice Grey and all the other characters in this novel are based on real people who fell under the spell of these witch trials. Even woodland creatures, "the familiars," are suspected of aiding the local sorceresses in their practice of dark magic. In the early 17th century Lancashire was deemed a lawless county full of Catholics, criminals and conspirators, and King James I was obsessed with capturing witches, who were mostly poor, illiterate women.
Historian have asked, “Was witch-hunting woman-hunting?” THE FAMILIARS explores the themes of women’s rights in this period, many of which still resonate today.
Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, noblewoman of Gawthorpe Hall, one of the finest houses in Lancashire, is pregnant for the fourth time. None of her previous pregnancies have been successful, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a hidden letter from the doctor who delivered her last stillbirth, she learns of the prediction that she will not survive another pregnancy. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby and prove the physician wrong. But Alice herself is soon drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the area. Fleetwood must risk everything to help clear her name.
But is there more to Alice than meets the eye? As the two women’s lives become inextricably bound together, the now infamous Witch Trials of 1612 approach, and Fleetwood’s impending delivery looms. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth, Alice Grey and all the other characters in this novel are based on real people who fell under the spell of these witch trials. Even woodland creatures, "the familiars," are suspected of aiding the local sorceresses in their practice of dark magic. In the early 17th century Lancashire was deemed a lawless county full of Catholics, criminals and conspirators, and King James I was obsessed with capturing witches, who were mostly poor, illiterate women.
Historian have asked, “Was witch-hunting woman-hunting?” THE FAMILIARS explores the themes of women’s rights in this period, many of which still resonate today.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2019
About the author
Stacey Halls
7 books2,126 followersStacey Halls grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, as the daughter of market traders. She has always been fascinated by the Pendle witches. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and moved to London aged 21. She was media editor at The Bookseller and books editor at Stylist.co.uk, and has also written for Psychologies, the Independent and Fabulous magazine, where she now works as Deputy Chief Sub Editor. The Familiars is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,092 reviews
December 19, 2021
Four surprising witchy gothic also frustrating stars!
I cannot really believe in this is a debut novel because the story is so well crafted, detailed and smartly written. Well if it’s just first work of this writer, I voluntarily like to read her future works.
So this is two women’s amazing fight and friendship story against all ignorance, superstition, judgmental and biased minds! Fleetwood is afraid of losing her baby after three miscarriages at young age, she is only 17! She reads physician letter written to her husband and understands this is her last chance to give a heir to him.
She hires Alice as midwife who has untraditional methods but Fleetwood accepts any help she may get. As they unconventional friendship grows, King James’ minions wander around to accuse the innocent women for being witches, weeding them out from the community.
Rising tension, boiling anger and atmosphere surrounded by paranoia create doubts on Fleetwood‘s mind for making a choice about who she could trust!
Some parts of book makes your blood boil with anger, question your beliefs and doubts about the people and their way of looking at the world.
When I search about the meaning of familiar, I found out that it meant an animal, close to the witches, acting like her servant, guardian, spy, protector, companion. This brings a different kind of meaning to the story and relationship of two women.
Mostly I liked Fleetwood’s change and growing by taking risks, acting brave to protect her friend and baby!
It’s well developed, informative, but still frustrating with the parts show how the ignorance affect people’s minds and turned them into mentally blind.
As a summary I liked it and I am happy to see upcoming works of the writer!!!
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I cannot really believe in this is a debut novel because the story is so well crafted, detailed and smartly written. Well if it’s just first work of this writer, I voluntarily like to read her future works.
So this is two women’s amazing fight and friendship story against all ignorance, superstition, judgmental and biased minds! Fleetwood is afraid of losing her baby after three miscarriages at young age, she is only 17! She reads physician letter written to her husband and understands this is her last chance to give a heir to him.
She hires Alice as midwife who has untraditional methods but Fleetwood accepts any help she may get. As they unconventional friendship grows, King James’ minions wander around to accuse the innocent women for being witches, weeding them out from the community.
Rising tension, boiling anger and atmosphere surrounded by paranoia create doubts on Fleetwood‘s mind for making a choice about who she could trust!
Some parts of book makes your blood boil with anger, question your beliefs and doubts about the people and their way of looking at the world.
When I search about the meaning of familiar, I found out that it meant an animal, close to the witches, acting like her servant, guardian, spy, protector, companion. This brings a different kind of meaning to the story and relationship of two women.
Mostly I liked Fleetwood’s change and growing by taking risks, acting brave to protect her friend and baby!
It’s well developed, informative, but still frustrating with the parts show how the ignorance affect people’s minds and turned them into mentally blind.
As a summary I liked it and I am happy to see upcoming works of the writer!!!
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April 20, 2019
The Familiars by Stacey Halls is a 2019 Mira publication.
Very impressive debut novel!!
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is once more with child, hoping this time she will be able to give her husband, Richard, the heir he is so desirous of. But, when she stumbles across a letter, written to her husband from a physician, warning him that if Fleetwood should once more find herself in childbed, she would not survive.
To keep herself and unborn child from certain death, Fleetwood hires the midwife of her choosing, a young woman named Alice Grey. Fleetwood knows that Alice’s methods are unconventional, but she is desperate, willing to try anything. But, when Alice is accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood will do whatever it takes to free Alice, but time is of the essence.
I loved this book!! This is the style of Gothic mystery that I first fell in love with. This debut author has done an outstanding job of creating a heavily laden atmosphere of suspense, casting doubts in all directions and pitting our heroine against those she should be able to trust, against society, and against time.
The fever pitch anxiety and furor which permeated the air during the real Pendle Hill Witch Trials creates the perfect backdrop for the danger, paranoia and suspicions surrounding Fleetwood. Using real life characters in the book is a nice touch, adding a nice theoretical solution to an age- old mystery.
Other real- life props and events are scattered throughout the novel capturing the atmosphere of the times perfectly. The story is a Gothic lover’s dream, with the suspense building and building, becoming nearly unbearable. But the story is also one of courage, of hope, determination and of friendship and unbreakable bonds forged out of desperation.
I can’t say enough nice things about this one. Right now, historical fiction is one my very favorite genres, and then add in these unmistakable Gothic elements- a genre that is hands down my favorite of any genre, then how can I go wrong?
The straightforward prose fits the style of Gothic fiction, I think, and compliments the characterizations, especially that of Fleetwood. The pacing it pitch perfect, never hurried, which is what creates that fraught, nervous, sitting on pin and needles sensation, and is where many young Gothic novelists flounder. I’m sure it is harder to pull off a slower, more balanced pace now, than in days past, with the limited word count required by most publishers. So, apparently, this author obviously understands this genre, has studied it, and appreciates the nuances that make it successful.
Overall, Stacey Halls has my undivided attention. I’m super excited to see how she progresses from here on out.
Very impressive debut novel!!
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is once more with child, hoping this time she will be able to give her husband, Richard, the heir he is so desirous of. But, when she stumbles across a letter, written to her husband from a physician, warning him that if Fleetwood should once more find herself in childbed, she would not survive.
To keep herself and unborn child from certain death, Fleetwood hires the midwife of her choosing, a young woman named Alice Grey. Fleetwood knows that Alice’s methods are unconventional, but she is desperate, willing to try anything. But, when Alice is accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood will do whatever it takes to free Alice, but time is of the essence.
I loved this book!! This is the style of Gothic mystery that I first fell in love with. This debut author has done an outstanding job of creating a heavily laden atmosphere of suspense, casting doubts in all directions and pitting our heroine against those she should be able to trust, against society, and against time.
The fever pitch anxiety and furor which permeated the air during the real Pendle Hill Witch Trials creates the perfect backdrop for the danger, paranoia and suspicions surrounding Fleetwood. Using real life characters in the book is a nice touch, adding a nice theoretical solution to an age- old mystery.
Other real- life props and events are scattered throughout the novel capturing the atmosphere of the times perfectly. The story is a Gothic lover’s dream, with the suspense building and building, becoming nearly unbearable. But the story is also one of courage, of hope, determination and of friendship and unbreakable bonds forged out of desperation.
I can’t say enough nice things about this one. Right now, historical fiction is one my very favorite genres, and then add in these unmistakable Gothic elements- a genre that is hands down my favorite of any genre, then how can I go wrong?
The straightforward prose fits the style of Gothic fiction, I think, and compliments the characterizations, especially that of Fleetwood. The pacing it pitch perfect, never hurried, which is what creates that fraught, nervous, sitting on pin and needles sensation, and is where many young Gothic novelists flounder. I’m sure it is harder to pull off a slower, more balanced pace now, than in days past, with the limited word count required by most publishers. So, apparently, this author obviously understands this genre, has studied it, and appreciates the nuances that make it successful.
Overall, Stacey Halls has my undivided attention. I’m super excited to see how she progresses from here on out.
October 5, 2023
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
The best thing about this book is the fact that it is loosely based on real events and real people. I decided to read this book because of the season as it is listed as gothic historical fiction, throw in some witches and I'm yelling "Take my money!"
Stacey Halls has obviously done her homework, the research is impeccable. After reading the book I looked all the people up to find out more about the time. She portrays our two female lead characters as strong, loyal women determined to help each other, which was rare for the time period as the ladies all depended on the men and were treated like chattel.
If you're looking for a book about the witch trials themselves this is not for you as the focus is on the relationship between employer and employee, the midwife. But if you're looking for a fascinating, spellbinding tale Halls writes a wonderful one. The Familiars sucked me in right away and wouldn't let me go. I have two other books by this author on my TBR and she has a new one coming out in 2024, for now I will say what a marvellous debut.
