Publication
Zaffre, c2019.
Status
Available
Description
Pendle Hill Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth is with child again. As the mistress of Gawthorpe Hall, she is anxious to provide her husband with an heir. But none of her previous pregnancies have come to term. Then she discovers a hidden letter from her physician that warns her husband that she will not survive another pregnancy. Distraught over the frightening revelation, Fleetwood wanders the woods of Pendle Hill, where she meets a young local woman named Alice Gray. A midwife, Alice promises Fleetwood she can help her deliver a healthy baby. But soon Alice is drawn into the frenzied accusations of witchcraft sweeping the countryside. Even the woodland creatures, the "familiars," are suspected of practicing the dark arts. Can Fleetwood trust that Alice is really who she says she is? As the two women's lives become intertwined, Fleetwood must risk everything to prove Alice's innocence in order to save her own unborn child. The hunt for witches reaches fever pitch. Time is running out. The trials are about to begin. Both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other. Set against the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, this rich and compelling novel draws its characters from historical figures as it explores the lives and rights of seventeenth-century women, ultimately raising the question: Is witch-hunting really just women-hunting?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kathl33n
I am firmly at 4.5 stars on this one. I really loved it. The piece really depicted the insanity of the witch trials and really drives home that saying 'good men need do nothing to let evil triumph' (forgive the completely mangled quote - but you get my point). I so appreciated the MC Fleetwood. She
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stood up for what she believed in, while living in an insufferable time period for women, never questioning herself or wavering in her conviction. I thought the story line was tight and kept me very interested, so much so I was surprised to see this was a debut author. I am only holding back the last half star because I thought a bit more was needed to really keep the story and the reader in the time period. I would have liked to have known more about the rigors of day to day life in that time period. I am very, very thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
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
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
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
Show More
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
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LibraryThing member spinsterrevival
This was a beautiful and also terrifying novel about a short period in English history I’d never heard of; I loved how the author told a gorgeously heartbreaking story about real figures that lived (& died). Also it makes one appreciate being a woman in the 21st century; no way in hell would I
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ever time travel to the past unless I had an invisibility cloak. Show Less
LibraryThing member ccheripka
The Familiars was a mesmerizing tale that takes place in the 1600's when women were "supposed" to obey their husbands and the fear and hunting of witches was rampant.....Fleetwood was a child bride trying to carry her 4th pregnancy to term....her first 3 attempts had failed....she met a young
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friend who she became close to , but who was later caught up in the witch hunt...many innocent women were caught , tried and hung....this is the story of a friend trying to help a friend...I applaud Fleetwood and her modern defiance of the wishes of her husband Richard... Show Less
LibraryThing member nicx27
Go Fleetwood! Go Fleetwood! Go Fleetwood! What a woman! What a name!
The year is 1612 and Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old and pregnant for the fourth time. I found this fact incredible and hard to imagine. She lives at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire with her husband, Richard. He's quite a
Although this is her fourth pregnancy, Fleetwood is yet to carry a baby to full term and she's desperate to do so this time. She stumbles across Alice Grey who tells her that she is a midwife and Fleetwood hires her to help her through her pregnancy. The two women become unlikely friends and allies.
This is the most wonderful story. It's set at such a dangerous time as women are being rounded up and put on trial for being witches. So much of their behaviour makes sense in modern times but in the early seventeenth century it was looked upon in quite a different way. I managed to refrain from looking up events of the time on the internet but there is very much a root in real life events in this story and Stacey Halls has done an amazing job in weaving together fact and fiction to create a truly impressive novel.
As I suggested at the beginning of this review, Fleetwood is quite a woman, especially for one so young. She's feisty and brave and will go to any lengths to try and save her friend from the hangman's noose after she is accused of witchcraft. I was totally in awe of her. She's mistress of a large house and is expected to kowtow, both to her husband and to men in power, but no way is she going to do that!
Despite his faults, I also liked Richard and I felt there was something genuine about him and that he really cared for Fleetwood. And Alice, well she's a good friend to Fleetwood and a very good midwife. There are some rather unpleasant characters too, not least Fleetwood's own mother and the local magistrate, Roger Nowell.
The story is chilling as we all know about the Pendle witch trials and know what happened to those accused. I was just willing Fleetwood to find a way to save Alice and to save herself and her baby. I'm not giving anything away but I was very satisfied by the ending.
