The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the The Familiar Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on October 7th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 10/4
Oct 7: Ch 1-7
Oct 8: Ch 8-14
Oct 9: Ch 15-21
Oct 10: Ch 22-28
Oct 11: Ch 29-35
Oct 12: Ch 36-49
Oct 13: Ch 50-55

PARTICIPANTS
~ Hafs
~ Katie
~ Jen K

Heyyyy party people! I decided to start a little early, got about 50 pages in. I am liking the beginning so far. I have been way behind on booktube etc. so I have heard absolutely no opinions on this, which is unusual for me! I almost never go into a book blind on other people's thoughts. It felt like I blinked and 50 pages passed so I feel like I'll read this at a pretty quick pace.

That's funny bc I decided to start early too I'm on chapter 15 now it's a very easy book to read but I barely understand what's going on and at the same time I do?? I'll save thoughts and feelings for later x

I need to finish up my first buddy read and then I will start. Maybe tomorrow.

So the problemmmm with this book for me is...I don't like the genre 😂 I don't really enjoy historical fiction in any genre. There have been rare exceptions, but I almost always find myself bored. I'm now just past 150 pages and I still don't really care about anything that is happening or any of the characters. Although the chapter I just finished was like A Big Plot Moment so maybe things will grab my attention from here.

I thought my girl Leigh Bardugo would be one of the few exceptions to my historical fiction hatred, but alas. I am finding myself wishing I was holding Ninth House 3 in my hands instead of this lol. (Side note for any Ninth House fans, I was recently in New Haven, CT where Yale is and I drove past some of the locations from the books. Very cool, very fun.)

Still behind y'all but hopefully catching up. Read through chapter 9. Luzia's life is miserable but it really could be worse. I don't think she has any real clue of the consequences of sticking out with magic. I don't really like anyone yet but intrigued by the story still.

@katie, very cool visit to New Haven! Did you get the infamous pizza? I loved Ninth House the best of all her books.

unfortunately I wasn't the biggest fan of ninth house (and I tried multiple times bc I really wanted to like it) but still would be so cool to visit New Haven

up to chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]I literally don't understand anything about Luzia and I'm not even sure I care. Like what are her powers is she a witch (they insist she isn't but I don't think being Jewish comes perks of that sort so why then do they make her origins the whole plot? And that Santagel or what have you he's so ambiguous and not in a fun way?? the way they described him at first I thought he was a house elf lol but apparently he isn't...
I also don't understand ANYTHING about Don Victor and the king's "games" like what is going on in the house of Commons
I love a good historical fiction in fact it's my most preferred genre and yet...

I don't think I did the spoiler tags properly and my comment won't delete but it's not any spoilers really

@Jen, I was on a work trip and didn't have time to explore really at all, I literally only drove past Il Bastone and then had to bounce to my next thing in Massachusetts lol. I wanted to take a picture but it's on a much busier street than I thought, so I wasn't able to pull over.

I did finish earlier this afternoon and I agree with all of your opinions, @Hafs. Just...boring. I ultimately don't really understand 100% what the point of this book was. I feel normally Leigh Bardugo is very good at having complex plots that ultimately converge with a solid message, but this felt the opposite. Very predictable plot with few interesting pieces, but no clear message.

Ah the work trip that never leaves time for fun. Still cool to see!

I'm going very slow in the book. It isn't quite grabbing me but will keep going.

Finally made it through chapter 14, maybe 15. It is getting slightly more interesting. I'm always up for a challenge/ tournament in a book. Who knows how Luzia will do. I still don't really like her but trying to cut her slack for the naked ambition despite any and all repercussions. The politics between the patrons is interesting.

I don't like the farmer boy who is always dressed in green whatever his name is. Everything is starting to irritate me and idk why, maybe it's because I'm still looking for the plot it's everything and nothing all at once

I've just finished this and the ending was so unsatisfactory. I still don't know what Luzia's powers were supposed to be and I still hate all the characters and don't care much for the MCs (view spoiler)[and whatever romance they had going on was also very concerning so (hide spoiler)]

I'm through Chapter 35. Luzia's romance is kind of creepy and unnecessary. I'm sad about the Holy Child. She was interesting at least.

In transit tomorrow and will try to finish also.

Finally finished. Maybe enjoyed slightly more than you both but not much. The central romance was just odd. I think Valentina was my favorite.

It was basically just a men suck and especially during the inquisition story with random magic thrown in. The history wasn't even that interesting or prevalent.