The biggest debut fiction launch of 2019
Stacey Halls grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, as the daughter of market traders. She has always been fascinated by the Pendle witches. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and moved to London aged 21. She was media editor at the Bookseller and books editor at Stylist.co.uk, and has also written for Psychologies, the Independent and Fabulous magazine, where she now works as Deputy Chief Sub Editor. The Familiars is her first novel.
I read this in just over a day - I was completely hooked! An
intriguing story about a fascinating period of history and
brilliant female characters.
*Libby Page, bestselling author of THE LIDO*
A wonderful novel, enthralling, spellbinding, terrifying, full of
twists and turns, written with heart and style - and the final
chapters will have you racing to the end. A brilliant novel about a
true story - and a real mystery.
*Kate Williams, author of THE STORMS OF WAR*
So pacy and brilliantly creepy
*Juliet West, author of BEFORE THE FALL*
The Familiars is an intricate and sensitive portrayal of a brave,
tenacious young girl carving her place in the world. A must-read
novel
*Heather Morris, bestselling author of The Tattooist of
Auschwitz*
Fast-paced, twisty and immense fun
*Anna Mazzola*
SO SO good . . . you had me hooked
*Nina Pottell, Prima*
A debut to look out for, one of these books that once you start
reading, you cannot put down
*The Fountain*
I see it becoming one of my favourite books of all time
*Whatever Ruby*
An outstandingly captivating book which weaves its magic around the
reader throughout
*Beady Jans Books*
Historical fiction at its feminist best
*RED Magazine*
The new Hilary Mantel... meticulously researched, beautifully
written
*Cosmopolitan*
Haunting and beautiful
*Lia Louis, debut author of Somewhere Close to Happy*
The Familiars by Stacey Halls is a debut to look out for, one of
these books that once you start reading, you cannot put down
*The Fountain*
Fluent, well paced and beautifully imagined, this is a real treat
for anyone who enjoys historical fiction- and also for all those
who do not normally choose this genre. Highly recommend, and Halls
is definitely a writer to watch
*Bibliomaniac*
Hugely fascinating, and riveting in the way it's written
*Book Sundays*
An accessible piece of historical fiction that casts a light on not
just the witch trials but on women's rights, or lack thereof,
during that particular era
*Culturefly*
Painstakingly researched, this is an enthralling debut
*IMAGE Magazine*
The novel is enriched by a visual dimension, with marvellous
evocations of period clothing, the details of interiors, the food
eaten and the appearance of the characters themselves. The reader
is given colour, texture and light in relationship to both human
activity and the landscape; descriptions which are sometimes quite
lovely, and sometimes very graphic images of appalling poverty and
destitution
*Bridport Times*
The Familiars is an accessible piece of historical fiction that
casts a light on not just the witch trials but on women's rights,
or lack thereof, during that particular era
*Culture Fly*
I've just read The Familiars by Stacey Halls and enjoyed it
immensely. I don't know much about the C17th witch trials so was
really gripped. I loved the bravery of the heroine and wonderful
period detail
*A J Pearce, author of DEAR MRS BIRD*
It is captivating as it entwines with your life, yet infuriating as
you realise how few rights Women had
*Sh*tbookreviews*
Hugely fascinating and riveting in the way it's written
*Booksundays*
The writing is incredibly fluid, pitch perfect with just the right
amount of lyricism
*The Book Family Rogerson*
This book gets under your skin! So pacy and brilliantly creepy
*Juliet West, author of THE FAITHFUL AND BEFORE THE FALL*
This book is phenomenal. Already wanting to re-read it. Beautiful,
haunting, strange and evocative. Loved every single ruddy page
*Liz Hyder*
magical storytelling and totally captivating
*amwbooks*
An outstandingly captivating book which weaves its magic around the
reader throughout
*Beady jans Books*
I see it becoming one of my favourite books of all time
*Whatever Ruby Reads*
The atmosphere of the time was perfectly recreated I felt, and
found this historical fiction taken from fact enjoyable reading
from start to finish
*Mrs Blogg's Books*
It's a proper page turner that kept me engrossed throughout . . .
Do expect well researched history brought to life through some
serious attention to detail. Halls definitely knows her stuff and
she works her factual knowledge into the text with a light
touch
*Shelfobsessed*
Gripping
*The Observer*
Halls has written a beautiful, well researched book. It's like a
rich tapestry and you can almost feel the atmosphere and tension...