I absolutely loved The Familiars. It's full of strong women. This is historical fiction at its best and I'm very much looking forward to reading more by Stacey Halls.
The year is 1612 and Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old and pregnant for the fourth time. I found this fact incredible and hard to imagine. She lives at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire with her husband, Richard. He's quite a
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powerful man and older than Fleetwood, but their relationship seems genuine, much more so than many unions at the time.Although this is her fourth pregnancy, Fleetwood is yet to carry a baby to full term and she's desperate to do so this time. She stumbles across Alice Grey who tells her that she is a midwife and Fleetwood hires her to help her through her pregnancy. The two women become unlikely friends and allies.
This is the most wonderful story. It's set at such a dangerous time as women are being rounded up and put on trial for being witches. So much of their behaviour makes sense in modern times but in the early seventeenth century it was looked upon in quite a different way. I managed to refrain from looking up events of the time on the internet but there is very much a root in real life events in this story and Stacey Halls has done an amazing job in weaving together fact and fiction to create a truly impressive novel.
As I suggested at the beginning of this review, Fleetwood is quite a woman, especially for one so young. She's feisty and brave and will go to any lengths to try and save her friend from the hangman's noose after she is accused of witchcraft. I was totally in awe of her. She's mistress of a large house and is expected to kowtow, both to her husband and to men in power, but no way is she going to do that!
Despite his faults, I also liked Richard and I felt there was something genuine about him and that he really cared for Fleetwood. And Alice, well she's a good friend to Fleetwood and a very good midwife. There are some rather unpleasant characters too, not least Fleetwood's own mother and the local magistrate, Roger Nowell.
The story is chilling as we all know about the Pendle witch trials and know what happened to those accused. I was just willing Fleetwood to find a way to save Alice and to save herself and her baby. I'm not giving anything away but I was very satisfied by the ending.
I absolutely loved The Familiars. It's full of strong women. This is historical fiction at its best and I'm very much looking forward to reading more by Stacey Halls.
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LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
It’s 1612, in the reign of King James I, and Fleetwood Shuttleworth (a real historic person) has not had an easy life. She’s 17 and enduring her 4th pregnancy, the first three having ended in miscarriages and a still birth. She’s found a letter from a doctor to her husband saying that she
By accident, she meets Alice Grey, a poor young woman who knows herbs and midwifery. Fleetwood becomes convinced that Alice is her only hope of surviving the coming birth, and ending with a live baby. But her husband’s best friend, Roger Nowell, is investigating witches (the Pendle Hill witches, to be exact), and his eye is on Alice. Convicting some witches would give Roger brownie points with the king, and enrich his retirement. In time, Fleetwood finds herself regarding Alice as a friend. She’s willing to go to any lengths to save her from being hung.
The pace is very, very slow in the first half, and then speeds up dramatically. There are several threads running through this novel, some of which don’t come to light until well into the story. Fleet herself starts out as rather a boring character- immature, naïve, and uneducated- who matures and grows through the story. At the start, she has no idea how the ‘other half’ lives, and is shocked at the conditions that exist outside her manor house. But she learns fast. I give five stars for atmosphere; the descriptions of the forests, people, villages, and homes are wonderful. While I loved Alice, the characters I was less taken with. I disliked Fleetwood’s husband a great deal, even at the end when all the threads are tied off. In the end, I give it four stars. This is Hall’s first novel; I assume her writing will mature and I will give any second book she writes a try.
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will not survive another pregnancy. Her first husband, who she was married to at age 4, molested her. She’s never had a friend in her life. By accident, she meets Alice Grey, a poor young woman who knows herbs and midwifery. Fleetwood becomes convinced that Alice is her only hope of surviving the coming birth, and ending with a live baby. But her husband’s best friend, Roger Nowell, is investigating witches (the Pendle Hill witches, to be exact), and his eye is on Alice. Convicting some witches would give Roger brownie points with the king, and enrich his retirement. In time, Fleetwood finds herself regarding Alice as a friend. She’s willing to go to any lengths to save her from being hung.
The pace is very, very slow in the first half, and then speeds up dramatically. There are several threads running through this novel, some of which don’t come to light until well into the story. Fleet herself starts out as rather a boring character- immature, naïve, and uneducated- who matures and grows through the story. At the start, she has no idea how the ‘other half’ lives, and is shocked at the conditions that exist outside her manor house. But she learns fast. I give five stars for atmosphere; the descriptions of the forests, people, villages, and homes are wonderful. While I loved Alice, the characters I was less taken with. I disliked Fleetwood’s husband a great deal, even at the end when all the threads are tied off. In the end, I give it four stars. This is Hall’s first novel; I assume her writing will mature and I will give any second book she writes a try.
