Thank you to Flatiron Books for sending me a copy of The Familiar in exchange for an honest review.
In the heart of Madrid, Luzia Cotado, a maid in a minor house, gets by with her secret ability to perform small miracles. When her mistress discovers her ability, she exploits it to climb the social ladder. But Luzia’s gift draws the attention of the dangerous Antonio Pérez, the disgraced former secretary to the Spanish king. To regain his position, he’s seeking out genuine magic users to compete for a role in court.
As Luzia navigates a world of magic and deception, she becomes entangled in a desperate bid to aid Spain in its war against England. Her rising star means all eyes are on her, and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the Inquisition from discovering her Jewish heritage. With the help of Guillén Santangel, an immortal with his own secrets, Luzia must use her cunning to survive in a perilous game where the stakes are high, and betrayal lurks at every turn.
The Familiar is another fantastic work from superstar author Leigh Bardugo. The basic premise may is similar to her previous work. A seemingly unimportant woman is lifted from poverty by a powerful man and must learn to navigate a dangerous new society. However, everything else is beautifully different. Unlike the Grishaverse or Ninth House, this story is deeply personal despite the magical elements. Bardugo drew on her own family’s history in the Spanish Golden Age as inspiration for the historical elements.
Like all of Bardugo’s work, The Familiar is full of beautiful descriptions and prose. Everywhere Luzia turns, velvet, jewels, gold and feasts contrast with and hide the darkness underneath. These descriptions, however, never bog down the plot. With the threat of the Inquisition and other enemies always looming, events are constantly moving forward without feeling overwhelming.
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As a protagonist, Luzia is a fully realized young woman. She’s by turns determined, bloodthirsty and even lovestruck depending on her situation, but it never feels forced or out of character. Like many of Bardugo’s characters, she’s powerful and complex but feels completely different from her other protagonists.
I appreciated that Santangel isn’t your typical immortal love interest. The Familiar presents things on more of an even playing field, and Luzia and Santangel do become equals. Both are servants without true agency and are often overlooked. Both have immense power they must learn to wield while hiding it from others. Santangel may be generations older than Luzia, but it doesn’t feel as creepy as in other stories.
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If you appreciate rich historical fantasy with gorgeous descriptions and powerful displays of magic, check out The Familiar. Bardugo’s new standalone novel will appeal to her fans and new readers alike.
The Familiar comes out on April 9 and is available for preorder from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.
TW: abuse, antisemitism, blood, body horror, classism, colonization, confinement, death, death of a parent, fire/fire injury, genocide, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, mental illness, misogyny, murder, racism, religious bigotry/abuse, sexism, suicide, threat of rape, torture, violence, war, xenophobia
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