The Familists

The Seton Chronicles #4

by V.E.H. Masters

From the Winner of the Barbara Hammond Trophy and Amazon BESTSELLING Author

Italy 1555. Bethia and her growing family find themselves in the midst of the Inquisition's vicious attack on Jews and Conversos. Despite Bethia's commitment to her Catholic faith, her greater loyalty to her Converso husband forces them to flee onwards to Constantinople – but will it be any safer?

For Will, Bethia’s brother, it’s equally perilous to be a Protestant. Caught up in France’s religious turmoil, where many are burned for their faith, his choice is stark; fight or accept a martyr’s death.

Set amid the treacherous landscape of Reformation Europe, where faiths divide and shifting allegiances dictate survival, can the strength of family endure?

Genres: Historical Fiction

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2023

About the author

Would you like three free historical short stories which build on the Seton Chronicles? Visit my website https://vehmasters.com and pick up your copies of A Bonny Lass, The Sound of Silence and A Long Wait. Each tell the reader secrets which Bethia and Will do not know.

The final book in the Seton Chronicles is out now.. The Pittenweemers finds the family back in Scotland in a year of dangerous portents when the all of Scotland is in fear of the coming of the Spanish Armada. And then one day the villagers awake to find an Armada ship is here.

All my books are based on real events and follow the history closely.

I grew up on a farm near St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. St Andrews is famous as the home of golf but it also was a great religious centre and place of pilgrimage prior to the Reformation in 1560 – all largely disregarded when we were at school. The first time I was in the castle was aged twelve when our teacher took us on a rare visit to it. There was a famous siege there in 1546 and I was captivated when we went down the siege tunnel dug out of rock then and peered into the bottle dungeon where the murdered Cardinal's body is said to have been kept, pickled in salt, for over a year.

The group who took the castle and held it for over 14 months, resisting the many attempts to re-take it, called themselves the Castilians and I remember thinking even then it was the perfect title for a book. I just didn't realise how long it would take me to write it!

Once I'd finished the first book I continued the story of Bethia and Will as they are caught up in the religious turmoil of the Reformation. How does a family of different faiths hold together and survive when your safety depended on both where you were and what faith you adhered to?

Regular posts on my research and the wonderful nuggets of detail I find are on my website and I'd be honoured if you signed up for my monthly newsletter which often offers giveaways.

The Castilians is also available as an audiobook, narrated by the talented actor and voice artist Beverley Wright.


To find out more please go to her website https://vehmasters.com/. A short story telling more about the characters is free to all newsletter subscribers.

Reviews

[Kathleen Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read

The fourth book in the series. I have loved the strong and resilient Bethia and her family. This book tells the story of a part of European history that I was not very familiar with, the religious differences in the 1500’s and how the Spanish Inquisition affected the entire global stage. I hope there’s a book 5.

[Bonni L Opthof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading!

The whole series is about religious freedom and persecution. The family portrays much acceptance of people making their own choice. There are conversions, from Christian to Jew, Jew to Christian, Jew to Muslim....All with love.

[gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction based in Europe during the 1500s

What turbulent times one family faces as they navigate through religious unrest, trying to be safe while running a successful trading business. A myriad of significant historical figures intertwine, from John Knox, Calvin to Sulieman.

[Gina Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction

I loved this series because it has faithfully rendered the history of the times through one families trials and tribulations. The story portrays the challenges and ever present danger of living under extreme religious fervor. I look forward to reading more of VEH Master's work. Thank you.

[Jan Hoddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Saga

I love historical novels and this told how much religion ruled their lives. Most gruesomely described. I couldn’t put it down. Also said a little prayer I didn’t live during this time

[Clare Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

I raced through all four novels, and am now anxiously hoping for a fifth book. I loved this series and learned so much about European religious history.

[Magdalena Tosteson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice end to an interesting tale

I read the Seton chronicles feeling my interest increasing…mostly because as I read, my knowledge of the 16th century increased and the vicissitudes of ALL religions were shown to be starting a new. Geography is also a bonus lesson as well as the actions in various peoples in different towns. Great privilege to have these books to help us understand the troubles of our modern societies as well….

[Lisa Zitzmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up really enjoying the series

I would have liked a little less time spent on the religious observations of Will but I enjoyed Mainard’s spiritual evolution, and the family’s overall.

