Mini Reviews: Historical Fantasies

I don't know about you, but I always enjoy a slightly spooky read in the fall and historical fantasies with a touch of magic always fit the bill. These two releases that just came out this year will surely put you in the mood for all things fall.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 23, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston returns with a new, magic-infused series about Hecate Cavendish, an eccentric and feisty young woman who can see ghosts. England, 1881. Hereford cathedral stands sentinel over the city, keeping its secrets, holding long forgotten souls in its stony embrace. Hecate Cavendish speeds through the cobbled streets on her bicycle, skirts hitched daringly high, heading for her new life as Assistant Librarian. But this is no ordinary collection of books. The cathedral houses an ancient chained library, wisdom guarded for centuries, mysteries and stories locked onto its worn, humble shelves. The most prized artifact, however, is the medieval world map which hangs next to Hecate’s desk. Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves."

It's Victorian England and young women have very few options. To avoid a marriage, Hecate takes a job as an  assistant librarian at Hereford's Cathedral. While working there, she  realizes that she can communicate with spirits. There are also strange  things happening at the cathedral. In the crypt, bodies are going  missing. This isn't the run-of-the-mill grave robbery though, Hecate  knows something else, possibly sinister, is going on and it's up to her  to figure it out. Paula Brackson's The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a dark fantasy that has a little bit of everything: a mystery, fun  fantasy elements like ghosts and mythical creatures, a strong  protagonist, and a memorable setting.

Hecate is the kind of character I love in The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. She is unconventional, adventurous, and daring despite the limits placed on her in the 1880s. I really enjoyed the paranormal elements of the  novel and the setting of a haunted library and cathedral made this the  perfect fall read to cozy up with on a cool evening. Another aspect of  the novel I enjoyed was the setting of Victorian England. I thought  Brackston did a great job bringing it to life. While I enjoyed all these aspects of the novel, I did feel like it didn't stand out as much as I  had hoped for, as this genre is pretty saturated with stellar options,  and on top of that, there's a sequel that will hopefully answer a lot of questions. I was hoping to get more closure in this book; nonetheless,  The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a solid option for fans of dark fantasy.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Pages: 387

Pub. Date: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Flatiron

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Shadow and Bone, 

and Ninth House

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both."

 

The setting is Madrid during the Spanish Inquisition and things are dangerous if you are anything but a "normal" citizen. Luzia is hiding a secret. She isn't an ordinary housemaid. For starters, she is Jewish and hiding her lineage; plus, she also has powers - the ability to cast spells. This is very helpful in her position. She can easily turn burnt bread into fresh and mend a dress quickly. However, when her mistress finds out her secret, things start to get very complicated for Luzia. Her mistress decides to use Luzia's powers to her advantage and gain social standing, but she is found out by a powerful man who then becomes Luzia's patron. He sets her up with his immortal familiar, Guillen Santangel. He will train Luzia for a Royal magical contest and if she wins, Guillen will be released from his patron. As Guillen spends time with Luzia, feelings start to blossom. Leigh Bardugo's The Familiar is a well-written historical fantasy; Bardugo's legions of fans won't be disappointed.
 

Luzia is a fantastic character in The Familiar. I was rooting for her the entire time especially once she entered the magical competition. Also, the setting of the Spanish Inquisition was done well - so atmospheric! I was worried that not only would Luzia's Jewish ancestry get out, but her magical skills as well. The threat of burning at the stake was always looming and Bardugo created such a strong sense of place in this novel. Also, Barudgo's writing is outstanding and despite parts of the novel falling flat for me, her writing and the blend of magic and historical fantasy really carried the story for me. The Familiar is a great choice for historical fantasy lovers this fall.

 

 

So, have you read either of these novels? Are you a fan of Paula Brackston or Leigh Bardugo? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.