THE FAMILIAR 

This standalone historical fantasy from the creator of the Grishaverse and author of the Ninth House is set during the Spanish Golden Age. The setting is immersive and it reads more like a historical novel with a touch of magic. I think it will be perfect for fans of Addie LaRue. 

“Fear men. Fear their ambition and the crimes they commit in its service. But don’t fear magic.”

The story is about Luzia, a kitchen maid who has to hide her ability to create magic so that no one realizes she is special. Her mistress, Valentina discovers her secret and makes her entertain at dinner parties. Soon Luzia thinks she might be able to go elsewhere and make more money and sleep on an actual bed at night instead of the ground. That is until a strange man discovers her secret at one of the parties and she is thrown into a meeting with a very important, rich man in the community. He wants to see her magic and Luzia shows him something great. He then wants his servant, Santangel to train her for the king's competition. 

“She would build herself a life of plenty. She would force her world to bloom as she’d made the pomegranate tree grow, and Santángel would help her do it. Even if blood watered the soil.”

Things I loved in the story:

1. The incredible prose that only Bardugo can deliver.

2. Luzia was an underdog at the beginning of the story but you can't help but root for her to receive better than her life so far. 

3. The side characters which at times were hard to read because they were so horrible but I think that was the point. 

“His belief in her was wine on an empty stomach and it left her light-headed.”

The closer Luiza becomes to Guillon, the more people warn her of his ways. She should not trust him. And yet he seems to be the only one who truly knows her.

“You make the blood flow in my veins. You remind my heart to beat.”

But they are playing a treacherous, deadly game. The novel is set during the political and religious turmoil of 16th-century Spain. So as Luzia’s power grows, so does her danger. Under Catholic rule, Luzia’s magic could be considered either a gift from God or the work of the devil. She is at the mercy of those who rule over her. There is antisemitism in this book that is very frustrating but necessary to show what Luzia was up against. 

Inspired by Bardugo’s own history and heritage, The Familiar looks at the weaponization of faith and ways that class and gender came under conflict during this time. I loved this book and found it hard to read something right after as the world stayed with me for many weeks.