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
The best thing about this book is the fact that it is loosely based on real events and real people. I decided to read this book because of the season as it is listed as gothic historical fiction, throw in some witches and I'm yelling "Take my money!"
Stacey Halls has obviously done her homework, the research is impeccable. After reading the book I looked all the people up to find out more about the time. She portrays our two female lead characters as strong, loyal women determined to help each other, which was rare for the time period as the ladies all depended on the men and were treated like chattel.
If you're looking for a book about the witch trials themselves this is not for you as the focus is on the relationship between employer and employee, the midwife. But if you're looking for a fascinating, spellbinding tale Halls writes a wonderful one. The Familiars sucked me in right away and wouldn't let me go. I have two other books by this author on my TBR and she has a new one coming out in 2024, for now I will say what a marvellous debut.
March 8, 2019
The novel is based on true events, Pendle Hill Witch Trials, and most of the characters did exist, although it was the Author's imagination that directed their actions. The story revolves around a noblewoman, Fleetwood Shutterworth who is expected to provide her husband with an heir. She miscarages several times, and one day, when pregnant again, she meets a local woman, Alice Grey, who has a knowledge of the herbs and skills which may help Fleetwood during her pregnancy. The story seems simple, but the Author managed mastefully to create a novel which I couldn't put down. There are several themes in the novel which I found interesting: position and fate of woman in the early 17th centrury, prejudice against wise women which in consequence led directly to the accusations of witchcraft and then to stake, and the role children played during the so-called witchhunt. A very good atmospheric novel which I would recommend to FH lovers.
*Many thanks to Stacey Halls, Harlequin-Mira and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
*Many thanks to Stacey Halls, Harlequin-Mira and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
May 18, 2020
The events described in the Familiars by Stacey Halls take place in the year 1612. Fleetwood is 17 years old and lives a lonely existence with her husband (of 4 years!) in a gloomy, isolated mansion in northern England. She’s pregnant but has previously had problems with miscarriages. She’s anxious to give birth successfully as Richard, her husband is desperate for an heir.
The novel shines a light on the glaring misogyny of the times, the exalted status of the midwife and the magic that fills the gaps that scientific knowledge hasn’t yet reached.
The mindset and attitudes of 17th century England are cleverly imagined. With a lack of doctors and medical know-how, rural communities depended on ‘wise women’ and their use of herbs, potions and techniques, handed down over the years. This atmospheric novel looks at how archaic country lore mixed with fear and ignorance was sometimes, catastrophically perceived as witchcraft.
I found the narrative to be unexpectedly gripping and fast paced and in Fleetwood, a character easy to root for as she struggles against the uniformly unpleasant, bigoted and misguided men of the story (There are few male characters with redeeming features)
The Familiars is an enjoyable, vivid and atmospheric read - much recommended.
Note: I learnt on completing the book that the main characters were real historical figures, the manor house (Gawthorpe Hall) exists and is open to the public and that the author Stacey Halls is a native of the area with a lifelong fascination of the Pendle witch trials which are central to the story.
The novel shines a light on the glaring misogyny of the times, the exalted status of the midwife and the magic that fills the gaps that scientific knowledge hasn’t yet reached.
The mindset and attitudes of 17th century England are cleverly imagined. With a lack of doctors and medical know-how, rural communities depended on ‘wise women’ and their use of herbs, potions and techniques, handed down over the years. This atmospheric novel looks at how archaic country lore mixed with fear and ignorance was sometimes, catastrophically perceived as witchcraft.
I found the narrative to be unexpectedly gripping and fast paced and in Fleetwood, a character easy to root for as she struggles against the uniformly unpleasant, bigoted and misguided men of the story (There are few male characters with redeeming features)
The Familiars is an enjoyable, vivid and atmospheric read - much recommended.
Note: I learnt on completing the book that the main characters were real historical figures, the manor house (Gawthorpe Hall) exists and is open to the public and that the author Stacey Halls is a native of the area with a lifelong fascination of the Pendle witch trials which are central to the story.
November 24, 2020
What a wonderful Enchanting and captivating novel. An unputdownable ripped from real life tale that kept me up late at night.
Having read Stacy Hall’s
The Foundling I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Familiars and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
The Familiars is an extremely well written fictionalized account of the Pendle witch trials in 17th-century Lancashire, England.
Stacy Halls is a journalist and grew up near Pendle Hill. She was always fascinated by the Witch trials from a young age. Drawn from real-life figures, her novel tells the story of Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a 17-year-old Noblewoman who is pregnant for the fourth time. She finds herself caught up in the trials, when Alice Gray, her midwife is accused of witchcraft. Fleetwood needs Alice to help her deliver a healthy baby and Fleetwood risks everything to try and help Alice.
The author skillfully conjures up the daunting landscape of the country and timeand creates a wonderful sense of time and place and her dialogue is believable and I loved being dropped right back to the 1600s. I enjoy historical fiction as it introduces the readers to events in history which otherwise may have been forgotten.
The 1600 was a bleak time in history for woman and to be accused of witchcraft must have been terrifying. and it didn't seem to take much to earn a reputation as a witch back then.
Stacy Hall’s has written a very crisp and beautiful debut and certainly an author that I gad to have add to my favorites list.
I think readers who enjoy historical fiction or books by authors such as Diane Setterfield or Kate Morton may well enjoy Stacy hall novels.
I so glad I order hard copies of these books as they will display beautifully on my real life bookshelf.
Having read Stacy Hall’s
The Foundling I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Familiars and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The Familiars is an extremely well written fictionalized account of the Pendle witch trials in 17th-century Lancashire, England.
Stacy Halls is a journalist and grew up near Pendle Hill. She was always fascinated by the Witch trials from a young age. Drawn from real-life figures, her novel tells the story of Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a 17-year-old Noblewoman who is pregnant for the fourth time. She finds herself caught up in the trials, when Alice Gray, her midwife is accused of witchcraft. Fleetwood needs Alice to help her deliver a healthy baby and Fleetwood risks everything to try and help Alice.
The author skillfully conjures up the daunting landscape of the country and timeand creates a wonderful sense of time and place and her dialogue is believable and I loved being dropped right back to the 1600s. I enjoy historical fiction as it introduces the readers to events in history which otherwise may have been forgotten.
The 1600 was a bleak time in history for woman and to be accused of witchcraft must have been terrifying. and it didn't seem to take much to earn a reputation as a witch back then.
Stacy Hall’s has written a very crisp and beautiful debut and certainly an author that I gad to have add to my favorites list.
I think readers who enjoy historical fiction or books by authors such as Diane Setterfield or Kate Morton may well enjoy Stacy hall novels.
I so glad I order hard copies of these books as they will display beautifully on my real life bookshelf.
February 25, 2019
There are times when I get absolutely giddy over a book that I’ve just finished, so much so that I start babbling to my neighbors, call up family members, talk about it to strangers in stores despite their strange looks as though I’ve lost my mind. That is exactly what I have found myself doing with Stacey Halls new book, The Familiars.
Are you familiar with familiars? Yes, I know. I’m part Scottish so these things are embedded into my DNA but for many, I now realize, they are not. A familiar is an animal that is close to a witch who does certain things for the witch. They can act as protectors, spies, a type of servant or, most often, a close companion. If you see one, you most often will see the other because they rarely are separated.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is the 17 years old mistress at Gawthorpe Hall. The year is 1612, and she pregnant for the fourth time. The problem, however, is that she has yet to bring a child to term, something both she and her husband are concerned about, each for very different reasons. By chance, Fleetwood encounters a woman in the forest on her property. This woman, Alice Gray, claims to be a midwife and promises Fleetwood that she can help her give birth to a healthy child. They agree on terms and Alice is brought into Gawthorpe Hall where Fleetwood almost at once begins to feel better. There are problems, however. King James, as we all should know, is on a witch hunt and his minions who wish to stay in his favor will do whatever necessary to stay in the king’s good graces, including accusing innocent women of witchcraft. Fleetwood has the misfortune of living near Pendle Hill and one of her husband’s dearest friends and benefactor’s is just the sort of man to gather up innocents to appease the king – and that is exactly what he does – including Alice Gray.
I live in a town named Pendleton settled by men originally from Pendle Hill. We actually have a place called Pendle Hill in our tiny town so I have a strange, slightly bizarre fascination with the Pendle witches of Lancashire. When I first read about The Familiars, I was led to believe that it was a witch story and somewhat cutesy. That is far from the truth. This is a story of the women in the surrounding village who eventually were charged with murder and witchcraft at Pendle Hill, specifically, Alice Gray. It is the story of Alice’s friendship with Fleetwood and the extreme measures that Fleetwood took in order to save her friend. It is a beautifully told story of women, devotion, love, motherhood, history and so much more but it is very much rooted in historically accurate research. At the heart of the tale is Fleetwood and her desire to bring her child into the world safely and alive. In order to do so, she truly believes she must have Alice by her side. It isn’t about magic or witchcraft, it is about herbs and knowledge passed down from one generation of women to the next. As we learn, these women were being rounded up far too often because of men who merely wanted them gone for reasons of cheating, anger, because the women were more knowledgeable, not unlike what is happening today when intelligent women are mocked in the public arena. They were also being hanged because their religion no longer aligned with that of King James. Then, as now, religion was a source of war. Isn’t it amazing how absolutely nothing has changed after all of this time? How we have learned nothing from the past?
I absolutely loved the transformation of Fleetwood from silly, frivolous socialite to the mature woman willing to fight for her child and her friend. Women will do that when they have the right influences to guide them and it was beautiful to see how Alice, so quiet and unassuming, could give the much needed confidence to Fleetwood, not with magic but through friendship and care. In the end, this is a novel of historical fiction and it stays true to the story. Twelve women were charged with witchcraft, some were hanged, one landed in stocks for a fortnight and one is released. This is a wonderful imagining of their story, one that I highly recommend!
