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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
informative
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
4.5⭐
Inspired by true events, with elements of Gothic fiction, murder mystery, fantasy and magical realism woven into an immersive narrative, The Nightingale's Castle by Sonia Velton is a fascinating reimagining of the story of Erzsébet Báthory, the “Blood Countess", a sixteenth-century Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer who along with four of her servants were accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of young women.
Set in Hungary, in 1610, the narrative is shared from multiple perspectives including Erzsébet, her trusted servants János Ficzkó Újváry, Ilona Jó Nagy, Dorottya Szentes and Katalin Beneczky, who also stood trial for their role in the murders as well as Borbála Boróka Libalány, a young girl who is brought into the Countess’s castle to serve her. Erzsébet takes a liking to Boróka, even allowing her to attend the sessions in the Gynaeceum. Boróka, raised by her adoptive father, never knew of her origins but discovers a mysterious rosewood box that offers not only clues that may lead her to her truth but much more. The narrative follows these characters through the events leading up to the allegations and subsequent trial.
I was captivated by the author’s exquisite writing, masterful storytelling and great attention to detail. The vivid imagery of the castle enables us to visualize the dark and eerie setting of the story and feel the evil lurking in the corners. With complex characters, dark and Gothic vibes and an atmospheric setting, this was a gripping read that kept me hooked until the very last page. The author presents the Countess as a woman with a traumatic past with a legacy of loss that she keeps buried, as a mother who has seen her daughters married and settled, as a lonely widow who devotes time instructing young girls from other noble families on etiquette and as a powerful woman whose wealth and power might have posed a threat to her male counterparts. Yes, the young servant girls working in the castle were treated harshly and yes, the episodes describing girls being treated for their ailments are difficult to read but the author compels us to ponder over the allegations brought against the Countess and question the legitimacy of these claims and the evidence presented against the Countess. Was she truly a depraved killer guilty of these heinous crimes or was she the victim of a conspiracy strategically designed to strip a widowed noblewoman of her wealth and power?
Do read the richly detailed Author’s Note where she discusses the characters and events that inspired this meticulously researched, thought-provoking and absorbing novel.
This was my first time reading Sonia Velton and I can’t wait to explore more of her work.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Inspired by true events, with elements of Gothic fiction, murder mystery, fantasy and magical realism woven into an immersive narrative, The Nightingale's Castle by Sonia Velton is a fascinating reimagining of the story of Erzsébet Báthory, the “Blood Countess", a sixteenth-century Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer who along with four of her servants were accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of young women.
Set in Hungary, in 1610, the narrative is shared from multiple perspectives including Erzsébet, her trusted servants János Ficzkó Újváry, Ilona Jó Nagy, Dorottya Szentes and Katalin Beneczky, who also stood trial for their role in the murders as well as Borbála Boróka Libalány, a young girl who is brought into the Countess’s castle to serve her. Erzsébet takes a liking to Boróka, even allowing her to attend the sessions in the Gynaeceum. Boróka, raised by her adoptive father, never knew of her origins but discovers a mysterious rosewood box that offers not only clues that may lead her to her truth but much more. The narrative follows these characters through the events leading up to the allegations and subsequent trial.
I was captivated by the author’s exquisite writing, masterful storytelling and great attention to detail. The vivid imagery of the castle enables us to visualize the dark and eerie setting of the story and feel the evil lurking in the corners. With complex characters, dark and Gothic vibes and an atmospheric setting, this was a gripping read that kept me hooked until the very last page. The author presents the Countess as a woman with a traumatic past with a legacy of loss that she keeps buried, as a mother who has seen her daughters married and settled, as a lonely widow who devotes time instructing young girls from other noble families on etiquette and as a powerful woman whose wealth and power might have posed a threat to her male counterparts. Yes, the young servant girls working in the castle were treated harshly and yes, the episodes describing girls being treated for their ailments are difficult to read but the author compels us to ponder over the allegations brought against the Countess and question the legitimacy of these claims and the evidence presented against the Countess. Was she truly a depraved killer guilty of these heinous crimes or was she the victim of a conspiracy strategically designed to strip a widowed noblewoman of her wealth and power?
