The Witches of Pendle, also known as The Familiars, is a compelling historical fiction novel set in 17th-century Lancashire by Stacey Halls. It plunges into the infamous Pendle witch trials of 1612, focusing on Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a young, pregnant midwife whose life becomes intertwined with Alice Gray, an accused 'witch' with a healing touch. As Fleetwood desperately seeks to save Alice from the gallows and secure her own future, the novel masterfully explores themes of female solidarity, societal paranoia, and the devastating consequences of deeply rooted superstition, bringing a dark chapter of English history vividly to life.