Thank you to #Netgalley, #Harlequin-Mira and #StacyHalls for my advanced copy of #TheFamiliars.
Are you familiar with familiars? Yes, I know. I’m part Scottish so these things are embedded into my DNA but for many, I now realize, they are not. A familiar is an animal that is close to a witch who does certain things for the witch. They can act as protectors, spies, a type of servant or, most often, a close companion. If you see one, you most often will see the other because they rarely are separated.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is the 17 years old mistress at Gawthorpe Hall. The year is 1612, and she pregnant for the fourth time. The problem, however, is that she has yet to bring a child to term, something both she and her husband are concerned about, each for very different reasons. By chance, Fleetwood encounters a woman in the forest on her property. This woman, Alice Gray, claims to be a midwife and promises Fleetwood that she can help her give birth to a healthy child. They agree on terms and Alice is brought into Gawthorpe Hall where Fleetwood almost at once begins to feel better. There are problems, however. King James, as we all should know, is on a witch hunt and his minions who wish to stay in his favor will do whatever necessary to stay in the king’s good graces, including accusing innocent women of witchcraft. Fleetwood has the misfortune of living near Pendle Hill and one of her husband’s dearest friends and benefactor’s is just the sort of man to gather up innocents to appease the king – and that is exactly what he does – including Alice Gray.
I live in a town named Pendleton settled by men originally from Pendle Hill. We actually have a place called Pendle Hill in our tiny town so I have a strange, slightly bizarre fascination with the Pendle witches of Lancashire. When I first read about The Familiars, I was led to believe that it was a witch story and somewhat cutesy. That is far from the truth. This is a story of the women in the surrounding village who eventually were charged with murder and witchcraft at Pendle Hill, specifically, Alice Gray. It is the story of Alice’s friendship with Fleetwood and the extreme measures that Fleetwood took in order to save her friend. It is a beautifully told story of women, devotion, love, motherhood, history and so much more but it is very much rooted in historically accurate research. At the heart of the tale is Fleetwood and her desire to bring her child into the world safely and alive. In order to do so, she truly believes she must have Alice by her side. It isn’t about magic or witchcraft, it is about herbs and knowledge passed down from one generation of women to the next. As we learn, these women were being rounded up far too often because of men who merely wanted them gone for reasons of cheating, anger, because the women were more knowledgeable, not unlike what is happening today when intelligent women are mocked in the public arena. They were also being hanged because their religion no longer aligned with that of King James. Then, as now, religion was a source of war. Isn’t it amazing how absolutely nothing has changed after all of this time? How we have learned nothing from the past?
I absolutely loved the transformation of Fleetwood from silly, frivolous socialite to the mature woman willing to fight for her child and her friend. Women will do that when they have the right influences to guide them and it was beautiful to see how Alice, so quiet and unassuming, could give the much needed confidence to Fleetwood, not with magic but through friendship and care. In the end, this is a novel of historical fiction and it stays true to the story. Twelve women were charged with witchcraft, some were hanged, one landed in stocks for a fortnight and one is released. This is a wonderful imagining of their story, one that I highly recommend!
Thank you to #Netgalley, #Harlequin-Mira and #StacyHalls for my advanced copy of #TheFamiliars.
July 25, 2021
This is a spellbinding, captivating and enchanting debut novel by Stacey Halls, who I just love as a writer.
Fleetwood a 17 year woman has already suffered the loss of three pregnancies before meeting a young midwife Alice Gray.
Alice promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby using her herbal and somewhat unconventional medicines passed to her through generations. Those suspicious and ignorant of Alice’s methods cloak her in accusations of witchcraft.
As the legendary trials of Lancaster approaches Fleetwood must try and save her one true confidant and the route to delivering a healthy baby.
Stacey Halls is an amazing historical fiction writer who draws you into feeling and living the events of the time. You are drawn to the strong women who will do what they can to save each other.
Fleetwood a 17 year woman has already suffered the loss of three pregnancies before meeting a young midwife Alice Gray.
Alice promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby using her herbal and somewhat unconventional medicines passed to her through generations. Those suspicious and ignorant of Alice’s methods cloak her in accusations of witchcraft.
As the legendary trials of Lancaster approaches Fleetwood must try and save her one true confidant and the route to delivering a healthy baby.
Stacey Halls is an amazing historical fiction writer who draws you into feeling and living the events of the time. You are drawn to the strong women who will do what they can to save each other.
March 19, 2019
Trading horses, time of DNF: 20%
From the blurb about a young gentlewoman in England during the 17th century witch scares, this should have been a strong contender for me. I like the narrative of mass hysteria, scapegoating, and women burning for fear. Alas, not so much.
I was not a fan of the first person point of view. It was intimate, but it trapped me inside a boring person. Uneducated, meek, and unguided in life makes Fleetwood Shuttleworth rather tedious, like being stuck in an airplane seat with a person describing the minutia of their life, loudly, on their cell phone and your noise-cancelling headset is dead. Your whole mind is screaming, 'Can we go?!'
The atmospheric descriptions of the woods, clothing, and furnishings were nice.
From the blurb about a young gentlewoman in England during the 17th century witch scares, this should have been a strong contender for me. I like the narrative of mass hysteria, scapegoating, and women burning for fear. Alas, not so much.
I was not a fan of the first person point of view. It was intimate, but it trapped me inside a boring person. Uneducated, meek, and unguided in life makes Fleetwood Shuttleworth rather tedious, like being stuck in an airplane seat with a person describing the minutia of their life, loudly, on their cell phone and your noise-cancelling headset is dead. Your whole mind is screaming, 'Can we go?!'
The atmospheric descriptions of the woods, clothing, and furnishings were nice.
August 13, 2018
If this is going to be the most spellbinding debut of 2019, I fear for the next year.
Fleetwood was too weak a character, I felt. She wasn't interesting enough to keep the story going. I do realize that those were different times, and that women were supposed to be meek and obey their husbands. But even in her thoughts she was a pushover. And for someone who keeps riding all over the place to be this meek didn't sit right with me to be honest.
The most interesting element of this was the witch hunt. And even that was not that interesting. There were a few twists, and while they were twisty, they didn't make up for the overall blandness of the story.
Fleetwood was too weak a character, I felt. She wasn't interesting enough to keep the story going. I do realize that those were different times, and that women were supposed to be meek and obey their husbands. But even in her thoughts she was a pushover. And for someone who keeps riding all over the place to be this meek didn't sit right with me to be honest.
The most interesting element of this was the witch hunt. And even that was not that interesting. There were a few twists, and while they were twisty, they didn't make up for the overall blandness of the story.
August 4, 2019
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I requested this book because I was in a witchy mood and the concept of feminism and girl power set against the backdrop of the witch trials during the rule of King James appealed to me. In case you didn't know, King James was all about that witch-hunting life. He wrote a book called the Demonology, and Shakespeare actually wrote Macbeth with witches to appeal to his audience (i.e. King James). The witch trials in the United States were terrible, but the 100 or so women killed tops pales in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of women who were murdered in the UK on account of being "witches."
Fleetwood is a seventeen years old, pregnant, and the wife of a lord. Theirs was a marriage of convenience (she has the money), and he basically treats her like chattel, condescending to her and talking to her the way one would a child or misbehaving dog. So she's understandably shocked and outraged when she finds a hidden message from a physician advising against pregnancy as the next will be her last. Especially since he doesn't seem concerned about her health at all, despite 2 miscarriages.
Wanting to live, and wanting their child to live, Fleetwood enlists the help of a mysterious woman she finds gathering herbs on their property one day. This woman is Alice, a midwife and wise woman, who has gained her knowledge from the maternal line. Alice's knowledge of herbal remedies actually ends up helping Fleetwood and she finds herself feeling better than she has in months. All of that changes, however, when a friend of her husband, Roger, starts arresting and imprisoning women to await trial for execution. He's heard about King James's penchant for witch-hunting, and figures the murder of the innocent will be a fine feather in his cap when it comes to his own ambitions.
THE FAMILIARS is a very frustrating book because on the one hand, it doesn't fail to highlight how little respect women had back in the day, and how showing any sort of knowledge or ambition as a woman could quickly lead to suspicion and fear. On the other hand, it's a really great story of women bonding together and using what limited power they had to accomplish great things-- sometimes at the expense of the status quo. The writing style and message kind of reminded me of Margaret Atwood, so I think if you're a fan of Atwood and pro-feminist historical fiction, you'll enjoy this book.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars
January 9, 2019
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
The Year 1612, Pendle, Lancashire. Seventeen-Year-Old Fleetwood Shuttleworth has been married for four years and in that time she has been pregnant three times too, losing each child before their birth dates. Fleetwood is once again pregnant and hoping to make it to full term with her child so she can give her husband an heir to carry on the Shuttleworth name. Unfortunately, she comes across a letter from the local physician which was written after she lost her third child which states that if she would be to fall pregnant again it is unlikely that she will survive.
Fleetwood is distressed by the letter and wants to confront her husband about it but doesn’t know how. She decides to go a different route and hire a local woman to be her midwife, a woman that knows all about potions and herbs and promises to deliver a healthy baby – Alice Grey.
There is talk amongst the local people of witches in the area and her new midwife is soon finding her name bought into the accusations of witchcraft. Fleetwood is sure Alice is innocent and with the trial looming close and if found guilty Alice will be hung, Fleetwood will do anything to save her new friend, even going against her husband for the young woman.
The Familiars is a historical novel set in the era when people who were a little different were accused of being witches and killed, not only in the UK but across the world too. One of the most famous and best-recorded witch trials in the UK was in Pendle, Lancashire, now dubbed the home of the ‘Pendle Witches’, where twelve people went on trial and ten found guilty.