Do read the richly detailed Author’s Note where she discusses the characters and events that inspired this meticulously researched, thought-provoking and absorbing novel.
This was my first time reading Sonia Velton and I can’t wait to explore more of her work.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book is a fictionalized feminist retelling of the trial of the Countess Erzsébet Báthory, the Blood Countess of Hungary. Said to be the most prolific female serial killer ever, there is no actual proof of her supposed crimes of the 1500s. This story follows Boróka, a new maid in the countess' household, as she navigates the social hierarchy of the time period. When the plague strikes the castle, the countess falls under suspicion for the amount of deaths in her household. Is she truly killing young girls in secret, or are the men in power just searching for a way to take down a powerful woman?
There are several POVs in this story, and the writing was very engaging, and at times gave me actual chills when describing some of the characters' cruelty. But at the same time, I was not very interested in the overall plot when it came to the countess or Boróka searching for her heritage, but the character writing and anecdotes about everyone's past were really interesting. I get that it can be tricky embellishing things based on history, but I also wanted a bit more from the ending. Also, this was marketed as "Hamnet" meets "Circe" meets "Dracula" and so the entire time I was expecting there to be vampires. Alas, no vampires, just feminists. So overall, the writing was great, the story was alright. Thanks to Harper Perennial and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Immaculate moody, slightly grotesque, fairytale vibes in this historical fictional retelling of a woman who holds the Guinness book of world record for being the most prolific serial killer of all time. With over 600 murders to her name yet nothing but a maid’s account of a supposed book of girls’ names that was never presented in trial, the story surrounding this countess was enchanting! Slower in plot but with plenty of mystery to keep me reading, I’m so glad I read this book! A new historical rabbit hole for me to dive into!
Slow start but intriguing, I really wanted to like this because I love Circe and retellings but I never felt fully engaged in the book.
Told through multiple POVs via an omniscient third person narration. We get to know about the countess and life in the castle from the servants and young girls interacting with or having knowledge of the countess but never hear from Erzebet herself.
It’s a character driven story with no plot but for this type of story the characters should be more well developed and multi dimensional, they just fall flat!
We get info dumping background on characters in a single chapter and then barely see them again?! I’d prefer little morsels given throughout to grow the character and our connection to them.
I love the idea of exploring human nature and what it would’ve been like to be a powerful, independent, wealthy woman of this time; being accused of a witch simply because of this unprecedented position the countess holds and the men who attacked her for having power. Unfortunately the execution is falling flat for me.
I set this aside thinking maybe I was in a reading slump but after having several amazing reads in a row and trying to come back to try again, it’s not me it’s you (the book) 🥲 DNFd after 132 pages (about 41% in) because at this point of the book I should be connecting with the characters or something should be happening but it’s just been a whole lot of nothing to engage me or hold my interest
Told through multiple POVs via an omniscient third person narration. We get to know about the countess and life in the castle from the servants and young girls interacting with or having knowledge of the countess but never hear from Erzebet herself.
It’s a character driven story with no plot but for this type of story the characters should be more well developed and multi dimensional, they just fall flat!
We get info dumping background on characters in a single chapter and then barely see them again?! I’d prefer little morsels given throughout to grow the character and our connection to them.
I love the idea of exploring human nature and what it would’ve been like to be a powerful, independent, wealthy woman of this time; being accused of a witch simply because of this unprecedented position the countess holds and the men who attacked her for having power. Unfortunately the execution is falling flat for me.
I set this aside thinking maybe I was in a reading slump but after having several amazing reads in a row and trying to come back to try again, it’s not me it’s you (the book) 🥲 DNFd after 132 pages (about 41% in) because at this point of the book I should be connecting with the characters or something should be happening but it’s just been a whole lot of nothing to engage me or hold my interest
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a gothic/dark fictional account of the real Countess Erzsebet Bathory (the Blood Countess accused of killing over 600 girls). It is mostly from the POV of Boroka, a young girl sent to the castle as a servant. The other POVs include the Countess and her accomplices in murder - Ilona, Dorka, and Ficzko.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book! This review is left voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book! This review is left voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes