Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Familiars by Stacey Halls

6 reviews

blissofalife's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I was a little disappointed with the climax and ending. It felt like we were building up to some grand reveal which never came. Even the title of the book felt a little misleading? Familiars were mentioned, but never obviously attached or showed clear purpose. I didn’t really understand Fleetwood obsession with Alice, but maybe that was the point and I missed it.

  And the big reveal about her husband having another family? Why did that just fizzle out at the end and come to nothing? We spent half the book with her being so distressed about it and in the end the solution is: “I’ll just ignore it.” But the reveal at the end that these were real characters and loosely. (very loosely.) based on real events was super interesting to me!

 

I did, however, love the attention to historical detail and dedication to - as far as I can tell - historical accuracy in the descriptions of interactions between the classes and feelings and views of the time. As well as what the characters were wearing, and why.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Classism

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

rangerwing75's review against another edition

2.5

The plot wasn’t for me. The only thing I really liked was Alice and Fleetwood’s friendship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Blood, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

deliriah's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Blood

Minor: Vomit

wallflovver's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

there's something about this book that had me absolutely hooked, i was spending my days looking forward to unravelling more of this story as soon as i had the chance. 

im a sucker for female friendship stories, especially ones where the two seemingly have nobody else and grow together, making their days less lonely and filled with light. 

i especially loved the imagery of foxes following Fleetwood, to represent her bond with Alice even when they are apart.

i generally disliked the male characters, and felt great sympathy for the women in this story. as is true for women at the time, the society they lived in cost them their lives. 

the mix of fiction and historical fact in this book was really interesting, i enjoyed the way it was presented. 

the writing style was really nice and easy to consume, i got thru this book really quickly and had no issues with understanding the story and its plot points

overall i was completely gripped by this story and was pleased with the ending

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death and Vomit

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

laurenparham's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Hate a husband redemption story but I did still enjoy this book!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

nataliaf4's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5 stars! This book gripped me from cover to cover. I adored the characters and gothic setting and the main friendship in this is one of my favorite literary female/female friendships to date!

TW: descriptions of miscarriage and stillbirth, animal death, gaslighting, blood, and mentions of sexual abuse of a minor.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy