The Familiar

By- Leigh Bardugo

    I have seen this book on different lists for new books for the fall and Halloween season. I never really read any synopsis or reviews on the book I just kept seeing it. The title made me think it had something to do with vampires or witches because I have heard of the term familiar in books and movies with those themes. However, I was mostly wrong but it was still a solid book.

    The story is based on the 16th century and the country of Spain. The church is hunting and persecuting women for witch craft whether they are witches or just independent free thinkers. The main character is Luzia, she is a young orphan who works as a scullery maid for a lower class family. A scullery maid is a lower class maid that does the crap work, her room is in the larder room in the families home. If she served a more wealthy family she may have a better life, unfortunately circumstances of her life do not allow that. She has magic abilities that she keeps hidden to prevent the church from finding her, she is also Jewish which is something else the church would persecute her for. Even though she is smart and powerful, she keeps her head down and plays dumb to not draw attention to herself. She keeps herself invisible to the world and out of the eyes of the church. However, one day she slips up after a loaf of bread is burned she fixes it with magic not knowing her employer already saw it burnt. After, finding the loaf unburnt her employer becomes suspicious of her and makes a plan to trick her into revealing herself and powers. Valentina is the woman who employs her, and she is ambitious to improve her own station and life, seeking a life with more luxury and power. She starts making Luzia perform at dinner, performing miracles for her guests. Rumors begin spreading as more and more people see her miracles and Luzia is thrust out into the open and must compete in a contest of others with abilities like herself. The winner will hopefully have the opportunity to serve the King of Spain. Every one is walking on a tight rope trying to win the contest while avoiding looking evil to the church. Will everyone's ambition destroy them or propel them into a life of power and luxury for the most powerful man in Spain?

    This book was not what I expected, but I enjoyed the novel. It was unique based in a time and place of history that I have not read much about. There are a lot of books based on the 16th century but I have not read many from Spain. The author does a great job building the different characters and showing each of their own struggles to gain more power and improve their station in life. In some books you read, you can feel the vibe of the book and know that it will end good or bad, but the author kept me guessing until the very end. My one complaint, if you would even call it that, the names were a little difficult to pronounce, even in my head. I do not have any background with Spanish which may have made it easier, however, I would not change it because it added to the authenticity of the story. Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in magic, strong female characters struggling in a world of powerful men, and a darker vibe perfect for the fall season.