The premise of The Familiar felt like a great hook--a Jewish converso scullery maid who can perform small miracles, set during the time of the Spanish inquisition. Her mistress discovers her magical secrets, and she's thrust into dangerous visibility and politics.

I enjoyed this book overall, but there were some weak spots for me. Other than the religious persecution, I didn't get a strong sense of place from this book. The beginning of the book was quite enjoyable, but the second and third acts (so to speak) worked less well for me. (Some of this is my own personal bias against anything that whiffs of shonen tournament arc.) Finally, the nature of magical bargains in this book felt so handwavingly convenient that it made the conclusion less satisfying, even as it satisfied the strictures of a fantasy romance novel.