Ms. Halls has weaved her superior tale around the events from 1612 and brought into her fictional novel some famous names from the trials, including Alizon Device and Alice Grey. The Shuttleworth family are also a well-known real family from the area too.
Fleetwood although only seventeen has been through some hard times. Not only is it illegal to get married at the age she did these days, but you just couldn’t comprehend a young girl of seventeen having been married for four years and not only being pregnant four times but losing three of her children before birth too. I found her character although a little weak minded at times, yet she was intriguing and I enjoyed watching her evolve as the plot progressed.
Whilst the book is set during the Pendle Witch trials, for my liking, there wasn’t enough about them in the book, mainly because I love a good book featuring witches and this is what made me choose to read the story in the first place. What information there is, is historically accurate and you can tell that the author has a keen interest in the past and has done lots of research.
Overall the book left me satisfied and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It left me feeling enthralled with parts and spellbound by others. The pace felt a little slow to at times but in my personal opinion slowness works in historical fiction as it allows you to really grasp the past and understand it. The pace does pick up as you near the end.
This is a book that I feel is going to be a bit like Marmite in that if you have an interest in historical fiction or indeed the witch trials or Pendle, you will love it. If you have no interest in these subject then I can’t see it being of interest to you.
The Year 1612, Pendle, Lancashire. Seventeen-Year-Old Fleetwood Shuttleworth has been married for four years and in that time she has been pregnant three times too, losing each child before their birth dates. Fleetwood is once again pregnant and hoping to make it to full term with her child so she can give her husband an heir to carry on the Shuttleworth name. Unfortunately, she comes across a letter from the local physician which was written after she lost her third child which states that if she would be to fall pregnant again it is unlikely that she will survive.
Fleetwood is distressed by the letter and wants to confront her husband about it but doesn’t know how. She decides to go a different route and hire a local woman to be her midwife, a woman that knows all about potions and herbs and promises to deliver a healthy baby – Alice Grey.
There is talk amongst the local people of witches in the area and her new midwife is soon finding her name bought into the accusations of witchcraft. Fleetwood is sure Alice is innocent and with the trial looming close and if found guilty Alice will be hung, Fleetwood will do anything to save her new friend, even going against her husband for the young woman.
The Familiars is a historical novel set in the era when people who were a little different were accused of being witches and killed, not only in the UK but across the world too. One of the most famous and best-recorded witch trials in the UK was in Pendle, Lancashire, now dubbed the home of the ‘Pendle Witches’, where twelve people went on trial and ten found guilty.
Ms. Halls has weaved her superior tale around the events from 1612 and brought into her fictional novel some famous names from the trials, including Alizon Device and Alice Grey. The Shuttleworth family are also a well-known real family from the area too.
Fleetwood although only seventeen has been through some hard times. Not only is it illegal to get married at the age she did these days, but you just couldn’t comprehend a young girl of seventeen having been married for four years and not only being pregnant four times but losing three of her children before birth too. I found her character although a little weak minded at times, yet she was intriguing and I enjoyed watching her evolve as the plot progressed.
Whilst the book is set during the Pendle Witch trials, for my liking, there wasn’t enough about them in the book, mainly because I love a good book featuring witches and this is what made me choose to read the story in the first place. What information there is, is historically accurate and you can tell that the author has a keen interest in the past and has done lots of research.
Overall the book left me satisfied and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It left me feeling enthralled with parts and spellbound by others. The pace felt a little slow to at times but in my personal opinion slowness works in historical fiction as it allows you to really grasp the past and understand it. The pace does pick up as you near the end.
This is a book that I feel is going to be a bit like Marmite in that if you have an interest in historical fiction or indeed the witch trials or Pendle, you will love it. If you have no interest in these subject then I can’t see it being of interest to you.
April 6, 2019
I so enjoy when an author can take piece of history, the unknown about a real person in history, and weave a story around those events. In the book The Familiars, Stacey Halls has done just that.
In seventeenth century England, things and happenings not understood were often attributed to the realm of witches. It was a time with an eerie fascination with the people thought to be witches and this thinking led to many executions of those tried and convicted. Even King James of that time had a certain fascination with witchcraft. The Pendle witch trials held at Lancaster, were one of many trials held. Twelve people were accused, one died while in Lancaster prison, while eleven went to trial. Ten were found guilty and executed by hanging and one was found not guilty.
Using this time as a backdrop in this story, we meet Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, who is ever so anxious to have a child. Fleetwwood has lost babies before and as her husband, Richard, grows ever more anxious for an heir, Fleetwood fears another lost child. Fleetwood meets the strange and elusive Alice Grey, a midwife, who vows to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy child. However, in the turmoil of the witchcraft times, Alice is accused of being a witch.
Alice and Fleetwood form a friendship, one vowing to help the other and as Fleetwood battles for Alice, Alice is determined to give Fleewood her desire. In this story we see the times of the seventeenth century. Women were chattel, considered owned by the men of the times. Their purpose was to provide pleasure, and in the case of the nobles, it was to provide a male heir. Witches were mostly women, so the conclusion that can often be drawn was that these times were actually not witch hunting, but the hunting of women. These women were poor, they couldn't read, and oftentimes, because they offered help to the sick who happened to get better, they were considered witches. Will Fleetwood be able to save Alice and will she ultimately be able to deliver a child she so desperately wants and needs?
I so enjoyed this story. It was my second time listening to an audiobook. As I investigated this time further, I found that both Fleetwood Shuttleworth and Alice Grey were real people who lived at this time. This was a fascinating story portrayed so well and made one ever so aware of the way in which women were treated and thought of in times of long ago. It was a terrific blend of fact and fiction which made for a wonderfully informative and well researched story. Definitely recommend this one to those who love a well constructed historical fiction story.
In seventeenth century England, things and happenings not understood were often attributed to the realm of witches. It was a time with an eerie fascination with the people thought to be witches and this thinking led to many executions of those tried and convicted. Even King James of that time had a certain fascination with witchcraft. The Pendle witch trials held at Lancaster, were one of many trials held. Twelve people were accused, one died while in Lancaster prison, while eleven went to trial. Ten were found guilty and executed by hanging and one was found not guilty.
Using this time as a backdrop in this story, we meet Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, who is ever so anxious to have a child. Fleetwwood has lost babies before and as her husband, Richard, grows ever more anxious for an heir, Fleetwood fears another lost child. Fleetwood meets the strange and elusive Alice Grey, a midwife, who vows to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy child. However, in the turmoil of the witchcraft times, Alice is accused of being a witch.
Alice and Fleetwood form a friendship, one vowing to help the other and as Fleetwood battles for Alice, Alice is determined to give Fleewood her desire. In this story we see the times of the seventeenth century. Women were chattel, considered owned by the men of the times. Their purpose was to provide pleasure, and in the case of the nobles, it was to provide a male heir. Witches were mostly women, so the conclusion that can often be drawn was that these times were actually not witch hunting, but the hunting of women. These women were poor, they couldn't read, and oftentimes, because they offered help to the sick who happened to get better, they were considered witches. Will Fleetwood be able to save Alice and will she ultimately be able to deliver a child she so desperately wants and needs?
I so enjoyed this story. It was my second time listening to an audiobook. As I investigated this time further, I found that both Fleetwood Shuttleworth and Alice Grey were real people who lived at this time. This was a fascinating story portrayed so well and made one ever so aware of the way in which women were treated and thought of in times of long ago. It was a terrific blend of fact and fiction which made for a wonderfully informative and well researched story. Definitely recommend this one to those who love a well constructed historical fiction story.
Read
December 24, 2019It started well and exciting, but didn't follow through with a solid story and plot. So, it's not for me.
April 15, 2019
What a fascinating time period for this intriguing historical fiction tale. Rife with political and theological goings on, 1612 was a hotbed of science and superstition. Work on the translation of The King James Bible began in 1604 and was completed by 1611. Not to mention a treatise, ‘Daemonologie,’ published in 1597, on the study of demonology and uses of witchcraft and magic, authored by King James himself. His stature gave added authority to attempts to weed out witches and sorcerers and he would become known as a most notorious witch hunter.
In ‘The Familiars’ by Stacey Halls, our main character, Fleetwood, who was a young child bride, has by the age of seventeen had three miscarriages. Married to Richard Shuttleworth, who has an earring and a plush closet, she’s still deeply in love after four years of marriage. But, if she cannot bear his heir, then as a woman, what does she bring to this coupling? That’s the idea of the times. Women are mere possessions to be handed from father to husband along with any properties attached. Fleetwood does not think she’s very pretty, but it seems there is quite a bit of property that goes to Richard, a financial boon perhaps?
Fleetwood is pregnant again, has persistent vomiting, her hair is falling out, and her skin is pale. A frequent horseback rider, even on her worst days, she manages to stumble across a woodsy girl (Alice) in the forest, a girl familiar with herbs and their uses. When Fleetwood finds out that Alice has midwifery experience from being with her mother at deliveries, Fleetwood asks Alice to be her midwife. Fleetwood would do just about anything to carry this pregnancy to term with a live baby to show for it. A neighbor, an older friend, Roger, who is the local magistrate, albeit on the verge of retiring, is very invested in looking good to King James, and looking good to King James means being on the lookout for witches and weeding them out of your community. A calamity in the community involving a man who’s stricken with what sounds like the symptoms of a stroke, droopy face and an inability to talk, has been cursed. A young woman admits to cursing him and her ten-year-old sister is standing witness against the entire family for witchcraft, and with that, there is a domino effect. The animals in their lives, their familiars, are thought to do their bidding. Fleetwood, herself, has a giant French mastiff, Puck, that she takes everywhere. Fear leads to more fear.
