Any book that is based on witchcraft has my instant attention and with a cover that beautiful I was drawn in like a moth to a flame. I had it on good authority that Stacey Halls writing was exceptional and I can absolutely agree with that. Her attention to detail on the historical elements were outstanding, in particular the descriptions of the clothing and buildings, which really brought the story to life. The big draw for me was the main protagonist, Fleetwood Shuttleworth (amazing name) and Alice Gray, the relationship between these two women and the drive of Fleetwood to help Alice clear her name of witchcraft allegations was compelling. Fleetwood felt so fully rounded as a character and I loved her determination and courage even in the face of adversity. I was very interested to find out at the end of the book that these were real life people, it added an authenticity to the book that I wasn't expecting. Wonderful imagery and often the darkest of human aspects are handled with utmost care by the author and as it often is with books set in this time period, you are left feeling dismayed by the treatment of innocent women being accused of witchcraft and being dragged through the courts based on nothing but hearsay. A thoroughly engaging historical fiction from a new voice who has a lot to say. Loved it!

An absorbing story, set in the times of the Lancashire Pendle witch trials. A thoughtful study of the lives of women.

I'm afraid I was unable to read this book in time but I hope it finds the right readers. This is due to my prioritising physical advanced copies but I hope that I will be able to work better with Netgalley copies in the future.

This was a nice easy read but lacked depth for me. The main character of Fleetwood I found rather wet and irritating at times and I thought she wasn't a strong enough character. The stories of the witches aren't explained and other plot lines are left open. I would have liked to know more historical detail as it seems an interesting period in history.

I'm always drawn to novels about the Pendle Witches. I grew up a fell miles from Pendle Hill and my family is related to several of the women executed. This is an enjoyable story with and engaging cast of characters and a plot that employs the main historical facts while making good use of the uncanny elements of the accusations and the "witches". There's an authentic period flavour to the story and the themes resonate today, with women stripped of their agency and voices and left vulnerable the the whims and accusations built on patriarchy, from the King down. It's disappointing that the trial itself is absent but its a well-crafted and enjoyable tale that is still all too relevant today.

Can we first please just mention the absolutely stunning cover!? Isn’t it just beautiful and so very eye-catching? I love it!

And then … the name of the main character: Fleetwood Shuttleworth!! I adore that too! It just oozes with a sense of depth and underlying richness (I don’t mean wealth, I’m talking about a sense of ‘knowing’ and self-worth) – and she was a real person!

So … the story: Fleetwood has been plucked from a life of mediocrity by the wealthy Richard Shuttleworth, but in four years of marriage has failed to produce an heir. She has miscarried three pregnancies, and now at the age of only 17 she’s pregnant again, only to discover a letter written to her husband by her doctor, saying that she will never carry a pregnancy to full term and that she will surely die before she manages to give birth to this child! She is, understandably, devastated. She wants more than anything to be able to give her husband a son, and to make them into a family. However, she lacks to maturity and courage to even confront Richard with her knowledge of the letter’s existence.

Instead, she keeps it hidden away and wanders the vast estate either on foot, with her beloved, enormous dog Puck, or on horseback. One day, she falls off her horse and encounters a strange, waif-like girl trespassing on Shuttleworth land. It is through this meeting that she finds the means she needs to deliver what she most wants into the world: a son!

But the countryside is on high alert. There is talk of witches in the area and soon, her new confidante is accused of being a witch. Fleetwood must do everything in her power to ensure that she is not found guilty.

Halls has created an absolutely fascinating story, weaving fiction around factual events and characters and making use of her obviously well-versed research. The Pendle witch trials is a subject that many find intriguing. Were those women truly witches? Or were they merely a group of women feared by men for being to wise for their liking; too clever; ahead of their time? Could they have been the early leaders of the feminist movement? Maybe we’re still trying to figure it all out. This book contributes to and supports the theory that there is nothing quite like women supporting other women. Stacey Halls has done a magnificent job of showing that and needs to be commended for it.

This is an absorbing 4-star read – not only for those who enjoy tales of witches, but for anyone who likes a deep and enthralling story that wraps itself around the reader and draws you in until you’re done.

