Welcome to Litsy!

Me and the book I was hoping to get through over the weekend… hahahaha oops?!

I‘ve switched over to the audiobook so that I‘m still progressing during work hours… but TBD if I get it finished before I have to talk about it to a (small) room of people…

Team Wing It, it‘ll probably be fine

Eddie decided he likes this book enough to sit in it… in the basket, under the table. 😂

I‘m sorry but this was so slow. I was excited 2 dive into a historical fantasy where I was sure we‘d see some great characters & a plot that kept me reading. Instead, I found the characters dull, the romance shouldn‘t have existed, the fantasy barely there, & I actually forgot this was during the Spanish Inquisition. I feel guilty b/c this was 1 of my most anticipated reads, & I‘ve loved everything I‘ve read by LB so far, but this was a miss 4 me.

As a lover of a good story, I was captivated by this book. I felt the highs and the lows with each of the characters throughout. The writing is masterful. The descriptions were full of life and the characters felt like old friends. It would have been easy to make some of the characters one-dimensional, but we see real depth in everyone....
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6472791318

Really loved this book. The inquisition with men in power that would make my blood boil. Loved Luzia who just wants to see the world and to be allowed to pray as she wishes. Don‘t want to love Santangel but I do! Love forever and ever. Good and bad magic makes this a winner for me. 🦂🦂🦂🦂

This story was not at all what I was expecting but I ended up liking it. It‘s got a romance thread running through that I didn‘t particularly enjoy but the supernatural elements were pretty cool! Who doesn‘t love a character who can heal things/make things grow just by singing?! A great audiobook as well! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Fantasy at its best,sans dragons or faeries or smut! I love historical fiction, this 16th century epic is set during the Spanish Inquisition with magic,greed,love worth fighting for,church corruption at its finest,and full of nonstop action.I couldn‘t put this down;I started it via the Audible version through Libby and had to run to my local indie bookstore and pick up the hardback so I could see the words I was hearing and feeling.Book#54 in 2024

Enjoyable😊

4.5/5 ⭐️ #FoodandLit Spain 🇪🇸

Luzia Cotado‘s magical abilities are discovered, and she is forced to compete in a tournament for the king during the Spanish Inquisition.

Gothic ✨ Fortune ✨ Hope

I love Leigh Bardugo‘s fanatsy - Main characters that are complex, love stories that aren‘t cringey, and world building that feels inspired.

Another fascinating story by Leigh Bardugo.

Definitely a slow start but well worth the read. It felt very similar to The Night Circus, a love story in disguise.

This is a historical fantasy set in 1600 Madrid,I loved everything about this book the characters were well written the prose and style of writing were wonderful and it was all wrapped around a history that was riveting.
#readAway2024 book 17

I liked this read and if people have been eyeing it I would certainly give it a read! However I felt a lack of depth in both characters and storyline. There‘s a lot of hints to a broader backstory to a lot of the characters that I felt maybe wasn‘t fully explored that left me a bit wanting.

I wanted to love this book but it reminded me so much of The Hunger Games, I ended up feeling like it lacked originality and missed many opportunities. I liked the story: girls and one boy compete in a magical competition to become the king of Spain‘s magician, at a time when the Inquisition was still quite a threat to witches. The Familiar, as in the title, is the main character‘s “coach” through the games. I was sad the Inquisition played ⬇️

“But let it be my ambition and not my fear that seals my fate”

So I don't read many paranormal books, but I got this at the local library at the lake. Luzia sings phrases of magic to help her through the drudgery of a scullion in a home in Madrid. When her mistress catches her turning burnt bread into a golden loaf, she thinks she can use Luzia to open the doors to the rich and influential people of the city. When she commands Luzia to break a glass and assemble again, Santangel is there , a stranger⬇️

4 Stars • The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is a historical fantasy novel set in the Spanish Golden Age. It revolves around Luzia Cotado, a scullery maid with Jewish ancestry. Luzia is discovered to possess magical abilities by her employer, Valentina, who forces her to perform publicly. This leads to Luzia being approached by a patron, Víctor de Paredes, to compete in a competition to produce a holy magic user to serve the king.

This book tried to kill me!! I loved it so much I wish I had started it on a vacation or something so I could have finished it in one day. Leigh Bardugo is an always buy for me. And the hardcover is beautiful!

I loved this book! I‘m not surprised because I love Leigh Bardugo, but I am surprised I enjoyed this story. Set in Spain, a servant has “magical powers” and draws attention to herself. She‘s also Jewish and has to hide that, so she doesn‘t attract the inquisition. You follow a few people‘s points of view but the storytelling unfolded beautifully.

I‘m very excited for my next audiobook. For #Spain #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

I‘ve narrowed it down to three options for #foodandlit (both for books and food).

My food options are:
1. Spanish lentils
2. Patatas bravas
3. Ensaladilla rusa

It‘s already hot in my neck of the woods so The ensaladilla rusa is a heavy favorite. It‘s not to everyone‘s taste but it‘s right up my alley.

https://youtu.be/YtpfNmfTQPA?si=_RkSjDYjgGHK7Xmh

Just wow! Even better than Ninth House and Hell Bent.

