The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
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Web ID: 20312199Gothic and magical. Excellent read!
This is actually my first Leigh Bardugo book (GASP!) that I’ve read. I love the writing, the storyline… the characters were intriguing and I always love a little magic in a book. Highly recommend it and will definitely be adding all of her other books to my never ending TBR!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Just okay
I read this book because I absolutely loved Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology. Boy was I disappointed lol. The plot was mediocre at best, with the plot twists to be seen coming from a mile away, especially the double cross. It centers around magic we never learn about and the whole build up is basically for this tournament that was extremely boring. I found myself reading this book just to be done with it. I thought it would get better. It did not💀. The characters were very surface level, not a whole lot of development happens at all with them, especially our main character Luzia. The love aspect of this book was also extremely lack luster. The relationship had next to no build up and wasn’t written in a way that would involve the reader emotionally for these two. Also the way the characters would speak sometimes really took me out of the time period it was supposed to be set in. I found myself wondering if I was on twitter or not👀. This book does get three stars from me though because I did enjoy the historical aspect of it and I know Leigh had to put a lot of research into it! Although not the best, the book was well-written and decently cohesive. I don’t regret reading it, but if I never read it, I wouldn’t be missing out on anything special. This is all subjective though, so you may really enjoy this book!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good Book
This was a well written book that kept me interested all the way to the end. I appreciated the research that must have been involved in being this time period to life. I like the magic.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Exceedingly Well-Written
It's a slow build at first, but the author has a way with words like the main character does. With a historical setting, the description of Spain, its religious sentiment, and even the style of clothing, Leigh Bardugo adds details that build the story. The characters are flawed, but they develop throughout the story and everything ends with a beautiful bow. I wasn't sure where the story would go, there wasn't anything that was entirely predictable, but I loved it. The one thing that was a minor downside is, while I love the black edging of the pages, they did stick together a bit and were a little stiff.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Well paced historical romantasy
The Familiar is a historical romantasy set during the Spanish Inquisition. It is well paced with engaging characters and enough unexpected plot twists to keep me engaged throughout. Villains, magic, romance, rags to riches, and betrayal all play staring roles and I read it almost straight through in one setting. Highly recommended.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Familiar is a historical fiction with magic.
Overall, this was a highly anticipated read for me and yet I was very disappointed. The cover is stunning!!!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Favorite of the Year!
For all that I read the synopsis of The Familiar, I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into! I saw Leigh’s name, historical fantasy, and magic and knew I wanted in. I didn’t know that my heart would reside firmly in my throat until the very last two pages of the book finally released me like ash on a breeze. I was so lucky to have won an ARC on Goodreads! This book hooked me from line one and it was hard not to pick it up when I had other things I had to do! I wasn’t quite sure what Luzia and Santángel would be to each other upon their first meeting, but their dynamic and relationship develops magically. As for Valentina, her character arc from antagonist to sympathetic is one of my favorite types of character growth. The torneo is one of my favorite magic plots, and this one is higher stakes and more dangerous than most. After the final challenge, I had absolutely no idea if and how the tragedy of this story could possibly be turned around. I wallowed with Luzia and Teoda and wondered what was the point of Valentina’s change in tune? The final chapters took me on a whirlwind dash through the ugliness of the Spanish Inquisition and a milagrera and familiar attempting one last milagro. This book is 5 stars and definitely a favorite of the year!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I was apathetic.
DNF @ 45%. I neither liked it nor disliked it. I was apathetic.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com