Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 26/04/2024
Published by: Penguin Audio
ISBN: B0CJFSK3ZK
While ‘The Familiar’ had some good aspects, I felt it didn’t quite live up to its potential.
Similar read: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Cover:
The simple illustration and gothic text font work well together to create a captivating representation of the story’s genre and historical setting. The scorpion detail adds a nice touch that is connected to one of the characters in the story and hints at the danger the main character faces. Still, the black background and simple colour scheme do not do much to make this design stand out.
There was nothing more dangerous than a woman with a pen in her hand.
Writing:
The formal, beautiful writing style smoothly establishes an atmospheric world with historical, religious, and magical aspects. Direct foreshadowing is also neatly used to build intrigue and suspense. Sadly, I was underwhelmed by the world-building and magic system, which could have used more depth. The multiple points of view also added little to the story, and the third-person narrative made me feel distanced from the characters.
Storyline:
Ominous hints about the fates of key characters made for an intriguing start, and the high stakes for the main character generated tension throughout the story. I also appreciated how the topic of patriarchy and the religious oppression of Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition were explored, adding some depth to the storyline. However, due to excessive and repetitive internal monologues, the character-driven storyline felt slow-paced and hard to engage with. I was also disappointed by the simple political intrigue woven into the story and found the climax unsatisfying as I wanted more for and from the key characters.
She was allowed to want more for herself. And even if she wasn’t, she would find a way to get it.
Main character(s):
Luzia’s ambitions and fierce determination to get more out of her life made her an easy protagonist to root for. Her caring nature was also nicely shown and added to her charm, but her simple arc and tragic backstory brought little depth to her character. I also wanted more for her, especially given her strong ambition!
Secondary characters:
These characters were given distinct personalities and roles, and I appreciated the focus on strong-willed female characters like Valentina and Hualit. However, I struggled to distinguish some characters due to the third-person narrative, and I needed more depth to make them appealing.
Fear men… Fear their ambition and the crimes they commit in its service.
Romance:
Although the hints of attraction between the characters and their initial friendship were nicely done, the cliché of a hot immortal guy falling for an average young female did not do much for me. The development of their feelings also felt rushed, and I was not convinced, given the mystery surrounding the male lead.
Narration & Audio:
Lauren Fortgang’s narration is fitting for the story, and her character voices and singing enhance the listening experience.
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