As a devoted fan of Leigh Bardugo, with series like Shadow and Bone sparking my reading journey and Six of Crows holding a permanent place in my heart, my anticipation for The Familiar was immense. Having devoured her Grishaverse novels, spin-offs like King of Scars, and even the departure into adult fantasy with Ninth House, I expected her third non-Grisha book to be another masterpiece. Unfortunately, leigh bardugo the familiar proved to be a significant letdown, with the book and my expectations diverging sharply. While Bardugo’s writing remains undeniably beautiful, it wasn’t enough to salvage what felt like a misstep. The premise promised magic, trials, champions, and a life under oppression, but the execution focused primarily on magic (though not as imaginatively as anticipated) and the challenges of living under extremist rule.
One of the core issues with The Familiar lies in its standalone nature, marking Bardugo’s first foray into adult standalone novels. This format felt somewhat foreign, as if Bardugo herself was navigating unfamiliar territory. Disappointingly, the characters, with the exception of a vaguely remembered Luzia and her religious background intertwined with magic, were largely forgettable. Santángel, while possessing intriguing backstory potential, ultimately fell flat despite fleeting moments of promise. His character arc, yearning for deeper exploration, remained frustratingly underdeveloped.