Fleetwood Shuttleworth is pregnant for the 4th time at the age of 17, after having 3 miscarriages she is desperate for a baby, she hires Alice as a midwife who promised she would do her best to help her give birth safely.
As her pregnancy progresses, Alice’s odd concoctions and ideas are working & Fleetwood starts to feel more like her normal self, unfortunately some news comes to light and Alice is suspected to be a witch, can Fleetwood save her new friend, and the lives of her and her unborn baby in the process?
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was based on true events, I love a good historical fiction novel, the addition of the whimsical writing made this book very hard to put down, if I didn’t need to go to sleep it would have been devoured in one sitting.
The way this dealt with the idea of witches and witch trials was a breath of fresh air, with the main character sympathising with the possible ‘witches’ instead of it being told from the perspective of the witch hunter.
There were so many twists and turns that just kept me wanting more, i can’t wait to see what Stacey writes in the future!

This was a beautifully written story which gripped me from the first time I laid my eyes on the cover and read the blurb. I don't frequently read historical fiction, but once I started with the first line, I couldn't let go of my kindle.

Two women in the 1612, during the era of the Pendle Witch Trials, living in a male dominated society, under the reign of their King James, the story depicted their unlikely bond. Their friendship surpassed all the class differences that prevailed in those times.

Fleetwood was 17 years old and has had 3 miscarriages. A letter from a doctor found in her husband's study convinced her that she would not survive her 4th. Alice was found on her land who claimed to be a midwife, learning the power of herbs from her mother, and hence was hired by Fleetwood.

In the same timeframe, there was a hunt for women accused to be witches. This story was about Fleetwood and Alice's friendship amidst an atmosphere of superstition and persecution. And then Alice was accused of being a witch and thrown into the gaol.

My first book by author Stacey Halls, I was blown away by the way her writing captivated me. It was clean and crisp with the lines evoking powerful imagery. Their emerging trust had me championing and rooting for the two women. My heart turned over when Alice was wrenched away and accused to be a witch. The crux of the story rested on what would Fleetwood do in her heavily pregnant state to save her friend.

I loved Fleetwood, the author's strokes of the pen gave her a complete outlook. As a 17 year old, with modern yet slightly antiquated views, she captured my attention from the get-go. The author's lines made the character grow with every page. My connection with her grew stronger, and there was nothing more I wanted than to know if she and her baby would survive and if she could do something to save Alice.

Fleetwood was the driving force who brought this story to life, Alice with her subtle ways was the spirit of this book. Together they bound this historical tale, weaving their subtle emotions into the dark atmosphere of those times, revealing the different facets of the other characters, making this book a compelling read.

I loved reading more about the Pendle Witches and their trials in this book. I had a vague knowledge of them and seeing the familiar names throughout the book had my spine tingling. Fantastic.

Elegant, immersive, satisfying storytelling. I'm a nerd for anything witch-related at the moment, and this ticked so many boxes. The ending was perhaps a little neat for my taste, but I know most folk prefer to have all the ends tied up so fair enough. I'll definitely read more from this author.

An engrossing historical novel set during the Pendle witch trials. It lacked a little of the detail and full on witchiness I was craving at the time but the main character Fleetwood is only peripherally involved. I loved how she grew from being slightly meek to more rebellious as the friendship developed between her and her midwife Alice, it was a lovely portrayal of empowerment and feminism appropriate for the time it was set in.

A little less fantastical than I was anticipating, but with a good blend of fiction based on historical fact with a hint of magic. I'd definitely read another book by Stacey Halls.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

Teenager Fleetwood Shuttleworth lives with her husband at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire. She is pregnant for the fourth time, with all her previous pregnancies having ended in miscarriage or stillbirth. Fleetwood's husband, Richard, is eager for an heir, so when Fleetwood discovers a letter from a doctor who fears that Fleetwood's next pregnancy might kill her, she enlists the help of a midwife named Alice Gray. Fleetwood is determined that with Alice's help she will give birth to a healthy baby, but she soon finds herself drawn into the local witch trials when Alice is accused of being a witch.
Is Alice innocent? Is she a mere midwife, or something else entirely?
Will Fleetwood's friendship with Alice save her or ruin her?

