The Familiar

I could so say many things but I'll get right to it: I was imagining santángel as an 80 year old man and Luzia as a 18 year old girl the entire time so their chemistry felt so unnatural. I'm sure their physical looks were probably described differently but ever since that motherfucker appeared on the page, he was an old ass hag and she was literally on the cusp of adulthood to me. Now, I must confess that I do, in fact, have a thing for geriatric, basically dead old men. So, IN ALL HONESTY, I was not opposed (well I kinda was, morally). But he felt like a predator to me the entire time until I eventually just had to rework my brain to ignore it. He was just too wise, too lived, to not be a bag of bones in my head. I digress.

Here's my short and sweet take of the whole thing:
- felt like a romantic lapvona (ottessa moshfegh).
- The fantasy element was beautifully done. It wasn't too heavy handed but also played an integral part in the plot.
- Too many names to remember. Specifically Victor vs Antonio Perez.
- writing style eats down. i truly wasn't aware bardugo got down like that. Also didn't know she's written every fantasy novel ever.
- loved valentina's arc
- This would've been so much cooler if he actually WAS old and was a mentor and father figure. That's the energy I was picking up at first anyways.