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The Familiars

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The Familiars

By: Stacey Halls
Narrated by: Katy Sobey
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About this listen

 To save her child, she will trust a stranger. To protect a secret, she must risk her life...

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.

Stacey Halls is the Winner of the Women's Prize Futures Award for her novel Mrs England.

'Assured and alluring, this beautiful tale of women and witchcraft and the fight against power was a delight from start to finish' Jessie Burton, bestselling author of THE MINIATURIST©2019 Stacey Halls (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Pregnancy Marriage

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Living in Clitheroe so close to Pendle Hill, the stories about the Pendle witches are not just fable, but our vivid history. It was so lovely to hear such a beautiful fictional account of it and so eloquently read too. I will be reading the book as well.

Wonderful book and beautifully read!

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A Beautifully written book; the writer is gifted in the art of storytelling and I was thoroughly impressed with the way that historical fact and some authentic fiction were intertwined. A delight to read (despite the Sad subject matter) as the writing is compelling. I thought that the role of women in society was fascinating and drew many comparisons with today. I shall seek out more from this author

Storytelling at its best

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Stacey Hall has written an excellent book based around the Pendelbury Witch trials of 1662, some of the characters actually existed which makes the novel even more interesting. One can't help but sympathise with the women of this novel who are treated as second class citizens, dependant on a man and having children to satisfy the conventions they are trapped in. As an aside I found the thought of the 'marriage' of a child aged 4 years to a man of 30 makes you cringe but made me want to explore this subject to a greater length. It is worth noting that the majority of these 'marriages' did not actually survive into adulthood as alliances were often annulled when it became clear to the families that another marriage to a person of higher standing in the community would benefit them more. All in all this book is an excellent study of women and their place, and lack of dependence in a male orientated society, mind you the main female character is very ahead of her time !

The Familiars.

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Excellent book, I enjoyed this one a great deal. Reader was good and story was great. I will be listening to this one again.

Enthralling from the beginning

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truly worth the read I enjoyed every moment of it. The characters are lovingly written and enamour them to you.

amazing

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Loved it. Very enjoyable with great twists and turns. Draws you in to the point you feel like your there.

Brilliant

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A very engaging story sparked by the Pendle witches. Well performed and thoroughly enjoyable. I was sad when it was over.

Thoroughly enjoyable!

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Great story, i really enjoyed this book. I usually listen with expectation of drifting off to sleep, however this story made me want to stay awake and hear every word.
Great reading by Katy Sobey, with excellent expression, and tone.

I loved listening to Katey Sobeys narration. .

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An excellent read. The narration was very good with clear change of character and accents.

An excellent read. Great narration with convincing

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Initially wasn’t too sure about the narrator but I soon got used to it, I felt she didn’t always show variation in her voice that matched the mood. On the whole I enjoyed the story particularly with having visited Gawthorpe Hall and surrounding areas.

Interesting story

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