Name: The Familiars
Rating: 3.793478260869565 (92 reviews)
ISBN: 9781785766114

Stacey Halls

'Assured and alluring, this beautiful tale of women and witchcraft and the fight against power was a delight from start to finish' - Jessie Burton, bestselling author of The Miniaturist.

The Familiars

The Sunday Times Bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club Pick **PRE-ORDER MRS ENGLAND: the brand new novel from Stacey Halls is available to pre-order today** To save her child, she will trust a stranger. To protect a secret, she must risk her life . . . Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old, married, and pregnant for the fourth time. But as the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall, she still has no living child, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a letter she isn't supposed to read from the doctor who delivered her third stillbirth, she is dealt the crushing blow that she will not survive another pregnancy. Then she crosses paths by chance with Alice Gray, a young midwife. Alice promises to help her give birth to a healthy baby, and to prove the physician wrong. As Alice is drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the North-West, Fleetwood risks everything by trying to help her. But is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Soon the two women's lives will become inextricably bound together as the legendary trial at Lancaster approaches, and Fleetwood's stomach continues to grow. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other. 'Assured and alluring, this beautiful tale of women and witchcraft and the fight against power was a delight from start to finish' Jessie Burton, author of THE MINIATURIST 'The new Hilary Mantel' Cosmopolitan 'Truly spellbinding' Good Housekeeping 'An intricate and sensitive portrayal of a brave, tenacious young girl carving her place in the world. A must-read novel' Heather Morris, bestselling author of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ 'I read this in just over a day - I was completely hooked! An intriguing story about a fascinating period of history and brilliant female characters' Libby Page, author of THE LIDO 'A wonderful novel, enthralling, spellbinding, terrifying, full of twists and turns, written with heart and style - and the final chapters will have you racing to the end' Kate Williams, author of THE STORMS OF WAR

The spellbinding feminist Sunday Times Bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club Pick

Luke Harkness

Not sure about all the hype. Very average read. Nothing really happens?

Cheri McElroy

This is a wonderful debut novel based on the true events of the Pendle Witch trials of 1612. The characters are based on real people, including the main character, Fleetwood Shuttleworth. At 17, and pregnant, she befriends a young midwife, Alice Gray, who is later accused of witchcraft. Fleetwood goes out of her way to try and save Alice in an era where women’s sole worth was tied up in childbearing.

The characters were strong, the atmosphere strong and gothic, and the ending satisfying. I look forward to reading more from this author.

In 1612 Lancaster, England, the hunt for witches has reached a fever pitch... But in a time of suspicion and accusation, to be a woman may be the greatest risk of all. Fleetwood Shuttleworth, the mistress of Pendle Hill's Gawthorpe Hall, is with child. Anxious to produce an heir, she is distraught to find a letter from her physician that warns her husband she will not survive this pregnancy. Devastated, Fleetwood wanders the estate grounds, where she catches a young woman poaching. Alice Gray claims she is a local midwife and promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby. But a witch-obsessed frenzy sweeps the countryside. Even woodland creatures or "familiars" are thought to be dark companions of the unholy. And Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft. Time is running out. The witch trials are about to begin. With both their lives at stake, Fleetwood must prove Alice's innocence. Only they know the truth. Set against the real Pendle witch trials, this compelling novel draws its characters from historical figures as it explores the lives of seventeenth-century women. Ultimately it raises the question: Was witch hunting really just women hunting?

Julia

Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again. None of her previous pregnancies have borne fruit, and her husband, Richard, is anxious for an heir. Then Fleetwood discovers a hidden doctor's letter that carries a dire prediction: she will not survive another birth. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. But Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft. Is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Fleetwood must risk everything to prove her innocence. As the two women's lives become intertwined, the Witch Trials of 1612 loom. Time is running out; both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.--Provided by publisher.

Moray Lyle McIntosh

I'm always drawn to novels about the Pendle Witches. I grew up a fell miles from Pendle Hill and my family is related to several of the women executed. This is an enjoyable story with and engaging cast of characters and a plot that employs the main historical facts while making good use of the uncanny elements of the accusations and the "witches". There's an authentic period flavour to the story and the themes resonate today, with women stripped of their agency and voices and left vulnerable the the whims and accusations built on patriarchy, from the King down. It's disappointing that the trial itself is absent but its a well-crafted and enjoyable tale that is still all too relevant today.

