4.1 (14,938 ratings)

The Familiars: A Novel

Name: The Familiars: A Novel
Rating: 4.1 (14938 reviews)
Author: Stacey Halls
ISBN: B07C9MMZQJ

by Stacey Halls

witches

About this book

Lancaster, 1612. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the suffocating paranoia of a nation obsessed with rooting out dark magic. Fleetwood Shuttleworth, mistress of the sprawling Gawthorpe Hall, is trapped in a gilded cage. Haunted by a physician’s grim prophecy that she will not survive her current pregnancy, she finds an unlikely lifeline in Alice Gray, a mysterious young midwife caught poaching on her estate.

What begins as a desperate alliance between two women from vastly different worlds soon unravels into a high-stakes fight for survival. As the infamous Pendle witch trials descend upon the countryside, the line between healer and heretic blurs. This historical urban fantasy masterfully captures the suffocating grip of a patriarchal society where a woman’s autonomy is often branded as witchcraft.

For readers who crave a slow-burn narrative rich with atmosphere and tension, this story offers more than just historical intrigue. It is a haunting exploration of power, sisterhood, and the courage required to defy a world determined to silence you. As the hunt for familiars intensifies, Fleetwood must risk everything to save the woman who holds the key to her future. Discover a gripping tale where the most dangerous spells are the ones society casts on its own.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B07C9MMZQJ

Reader Reviews

Vivid descriptions and historical accuracy of a patriarchal society

January 1, 2026

First time I felt compelled to write over you. This book is absolutely beautiful. The writing and the descriptions are so vivid and brilliant. It is both eye-opening and First time I felt compelled to write a review. This book is absolutely beautiful. The writing and the descriptions are so vivid and brilliant. It is both eye-opening and empowering, and knowing that the story has roots in historical truths is heartbreaking. I could not put it down. Easily one of my all-time favorite books. )

Historically very well written.

July 4, 2020

In spite of the fact that I got lost at some stages, I really enjoyed the book. The historical facts about the witch hunts were very well researched but I couldn’t decide if Fleetwood was witch as well as Pug seemed to be her familiar. ) 2 people found this helpful

Harlequin published this drip of a story

March 19, 2020

If I had realized that this was being published by Harlequin I would have taken a hard pass. They are notorious for their weird abusive love story lines and poor writing. This book continues their tarnished reputation. The story is mildly interesting but fails to deliver the spooky witch feel I thought I was buying. Other problems though are huge. First, this is being written based on a historical fact yet the life of the heroine in 1612 is 100% unrealistic. She rides her horse (while heavily...

Emotional and beautifully written story set during the Pendle Witch Trials

May 11, 2019

I love historical fiction, especially historical fiction set in medieval, Tudor or Stuart England. I often wondered what was it like for willful and stubborn women hundreds of years ago, when most gentlewomen were only allowed to sew or mend in the parlor with a few women attending them. How did they live, the ones unsuited for such life? This novel presents us with two strong heroines from different backgrounds. Fleetwood Shuttleworth, seventeen years old and expecting her first child, an heir...

Witches

December 4, 2024

A rich history of men exerting power over women who have none. Scapegoats for bad luck and threatened masculinity. This is a story about trust and friendship against injustice. ) One person found this helpful