Audiobook9 hours
The Familiars
Written by Stacey Halls
Narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
About this audiobook
From the Author of the Sunday Times Bestseller, Mrs. England!
In 1612 Lancaster, England, the hunt for witches has reached a fever pitch…
But in a time of suspicion and accusation, to be a woman may be the greatest risk of all.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth, the mistress of Pendle Hill’s Gawthorpe Hall, is with child. Anxious to produce an heir, she is distraught to find a letter from her physician that warns her husband she will not survive this pregnancy.
Devastated, Fleetwood wanders the estate grounds, where she catches a young woman poaching. Alice Gray claims she is a local midwife and promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby. But a witch-obsessed frenzy sweeps the countryside. Even woodland creatures or “familiars” are thought to be dark companions of the unholy. And Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft.
Time is running out. The witch trials are about to begin. With both their lives at stake, Fleetwood must prove Alice’s innocence. Only they know the truth.
Set against the real Pendle witch trials, this compelling novel draws its characters from historical figures as it explores the lives of seventeenth-century women. Ultimately it raises the question: Was witch hunting really just women hunting?
In 1612 Lancaster, England, the hunt for witches has reached a fever pitch…
But in a time of suspicion and accusation, to be a woman may be the greatest risk of all.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth, the mistress of Pendle Hill’s Gawthorpe Hall, is with child. Anxious to produce an heir, she is distraught to find a letter from her physician that warns her husband she will not survive this pregnancy.
Devastated, Fleetwood wanders the estate grounds, where she catches a young woman poaching. Alice Gray claims she is a local midwife and promises to help Fleetwood deliver a healthy baby. But a witch-obsessed frenzy sweeps the countryside. Even woodland creatures or “familiars” are thought to be dark companions of the unholy. And Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft.
Time is running out. The witch trials are about to begin. With both their lives at stake, Fleetwood must prove Alice’s innocence. Only they know the truth.
Set against the real Pendle witch trials, this compelling novel draws its characters from historical figures as it explores the lives of seventeenth-century women. Ultimately it raises the question: Was witch hunting really just women hunting?
Author
Stacey Halls
Stacey Halls was born in 1989 and grew up in Lancashire, England. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and has worked as a journalist since the age of 21, writing for publications including The Independent, Fabulous magazine, Stylist and Psychologies. She lives in London with her husband. The Familiars is her first novel.
More audiobooks from Stacey Halls
Mrs. England Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Orphan Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for The Familiars
Rating: 4.216216216216216 out of 5 stars
4/5
111 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent! Such a well developed narrative and captivating story. The heroine, Fleetwood, will capture your heart. She’s plucky and fierce and I was cheering for her and Alice.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this book from start to finish. I’m excited to read more Stacey Halls books.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book and perfectly narrated.
I would highly recommend - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was a very satisfying listen. The stakes were set high from page one and kept building as the story unfolded. I found myself on the edge of my seat many times wondering how Fleetwood and Alice would overcome their ordeal. Great pay off at the end too, and all written so well and narrated beautifully. Didn’t know the characters were based off real people until the end, which was a pleasant surprise. Honestly, had I known that upfront it might have put me off.. but if that’s you too, it won’t matter because the narrative is executed so well. Definitely recommend ✌️
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book was OK the good parts were really good but overall I thought it was a little disjointed I am kind of a dragged on a bit. Also realistically the main character was not has been riding all over England is countryside while pregnant. But I think it deserves 3.5 stars I am still recommending this book because it is pretty good but overall I felt there was a lack of character development when it came to Alice gray I never got a sense of who she really was.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Seemed authentic to the period, with interesting details. Would recommend.