Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows, Ninth House) is a reliable fantasy powerhouse. Her adult historic fantasy The Familiar is set in the Spanish Golden Age, and follows the willful and lovable Luzia Cotado, a lowly scullion, who uses small magics to get by, such as fixing burned bread and lightening heavy loads to be carried. When the status-hungry mistress of the house discovers Luzia's powers, she sets out to exploit them for her own gain.
The world of The Familiar is satisfyingly detailed and all too easy to disappear into as Bardugo sets the silky glamor of aristocracy against the brutality of the Spanish Inquisition. Luzia is pulled into a tournament, competing to become the king of Spain's holy champion. But as she seeks to improve her circumstance, she enters a courtly web of intrigue more dangerous than she could have imagined.
The novel's magic system is both intuitive and deeply imagined, blooming as Luzia discovers that she's capable of more than anyone ever suspected. The romance is tortured and irresistible. As in much of Bardugo's work, the vibrant cast of characters makes the story gripping. She writes with a knack for emotional description that brings each of them to life; even a loutish guard shows a touch of humanity as he pines over unrequited love.
With a twisty plot and vivid worldbuilding, The Familiar is another compelling and transporting hit from an author who can be trusted to supply lovers of fantasy with the good stuff. --Carol Caley, writer