The cover for The Familiars instantly drew me in (it's so beautiful!), and the blurb intrigued me – especially seeing as the book is based on real events and real people. Going in to this I didn't know much about the witch trials that happened in England, and I'm very glad that I wasn't alive back then!
Fleetwood was a likeable protagonist. I felt sorry for her given what she had been through, and really hoped that both she and the baby would make it through the pregnancy okay. I liked that she had a big dog that followed her around everywhere. I also liked Fleetwood's friendship with Alice – she had never really had any friends so it was nice to see her bond with someone.
The plot was interesting, but I wasn't particularly shocked by anything that happened, and I wasn't gripped.
The writing style was easy to follow and I liked that the reader is left with some unanswered questions.

Overall this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Set in the 17th century around the time of the Pendleton witch trials where superstition and a fear of witchcraft was ostensibly whipped up by an obsession of King James 1. It was a time of abject poverty, disease and hunger. A child was lucky to be delivered safely alive or survive childhood. Childbirth was both dangerous for the child and the mother. Even the nobility were not exempt.
A noble woman Fleetwood Shuttleworth having suffered several miscarriages is pregnant once again hoping to provide her husband Richard with an heir. One day she meets a midwife and herbs woman named Alice Grey. Knowing it’s risky she accepts her help hopefully to prevent the loss of another baby. The two young women’s fate become linked as they become embroiled in the witch trials of 1612. Their survival depends on each other.
The writer breathes life into her characters which do have a basis in fact. We are also given a believable insight into the lives of the women in the 17th century and their treatment. Excellent debut novel.

Fleetwood Shuttleworth, the mistress of Gawthorpe Hall, is pregnant for the fourth time. She has miscarried every time she has been pregnant and one day finds a letter in her husband Richard's room from a doctor which says she will not survive another pregnancy. One day, she meets a young midwife named Alice who promises to help her throughout the pregnancy and childbirth.

However, one of Richard's friends is an influential person in the Pendle witches trial and soon Fleetwood and Alice find themselves caught up in the chaos surrounding it. As they both try to fight back against a patriarchal system that doesn't like the way women like them act or live their lives, they soon realise they will need to save each other to survive.

I knew from the start I was going to love this book because the Pendle Witches is something I've been interested in since I was young. I grew up in one of the towns near Pendle Hill, you could see it from my grandma's house. My mum said that when she was young, our great-grandma who lived in Clitheroe, used to scare them with stories about how we were related to Old Demdike. So I had a real personal connection to this book and of course I loved it! Stacey Halls has created a wonderful piece of historical fiction.

A fantastic book set around the Pendle witch trials. This spellbinding tale is full of brilliantly strong female characters whose tribulations transcend the centuries. It is beautifully written, an all-round fantastic debut! I couldn't have loved it more!

Set in Lancaster in 1612, this book is steeped in historical issues that surrounded Pendle Hill. Whilst running parallel with the witch trials that occurred at that time, the story is more about the life and strife of Fleetwood Shuttleworth in her miserable marriage and her relationship with a young midwife called Alice Grey.
17 years old and Pregnant for the 4th time, her husband, Richard is very anxious for an heir following her previous inabilities to carry a child through to term. Upon coming across a letter to her husband warning him, his wife should not bear any more children, else she will not survive, she becomes fearful of what lies ahead of her.
It is atmospheric in its telling of the control Richard attempts to hold over his wife and the prejudice transferred to her midwife, who uses herbs and plants to help treat her symptoms that causes her to be seen suspiciously as a witch.
Despite her youth, and limited ability to influence as a woman in society at those times, Fleetwood is strong willed and has a strong sense of right and wrong. She is opposed to prejudice and goes to the enth degree to stop Alice from being associated with witchcraft and exposed to a trial.
It is difficult to get the dialogue right to reflect such a young mind and therefore less mature thought processes, but even the inner thoughts of Fleetwood and the associated descriptions were a tad too much on the simplistic side for me. The pace is decent, more on the slower side, which is fitting for the genre but enough to keep the pages turning. I would have liked Alice’s character to have been developed a bit further as I felt there was more to should have learned about her. All in all though an enjoyable read, with a great historical backdrop.