A couple things- it should have been explained right away, when Renya was described as Joseph Nasi’s wife, that his marriage to La Chica was annulled. I found that to be distracting. Also, Selim II had the Ottoman fleet rebuilt after losing to the Venetian republic, despite sinking their flagship, largely because of the new ramming galleas the Venetians introduced. Oh and Mirimah should have been included, as perhaps the most important of the Sultanate of Women, which is inaccurately described in the story somehow as the women of the Harrem, rather than the power those select view wielded. Lastly, the character of Cecile being killed off makes little sense, after such a build up. And how did Will escape Medici’s purge of the Huguenots, which was barely mentioned? He would have been a much more acceptable sacrifice than Mainard’s pointless death.

Lastly, what about Grissel? Was she Bethia’s half sister? I believe it was hinted at but that would have been nice to explore while we’re still young!

[Judi Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series, beginning with The Castilians is a fantastic journey into a period of history where much was happening socially, politically, and within the realm of religions. Up until I read this, I had never considered the proximity of the Reformation and Inquisition These events are sadly overlooked in traditional education and not much discussion has occurred aside from the Lutherans who still celebrate Reformation Day in honor of Luther and his 95 thesis.
I was captivated by the stories of each main character from the onset and enjoyed the way the stories built upon one another. I typically avoid series because they can become too predictable, and truthfully, the ending of this one was perfect because we don't know for certain what Bethia decided since she seemed to be a woman who would not leave her family so far away--yet had not been back to her home country in over 30 years.
There are many things I need to deeply think about--and that is good, for we gain insight when we allow books like this one, and the full series, to broaden our mental horizons.

[David Van Winkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revealing Historical Fiction

I like historical fiction and this series was excellent! A realistic dive into medieval religious prejudices against those of Jewish ancestry, and medieval trade. BEN Masters creates believable characters you get invested in that make this series into a real page turner.

[Steven Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative a good mix of fiction and history. Interesting characters.

[Steven Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th volume in author Masters’s series about the Scottish Seton family during the Reformation period and the wars of religion. This book takes up where the others left off, with Bethia and her branch of the family fleeing to Constantinople / Istanbul in the time of Turkish rule, while her brother Will is working for the Protestant leaders, in Geneva and France. This time period was in reality very complex, with more or less bloody events happening in many places. The Inquisition was trying to wipe out heresy (among converted Jews and Christians) while at the same time, the Ottoman Empire was trying to conquer the rest of Europe, having already swept away the Byzantine Empire. To take on this very messy reality was an act of high courage on the part of the author, but for the reader, this book is a little harder to follow than the others. I gave it only 4 stars as a result, although I think it is every bit as well written and researched. It is a worthwhile read but, especially in view of the bloody events in Israel that coincided approximately with its release, reading it could lead to unpleasant thoughts of futility and evil. Not to blame Ms. Masters of course!

Many of the characters are actual historical people, including preachers Knox and Calvin, Ottoman Empire Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and several lesser known people who interact with Bethia to facilitate her relations with the harem. If you think about it you’ll realize that a large group of cloistered women (essentially prisoners) must have someone on the outside who is allowed in and out fairly freely and who, of course, can’t be a man, unless he’s a eunuch, to preserve the harem women for the exclusive use of the Sultan. This part of the book is a valuable glimpse of a vanished culture, although the physical location, Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, may be visited by tourists today.
Less well known is that in the 1560’s, the Moslem world was less ruthless in persecuting Jews than most of Europe, and that’s why Bethia ends up there, because her husband is a “converso” whose family accepted Christianity to escape persecution in Spain and Portugal in the previous century. But the Inquisition still pursues him and chases him from one country to another, depending on the rulers’ whims or need for money. A peculiarity is that Bethia’s husband is elsewhere during her trip to Istanbul, and being Catholic she wouldn’t be a target. I wondered about this but I’m sure it was necessary for the plot.

English speakers are probably aware how this period affected England, but how it roiled all of Europe was mostly new to me. The Battle of Lepanto (1571) takes place in the novel but it’s generally represented in naval literature as far more important than it seems in this book. The attempts by the Ottomans to conquer all of Europe for Islam continued well into the 1600’s, including two celebrated, bloody sieges of Vienna. (Europeans are apparently indebted to the Turks for addicting us to coffee during one of those sieges). There was a siege of Malta that is mentioned, but I felt the historical events might need more explication for readers not as familiar with the period as Ms. Masters obviously is.

So, a complex read that’s worthwhile but not as easy to like as the other three. I’ll still stay with her for number 5; I’m “Following” the author so I’ll know when it comes out.

