The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (Overview, Summary, Book Review) / WHY THAT ENDING IS PERFECT 🦂

The Familiar is the new standalone historical fantasy by Leigh Bardugo, and Santangel and Luzia were giving Darkling and Alina Starkov from Shadow and Bone. There is almost a dark fairy tale feel to this book, which makes sense if you've read Bardugo's The Language of Thorns-Leigh's writing is as luscious as ever.
The Familiar takes place in Madrid during the Spanish Inquisition, some time after the defeat of Spain's armada against the English. Content warnings for the book include sexual scenes, adult language, torture, death, and mass persecution.
My discussion does contain spoilers, but I speak to everything very generally and out of context without giving away any major scenes.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Welcome & The Familiar overview (What is The Familiar about?)
2:08 Luzia and Leigh Bardugo's worldbuilding
3:00 Commonalities between Santangel & Luzia and Darkling and Alina Starkov
3:46 Side character discussion (Valentina & Marius Ordoño, Antonio Perez, Victor De Paredes)
5:20 Guillen Santangel, the Scorpion
5:57 More plot summary and character discussion
7:43 How Valentina has one of the most satisfying growth arcs
9:17 Excerpt reading (Valentina's perspective, page 309)
10:30 Santangel as a morally gray love interest (excerpt reading, page 204)
11:09 The richness of Leigh Bardugo's writing (excerpt reading, page 159)
12:15 Ending discussion (final excerpt reading, page 379)
13:40 My review/rating of The Familiar
15:10 Is The Familiar spicy or steamy? (Is The Familiar a romance?)
15:43 Video wrap-up (what else I need to read in April)
Thank you for watching!
Other books mentioned:
Babel by RF Kuang
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence
The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence
Funny Story by Emily Henry
The Ever King by LJ Andrews
ABOUT ME:
Hi! I'm Sandra Bruxvoort: Japan-born American, Half-Filipina, Mom, Minimalist. Gamer, Book Reviewer, Fantasy Nerd. Here for the stories-that means books and adaptations of books. Oh, and I write things, too. New videos when anxiety compels me.
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[@SandrasLibrary]

Any strong feelings out there about the ending? 🦂

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Ugh, maybe not strong feelings but i have feelings. Spoilers: I don't love that Santangel is entirely dependant on Luzia for daily life. He was trapped in a similar situation for generations. Now, it's with his Love, but he's still in a cage that he can't get out of without suicide. It undermines the happiness of the ending, of their romance

[@SandrasLibrary]

@@ChloeFrizzle You make a strong point! It’s definitely a happy…for now sort of ending, and my heart does hurt a bit for his fate. And thinking about Luzia going on and getting older, it’s all very temporal with the life they can share together. It’s painful for them both, either way.

[@annabellesigmond4918]

I need a whole book about the Holy Child, she was such a cool character.

[@SandrasLibrary]

Oohhh-I would love that! Definitely a fascinating character. Leigh, some spinoffs would be super cool!

[@butterflymuse2707]

I agree! What happened to her in the end? Like...Luzia helped her get away but.....then what? Her Angel said that they'd all die there. Did that change? Did she get caught again? What happened? Lol I wanna know!

[@SandrasLibrary]

@@butterflymuse2707 Really hope to get more… maybe these loose ends are Leigh’s way of leaving the back door unlocked 🤞🏼

[@matkarli7481]

So many possible endings! Not the way I had hoped it would go, but far from disappointed. Fantastic book!

[@SandrasLibrary]

It really is!

[@kemunto_]

i finished it yesterday and i really loved it. just searched up the familiar on youtube and your video came up. Loved your discussion. 🦂

[@SandrasLibrary]

Thank you-that made my morning! I’m glad you loved the book. It really was a unique story to anything I’ve read recently! 🖤

[@emberandtheashes]

I finished yesterday and I can’t believe Valentina became my favourite character in the end! Especially how she chooses to live her life in the end.

[@SandrasLibrary]

Her character arc was beautiful! Wholeheartedly agree 🖤

[@cristag.a3457]

This is now one of my fave books ever. It is so so beautiful! ❤

[@SandrasLibrary]

Oh, I love to hear that! The Familiar is sooooooo good! 🖤🦂

[@Veganmylocsarereal17]

OMG!!!! Well said… they all wanted something… it was a very dark and realistic look at the wanting of a person.. whether it is emotional or materialistic. the ending was making me very sad..😔 until the Very End (Epilogue) 🦂.. I really enjoyed this video

[@SandrasLibrary]

Ahhh…thank you, Kiki, for your comment! I loved the ending too! It was such an artistic, haunting sort of happy ending in a way, but it just worked. Such a unique love story.

[@tifftalkspages]

Omg. Thank you for this. I didn’t know if I was going to pick it up.

[@SandrasLibrary]

Ha!! I aim to serve! 💜

[@AeroEagle333]

You do such a great job of relating other books and authors to the book you're discussing! P.S. Play MORE FFVII! P.P.S 🦂

[@SandrasLibrary]

Hahaha, thanks!! I'm at Costa del Sol now and it's so cute!

[@butterflymuse2707]

Low key, I was so proud of Valentina at the end. Girlfriend said "You suck, Marius, and I'm not like this anymore, do whatever you want, peace!" Good for you, Valentina. We love a good redemption.

[@SandrasLibrary]

Yes we do! Her arc was sooooo satisfying and she was definitely one of the most memorable characters in the book! Marius can go suck eggs and be miserable 🤣

[@ChloeFrizzle]

I just finished this book, trying to figure out why i didn't quite love it. Thanks for your review

[@SandrasLibrary]

Definitely the kind of story I need to be in the mood to read. But did think the writing and the romantic tension between them was swoon!

[@SteveCadman]

Popping in for the beginning because I know I want to read this and don't want to be spoiled

[@SandrasLibrary]

THANK YOU! 🥹🖤 I am so grateful for you stopping by!