Stacey Halls pacing is stellar, with pages flowing masterfully into a river of beautiful storytelling. Fleetwood’s first-person POV pulled me right in. Isolated and alone at Gawthorpe, the family home, her anxieties about the pregnancy are palpable. She has nightmares. High emotions, the life of an unborn child and others at risk, the uneasiness of not knowing who can be trusted, give the reader a heightening gothic element. A young woman with high hopes for a good life, her gender would become an obstacle if she allowed it. Richard has a secret that will cast everything in doubt. Fleetwood’s innocence may be collateral damage. The vulnerability of women is a prominent theme. This is Stacey Halls debut novel. For me, it does not have the lyrical prose that I love, but Hall’s prose suits the novel and her young main character. I felt like I was in the hands of a capable and experienced author.
In ‘The Familiars’ by Stacey Halls, our main character, Fleetwood, who was a young child bride, has by the age of seventeen had three miscarriages. Married to Richard Shuttleworth, who has an earring and a plush closet, she’s still deeply in love after four years of marriage. But, if she cannot bear his heir, then as a woman, what does she bring to this coupling? That’s the idea of the times. Women are mere possessions to be handed from father to husband along with any properties attached. Fleetwood does not think she’s very pretty, but it seems there is quite a bit of property that goes to Richard, a financial boon perhaps?
Fleetwood is pregnant again, has persistent vomiting, her hair is falling out, and her skin is pale. A frequent horseback rider, even on her worst days, she manages to stumble across a woodsy girl (Alice) in the forest, a girl familiar with herbs and their uses. When Fleetwood finds out that Alice has midwifery experience from being with her mother at deliveries, Fleetwood asks Alice to be her midwife. Fleetwood would do just about anything to carry this pregnancy to term with a live baby to show for it. A neighbor, an older friend, Roger, who is the local magistrate, albeit on the verge of retiring, is very invested in looking good to King James, and looking good to King James means being on the lookout for witches and weeding them out of your community. A calamity in the community involving a man who’s stricken with what sounds like the symptoms of a stroke, droopy face and an inability to talk, has been cursed. A young woman admits to cursing him and her ten-year-old sister is standing witness against the entire family for witchcraft, and with that, there is a domino effect. The animals in their lives, their familiars, are thought to do their bidding. Fleetwood, herself, has a giant French mastiff, Puck, that she takes everywhere. Fear leads to more fear.
Stacey Halls pacing is stellar, with pages flowing masterfully into a river of beautiful storytelling. Fleetwood’s first-person POV pulled me right in. Isolated and alone at Gawthorpe, the family home, her anxieties about the pregnancy are palpable. She has nightmares. High emotions, the life of an unborn child and others at risk, the uneasiness of not knowing who can be trusted, give the reader a heightening gothic element. A young woman with high hopes for a good life, her gender would become an obstacle if she allowed it. Richard has a secret that will cast everything in doubt. Fleetwood’s innocence may be collateral damage. The vulnerability of women is a prominent theme. This is Stacey Halls debut novel. For me, it does not have the lyrical prose that I love, but Hall’s prose suits the novel and her young main character. I felt like I was in the hands of a capable and experienced author.
September 29, 2019
5☆ Spellbinding, Superbly Written, It Pulled Me In, A Book that Will Stay with Me for a very long time!
There is only one word to really sum up THE FAMILIARS..... and that is..... Spellbinding!
Fleetwood has tried so very hard to have a child but nature has been cruel and she has never carried a baby to full term.
Well that is until now.
Fleetwood is pregnant again and is determined that this time round she will do everything she can to protect her baby.
She discovers a letter sent to her husband Richard telling him that his wife is not to conceive any more children or she will die during childbirth, she is simply devastated and doesn't know what to do.
So when Fleetwood meets Alice in the woods one day, she is convinced she can help Fleetwood deliver the baby and keep her alive, so she asks Alice for help.
But this partnership isn't going to be easy, when Alice is accused of practising Witch Craft.
But can Fleetwood keep Alice and her baby safe, and give her husband Richard the baby he so desperately wants!
THE FAMILIARS is such a Powerful, Heart Breaking and Enthralling read, it Pulled me in and Got Under My Skin!
It's a book that I will remember for a very long time!
I simply adored all the Witch references and the eerie yet heart breaking storyline, was Compelling yet Poignant.
It also has a Gothic feel to it which only added to the spellbinding essence.
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel it's superbly written, with Strong Female Lead Characters that were perfectly written and enchanting.
If you enjoy Historical Fiction with an eerie gothic feel, that has a captivating and powerful plot, then you will adore THE FAMILIARS.
I can't recommend reading this Gorgeous Book Enough!
Stacey Halls is definitely going on my to watch out for list!
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours and Zaffre Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
There is only one word to really sum up THE FAMILIARS..... and that is..... Spellbinding!
Fleetwood has tried so very hard to have a child but nature has been cruel and she has never carried a baby to full term.
Well that is until now.
Fleetwood is pregnant again and is determined that this time round she will do everything she can to protect her baby.
She discovers a letter sent to her husband Richard telling him that his wife is not to conceive any more children or she will die during childbirth, she is simply devastated and doesn't know what to do.
So when Fleetwood meets Alice in the woods one day, she is convinced she can help Fleetwood deliver the baby and keep her alive, so she asks Alice for help.
But this partnership isn't going to be easy, when Alice is accused of practising Witch Craft.
But can Fleetwood keep Alice and her baby safe, and give her husband Richard the baby he so desperately wants!
THE FAMILIARS is such a Powerful, Heart Breaking and Enthralling read, it Pulled me in and Got Under My Skin!
It's a book that I will remember for a very long time!
I simply adored all the Witch references and the eerie yet heart breaking storyline, was Compelling yet Poignant.
It also has a Gothic feel to it which only added to the spellbinding essence.
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel it's superbly written, with Strong Female Lead Characters that were perfectly written and enchanting.
If you enjoy Historical Fiction with an eerie gothic feel, that has a captivating and powerful plot, then you will adore THE FAMILIARS.
I can't recommend reading this Gorgeous Book Enough!
Stacey Halls is definitely going on my to watch out for list!
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours and Zaffre Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
April 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book, it’s very readable and I liked the characters (isn’t Fleetwood a fab girls name!!) but not enough of the story was actually on the witch trails for my liking. Which would have been fine but don’t advertise it as a book ‘based on the Pendle witch trials’ and then not really include the trails in the story much?! Wasted opportunity if you ask me. But I still enjoyed it and it was well written with a good ending.
December 22, 2021
Based on the Pendle Hill witch trials in England in the 1600s, The Familiars, does a great job of explaining and describing what happened. It uses some fictional characters, along with the real women who were persecuted and hanged and the ones who did the persecuting.
The man behind the arrests was a supposed man of law who was really just interested in gaining favor with the king and attaining money and power for himself. Little is known about the women. They were very poor and powerless and some of them believed that they actually were witches. They confessed and then named other witches, usually women similar to themselves. It was a hideous circle of hate.
The man behind the arrests was a supposed man of law who was really just interested in gaining favor with the king and attaining money and power for himself. Little is known about the women. They were very poor and powerless and some of them believed that they actually were witches. They confessed and then named other witches, usually women similar to themselves. It was a hideous circle of hate.
March 8, 2020
I love the cover of this book, it's beautiful. It was fun to study the various elements of it before I started reading, and then smile as their relevance became clear.
I enjoyed this just as much as I'd been hoping I would. Fleetwood was a character I liked immediately, and Alice was a fascinating figure. I wasn't sure going in if this was about witches or not, as in literal magic. I'd say it's really more about the perception of witchcraft and how easy it was to accuse people, especially women, of practicing it. The thought of people being condemned to death over rumour is a difficult one.
I had mixed feelings about Fleetwood's husband -- in some ways he was a good man, but I hated him for most of the book. Keeping his pregnant mistress in his wife's childhood home is despicable, even if she held no fond memories of it. Fleetwood's forgiveness of his actions and her willingness to turn a blind eye to his other life and family was difficult to read, but felt realistic, especially for the time period (1612). I spent a good portion of the book horrified that he would deliberately get his wife pregnant, knowing it would kill her, so finding out that this wasn't the case did go some way to dissolving my dislike of him.
It was interesting to observe the incredibly privileged life that Fleetwood lived, especially in comparison to Alice, but for all that privilege she was still a woman, no real rights, almost a kind of ornament to decorate their home, Gawthorpe Hall. She is pregnant for the fourth time, and if she doesn't manage to provide a living child she is essentially useless. I had a great deal of sympathy for her. I don't think I've ever been so invested in a pregnancy before, real or fictional.
Embarrassingly, I got very light-headed when Alice decided to bleed Fleetwood, and had to actively slow my breathing down as I felt quite faint. Stacey Halls described it so vividly I felt like it was happening to me, so job well done, but it was a tough few pages!
I liked how we didn't get a clean resolution on everything. Much of Alice remains a mystery. We know what Fleetwood knows, nothing more. What happened to the blood for example? What was the situation with the dead rabbits at the beginning? Did Alice kill them? If not, who or what did? The fox?We never find out for sure, and there is something oddly pleasing about that.
One of my favourite books of the year so far. I look forward to reading her next book, 'The Foundling' (published as 'The Lost Orphan' in the US) soon.
I enjoyed this just as much as I'd been hoping I would. Fleetwood was a character I liked immediately, and Alice was a fascinating figure. I wasn't sure going in if this was about witches or not, as in literal magic. I'd say it's really more about the perception of witchcraft and how easy it was to accuse people, especially women, of practicing it. The thought of people being condemned to death over rumour is a difficult one.