Judy McClure

Nickie Mohler

Historical fiction. 
Witches. 
 Those are the words that made me want to read this book. I was not disappointed. Set in 1612, this book really paints a good picture of what it would've been like then. I enjoyed it, and I think I will add it to the books I like to read around Halloween.

I received a copy from Net Galley.

Lucy Hacker

I finished this lovely book last night. I’m a sucker for historical fiction, so it was always going to be a winner. It’s a great story, and really nicely written - an impressive debut novel by Stacey Halls. It only took me two days to get through, which is unheard of for me: I couldn’t put it down, and also it was quite an easy read, which was perfect for me at the end of a busy half term in school where my brain is a bit fried 😄🙈 It is lacking a bit of depth in my opinion - there was scope for a lot more exploration into the actual witch trials, but this was glossed over somewhat in favour of the protagonist’s narrative. The writing was a bit clumsy in places, and I’d have liked if a bibliography had been included too, so I could read up a little more on the history myself - but that’s probably just me being nerdy. An enjoyable read, that I’d definitely recommend for a bit of easy escapism. 7/10. I’ve given it 4 stars out of 5 but it’s more like a 3.5.

erin s

Seventeen-year-old noblewoman Fleetwood Shuttleworth is pregnant for the fourth time (!). Her three previous pregnancies have ended in miscarriages; frightened for her health and the heir within her womb, Fleetwood convinces Alice Grey, a young peasant she found lurking on her estate, to become her midwife. Meanwhile, fervent servants of King James spread their witch-hunting mania, ensnaring Alice and a number of impoverished local women in the accusations. Despite her husband’s resistance and the threats of incarceration and denunciation, Fleetwood tirelessly attempts to free her midwife and discredit the noblemens’ arguments against the accused.

The theme of animal familiars weaves throughout the novel, with domesticated and wild animals alike making frequent appearances. The isolated English countryside provides an evocative setting for this Gothic tale, and the constant gaslighting and condescension directed at Fleetwood during her pregnancy added an extra level of feminine horror. Well-written and suspenseful, this is a timely book that understands the importance of communication and companionship.

Danielle H.

4.5 but I'll round it up. Thoroughly enjoyed this!

2.5 stars, if goodreads would allow. The first half was painfully slow. Whilst it did pick up in the second half, it wasnt enough to make up for it. Disappointing, I thought I'd really enjoy this one!

Imzy

The Familiars is a historical fiction set in the 1600s when witch trials were customary. 

The protagonist Fleetwood Shuttleworth is a 17 year old woman, wife to the famous Richard Shuttleworth. She is pregnant after three miscarriages and is afraid of not being able to produce an heir for the Shuttleworth house. Fleetwood finds a midwife, Alice Gray, who is mysterious but seems to know her trade very well. However, Alice gets accused of witchcraft and is sentenced to be hanged.

The story follows Fleetwood and her struggles with pregnancy and trying to clear the name of her new midwife. Along the way, many secrets are unfolded from her husband, his friend, and her mother.

It's a compelling read and has you hooked from start to finish. The historical aspects of the book were done perfectly. Another thing I loved was that there wasn't so many main characters. The book was in first person in Fleetwood's POV and the backstories of all the secondary characters weren't all known. I think a problem with other books is that the author tries to fit in thorough backstories of all the characters and it becomes so tedious to read. But for this book, we were just in Fleetwood's mind, and knew however much she knew about the other characters.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of historical women fiction.

Anyaconda

The Familiars is hard to review. I mainly picked it up because it contained witches in the description, but I did have a few issues with it. 
It is not a bad read or badly written by any means, I think it was just the wrong story for me.

We follow Fleetwood, who desperately and obsessively tries to carry a child to term, she's had three miscarriages before and gets pressured from all sides to finally produce an healthy heir for her husband.

That is also the main focus of the story line. The constant bad feelings Fleetwood experiences and she's not even fighting it one bit. I wanted her to say so badly that she is more than just a vessel to produce children.
It was hard to read and I got really angry and frustrated throughout the book, although all of those issues were or are still common in society back in the days or in more conservative countries around the world.

I certainly had a lot of feelings about this book. I can recommend it to readers who enjoy a slower-paced, character-driven read with topics like childbearing, miscarriages and witch hunts. Sadly it wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Familiars

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