Reviews - The Nightingale's Castle

122 reviews for:

The Nightingale's Castle

Sonia Velton

3.72 AVERAGE

pyxis_'s review

3.0

dark mysterious 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: No

amongst_the_bookstacks's review

4.25

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

In the dark recesses of historical lore, the name Erzsébet Báthory casts a long shadow, synonymous with tales of horror and bloodshed. Sonia Velton’s "The Nightingale's Castle" offers a fresh, feminist reimagining of this infamous figure, blending elements of suspense and fantasy to craft a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of 16th-century Hungary. The novel introduces Boróka, a young woman thrust into the orbit of the enigmatic Countess, whose reputation for cruelty and violence precedes her. As Boróka navigates the treacherous corridors of power and intrigue within the Countess’s household, she grapples with questions of loyalty, morality, and the true nature of justice.

Velton’s portrayal of the characters, particularly the complex dynamics between Boróka and the Countess, is a masterstroke of storytelling. Through vivid prose and meticulous attention to historical detail, she brings to life a world steeped in superstition and fear, where women wield both power and vulnerability in equal measure. The exploration of trauma and abuse resonates deeply, offering readers a thought-provoking examination of the human condition and the lengths to which individuals will go in the pursuit of power and self-preservation.

At its core, "The Nightingale's Castle" is a tale of resilience and redemption, woven with threads of darkness and hope. Velton’s deft narrative hand guides the reader through a labyrinth of secrets and betrayals, culminating in a climax that is as thrilling as it is poignant. Despite its grim subject matter, the novel ultimately leaves a lasting impression of courage and compassion, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, there is light to be found in the unlikeliest of places.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for e-ARC of this book!
Available July 30th, 2024.

charlottereadshistory's review

4.0

challenging dark sad tense 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: Yes

The story tells the early seventeenth century tale of Hungarian Countess Erzsébet Báthory, the infamous "Blood Countess" who according to legend killed hundreds of her young female servants.

The story is retold and explored from the viewpoint of the Countess herself and several of her servants, and offers a different explanation of the myths that have been told for hundreds of years.

Velton spins several threads of the story to start with, the transitions of which could be a little confusing - I found myself wondering what was going on a few times, but it was satisfying when those threads were all brought together.

I enjoyed the omniscient narration and the ability to hear the thoughts and feelings of so many of the women involved, especially exploring the complexities and actions of broken people who had suffered trauma and pain in their pasts. I especially enjoyed the explorations of power in a patriarchal society and how women were used and abused by this imbalance across society and across generations.

A content warning - I didn’t know about the Blood Countess beforehand so went into the story blind - it is gruesome! There is death, torture and cruelty. I am squeamish and easily scared so keep that in mind if you are too. If you love horror and dark, gothic themes I am sure you’ll love the growing tension and macabre scenes. It will certainly keep you turning the pages to find out what happens!

Thank you to the publishers and the author for this advanced reader copy in return for my honest review - all opinions are my own.

Content Warnings

cassiecat's review against another edition

3.5

mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

🎧3.5⭐️

I had the audiobook of a new to me historical / women’s fiction author. Read by Elinor Coleman who did a good job I found her easy to listen to.

Inspired by history Erzsébet Báthory gained notoriety as the blood Countess accused of the death of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary.

In 1573 the Countess gave birth to an illegitimate girl, on birth she was bundled up and sent to live with a peasant family. 15 years later people from the Castle are sent to procure workers, and Boróka is sent to work at the castle.

Firstly with the names and place names I think it was an easier option having the audiobook with someone doing the pronunciations for me. It’s also an earlier period in history than I am used to reading. The language used didn’t feel ‘old’ which made it easy to follow.

I found it a slow burn, it leaves the reader questioning what the truth was. I was interested in the story’s premise, but struggled to engage with it as the majority of the book there wasn’t enough going on.

cazxxx's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

laurenslovelylittlelife's review against another edition

4.0

dark informative mysterious fast-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

emeliaisreading_'s review

4.0

dark informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The Nightingale's Castle
Historical Fiction
Expected Pub Date: July 30, 2024

I would like to preface this by saying I hadn't heard of the Blood Countess therefore I was definitely expecting something more along the lines of historical fantasy (possibly vampires 🩸) than historical fiction. That being said, I still quite enjoyed the story, once I figured out what was going on.
We read from the POV of basically all the main characters (like 7 characters) and it can become somewhat confusing at the beginning. I found the authors note at the end very interesting, I almost wish I'd read it first just so I'd have known better what the story was about. I appreciate the authors efforts to include facts from the actual story throughout, while still taking artistic liberties to make it unique.

This was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed her writing style. If I'm in the mood for a historical fiction again, I'll happily read her work.

⭐ 4/5