I had mixed feelings about Fleetwood's husband -- in some ways he was a good man, but I hated him for most of the book. Keeping his pregnant mistress in his wife's childhood home is despicable, even if she held no fond memories of it. Fleetwood's forgiveness of his actions and her willingness to turn a blind eye to his other life and family was difficult to read, but felt realistic, especially for the time period (1612). I spent a good portion of the book horrified that he would deliberately get his wife pregnant, knowing it would kill her, so finding out that this wasn't the case did go some way to dissolving my dislike of him.
It was interesting to observe the incredibly privileged life that Fleetwood lived, especially in comparison to Alice, but for all that privilege she was still a woman, no real rights, almost a kind of ornament to decorate their home, Gawthorpe Hall. She is pregnant for the fourth time, and if she doesn't manage to provide a living child she is essentially useless. I had a great deal of sympathy for her. I don't think I've ever been so invested in a pregnancy before, real or fictional.
Embarrassingly, I got very light-headed when Alice decided to bleed Fleetwood, and had to actively slow my breathing down as I felt quite faint. Stacey Halls described it so vividly I felt like it was happening to me, so job well done, but it was a tough few pages!
I liked how we didn't get a clean resolution on everything. Much of Alice remains a mystery. We know what Fleetwood knows, nothing more. What happened to the blood for example? What was the situation with the dead rabbits at the beginning? Did Alice kill them? If not, who or what did? The fox?We never find out for sure, and there is something oddly pleasing about that.
One of my favourite books of the year so far. I look forward to reading her next book, 'The Foundling' (published as 'The Lost Orphan' in the US) soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2019
This book is a perfect example why people should have an extensive knowledge about historical period they are writing about. Otherwise you will read about ladies in XVII century being surprised by the fact that a peasant cannot write, peasants forgetting themselves and yelling at the noble ladies, expectant mothers thinking about how they will gain a lifelong friend when their child is born (and forgetting about infant mortality rate), not going into the confinement 6 weeks before due date but riding a horse till the last moment, husband storming in to hold wife's hand during labor etc. You could easily see that author did not spent too much time on a research.
But lets forget about the historical accuracy. Outside of that we are getting a really dull history about annoying, socially awkward teenager that cannot find her place in life. After several miscarriages she is pregnant again and determined to deliver this baby. Reasonable person would hire an acclaimed midwife and spend time trying not to do anything that will induce a miscarriage but we are inside the story so we don't have to be reasonable. Let's hire a random girl that we met in the woods and then let's force the moody, pregnant teenager to develop this weird dependency and, why not, let's call it a friendship. I was rushing through this book because I simply could not stand that everything there was paper thin - characters, background, story line. From time to time characters will suddenly start declaiming turgid words that were looking like saucy one-liners at the end of the scene in some movies.
Save yourself from the bad literature! Run away!
But lets forget about the historical accuracy. Outside of that we are getting a really dull history about annoying, socially awkward teenager that cannot find her place in life. After several miscarriages she is pregnant again and determined to deliver this baby. Reasonable person would hire an acclaimed midwife and spend time trying not to do anything that will induce a miscarriage but we are inside the story so we don't have to be reasonable. Let's hire a random girl that we met in the woods and then let's force the moody, pregnant teenager to develop this weird dependency and, why not, let's call it a friendship. I was rushing through this book because I simply could not stand that everything there was paper thin - characters, background, story line. From time to time characters will suddenly start declaiming turgid words that were looking like saucy one-liners at the end of the scene in some movies.
Save yourself from the bad literature! Run away!
November 7, 2019
A highly charged provocative that centres around the daily challenges faced by women in the 17th century, this gripping historical fiction felt so real as Halls explores what life was like for these real life characters during the backdrop of the Pendle Witch Trials.
The fact that this novel was originally published soon after Doctor Who explored this time period last series seems like a happy coincidence, but this was the main reason why I wanted to read this debut novel.
The story focuses on 17 year old Fleetwood Shuttleworth who is desperate to give her anxious husband Richard an heir to Gwathorpe Hall.
Having already had three set backs, she’s determined to see this pregnancy succeed. When chance meeting with young midwife Alice Gray seems like perfect timing, that is until Alice is accused of witchcraft...
There’s a real evocative feel for the time period as both women from different backgrounds are expected to serve a certain type of role.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was seeing how Fleetwood felt throughout the pregnancy.
There’s a real sense of race against time to try and clear Alices name whilst the baby continually grows and kicks inside her.
With various mentions to King James and religious connotations of the time, this captivating novel helps explores more of Britain’s past misgivings.
The fact that this novel was originally published soon after Doctor Who explored this time period last series seems like a happy coincidence, but this was the main reason why I wanted to read this debut novel.
The story focuses on 17 year old Fleetwood Shuttleworth who is desperate to give her anxious husband Richard an heir to Gwathorpe Hall.
Having already had three set backs, she’s determined to see this pregnancy succeed. When chance meeting with young midwife Alice Gray seems like perfect timing, that is until Alice is accused of witchcraft...
There’s a real evocative feel for the time period as both women from different backgrounds are expected to serve a certain type of role.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was seeing how Fleetwood felt throughout the pregnancy.
There’s a real sense of race against time to try and clear Alices name whilst the baby continually grows and kicks inside her.
With various mentions to King James and religious connotations of the time, this captivating novel helps explores more of Britain’s past misgivings.
January 7, 2021
Set in Lancashire, 1612 at the time of the Pendle Witch Trials.
Fleetwood is seventeen and mistress of Gawthorpe Hall. She has been unable to carry a child to full term so when she meets Alice Grey, a young midwife, she begs her to help her have a healthy baby. Alice promises to help and this is the start of an unlikely friendship.
The fervour of witch hunting was sweeping across this corner of England and when Alice is accused, Fleetwood makes desperate attempts to save her.
In an era when women were randomly accused of being witches without any proof, it’s a terrifying period of history. It also adds weight to the book, that the Pendle Witch Trial actually took place!
I’ve read that redheads especially were linked with the devil and satanic practices.....so because of this, red hair was a definite a sign of witchcraft ....... as a redhead, so glad I was born in modern times (although my husband thinks there is something in it !!) 😂.
Very enjoyable, well written novel. A definite for historical fiction lovers.
Fleetwood is seventeen and mistress of Gawthorpe Hall. She has been unable to carry a child to full term so when she meets Alice Grey, a young midwife, she begs her to help her have a healthy baby. Alice promises to help and this is the start of an unlikely friendship.
The fervour of witch hunting was sweeping across this corner of England and when Alice is accused, Fleetwood makes desperate attempts to save her.
In an era when women were randomly accused of being witches without any proof, it’s a terrifying period of history. It also adds weight to the book, that the Pendle Witch Trial actually took place!
I’ve read that redheads especially were linked with the devil and satanic practices.....so because of this, red hair was a definite a sign of witchcraft ....... as a redhead, so glad I was born in modern times (although my husband thinks there is something in it !!) 😂.
Very enjoyable, well written novel. A definite for historical fiction lovers.
October 17, 2020
This is a historical novel, set in 1612, the year of the Pendle Witch trials and the trials are the backdrop to the novel. It is also a debut novel and Halls was brought up in the area. She weaves the novel around historical figures and centres it on nearby Gawthorpe Hall. The main protagonist is Fleetwood Shuttleworth, seventeen years old and mistress of Gawthorpe Hall. She is pregnant and desperate to keep the child as she has recently had two miscarriages. The other main actors are her husband Richard, his friend Roger Nowell, a magistrate and Alice Grey, a local woman who acts as Fleetwood’s midwife/wise woman. It is a first person narrative, which can be limiting at times in terms of what else is happening in the local area. Halls does build a sense of dread though with a recurring dream and some clues found by Fleetwood that indicate that her husband may be planning for her demise.
One aspect of the novel is the role of animals. The Pendle witch trials were noteworthy for the descriptions of the use of animals. Victoria Carr has done some work on this and sums up the background well:
“The animal familiars of the Pendle witches feature throughout Thomas Potts’s 1613 pamphlet The wonderfull discoverie of witches in the countie of Lancaster, where we can read reproductions of the examinations taken during these trials. These accounts tell us about the furred imps of the accused witches: Alice Whittle alias Chattox’s dog familiar, named Tibbe; Elizabeth Device’s dog, Ball; James Device’s dog, Dandy; Jennet Preston’s unnamed foal; and the unnamed dog of Alizon Device. These familiars were said to have helped the accused witches harm and even kill their enemies, in exchange for which the witches were told to give their soul to the devil and turn against Christ. Part of what made these creatures so fearsome were their unnatural abilities to cause harm paired with an innocuous appearance that allowed them to extend the witch’s harm beyond her own physical reach.”
The animals in this novel play significant roles, especially Puck, Fleetwood’s dog and their presence adds another layer. The novel also focuses on the role of female friendships (the men being singularly unreliable or untrustworthy). The character development in relation to Fleetwood is quite significant and does stretch belief a little, But Halls does build tension when Alice is arrested for witchcraft;
‘Even in life I had been the little ghost, and now I was consigned to death. I held my stomach, and imagined disappearing. It would come soon, no doubt, but it would not be gentle, like the light leaving the sky. It would be painful, and terrifying, and lonely, with no cool hand on my head, no amber eyes willing me calm. There would be a trial, and Alice would die, then I would die, both of us killed in an outbreak of misfortune.’
The book is very readable and the story moves along at a good pace. We see little of the actual trials as the focus is on Fleetwood and her particular issues. There is a distinct gothic edge and perhaps shades of Du Maurier’s Rebecca. There are flaws, but it is an undemanding read and good for the darkening evenings.
