The Familiars: The dark, captivating Sunday Times bestseller and original break-out witch-lit novel - Hardcover

Halls, Stacey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1785766112 ISBN 13: 9781785766114

Publisher: Zaffre, 2019

Synopsis

The Sunday Times Bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club Pick


In a time of suspicion and accusation, to be a woman is the greatest risk of all . . .

Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old, married, and pregnant for the fourth time. But as the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall, she still has no living child, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a letter she isn't supposed to read from the doctor who delivered her third stillbirth, she is dealt the crushing blow that she will not survive another pregnancy.

Then she crosses paths by chance with Alice Gray, a young midwife. Alice promises to help her give birth to a healthy baby, and to prove the physician wrong.

As Alice is drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the north-west, Fleetwood risks everything by trying to help her. But is there more to Alice than meets the eye?

Soon the two women's lives will become inextricably bound together as the legendary trial at Lancaster approaches, and Fleetwood's stomach continues to grow. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake.

Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.

'Assured and alluring, this beautiful tale of women and witchcraft and the fight against power was a delight from start to finish' Jessie Burton, author of THE MINIATURIST

'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

'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, 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' Kate Williams, author of THE STORMS OF WAR

About this title

Review:

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 -- Cyan Turan, RED Magazine

From the Author:

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.

About this edition

• Publisher: Zaffre
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1785766112
• ISBN 13: 9781785766114
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 432