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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
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
This was not what I expected, but man it was still good. Review to come!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse
Minor: Torture
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book! My only complaint is that it was a little too slow, but I loved the characters and themes of how women with power are treated as witches. I really enjoyed this perspective on an old story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This wonderful novel is the colour of a jewel inside and out. The author has done something magical by taking a figure from history and weaving an exquisite story inspired by that person. When this person was known as The Blood Countess, well, it can't get any more interesting quite frankly.
The Blood Countess has quite the story! Real name Erzsébet Báthory. Accused of the murder of up to 600 young woman in Hungary in the 1600s. Now, she doesn't get her own voice in the book, quite brilliantly, the author gives it to the men and women she affected. Giving the victims or the onlookers a voice is something that really gives this novel the edge.
The central character, Boróka, caught my interest from the start. She's fifteen and has, up until that point, lived a bit of a sheltered life. Well, she goes to work in the Countess' castle and let's say that things take a dramatic turn!
Having Boróka, a servant, tell most of this story really makes the novel sing. Her insights and turns of phrase give the story a raw and personal edge. The Countess is a strange creature and her behaviours, her ways and mannerisms are unexpected and changeable. Some of her servants seem to run the castle, rather than her and she is loathed and feared by outsiders. Seems that certain powerful men don't like powerful women
The balance of power inside the castle and the myths and legends that emerged from this whole tale are a joy to delve into. What is truth and what is reality? Did the Countess really bathe in the blood of fresh virgins? Did she kill all those she was accused of? Were her servants involved?
The fact the title of the book evokes a nightingale - a sweet innocent sounding bird that "symbolizes beauty and grace seems a perfect contrast at first but then I found out that it also represents "the impermanence of life, a symbol of transience and the passage of time." Gives the novel a whole new meaning.
Highly recommended!
The Blood Countess has quite the story! Real name Erzsébet Báthory. Accused of the murder of up to 600 young woman in Hungary in the 1600s. Now, she doesn't get her own voice in the book, quite brilliantly, the author gives it to the men and women she affected. Giving the victims or the onlookers a voice is something that really gives this novel the edge.
The central character, Boróka, caught my interest from the start. She's fifteen and has, up until that point, lived a bit of a sheltered life. Well, she goes to work in the Countess' castle and let's say that things take a dramatic turn!
Having Boróka, a servant, tell most of this story really makes the novel sing. Her insights and turns of phrase give the story a raw and personal edge. The Countess is a strange creature and her behaviours, her ways and mannerisms are unexpected and changeable. Some of her servants seem to run the castle, rather than her and she is loathed and feared by outsiders. Seems that certain powerful men don't like powerful women
The balance of power inside the castle and the myths and legends that emerged from this whole tale are a joy to delve into. What is truth and what is reality? Did the Countess really bathe in the blood of fresh virgins? Did she kill all those she was accused of? Were her servants involved?
The fact the title of the book evokes a nightingale - a sweet innocent sounding bird that "symbolizes beauty and grace seems a perfect contrast at first but then I found out that it also represents "the impermanence of life, a symbol of transience and the passage of time." Gives the novel a whole new meaning.
Highly recommended!
Sonia Velton is a terrific author who instantly engages her readers with well written, researched and intriguing stories. I thought her previous novel “The Image of Her” was one of the best books I’ve ever read, so I was truly looking forward to reading this; “The Nightingale’s Castle”. An historical retelling of the infamous ‘Blood Countess’ set in Hungary in the early 1600’s and using the author’s vivid imagination, we see Erzsébet Báthory’s life through her various servants and ladies, in particular Boróka who has her own personal reason for protecting the countess. Although I found it difficult to pronounce in my head, some of the names and places mentioned, I still thought the story flowed with passion and emotion and the thought of over 600 peasant girls being murdered, kept my attention till the end.
I’ve always had an interest in ‘witches’ in history and their unlawful persecution and it broke my heart to read yet again how terrifying it must have been to be a woman centuries ago, who was comfortable with her herbs and remedies, yet deemed to be a witch because of it.
The characters were strong and a credit to the female race, in particular little Marta who I particularly loved, she truly had a good heart and was often overlooked. As a compelling character driven story, woven with betrayal, suspense and incredibly rich details, this book ticked all the boxes for a historical fiction novel.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is very character oriented. There's not much plot without the character motivation. It's usually my favorite kind of story. I love reading about human nature and motivations. For a book that's mostly about its characters, they felt very flat to me. There was no character growth. The book felt long and hard to get through in places.
Like a lot of people, I am fascinated by the story of Erzebet Bathory, the bloody countess! The legend is gripping and terrifying! This is a researched story about the real woman. A woman who had power and influence and the men in her life were afraid of her and got rid of her in the most bloodthirsty horrible way! But she never killed anyone! I truly believe this! The author did a great job making me believe this, even with the legend being so prominent!
I feel conflicted. I loved the history of the countess! But the story itself was written like a history book, not a fiction novel. It felt slow, meandering, like it couldn't figure out if it wanted to be a fiction story of a strong woman or a history book, and so I can't figure out its goal. Why was the author telling the story?
Like a lot of people, I am fascinated by the story of Erzebet Bathory, the bloody countess! The legend is gripping and terrifying! This is a researched story about the real woman. A woman who had power and influence and the men in her life were afraid of her and got rid of her in the most bloodthirsty horrible way! But she never killed anyone! I truly believe this! The author did a great job making me believe this, even with the legend being so prominent!
I feel conflicted. I loved the history of the countess! But the story itself was written like a history book, not a fiction novel. It felt slow, meandering, like it couldn't figure out if it wanted to be a fiction story of a strong woman or a history book, and so I can't figure out its goal. Why was the author telling the story?
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated