Okay, this isn't about the story itself, but sprayed edges make the most beautiful sounds when you turn the pages.

The Familiar is a historical fantasy-romance about the Spanish Inquisition and what happens when who you are is pitted against who the world wants you to be. Of Leigh Bardugo's books/series, I think this falls somewhere in the middle. While I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I loved the Grishaverse, I preferred it to Ninth House by a long shot.
We meet Luzia, a young servant with the strange ability to perform "miracles." When others begin to take notice of her odd magic, Luzia enters the world of politics as she becomes involved in a tournament held by the king's disgraced secretary. There wasn't a whole lot of action, but the stakes were high nevertheless. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. I found it a bit anti-climactic, but I think if it had ended in another way, I would not have been satisfied with it.
The characters were all very complex (and extremely ambitious), which made it difficult for me to feel attached to them. I liked Luzia as a protagonist, and I think she was very interesting. I didn't like Valentina at first because she was kind of rude, but I'm glad she got the ending that she did. Santángel kind of creeped me out at first, and while I grew to like him once his past was revealed, he still isn't my favorite. There were plenty of other characters with questionable morals and intentions, and I actually did enjoy that none of them were "right." Everyone is morally gray, and I think that many of them get what they deserve.
The Familiar is a historical fantasy-romance novel that promises beautiful writing, morally questionable characters, and romances built on bargains and exchanges.

3.75/5