One aspect of the novel is the role of animals. The Pendle witch trials were noteworthy for the descriptions of the use of animals. Victoria Carr has done some work on this and sums up the background well:
“The animal familiars of the Pendle witches feature throughout Thomas Potts’s 1613 pamphlet The wonderfull discoverie of witches in the countie of Lancaster, where we can read reproductions of the examinations taken during these trials. These accounts tell us about the furred imps of the accused witches: Alice Whittle alias Chattox’s dog familiar, named Tibbe; Elizabeth Device’s dog, Ball; James Device’s dog, Dandy; Jennet Preston’s unnamed foal; and the unnamed dog of Alizon Device. These familiars were said to have helped the accused witches harm and even kill their enemies, in exchange for which the witches were told to give their soul to the devil and turn against Christ. Part of what made these creatures so fearsome were their unnatural abilities to cause harm paired with an innocuous appearance that allowed them to extend the witch’s harm beyond her own physical reach.”
The animals in this novel play significant roles, especially Puck, Fleetwood’s dog and their presence adds another layer. The novel also focuses on the role of female friendships (the men being singularly unreliable or untrustworthy). The character development in relation to Fleetwood is quite significant and does stretch belief a little, But Halls does build tension when Alice is arrested for witchcraft;
‘Even in life I had been the little ghost, and now I was consigned to death. I held my stomach, and imagined disappearing. It would come soon, no doubt, but it would not be gentle, like the light leaving the sky. It would be painful, and terrifying, and lonely, with no cool hand on my head, no amber eyes willing me calm. There would be a trial, and Alice would die, then I would die, both of us killed in an outbreak of misfortune.’
The book is very readable and the story moves along at a good pace. We see little of the actual trials as the focus is on Fleetwood and her particular issues. There is a distinct gothic edge and perhaps shades of Du Maurier’s Rebecca. There are flaws, but it is an undemanding read and good for the darkening evenings.
May 2, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
The Familiars is a historical re-imagining of the famous events surrounding the Pendle Witch Trials, which took place in 1612, under the reign of King James I. Delicately embroidered within this historical recreation, is the story of a friendship between two women from contrasting backgrounds, in an age where women were simply seen as child rearing commodities. With touches of magic, a dash of mystery and an enigmatic lead, The Familiars will lure you in from the start to finish.
When I first set eyes on the cover of The Familiars, I have to say it was love at first book sight! This is a stunning cover piece, the little motifs that adorn the front all signify an important aspect of The Familiars. From the greenery, winding forest plants, a necklace, a fox, a scroll and a woman’s silhouette, these little images symbolise key events of the novel.
Stacey Halls is a skilled writer. I was immediately struck by her writing style, which was refined and assured. The Familiars features prose that is full of imagery and poetic realism, but at the same time, it flows just beautifully. I seemed to hurtle my way through this novel, I couldn’t stop it reading for the most part of a day. Once I started, I found it hard to put down. I just had to know if the main protagonist Fleetwood would both survive her pregnancy and give birth to the much awaited heir successfully. I also desperately wanted to know if Alice survived the Pendle Witch Trials.
I consider myself a little versed in the area of witchcraft. During my university studies I chose the elective ‘Turning Points in History’ which directed me to a series of historically important witch trials from the past. I have not come across the Pendle Witch Trials before The Familiars. Like the author of this book, I am completely fascinated by this event in history, along with the historical context in which this book is set. Anything revolving around King James I and this period in British history is utterly captivating. Stacey Halls is a dedicated historian, who I believe has done a fine job of transferring her research to the pages of a historical fiction based novel. Taking a few historical liberties here and there to flesh out her novel works well, leaving the reader enthralled by the story at hand.
Throughout The Familiars we walk in the footsteps of Fleetwood, the prime narrator of this novel. Fleetwood is equal parts complex, agreeable, ahead of her time and quite ingenious, as well as scheming. She is also loyal and her touching friendship with Alice is what really makes this book special. Fleetwood’s story actually made me feel very sad for her and many others of her standing that were placed in a similar bind. We learn as the book eventuates that Fleetwood was actually married off at the tender age of four, but she was never able to perform her duty as a wife to her first husband. Fleetwood was then betrothed at just thirteen, a child herself, and expected to produce an heir. Although her world is one of privilege, ultimately Fleetwood’s fate is pre-determined. Halls provides her readership with an outstanding picture of the world inhabited by women of this time period.
The characterisation is simply excellent. From the two female leads, the strong male influences in the book, such as Fleetwood’s husband Richard, scheming Roger, Fleetwood’s mother and of course, Puck – Fleetwood’s loyal canine companion. The Familiars is a book that has so many good aspects, congealing together to form one cohesive bond. There was a gentle hint at magic, but it is so subtle that you barely realise its placement in the novel. Most of all, I enjoyed the tense and swirling atmosphere that pervades the entire length of the novel, it was quite astounding.
A novel that is enticing, historically fascinating, inspiring and is marked by a brooding atmosphere, The Familiars is a stunning debut by an author I will be watching closely.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
4.5 stars
The Familiars is a historical re-imagining of the famous events surrounding the Pendle Witch Trials, which took place in 1612, under the reign of King James I. Delicately embroidered within this historical recreation, is the story of a friendship between two women from contrasting backgrounds, in an age where women were simply seen as child rearing commodities. With touches of magic, a dash of mystery and an enigmatic lead, The Familiars will lure you in from the start to finish.
When I first set eyes on the cover of The Familiars, I have to say it was love at first book sight! This is a stunning cover piece, the little motifs that adorn the front all signify an important aspect of The Familiars. From the greenery, winding forest plants, a necklace, a fox, a scroll and a woman’s silhouette, these little images symbolise key events of the novel.
Stacey Halls is a skilled writer. I was immediately struck by her writing style, which was refined and assured. The Familiars features prose that is full of imagery and poetic realism, but at the same time, it flows just beautifully. I seemed to hurtle my way through this novel, I couldn’t stop it reading for the most part of a day. Once I started, I found it hard to put down. I just had to know if the main protagonist Fleetwood would both survive her pregnancy and give birth to the much awaited heir successfully. I also desperately wanted to know if Alice survived the Pendle Witch Trials.
I consider myself a little versed in the area of witchcraft. During my university studies I chose the elective ‘Turning Points in History’ which directed me to a series of historically important witch trials from the past. I have not come across the Pendle Witch Trials before The Familiars. Like the author of this book, I am completely fascinated by this event in history, along with the historical context in which this book is set. Anything revolving around King James I and this period in British history is utterly captivating. Stacey Halls is a dedicated historian, who I believe has done a fine job of transferring her research to the pages of a historical fiction based novel. Taking a few historical liberties here and there to flesh out her novel works well, leaving the reader enthralled by the story at hand.
Throughout The Familiars we walk in the footsteps of Fleetwood, the prime narrator of this novel. Fleetwood is equal parts complex, agreeable, ahead of her time and quite ingenious, as well as scheming. She is also loyal and her touching friendship with Alice is what really makes this book special. Fleetwood’s story actually made me feel very sad for her and many others of her standing that were placed in a similar bind. We learn as the book eventuates that Fleetwood was actually married off at the tender age of four, but she was never able to perform her duty as a wife to her first husband. Fleetwood was then betrothed at just thirteen, a child herself, and expected to produce an heir. Although her world is one of privilege, ultimately Fleetwood’s fate is pre-determined. Halls provides her readership with an outstanding picture of the world inhabited by women of this time period.
The characterisation is simply excellent. From the two female leads, the strong male influences in the book, such as Fleetwood’s husband Richard, scheming Roger, Fleetwood’s mother and of course, Puck – Fleetwood’s loyal canine companion. The Familiars is a book that has so many good aspects, congealing together to form one cohesive bond. There was a gentle hint at magic, but it is so subtle that you barely realise its placement in the novel. Most of all, I enjoyed the tense and swirling atmosphere that pervades the entire length of the novel, it was quite astounding.
A novel that is enticing, historically fascinating, inspiring and is marked by a brooding atmosphere, The Familiars is a stunning debut by an author I will be watching closely.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
February 7, 2019
"The Familiars" written by Stacey Halls is a story based on a true historical timeline and real life people, namely Fleetwood Shuttleworth born in 1595, who was a woman of gentry and mistress at Gawthorpe Hall. It is a work of fiction based on the premise of the Pendle witch trial in Lancaster 1612 and sadly highlights the plight of women disproportionately targeted as part of witch hunts during the time period set.
I'm generally not drawn to the 1600's as a story setting but I do have to admit that the inclusion of witches and the infamous trial did spark my curiosity as I've always been intrigued by witchcraft. I did overall enjoy the story, if a little lightweight, and I would have possibly enjoyed reading some chapters from Alice's point of view as she stood accused but generally the slow pace and atmospheric setting did provide a feeling of being transported to the setting of the story. The ordeals and suspicions that fell upon women who were probably no more than 'wise women' who used nature to help cure ails and treat pregnant ladies was very sad to read and the author covered these tragic events professionally.
With a truly gorgeously printed hardback cover to the book, this is worth every penny to adorn any bookshelf and I would happily recommend, it is slow but engaging, well written which leaves you asking 'was she or wasn't she?' and I wish the author every success with this sure bestseller for 2019.
4 stars
I'm generally not drawn to the 1600's as a story setting but I do have to admit that the inclusion of witches and the infamous trial did spark my curiosity as I've always been intrigued by witchcraft. I did overall enjoy the story, if a little lightweight, and I would have possibly enjoyed reading some chapters from Alice's point of view as she stood accused but generally the slow pace and atmospheric setting did provide a feeling of being transported to the setting of the story. The ordeals and suspicions that fell upon women who were probably no more than 'wise women' who used nature to help cure ails and treat pregnant ladies was very sad to read and the author covered these tragic events professionally.