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LibraryThing member TheEllieMo
Loved this book. Fleetwood drew me in, and I was rooting for her.
LibraryThing member SheilaDeeth
In the dark days of the 1600s, when false accusations of witchcraft abounded, the midwife’s kindness and knowledge might lead to death. But what’s a woman to do when she’s pregnant and knows her child is at risk?
Protagonist Fleetwood Shuttleworth changes from helpless girl to fierce
Familiar animals might have power, but familiar friends carry the day. Neighbors might denounce neighbors. The “faithful” might beat down those with different beliefs. And there might be more to life than male-dominated government and order. And there might be love. I loved this book, and I enjoyed its insights into history—and their relevance to the present day.
Disclosure: My husband brought the book from England for me, a reminder of Lancashire!
Protagonist Fleetwood Shuttleworth changes from helpless girl to fierce
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protector of friends and her baby in this well-researched and beautifully-told tale. Women suffering at the hands of men, wise ideas suffering the onslaught of primitive accusation, and lies inviting miscommunication and trials… the story blends it all, drawing no veils over the darkness of the time, but quietly revealing its possibilities too.Familiar animals might have power, but familiar friends carry the day. Neighbors might denounce neighbors. The “faithful” might beat down those with different beliefs. And there might be more to life than male-dominated government and order. And there might be love. I loved this book, and I enjoyed its insights into history—and their relevance to the present day.
Disclosure: My husband brought the book from England for me, a reminder of Lancashire!
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LibraryThing member SChant
It was recommended as being about the Pendle witch trials, which are only periferal to the main story of the lady of the manor, desperate for a child, and who makes an effort to rescue her midwife who has been caught up in the trawl of the local magistrate for "witches" to stand him in good stead
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with King James. It's a quick read but not to my taste - too much "lady of the manor" and not much about the poor women persecuted as "witches". Show Less
LibraryThing member forsanolim
Fleetwood Shuttleworth, at the age of seventeen, has just entered her fourth pregnancy. The first three have ended in miscarriages, and she is desperate to give birth to an heir for her beloved husband Richard, but she happens upon a letter from her previous doctor to her husband stating that she
The Lancashire region beyond Fleetwood's home is also churning. Richard and Fleetwood's old acquaintance, the local magistrate Roger Nowell, is aiming to win the king's favor and begins to whip up rumors of witchcraft, taking in the young child of a family in which the female members of several generations have been accused of witchcraft. Alice, too, is eventually pulled into the fray as charges of witchcraft in Lancashire spread.
While I think that this was a solid debut novel, I perhaps had too high of expectations from it. Fleetwood changed rather dramatically during the course of the novel, becoming much more confident and assertive; while this is definitely admirable, the changes happened so fast that I found it hard to believe some of them. Though I don't feel I say this often, I do think that this book could have benefited from being longer. For one, I would have liked to have more time devoted to the atmosphere of witchcraft itself--while I liked the idea of these animals that may or may not be familiars, I would have liked a bit more exploration of this. In general, too, the last part of the book felt really rushed (let's go here! there! everywhere!), and I didn't feel particularly satisfied by the resolution, especially because it again seemed to involve what felt like dramatic changes of character.
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will, in all likelihood, die if she attempts to carry a child to term. Not knowing what to make of this information--information that Richard evidently hid from her--she happens upon a young woman, Alice Grey, who claims that she can use her knowledge of herbs to help Fleetwood through her pregnancy and childbirth.The Lancashire region beyond Fleetwood's home is also churning. Richard and Fleetwood's old acquaintance, the local magistrate Roger Nowell, is aiming to win the king's favor and begins to whip up rumors of witchcraft, taking in the young child of a family in which the female members of several generations have been accused of witchcraft. Alice, too, is eventually pulled into the fray as charges of witchcraft in Lancashire spread.
