I second most of your points. It was FINE. I also picked it up much for the same religious girlie trauma vibes. The difference between us is that this was my first experience with Bardugo. It didn't serve as great justification to go back and pick up anything else she's written.
I just finished this book and feel the exact same way!! It was... okay. I wanted to put it at 3 stars but ended up giving it 4 stars because even though I didn't care for the plot, Leigh Bardugo is a great writer. It was just kind of underwhelming and I was hoping there would be more fantasy. The book felt more like historical fiction than a historical fantasy... not my favorite. So glad to see your review!
Bardugo is pretty high in my TBR (wasn’t familiar with her, but then I subscribed to your channel)…Her books sound generally good, just not in a hurry to read them yet. I really enjoy a lot of the books I hear about here. I’ll manage my expectations when I get around to reading her stuff. Thanks
I agree with everything you said! It was just fine for me, and I also felt like it was sort of half-baked. I thought Luzia’s Jewish heritage was going to be more relevant.
I'm glad to hear your thoughts on The Familiar. I use you as a Bardugo barometer because we have such similar experiences with her works, so I'll definitely be going into this book with lowered expectations
I liked it for the folky/historical/religious setting and a lot of the neat details that came full circle by the end. It read easily, too. But I do agree it could have used something a bit "more". I gave it a low 4 (prob more like a 3.75 -ish).
I really liked this at the start but as time went on I started to lose interest. I just felt the plot was lacking overall and didn’t really go anywhere. I did like the vibes and characters. I actually liked the romance but I still thought it was a bit rushed and they fell in love a bit too quickly, I’d have preferred more pining.
Hey hey I just want to say first of all my name is Ben I live in Oregon and I definitely feel like I get headaches every time I try to read a physical book so I I'm an audible person is it okay to participate in a like discussion about books even if you just read it I would love to be added it's just every single time I read a book I get migraines so I just purely wanted to ask if an audiobook counts as actual reading I don't know if I'm right in saying that or whatever but I would really like to be involved I love your videos keep doing what you're doing it's amazing again I'm Ben I appreciate all you do I mean I just don't know who you live into these things I don't have a channel or anything
I'm glad you said that but can I do a read along without I know I don't have a channel or anything but I'd like to do a really long if I'd read the book and I'm just saying like if I listen to it on audible does that preclude me from being involved in a like buddy reader or anything like that cuz I wish I would be involved and stuff I love your videos too I just I really don't know as far as how all that goes
I think my expectations were either too high or id bought into the way it was being marketed too much? Probably both. I heard Leigh describe it as her most romantic/emotional/personal work so far. Maybe i just didn't connect with the story. It wasnt bad by any means just abit underwhelming. I felt like it either needed to be alot shorter (like something from Language of Thorns) or twice as long. Also, can we please stop having these poorly made hardbacks as standard/only physical option for new releases? My book might have sprayed edges or a foiled dustjacket but the spine is about as sturdy as a wet paper straw
I was underwhelmed. I LOVE the Grishaverse, and I have yet to read Ninth House + Hell Bent. Due to my issues with The Familiar, mostly just a lack of enjoyment overall, I’m hesitant to read Ninth House🫠
I decided not to read this because I didn't enjoy the excerpt and realized I was only going to get it because of the author and not the book itself. I do have authors that I follow and are must reads for me, but if I'm really not interested I don't think it's good to force myself in order to say I've read all their books. I've done that in the past with series and it's probably one of the reason for a major reading slump. Everything is not for everybody. No disrespect meant.
I second most of your points. It was FINE. I also picked it up much for the same religious girlie trauma vibes. The difference between us is that this was my first experience with Bardugo. It didn't serve as great justification to go back and pick up anything else she's written.
yes! edited down too much. i only had time to attached to luiza and when certain storylines ended *cough* *cough* i simply wasn’t sad
I just finished this book and feel the exact same way!! It was... okay. I wanted to put it at 3 stars but ended up giving it 4 stars because even though I didn't care for the plot, Leigh Bardugo is a great writer. It was just kind of underwhelming and I was hoping there would be more fantasy. The book felt more like historical fiction than a historical fantasy... not my favorite. So glad to see your review!