With a truly gorgeously printed hardback cover to the book, this is worth every penny to adorn any bookshelf and I would happily recommend, it is slow but engaging, well written which leaves you asking 'was she or wasn't she?' and I wish the author every success with this sure bestseller for 2019.
4 stars
November 14, 2020
This deliciously gorgeous historical fiction set and based around the witch trials in the North of England in the early 17th century was a nice surprise! Lady Fleetwood Shuttleworth (married at 14!) has already lost two kids when she decides to give midwife Alice Grey the job; the fast friends find themselves in huge trouble when Alice is accused of being a witch!
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A wonderful recreation of the terrible social structures in this time period that allowed men, to accuse women of being witches as cover for other intents and purposes. The lead protagonists is way ahead of her times with her non-conventional healthy horse riding and hunting lifestyle and it's these skills that she uses to fight for the first real cause in her life. 8 out of 12.
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A wonderful recreation of the terrible social structures in this time period that allowed men, to accuse women of being witches as cover for other intents and purposes. The lead protagonists is way ahead of her times with her non-conventional healthy horse riding and hunting lifestyle and it's these skills that she uses to fight for the first real cause in her life. 8 out of 12.
November 9, 2020
Set amidst the Lancashire witch trials of the early 17th century, this novel brings the complexities of that dark time in history to life through the story of a young woman, Fleetwood Shuttleworth, and her midwife, Alice Gray. The plot twists and turns, keeping you engaged and wondering what will happen next, but what I love most about this book is the way that the challenges that Fleetwood and Alice face are grounded in the historical details of the time, while also speaking to contemporary issues surrounding women, power, and the body.
August 26, 2021
❗LA CAZA DE BRUJAS A EMPEZADO, ¿QUÉ MUJER SE SALVARÁ DE LA HORCA?
❤️Como bien sabes, suelo escoger mis lecturas por la portada, pues prefiero adentrarme en terreno desconocido, sabiendo lo menos posible de la historia que tengo entre las manos. Y, en este caso, me alegro de que haya sido así. Más que nada porque fue empezar a leer y sumergirme de lleno en las costumbres de esa época, en qué se esperaba de las mujeres, en cómo vivían, cuál era su papel en el mundo... Y no nos olvidemos de los hombres, porque si la mujer tenía un papel claramente marcado en la sociedad, ellos también, y lo ejercitaban con todo su poder.
❤️Además, la autora ha sabido plasmar a la perfección la persecución real que hubo en aquella época contra las brujas, cómo empezó esa locura y todo lo que sucedió durante esos días, así como el miedo que había en la sociedad.
❤️Por esto te aconsejo que si tienes la oportunidad de leer esta maravillosa historia en una Lc lo hagas, pues hay partes del libro que tendrás la necesidad de comentar con alguien y, bueno, todas sabemos que lo que pasa cuando surge esta necesidad.
❤️Como bien sabes, suelo escoger mis lecturas por la portada, pues prefiero adentrarme en terreno desconocido, sabiendo lo menos posible de la historia que tengo entre las manos. Y, en este caso, me alegro de que haya sido así. Más que nada porque fue empezar a leer y sumergirme de lleno en las costumbres de esa época, en qué se esperaba de las mujeres, en cómo vivían, cuál era su papel en el mundo... Y no nos olvidemos de los hombres, porque si la mujer tenía un papel claramente marcado en la sociedad, ellos también, y lo ejercitaban con todo su poder.
❤️Además, la autora ha sabido plasmar a la perfección la persecución real que hubo en aquella época contra las brujas, cómo empezó esa locura y todo lo que sucedió durante esos días, así como el miedo que había en la sociedad.
❤️Por esto te aconsejo que si tienes la oportunidad de leer esta maravillosa historia en una Lc lo hagas, pues hay partes del libro que tendrás la necesidad de comentar con alguien y, bueno, todas sabemos que lo que pasa cuando surge esta necesidad.
September 28, 2019
Solid historical fiction for readers of Jane Harris and especially Martine Bailey. The language – especially the dialogue, even when trying to be relatable and/or coy – didn’t always strike me as right for the time period (e.g. “Hot and bothered, I went downstairs” and “They burn witches, don’t they?”). In any case, it’s a more accessible take on the Pendle witches history than Jeanette Winterson’s The Daylight Gate, with the added interest of a look at a young woman’s real life – four pregnancies by age 17 – in the seventeenth century.
(Full disclosure: I was a volunteer reviewer for Stacey when she ran the We Love This Book web magazine.)
(Full disclosure: I was a volunteer reviewer for Stacey when she ran the We Love This Book web magazine.)
February 18, 2019
I was quite excited to read The Familiars because the more I heard about it, the more it sounded like my kind of book. And it was a good read in the end, which made me so happy!
What I loved most about this book was the atmosphere. The author definitely managed to create the mysterious, nature-filled and dark feel to the setting which worked so perfectly alongside the witch-y, haunting storyline. I felt like I slowly being immersed in the time period and the situation. The house Fleetwood, the main character, lives in is surrounded by forest too, which only helped give me the autumn-y, creepy vibe. If you’re a seasonal reader you will not regret picking this one up in the month of October.
I also really loved the concept of familiars. There are animals scattered throughout this book, hiding between the pages. I think the idea of them is a really cool one – animals who are linked or connected to their witches. I loved the imagery that the author uses and how it tied in with the themes of the story. I had fun wondering what my familiar would be. And as the reality of witches truly existing becomes questioned, whether the familiars are real or not.
This book is so feminist, and it made me really happy. Of course, it’s set in 1612 so there isn’t any modern feminism in it. But Fleetwood is not happy with men declaring women to be witches left right and center. And of course, the women being penalised at the time were often practitioners of medicine and midwifery – so they weren’t happy either. There were many times when I was rooting for Fleetwood and was SO happy when she wasn’t taking any nonsense from anyone. I cheered her along and was so proud for how she stuck up for herself and her fellow women.
At the root of this story is a very strong friendship. Alice, who is Fleetwood’s nurse, becomes quite close to her. Although there are a lot of difficulties to their friendship which has to do with trusting each other and the outward influences of the situation they end up in, their friendship is key and strong. I loved seeing such a great female friendship at the heart of the story.
The theme of motherhood, infertility and the impact it can have on a relationship is also central to the story. I really liked how it was handled. I may be a 20-year-old woman who is not married and not thinking about having her own children at the moment, but it made me really care about the pregnancy storyline. Especially as the main character had miscarried so many times before this pregnancy.
I want to mention that the beginning is a bit slow. It takes time to immerse yourself in Fleetwood’s story and properly fall in love with it. So, if the beginning is a bit slow to you, I would recommend waiting it out. It does get better!
I was not entirely convinced by the ending either. I didn’t think all characters needed to be excused for their actions… and I didn’t think certain admittances excused some characters behaviours… Which meant that I felt some people were forgiven too easily for what they did, and that didn’t quite sit right with me. I was satisfied with the end in some ways, and in some ways, I wanted to change it.
All in all, this was a very strong debut and it completely consumed me and took me to a different time and place. I will definitely be reading whatever Halls writes next!
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2019/0...
What I loved most about this book was the atmosphere. The author definitely managed to create the mysterious, nature-filled and dark feel to the setting which worked so perfectly alongside the witch-y, haunting storyline. I felt like I slowly being immersed in the time period and the situation. The house Fleetwood, the main character, lives in is surrounded by forest too, which only helped give me the autumn-y, creepy vibe. If you’re a seasonal reader you will not regret picking this one up in the month of October.
I also really loved the concept of familiars. There are animals scattered throughout this book, hiding between the pages. I think the idea of them is a really cool one – animals who are linked or connected to their witches. I loved the imagery that the author uses and how it tied in with the themes of the story. I had fun wondering what my familiar would be. And as the reality of witches truly existing becomes questioned, whether the familiars are real or not.
This book is so feminist, and it made me really happy. Of course, it’s set in 1612 so there isn’t any modern feminism in it. But Fleetwood is not happy with men declaring women to be witches left right and center. And of course, the women being penalised at the time were often practitioners of medicine and midwifery – so they weren’t happy either. There were many times when I was rooting for Fleetwood and was SO happy when she wasn’t taking any nonsense from anyone. I cheered her along and was so proud for how she stuck up for herself and her fellow women.
At the root of this story is a very strong friendship. Alice, who is Fleetwood’s nurse, becomes quite close to her. Although there are a lot of difficulties to their friendship which has to do with trusting each other and the outward influences of the situation they end up in, their friendship is key and strong. I loved seeing such a great female friendship at the heart of the story.
The theme of motherhood, infertility and the impact it can have on a relationship is also central to the story. I really liked how it was handled. I may be a 20-year-old woman who is not married and not thinking about having her own children at the moment, but it made me really care about the pregnancy storyline. Especially as the main character had miscarried so many times before this pregnancy.
I want to mention that the beginning is a bit slow. It takes time to immerse yourself in Fleetwood’s story and properly fall in love with it. So, if the beginning is a bit slow to you, I would recommend waiting it out. It does get better!
I was not entirely convinced by the ending either. I didn’t think all characters needed to be excused for their actions… and I didn’t think certain admittances excused some characters behaviours… Which meant that I felt some people were forgiven too easily for what they did, and that didn’t quite sit right with me. I was satisfied with the end in some ways, and in some ways, I wanted to change it.
All in all, this was a very strong debut and it completely consumed me and took me to a different time and place. I will definitely be reading whatever Halls writes next!
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2019/0...
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