The Familiars: The dark, captivating Sunday Times bestseller and original break-out witch-lit novel

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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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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Fleetwood is pregnant again and is determined that this time round she will do everything she can to protect her baby. The lives of two young women intersect in a novel that imagines the story behind a famous 17th-century witch trial in northern England. This adventure paints a fascinating portrait of the perilous position of women in the 1600s * The Sunday Mirror * Spellbinding, Superbly Written, It Pulled Me In, A Book that Will Stay with Me for a very long time!

Gilbert, a familiar to Marianne, a hapless tree frog with the ability to see visions of the past, present, and future in pools of water. The fervour of witch hunting was sweeping across this corner of England and when Alice is accused, Fleetwood makes desperate attempts to save her. It's superbly produced, a thing of genuine physical beauty but, most importantly, the writing is immense and mesmerising * Fully Booked * An outstandingly captivating book which weaves its magic around the reader throughout * Beady jans Books *

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Our Book Of The Month for October is The Familiars by Stacey Halls. For our online Book Clubbers we have some questions around the book for you to get involved with. Either answer below or use as discussion points at your next Book Club. Happy Book Clubbing! The Familiars – The Blurb 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. Having read Stacy Hall’s The Foundling I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Familiars and it certainly didn’t disappoint. 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. 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.

The Familiars is a series of children's fantasy books written by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson. The Familiars is also the title of the first book in the series, featuring familiars, magical animal companions to a wizard or witch. The series consists of 4 books, published between 2010 and 2013 by HarperCollins. 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! A few days later Fleetwood has a disturbing conversation with Roger Nowell, an older family friend of hers and Richard. He speaks to her of familiars and witchcraft. A witch, according to Roger, can assume animal identities, take on a familiar spirit: “This witch is a dog, but they can appear as anything—an animal, a child.” When Fleetwood questions Roger further, he brushes her off, saying they need to catch up with Richard, who “will not be happy with me for lagging behind indulging you. This is what happens when women come on hunts.” Is it, or does Roger want to shut down the conversation? Is his obsession with persecuting witches a way to prove his loyalty to King James? Roger tells Fleetwood that, “This corner of the kingdom with its Catholic heritage causes His Majesty a great deal of anxiety.” Fleetwood points out the obvious, that “Catholics and witches are not the same thing,” but Roger pays her no mind.

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. The Familiars by Stacey Halls is a debut to look out for, one of these books that once you start reading, you cannot put down -- Galina Miteva * The Fountain * Once more, Aldwyn encounters his uncle, but puts an end to him this time. They continue to the room where Paksahara waits, resulting in a deadly battle. In the midst, Gilbert attempts to summon fire and successfully completes a spell, showing the improvement of his magic. Paksahara takes advantage of this distraction to disguise herself as Gilbert.

While it is a work of fiction, The Familiars contains real characters and events from the early 1600s. It’s a darkly atmospheric tale of friendship, loyalty and witchcraft. 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? If the doctor was to be believed—and no doubt he was—the child was fattening like a conker in a spiked green shell, and eventually would split me open. A child was what Richard wanted more than anything, and where I had failed before perhaps I would not this time…but at the cost of my life? Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again' KATE MOSSEAll 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!