The title of the book, for me, comes not only from the idea of witch's familiars (the devil taking the form of an animal such as a cat or toad) but also from the sad familiarity of women being punished for the terrible crime of not being men. This book is set firmly in 1612, the year of the Pendle Witch Trials, and largely in a large country house overlooking Pendle Hill itself. The focus is on Fleetwood Shuttleworth (such a C17th name it had to be real!) who is seventeen years old, passionately in love with her husband Richard, and desperate not to have yet another miscarriage. She is seventeen and this is her fourth pregnancy - which, perhaps, sums up the difficulties of life for a gentlewoman of the time. Fearful for the life of her child, and her own, Fleetwood meets a young woman who has experience as a midwife (then, as now, essential through pregnancy as well as at the birth) but is then propelled into the chain of events which lead to the famous witch trials. The midwife, Alice, is able to help Fleetwood - with herbal remedies, calm good advice and practical support - but is unable to escape being caught up in an actual witch-hunt - again, summing up the hardships of the life of a poor countrywoman of the time.

The historical facts of the trials are covered well - no mean feat given that the author had to fit the timeline of the trials into the timeline of a pregnancy - but it is the friendship between the two women which really draws you into the book. There is mutual respect and support between them, despite the differences in their fortunes they both have something to offer the other. Obviously neither women is perfect (that would be a very dull character) but what occurred to me is that it is the men in the book who show all the faults usually ascribed to women: Richard, the husband, is weak and moody and local magistrate Roger Nowell is malicious and manipulative. At some points in the story it seems that large amounts of power rest with a child so, although we see the struggle as it was at the time, we also realise that the situation is quite anarchic. Without giving too much away by the end of the novel even the King's authority is threatened by women who find themselves empowered by female friendship.

At the age of 17 Fleetwood Shuttleworth should be happy, married to a rich and kind man and chatelaine of the beautiful Gawthorpe Hall. Unfortunately Fleetwood has never managed to carry a child to term and now she is pregnant gain. Finding a letter from a doctor stating that to carry another child will kill the mother, Fleetwood becomes anxious and is only calmed by the attentions of the strange Alice whom she employs as midwife. Alice, however, has secrets of her own and she is accused of witchcraft alongside several neighbours from the Pendle area. In the paranoid atmosphere of James I reign, hysterical accusations of witchcraft are rife. Fleetwood believes the only way she can carry a child to term is to have Alice at her side and that leads both into danger and conflict.
The story of the Pendle Witches is long buried in folklore but happened at a time when James I was utterly obsessed with the supernatural and believed that Lancashire was a hot bed of idolatry and devil worship. In this tale, actual individuals from the annals are re-imagined and a clever tale woven from the facts.

Based around the real 1612 Pendle Witch Trials, this compelling novel explores the rights of 17th century women and the true fate of those accused of witchcraft. Fleetwood Shuttleworth, noblewoman of Gawthorpe Hall, is pregnant for the fourth time. She has never carried a baby to term. Desperate to deliver an heir for her husband, Richard, Fleetwood enlists the help of a local midwife named Alice Grey. But Alice is soon drawn into the accusations of witchcraft that are sweeping the area, and Fleetwood must risk everything to clear her name.

I love books about witches, especially ones based on real-life events, and The Familiars really hit the mark. I know next to nothing about the Pendle Witch Trials (although I do now want to learn more), but I do know that Fleetwood, Alice and all the other characters in this book are based on real people affected by these trials. The author has used the real names of the women accused and tried for witchcraft, and built a fictional story out of the mystery of what really happened, which is truly fascinating.

The story is wonderfully well-written. The author builds a mysterious, slightly haunting atmosphere without any inclusion of actual magic. The plot is quite simple and develops slowly, but this only adds to the atmosphere and realism.

Fleetwood was a slightly annoying character (though I adore her name), but she fitted well into the story and was bearable enough to read about. Her complete powerlessness against the men around her was frustrating but, considering that the story is based on truth, realistic and frightening. I kind of hated her husband but, for the time, his actions were to be expected.

Also, how beautiful is that cover?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

1612 is a dangerous time to be a woman in Northern England as King James has declared war on witches. Fleetwood is 17 and pregnant for the fourth time. Her other pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Desperate not to miscarry this child or lose her own life in childbirth, she turns to a local midwife, Alice Grey. When Alice gets accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood has to decide how far she’ll go to save her friend. Loosely based on the Pendle witch trials, this is a gripping, atmospheric page-turner.