Her story is an emotional one, yet it is also one of reason and sound judgement in the face of so much baseless accusation. But she won’t be cowed and is stronger than people think. For someone who appears to have everything, the cards are really stacked against her.

Until one day a chance meeting in the woods brings to her Alice Grey… With no friend amongst family or servants, Fleetwood is alone. Plagued by miscarriages at 17 years of age, no doctor Richard can find seems to be able to help. Married to a wealthy merchant and living in a country house, and with a husband she truly cares for, she has everything she wants. Captivating and emotional, I found that once I started reading, I couldn’t stop.įleetwood Shuttleworth should be happy. Inspired by the Pendle witch trials, The Familiars is masterfully written. (from The Familiars by Stacey Halls, page 192) ‘Of course I am,’ she said, and she pulled at a loose thread in her apron. ‘I bet you are not afraid of anything,’ I said. King James I was obsessed with asserting power over the lawless countryside (even woodland creatures, or “familiars,” were suspected of dark magic) by capturing “witches”-in reality mostly poor and illiterate women. Rich and compelling, set against the frenzy of the real Pendle Hill Witch Trials, this novel explores the rights of 17th-century women and raises the question: Was witch-hunting really women-hunting? Fleetwood Shuttleworth, Alice Grey and the other characters are actual historical figures. Time is running out both their lives are at stake. As the two women’s lives become intertwined, the Witch Trials of 1612 loom. Is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Fleetwood must risk everything to prove her innocence. But Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft.

By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. Then Fleetwood discovers a hidden doctor’s letter that carries a dire prediction: she will not survive another birth. None of her previous pregnancies have borne fruit, and her husband, Richard, is anxious for an heir. Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again. Atmospheric, enchanting and haunting, it’s unputdownable! 5 / 5 I loved this book! A captivating, emotional read from start to finish, The Familiars is a gripping tale, masterfully written.

The familiars book review