[Robert Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Familists is Book Four of V. E. H. Masters’ The Seton Chronicles, so I found myself starting at the end of this series, not the beginning. However, that in no way diminished my enjoyment of The Familists. Nor did I struggle to follow the characters or understand their motivations and actions. Ms. Masters ably brought me into this family and its prior adventures without having to supply one of those awkward expository summaries that other authors often mistakenly include in later books of a series. The necessary background history fits into the present narrative in short memories or dialogue. Thus, that information keeps the present narrative flowing.
And it is an engaging narrative. The novel subtitle states that it is “A Tale of Faith, Family, and Survival in 16th Century Europe.” While the action of the survival story supplies the impetus for the forward motion of the plot, the main focus of this novel is characterization, especially the tensions that four differing faiths place upon this family. Will is a dedicated Calvinist Protestant. His sister Bethia is a devout Roman Catholic who is married to Mainard, a Converso who feels pulled back to his original Jewish religion. Bethia and Mainard’s sons are guided toward their father’s faith until one of them experiences a religious conversion to Islam. At a time when these four faiths are tearing Europe and the Mid East apart with bloody wars, this family seeks a path to family unity and love without any family member surrendering his or her religious identity. Watching that struggle unfold is a delight.
Robert Temple

[Andrew Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth installment of The Seton Chronicles is decidedly split. For the book's first 2/3, we get a continued story of Will and Bethia. This part is superb, and reads more like a historical biography that includes copious accounts of events affected by historical figures. There is an excellent weaving of figures such as Abraham Ortelius into the book's narrative, the sect of Familists and it's obscure leader "HN", and the migration of Jews ever eastward as persecution against them intensifies.

We see Will marry and find a brief period of contentment before tragedy occurs. Bethia is once again without Mainard, desperate to know if her husband was taken by the Inquisition. "Fortunately" he has been purloined to act out on a secretive mission.

The locales are diverse, principally taking in Geneva, Venice, Frankfurt, and Constantinople. The dual narratives are absorbing, giving a glimpse into a time and places that are scarce in historical fiction.

The last 1/3 of the book is disappointing. The narrative is rushed, with sections taking in 20 years instead of 20 months. It felt like the author was attempting to hastily conclude the Setons' lives. It turns out that there is going to be a fifth and final installment, most likely with Will and Bethia spending their last days in Scotland.

Let's hope the fifth installment in this series is comparable to the first 2/3 of The Familists. That would be fantastic.

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The saga enda in Constantinople, with Bethia running her own business, selling expensive cloths and other niceties to the Sultan's harem. Bethia remains a Catholic, but the family has taken up "Familism," in which what religion one takes up, is an individual choice, after open discussion and contemplation within the safety of the family dinner table. Mainard eventually reverts back to his ancestral Judaism, as do all of their sons, however, one eventually becomes a Muslim.

Will's beautiful wife dies in childbirth, and after years of wandering with Knox and Calvin, he returns to her and becomes a devoted father.

The series ends with Mainard's death, and Bethia preparing to return home to Scotland after all of these years. I wonder how it will seem to her now?

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate the series as a whole a 4. The characters are engaging and it is interesting to see their journey across continents and through religious and political uncertainties. What a difficult time - people killed, tortured and persecuted for their religion and diverse beliefs. Fortunately the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is upon the earth again with the keys and priesthood authority lost for so many centuries. Throughout this series, love was the persuasive power that united this family in spite of the turmoil. Definitely worth reading.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 This was a good end to this series. There wasn't as much action to this one, and I felt it was a little rushed, but I liked getting to read about the new generation of family members. I do wish we would have gotten a little more closure with Will in this book, however I see that there is a 5th book to published later this year that will continue his story. Overall, I am glad I read this series. Could it have been a little better? Yes....but I liked it enough that I will have to read the next one when it comes out!

2024 Reading Challenge
June Letter: F

[Victoria Metcalf]

I didn't finish reading book four. It just got to be too much. I think the author forgot her characters in favor of the religious history. Fair enough. Book one was the best. That's why I kept reading. I never warmed to the character Will. He seemed too self-serving, but that's the way of many real religious figures. It's really about the person and that individual has found a cause to hang onto while gaining recognition.

[Frances Gamez · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent historical information regarding the Reformation!

I would recommend it to people who find the history of the Reformation and all its implications. Too much bloodshed for people who considered he selves Christian’s.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

I found this series interesting even though it was a fictional telling of these times. I had been curious about what happened to all the Jews expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. The series was satisfying.

[virginia Riscigno · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but ok, had some good parts but dragged

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4 and excited for more

I’ve been sucked into the Seton Chronicles and can’t wait for the last book in the series. I feel quite lucky to have stumbled on this series.