The story felt authentic. Not only is it well researched and
heavily peppered with actual events and people, it's an incredibly
engaging story... This is an outstanding story. I devoured it. If
there's one book you need to pick up this February it's this
gorgeous book
*LipSquid Book Blog*
Not a fan of historical fiction? Prepare to change your mind...
Fierce, feminist and properly fabulous
*FABULOUS*
The most spellbinding debut novel of 2019
*Gardners Select*
This is spellbinding historical fiction
*Psychologies*
A gorgeously written novel that I couldn't put down once I started
it. . . I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical
fiction, especially Laura Purcell's novels
*Lyra Silvertongue Reads*
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It left me feeling enthralled with parts
and spellbound by others
*Whisperingstories*
Spellbinding historical fiction
*Psychologies Magazine*
Fierce, feminist and properly fabulous
*Fabulous Magazine. The Sun*
Compelling storytelling
*Prima*
a truly spellbinding debut
*Good Housekeeping*
A stunningly beautiful, courageous read. . . deceptively powerful,
moving and provocative, Stacey Halls writs with an eloquent pen.
Opening a window into a vivid feast of a read, as a debut novel The
Familiars stands out from the crowd
*Love Reading*
Man alive this book has some buzz and rightly so. . . it's got it
all: The Pendle witch trials of 1612, female bonding, an addictive
mystery and a story based on real events (always a winner). . .
Enjoy, people, enjoy
*Stylist Magazine*
Engaging novel
*RED Magazine*
The Familiars by Stacey Halls is historical fiction of the highest
order . . . well worthy of the hype
*Sunday Telegraph Magazine*
a beguiling and beautiful debut novel
*Fabulous Magazine*
Come for the draw of the witch trials, stay for the story of a
noblewoman in a prison that was England in the 17th century
*The Irish Times*
A really compelling story
*Janice Forsyth, BBC Radio Scotland*
I loved The Familiars so much. Hypnotic
*Joanna Cannon*
One of the years most trumpeted debuts
*Grazia*
Breathtaking, emotional and powerful in every sense of the word.
The Familiars by Stacey Halls is a stunning portrayal of fear,
friendship, truth and betrayal of power and I have no doubt that
this will be on every 2019 book of the year list at the end of this
year . . . The Familiars by Stacey Halls is a masterpiece and I
cannot wait to read more from this talented author
*Books of All Kinds*
The Familiars is a feminist tour-de-force, spiced with frissons of
supernatural, brimming with local history, and opening up a
fascinating female perspective on the plight of the woman who faced
degradation and death in a dark corner of Lancaster Castle
*Lancashire Post*
It's superbly produced, a thing of genuine physical beauty but,
most importantly, the writing is immense and mesmerising
*Fully Booked*
Fresh, deliberately uncluttered writing typifies a strong,
confident debut with a perennially absorbing subject as its
focus
*The Daily Mail*
An enchanting and promising debut
*HEAT Magazine*
The Familiars is a poignant, enthralling, and extremely rich story
about friendship, self-discovery, injustice, heartbreak and
betrayal. It kept me hooked from page one and I devoured it as
quickly as it devoured me
*Parabati Reviews*
"A beautiful story based on the Pendle witch trials of 1612 makes
for a fine debut. 5 stars"
*The Sun*
A strong debut. . . Stacey Halls tells a spirited tale
*The Times*
This adventure paints a fascinating portrait of the perilous
position of women in the 1600s
*The Sunday Mirror*
The Familiars is as rich in content as its cover is in beauty.
Historical accuracy balanced with imagination. Exposition never
weighing the book down. Tremendous characterisation and absorbing
storytelling combined with appreciative nods to Du Maurier's
Rebecca
*Lizzy's Literary Life*
This book is beautifully written. I was very quickly drawn into the
landscape of Gawthorpe Hall and the surrounding countryside. I was
eased into Fleetwood's everyday life, and every time I had to put
this book down I looked forward to when I could pick it up
again
*Rebecca's Rave Reviews*
Dramatic, moving, and richly atmospheric
*My Weekly*
An enchanting story, conjured from real historical events
*BEST Magazine*
At the warm heart of this captivating novel is Fleetwood, a young
woman who must overcome superstition and a controlling,
untrustworthy husband in order to do the right thing
*Sunday Express*
an arresting piece of fiction
*The Times*
This is a brilliant debut, pacy and inventive, from a terrifically
talented new voice
*Daily Telegraph*
This is a powerful look at how there is nothing that terrified men
more than women they don't understand
*Stylist*
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