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The Familiars

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The Familiars

Written by: Stacey Halls
Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown
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From the Author of the Sunday Times Bestseller, Mrs. England!

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? Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Scary Magic Witchcraft Magic Users Marriage Sexual Health Hunting Pregnancy
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I absolutely loved The Familiars. The narrator was well-suited to the content and made it feel very real.

Exceptional Read

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I enjoyed this book as the topic is somewhat of a personal passion. I understand that women of the time were subject to the whims and expectations of their husbands, but Fleetwood’s character was shockingly gullible and over-forgiving of her husband’s infidelity. I liked her, but found it frustrating to hear her responses to the various concerns that arose in her marriage. Otherwise a very pleasant listen!

Engaging story

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Very much enjoyed the characters, especially Fleetwood. You could imagine the times back in the 16 hundreds. A captivating story with lots of twists.

Wonderful characters and captivating twists

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This book was well written in regards to description of another time and place. I did not like the ending which seemed "pat" and was based on information we did not have access to - was less of a reveal and more of a way to wrap up the story.

To be fair, with all of the political machinations going on in the western world in regards to "keeping women in their place" according to Neanderthals who do not appreciate strong, intelligent women, I found it an anxiety inducing read. Not bad.

it ended better than expected

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i couldn't stop listening, this book sucked me in and had me engaged through the whole thing. wonderful!

couldn't stop listening

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