While I think that this was a solid debut novel, I perhaps had too high of expectations from it. Fleetwood changed rather dramatically during the course of the novel, becoming much more confident and assertive; while this is definitely admirable, the changes happened so fast that I found it hard to believe some of them. Though I don't feel I say this often, I do think that this book could have benefited from being longer. For one, I would have liked to have more time devoted to the atmosphere of witchcraft itself--while I liked the idea of these animals that may or may not be familiars, I would have liked a bit more exploration of this. In general, too, the last part of the book felt really rushed (let's go here! there! everywhere!), and I didn't feel particularly satisfied by the resolution, especially because it again seemed to involve what felt like dramatic changes of character.
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LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Really enjoyed this book and learnt about the Pendle witch trials of 1612 which I hadn't heard of before. From wikipedia: The twelve accused lived in the area surrounding Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at
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Lancaster Assizes on 18–19 August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes on 27 July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the eleven who went to trial – nine women and two men – ten were found guilty and executed by hanging; one was found not guilty. Show Less
LibraryThing member Belana
A wonderful book about a horrible time and affair. Katy Sobey does a great job narrating it. It drew me in right from the start, and it made me look up the Pendle witches.I may read Thomas Potts's "The Discovery of Witches" next.
I love it when a book educates me while entertaining and fascinating
This novel certainly scores high on all accounts.
If you're interested in a very dark age,read this book (or rather listen to it).
I love it when a book educates me while entertaining and fascinating
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me at the same time. This novel certainly scores high on all accounts.
If you're interested in a very dark age,read this book (or rather listen to it).
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
2023 read. Well crafted, informative, imaginative, and not necessarily predictable. I'd read more from this author. More like 3.5 stars, but Goodreads still frustrates me with the star system. However, I like to err in the author's favor, because I'm not always a good judge of things, so since it's
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4 stars over there, I'll give 4 stars here, too, and add thanks for the ability to do 1/2 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member mazda502001
I really enjoyed this debut novel by this author. I love reading about Pendle Hill, stories of the witches and the witch trials. The book is set in the early 1600s and shows the superstition, judgemental and ignorant minds that women had to fight against if you were accused of witchcraft. It is a
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captivating novel and I couldn’t put it down. Well worth a read. Show Less
LibraryThing member DebTat2
I know you are not meant to judge a book by its cover, but what a cover it is!
This book is simply stunning, inside and out!
Based around the Pendle witches and culminating to their trial this is a walk through history with its own little twist, breathing its own life blending fact with fiction.
I
This book is written with magic laced throughout.
Filled with some magikal characters that have you rooting for them from the very first page and one or two that you wish to see face the same fate as the accused women, it is a sweeping tale of the women, witchcraft and life in rural England in the 1600s as well as friendship and love.
How far would you go to save a friend? One accused of murder by witchcraft. One that will surely hang for the accusation of being a witch. Set in a period of time when it was perilous at times to be a woman this book brings to life the insecurities and dangers to the woman of that time faced as well as how powerless the women really were in the face of their husbands and where men held all the power.
Knowing that a lot of the characters were real life, living and breathing people from our history as well as the real life setting of Gawthorpe Hall and details made from real history makes the whole story come alive, dancing across its pages.
A beautiful book and a wonderful story that I am sure will captivate you as much as it did me, simply brilliant!
The Familiars will be published on 04 February 2019 in kindle format and 07 February 2109 in hardback.
This book is simply stunning, inside and out!
Based around the Pendle witches and culminating to their trial this is a walk through history with its own little twist, breathing its own life blending fact with fiction.
I
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won’t go into plot breakdowns as the book blurb does that so much better than I ever could, giving just the right amount of details to draw you in if the beautiful cover didn’t do that all by itself! But I will say is this,This book is written with magic laced throughout.
Filled with some magikal characters that have you rooting for them from the very first page and one or two that you wish to see face the same fate as the accused women, it is a sweeping tale of the women, witchcraft and life in rural England in the 1600s as well as friendship and love.
How far would you go to save a friend? One accused of murder by witchcraft. One that will surely hang for the accusation of being a witch. Set in a period of time when it was perilous at times to be a woman this book brings to life the insecurities and dangers to the woman of that time faced as well as how powerless the women really were in the face of their husbands and where men held all the power.
Knowing that a lot of the characters were real life, living and breathing people from our history as well as the real life setting of Gawthorpe Hall and details made from real history makes the whole story come alive, dancing across its pages.
A beautiful book and a wonderful story that I am sure will captivate you as much as it did me, simply brilliant!
The Familiars will be published on 04 February 2019 in kindle format and 07 February 2109 in hardback.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781785766145
Original publication date
2019