Bardugo is pretty high in my TBR (wasn’t familiar with her, but then I subscribed to your channel)…Her books sound generally good, just not in a hurry to read them yet. I really enjoy a lot of the books I hear about here. I’ll manage my expectations when I get around to reading her stuff. Thanks
I agree with everything you said! It was just fine for me, and I also felt like it was sort of half-baked. I thought Luzia’s Jewish heritage was going to be more relevant.
I'm glad to hear your thoughts on The Familiar. I use you as a Bardugo barometer because we have such similar experiences with her works, so I'll definitely be going into this book with lowered expectations
lol happy to be your Bardugo barometer
I liked it for the folky/historical/religious setting and a lot of the neat details that came full circle by the end. It read easily, too. But I do agree it could have used something a bit "more". I gave it a low 4 (prob more like a 3.75 -ish).
Although I'm intrigued to read the book, I'm not in a total rush. I think it's because the past few books were meh
I really liked this at the start but as time went on I started to lose interest. I just felt the plot was lacking overall and didn’t really go anywhere. I did like the vibes and characters. I actually liked the romance but I still thought it was a bit rushed and they fell in love a bit too quickly, I’d have preferred more pining.
Bugger! I was sooo looking forward to it especially because it was a standalone. Sounds like it should of been a duology… Thank you for the review😉
Hey hey I just want to say first of all my name is Ben I live in Oregon and I definitely feel like I get headaches every time I try to read a physical book so I I'm an audible person is it okay to participate in a like discussion about books even if you just read it I would love to be added it's just every single time I read a book I get migraines so I just purely wanted to ask if an audiobook counts as actual reading I don't know if I'm right in saying that or whatever but I would really like to be involved I love your videos keep doing what you're doing it's amazing again I'm Ben I appreciate all you do I mean I just don't know who you live into these things I don't have a channel or anything
absolutely audiobooks count as reading :)
I'm glad you said that but can I do a read along without I know I don't have a channel or anything but I'd like to do a really long if I'd read the book and I'm just saying like if I listen to it on audible does that preclude me from being involved in a like buddy reader or anything like that cuz I wish I would be involved and stuff I love your videos too I just I really don't know as far as how all that goes
I think my expectations were either too high or id bought into the way it was being marketed too much? Probably both. I heard Leigh describe it as her most romantic/emotional/personal work so far. Maybe i just didn't connect with the story. It wasnt bad by any means just abit underwhelming. I felt like it either needed to be alot shorter (like something from Language of Thorns) or twice as long. Also, can we please stop having these poorly made hardbacks as standard/only physical option for new releases? My book might have sprayed edges or a foiled dustjacket but the spine is about as sturdy as a wet paper straw
her wit's :she is damn funny in Ninth House
I was underwhelmed. I LOVE the Grishaverse, and I have yet to read Ninth House + Hell Bent. Due to my issues with The Familiar, mostly just a lack of enjoyment overall, I’m hesitant to read Ninth House🫠
personally i loved Ninth House and Hell Bent... but not The Familiar. maybe you'll have a similar experience?
Thanks but I'm going to read it
I bet there is a lot more on a second read
I'm not telling you not to read it lol
I decided not to read this because I didn't enjoy the excerpt and realized I was only going to get it because of the author and not the book itself. I do have authors that I follow and are must reads for me, but if I'm really not interested I don't think it's good to force myself in order to say I've read all their books. I've done that in the past with series and it's probably one of the reason for a major reading slump.
Everything is not for everybody. No disrespect meant.
I’ve never read any of this authors books , what genre / style does this author write ?
fantasy
i was so disappointed :(
I read it a while ago, I wanted to like it but I was disappointed