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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An eerie gothic story with interesting exploration of the characters and their dynamics. Elaborate historical detailing interwoven into enchanting and mysterious storytelling.
dark
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Historical fiction (feminist retelling) set in 1573-1600s Hungary. đź‡đź‡ş Velton questions whether the countess was truly to blame for the mysterious deaths of young girls or was it part of a bigger political plot.
The main character, Boroka is a lovable young girl, who exhibits strength of character and loyalty throughout the book. The story gives us a small glimpse into the life of a handmaid in the countesses presence. Overall, the cast of characters is actually quite large, consisting of heroes, villains and something in between. It lends for a realistic portrayal of people, but is frustrating and tragic.
I would recommend this book, however, it is slow and the description of torture is graphic.
“Think of it, Boroka, an aging widow managing her castles and estates as well as any man! A woman, past her usefulness bearing children, refusing to disappear! They consider me an affront to the natural order! "sometimes I think about that English queen Anne Boleyn. One minute she was the king's sweetheart, the next she was a witch, a whore who fornicated with her own brother." She turns back to Boroka and gives her a tremulous look. "It frightens me what lengths men will go to once a woman becomes ... inconvenient." — Quote from chapter 15 “Melancholia”
Arc on NetGalley
Pub Date Jul 30 2024 |
Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction
The main character, Boroka is a lovable young girl, who exhibits strength of character and loyalty throughout the book. The story gives us a small glimpse into the life of a handmaid in the countesses presence. Overall, the cast of characters is actually quite large, consisting of heroes, villains and something in between. It lends for a realistic portrayal of people, but is frustrating and tragic.
I would recommend this book, however, it is slow and the description of torture is graphic.
“Think of it, Boroka, an aging widow managing her castles and estates as well as any man! A woman, past her usefulness bearing children, refusing to disappear! They consider me an affront to the natural order! "sometimes I think about that English queen Anne Boleyn. One minute she was the king's sweetheart, the next she was a witch, a whore who fornicated with her own brother." She turns back to Boroka and gives her a tremulous look. "It frightens me what lengths men will go to once a woman becomes ... inconvenient." — Quote from chapter 15 “Melancholia”
Arc on NetGalley
Pub Date Jul 30 2024 |
Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture
Minor: Sexual harassment
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Adult | Historical Fiction
There’s a sprinkle of romantic spook
I wasn’t familiar with Elizabeth Báthory before I started this book but found her story interesting enough to want to read about.
This story follows a few folks and is very character driven. Character development however, was not here but I can ignore it because this story is rooted in truth and there’s not much we can REALLY know about someone who lived between 1560 and 1614. I’m thankful the author changed some of the names, not because they were hard to pronounce, but they (in real life) were a bit too similar for me to remember from page to page. I think I would have appreciated this book more as an audiobook, I’m not Hungarian and some things I had to stop and Google.
Overall I liked the story and thought it did what it said it would. The writing flowed so well in some areas but in others it was like a grand rapid sucked me in, slapping me in the face with information resulting in me resurfacing very disoriented.
There’s a sprinkle of romantic spook
I wasn’t familiar with Elizabeth Báthory before I started this book but found her story interesting enough to want to read about.
This story follows a few folks and is very character driven. Character development however, was not here but I can ignore it because this story is rooted in truth and there’s not much we can REALLY know about someone who lived between 1560 and 1614. I’m thankful the author changed some of the names, not because they were hard to pronounce, but they (in real life) were a bit too similar for me to remember from page to page. I think I would have appreciated this book more as an audiobook, I’m not Hungarian and some things I had to stop and Google.
Overall I liked the story and thought it did what it said it would. The writing flowed so well in some areas but in others it was like a grand rapid sucked me in, slapping me in the face with information resulting in me resurfacing very disoriented.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
"It frightens me what lengths men will go to once a woman becomes… inconvenient.”
Okay so if I'm being completely honest I was actually really disappointed with this one. I mean it's got an interesting feminist (sort of) storyline that reexamines the narrative surrounding Elizabeth Bathory. Interestingly enough it takes most of the focus off of Elizabeth Bathory and focuses on the women who work for her. I expected a lot more to do with the murderous reputation the Countess had acquired, but it wasn't really a part of the story in my opinion. I kind of expected it to be a bit more dark and gruesome and it really wasn't. It had some dark moments don't get me wrong, but not the ones you would really anticipate. It also had this magical realism thing going on that I personally think made the story weird. It didn't fit in my opinion because none of the story gave off that type of vibe. Overall, I was just happy when it was over.
Okay so if I'm being completely honest I was actually really disappointed with this one. I mean it's got an interesting feminist (sort of) storyline that reexamines the narrative surrounding Elizabeth Bathory. Interestingly enough it takes most of the focus off of Elizabeth Bathory and focuses on the women who work for her. I expected a lot more to do with the murderous reputation the Countess had acquired, but it wasn't really a part of the story in my opinion. I kind of expected it to be a bit more dark and gruesome and it really wasn't. It had some dark moments don't get me wrong, but not the ones you would really anticipate. It also had this magical realism thing going on that I personally think made the story weird. It didn't fit in my opinion because none of the story gave off that type of vibe. Overall, I was just happy when it was over.
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced