Discuss The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

In what ways do you feel the Spanish Inquisition influenced the competition, its participants and its audience, if at all?

Jun. 02, 2024
by robinsb

Are there any quotes you found particularly memorable, and if so, what about them rang true for you?

Jun. 02, 2024
by robinsb

Luzia is warned to proceed with caution. How do you think her society regarded female ambition, and is the advice she was given still valid today?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Many scenes in the novel seem to have hidden meanings. Which did you notice, and what do you suppose they meant?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

What did you know about the Spanish Inquisition and their methods before reading the book?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

What are your thoughts about immortality? Would you want to live forever?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Were you surprised by who ended up befriending Luzia, and who ended up betraying her?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

What role did religion play in the lives of Luzia, Hualit, and Valentina? How was religion different from belief for them?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Luzia tells Santángel, “Let it be my ambition and not my fear that seals my fate.” Why do you think she's not more afraid to take the test?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Santángel tells Luzia that “it is a danger to become nothing.” What does he mean, in your opinion?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Valentina thinks, “There are different kinds of suffering…The kind that takes you by surprise and the kind you live with so long, you stop noticing it.” Do you agree with her?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

What did you know about the time period before reading the novel? Had you heard of any of the real-life figures before reading it?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

To what kind of audience would you recommend The Familiar?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Do you think Santángel was a good man? Do you think Luzia loves him because he’s good in some respects, or in spite of it?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Luzia believes that Santángel had been using her, but that he also cared about her, thinking that "Both things can be true and still mean nothing." Do you agree?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Did the language used by the characters seem appropriate to the time period of the novel?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Luzia’s aunt tells her that “some people brought misery with them like weather.” What do you suppose she means?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

How would Luzia's life have been different if she'd refused Valentina's demand to perform for guests?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Do you think each of the characters deserved their fate? Who, in your opinion, deserved better, who deserved worse, and why?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

What surprised you most about the plot? Which scenes resonated with you, and why do you think you found them remarkable?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

How much control do you think Luzia has over her circumstances?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Overall, what do you think of The Familiar (no spoilers)

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

Valentina believed meeting King Philip “would change her, give her value.” Do you think this is why people seek out celebrities?

May. 28, 2024
by taking.mytime

We have migrated to a new forum for book club discussions, please join us for our latest discussions on the BookBrowse Community Forum.

The Familiar

Discuss The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Why didn't the women push back more generally on societal roles and positions given them?

In what ways do you feel the Spanish Inquisition influenced the competition, its participants and its audience, if at all?

Are there any quotes you found particularly memorable, and if so, what about them rang true for you?

Luzia is warned to proceed with caution. How do you think her society regarded female ambition, and is the advice she was given still valid today?

Many scenes in the novel seem to have hidden meanings. Which did you notice, and what do you suppose they meant?

What did you know about the Spanish Inquisition and their methods before reading the book?

What are your thoughts about immortality? Would you want to live forever?

Were you surprised by who ended up befriending Luzia, and who ended up betraying her?

What role did religion play in the lives of Luzia, Hualit, and Valentina? How was religion different from belief for them?

Luzia tells Santángel, “Let it be my ambition and not my fear that seals my fate.” Why do you think she's not more afraid to take the test?

Santángel tells Luzia that “it is a danger to become nothing.” What does he mean, in your opinion?

Valentina thinks, “There are different kinds of suffering…The kind that takes you by surprise and the kind you live with so long, you stop noticing it.” Do you agree with her?

What did you know about the time period before reading the novel? Had you heard of any of the real-life figures before reading it?

To what kind of audience would you recommend The Familiar?

Do you think Santángel was a good man? Do you think Luzia loves him because he’s good in some respects, or in spite of it?

Luzia believes that Santángel had been using her, but that he also cared about her, thinking that "Both things can be true and still mean nothing." Do you agree?

Did the language used by the characters seem appropriate to the time period of the novel?

Luzia’s aunt tells her that “some people brought misery with them like weather.” What do you suppose she means?

How would Luzia's life have been different if she'd refused Valentina's demand to perform for guests?

Do you think each of the characters deserved their fate? Who, in your opinion, deserved better, who deserved worse, and why?

What surprised you most about the plot? Which scenes resonated with you, and why do you think you found them remarkable?

How much control do you think Luzia has over her circumstances?

Overall, what do you think of The Familiar (no spoilers)

Valentina believed meeting King Philip “would change her, give her value.” Do you think this is why people seek out celebrities?

Sorry, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is closed for new posts.
Please go to bookbrowse.com/onlinebookclub for a full list of conversations.

We have migrated to a new forum for book club discussions, please join us for our latest discussions on the BookBrowse Community Forum.

Discuss The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Sorry, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is closed for new posts.Please go to bookbrowse.com/onlinebookclub for a full list of conversations.

Sorry, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is closed for new posts.
Please go to bookbrowse.com/onlinebookclub for a full list of conversations.