Welcome to Litsy!

Set in Spain during the Inquisition, this is a story about a scullery maid with some small magical abilities. In a desperate effort to improve her life, she allows herself to be swept up in the politics of ambitious men and women who attempt to improve their social positions by exploiting her. She finds unexpected friends, a dark and tortured soul to fall in love with (who can‘t resist that?), and discovers the depths of her magic. Fun read.

“Is the mouth of a shark an opportunity?”
“For the shark it is.”

This was a pretty good read. I enjoyed the setting and the characters, but I did feel like it was a bit slow in parts and the action just wasn‘t there. It took awhile to get moving and I was hoping for more to keep me interested. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would read more by this author.

So excited to be paired up with @Laughterhp for the first time since my first #AuldLangSpine back when it was still called #NewYearWhoDis ! There are a lot of interesting books on the list, including several that were on my TBR. I decided these four will be my top priorities for January. Can't wait to start!

Thanks so much for all your hard work to put this event together @monalyisha ! You're a Litsy rockstar.

Why do I look at NYT 100 notable books every year as if I don‘t know my tastes in books…. 😂📚(I really liked both of these though)

I‘ll never forget this day.

Went to the Miami Book Fair yesterday and got to meet and greet the lovely Leigh Bardugo.

Here she is signing my copy of her new novel The Familiar.
I‘m completely obsessed with the book cover.

#miamibookfair #leighbardugo #thefamiliar #booksandbooks #bookfair #meetandgreet #fantasy #bookish

Fast paced and definitely a quick read. I just think the scant lack of detail irritated me. I enjoyed the cast of characters, I just wish there was more world building or it was fleshed out more.

For my first Bardugo, I get why she‘s so hyped.

Power of the pomegranate.

The end pages! 🥰🫶🏻

Went to pick up my second Klune selection from my library and spied this on the New In shelf — I couldn‘t help myself.

I‘ve never read Bardugo before but I‘ve only heard good things. Plus it has spooky black sprayed edges! 😆🤩

Great end of the season beach day, much needed relaxing and reading before getting covered in all that soft sand from the warm ocean breeze.

More than anything else, this is a story about self discovery and learning what matters to them and what they are willing to risk to get it. It‘s gorgeously written but the pace is very, very slow. I loved how layered and flawed the characters were (especially the women). I loved the ending, although the last hour had me feeling so nervous about what was going to happen because *no one expects the Spanish Inquisition*.

This books contained magic, but never enough to seem unbelievable, ie royalty, wealth, and the Church are in absolute control. But greed will get ya! Well researched about the Inquisition and its horrors.

I head back to work tomorrow after more than a month off due to health issues. Very excited for things to get back to normal but I will miss all of the reading time. This was a highly anticipated read for me. I was really enjoying the writing and slow pace but found the ending so lackluster I had to go back to reread it to make sure it really was as disappointing as I first thought. A light pick verging on so-so.

Came down for shift change over and my colleague asked me what was new?! And I said - got up to the kissing part in my book!! People seemed big mad about this relationship in the reviews - so looking forward to seeing how that works out… she was looking at me like 🤔 and I said - oh, did you mean like with work? ANYWAY 🤭

Welcometo another #Two4Tuesday! Here are today's questions. Everyone is welcome to play!

📘 If it was about books I would do either. If not, a podcast.
📘 Tagged. Want to read but have not in the mood to start it.

Play?? @Eggs @dabbe @peaKnit @bthegood @TheBookHippie @WildAlaskaBibliophile @kelli7990 @TracyReadsBooks @Deblovestoread @BethM @cinda.marie

This book is set in 16th century Spain and it reads like an El Greco painting. I wasn't sure what to expect from this adult standalone by Leigh Bardugo, but her beautiful writing and creative storytelling had me hooked.

Ugh, people should be able to educate themselves on whatever they choose.

Collage made with Storygraph.
These were all fun reads, some were dark some were cute. My two personalities 😂

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.