The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is a historical fantasy set in Madrid during the Spanish Golden Age, where a servant’s talent for small miracles draws her into a dangerous world of ambition, magic, and royal intrigue.

Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to endure her endless work as a scullion. When her scheming mistress discovers her gifts, she demands that Luzia use them to improve the family’s social standing.

What begins as entertainment for the nobility turns perilous when Luzia attracts the attention of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king seeks any advantage against England, and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain royal favor.

Determined to improve her fortunes, Luzia enters a world of seers, alchemists, holy men, and frauds. But her growing notoriety threatens to expose her Jewish ancestry to the Inquisition. To survive, she may need the help of Guillén Santángel, an embittered immortal familiar whose secrets could prove deadly for them both.

Book details

• Author: Leigh Bardugo
• Genre: Historical fantasy
• Setting: Madrid during the Spanish Golden Age
• #1 national bestseller and #1 indie bestseller
• New York Times bestseller
• Goodreads Choice Award finalist

Recognition and praise

Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, Kirkus, Women’s World, Town & Country Magazine, and the New York Public Library.

“An immersive, sensual experience.” — The New York Times

“Essential.” — The Washington Post