My #botm picks for May!

My #2024readingbracket is filling up fast! The Familiar was definitely my favorite book of the month, but hard to beat Bone Season as my favorite of the year so far. So many books, so little time! #readingbracket2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i absolutely love this book and give it all the stars!
“Did it matter who held the power? Whether it was Perez or the king or Victor de Paredes or a man with a funnel in your mouth? What difference did it make if the person with the power wasn‘t you?”

I really enjoyed this new release. It is not what you might expect, this is more historical fiction than anything else, with a romance, some magical realism and a mystery. Taking place in the Spanish Golden age, which is not a time period I read before. I don‘t like giving many details, as going in mostly blind to books always is the best experience for me. Just note this is not “Romantasy”, so don‘t go in expecting that. 4.5⭐️

So I‘m not sure if I‘ve just never read a new book with painted edges or what, but ALL the pages are sticking together. The struggle is real to just turn to the next page. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤪🤪

#readerproblems

Historical fantasy taking place during the Spanish Inquisition, Luzia‘s heritage makes her as much of a target as her Magic. When she is discovered some find an opportunity to exploit her, while others support her. Religious persecution, classism &sexism influence their responses as they dream of a change of fortune.

I liked this a lot! It is a bit of a slow pace at the start, but very good.

While the Six of crows duology remains my favorite of Bardugo‘s books—more Kaz please & thank you—this one is probably my second favorite…I think. Bardugo is a fantastic world builder & this story, set in medieval Madrid, about a young woman, working as a servant, with a secret to hide & an unyielding desire to be MORE makes for a quiet but entertaining read that I enjoyed. If you‘re a fan of Bardugo, you‘ll likely like it.

#BuddyRead with @DuckOfDoom

I am immersing myself in ebook and audiobook.

Starting today!

When a scullion in a home is discovered to have magical abilities, the family pushes her to use her magic to rise higher in society. Set during the time of Elizabeth I & the Spanish inquisition, Luzia must decide who she can trust, if anyone. The king‘s former secretary has heard of Luzia‘s little miracles and wants to use her to regain favor, but he already has his own secrets in Santángel. This was entertaining, but not a love for me 3 1/2⭐️

As always Ms. Bardugo has done it again just when you think okay this is different… it becomes the best kind of different.. I can‘t wait to see what is next on this authors expressive, writing, works of art … I will always pick up Ms. Bardugo‘s books 📚

"Fear men, Luzia," he said." Fear their ambition and the crimes they commit in its service. But don't fear magic or what you may do with it."

This richly imagined and cleverly-plotted historical fantasy follows a young servant forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret during the Spanish Inquisition whose mistress discovers her magical powers and demands she use them to advance their fortunes in a high-stakes contest to become the King‘s miracle-worker. I did struggle to get into it due to the slow pace…and I felt the characters and romance weren‘t fully fleshed out. Still worthwhile!

Starting the new Leigh Bardugo today.😍

“There was nothing more dangerous than a woman with a pen in her hand” - Ch. 12, page 76

I love quotes about reading and writing like this in books!

Starting my weekend reading with this one…

What a beautiful and sophisticated novel about magic, miracles and something similar to the Spanish inquisition. I fell in love with Luiza and her perseverance while everyone uses her for their own agenda and benefit. I loved the religious theme throughout and the warning about the dangers of a society ruled through fear and oppression. I‘ll be thinking about this one for a long time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a gorgeous book, rich with historical detail of Spain under the Inquisition in what I would usually call the Elizabethan era. The characters are equally rich and complex. I adored Luzia, Hualit, and Santángel, came to love Valentina, and feared all the villains. The plot took numerous turns I did not expect. Despite an irritating pet peeve toward the end, Leigh Bardugo remains an autobuy author.

I was caught up in this story and found it sophisticated storytelling. Fantastical as it might be, there‘s a cautionary tale here when all citizens of one country are beholden to the beliefs of a single faith and when there is no freedom from those beliefs.

Question of the day....should I ignore my massive pile of work to do today (patron purge time) and pull this off the shelves for a read or should I actually do my work? It's a tough call 🤔😜 #librarylife #libraryclerk #oregonpubliclibrary

#specialedition #saturdaybookshopping

At an author ✍️ event in London at the end of this month to see Leigh Bardugo I think the ladies a genius , isn‘t it great 😌 we can have evenings with our favourite 🤩 authors, it sold out instantly so lucky 🍀 lucky 🍀😀

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars. I'm totally in love with this book and I have such a book hangover. I'm sad it's finished. It was the perfect blending of history, magic and sensual romance. Fear not the romance is not the focus and its not explicit so don't let that keep you from reading this one. #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

Today's #bookmail included Leigh Bardugo's new release and my April #aardvarkbookclub pick, Expiration Dates.😁

Happy Leigh Bardugo Day to all who celebrate! 🤭💕📚 My copy just arrived in the mail and I can't wait to start it tonight!

#Bookhaul for April 9th, 2024

Just one book today, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. I‘m a huge fan of her Alex Stern series (Ninth House, Hell Bent) so of course I will buy any other novel aimed towards adults she writes!

Has anyone else picked this one up today?