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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Retelling of the 'Bloody Countess' Elizabeth Bathory. Reads as historical fiction with a hint of magical realism.
Bathory is painted through history as one of the most prolific female serial killers. This story takes the approach of a wronged woman whose only crime was to be powerful at a time when women should be anything but which I suspect based on historical evidence is the more realistic version, not the vampiress bathing in virgin blood. There is another ambiguity for you to make your own mind up but it is a compelling take on a real person.
It is a story about greed, envy and complicated relationships between women, both good and bad.
This is my second book by this author and I really like how she creates atmosphere and builds the historical world around you.
Bathory is painted through history as one of the most prolific female serial killers. This story takes the approach of a wronged woman whose only crime was to be powerful at a time when women should be anything but which I suspect based on historical evidence is the more realistic version, not the vampiress bathing in virgin blood. There is another ambiguity for you to make your own mind up but it is a compelling take on a real person.
It is a story about greed, envy and complicated relationships between women, both good and bad.
This is my second book by this author and I really like how she creates atmosphere and builds the historical world around you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Physical abuse, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was not what I expected. It was a new take on the character Countess Elizabeth of Bathory, historically notorious for her horrible torture of young women in Hungary during the 17th century. The book really isn't about her at all. Following the life of one young girl the novel explores one possible story among thousands of what may have really been true at the time. While The Nightingale's Castle is clearly historical fiction, it's truly told through a lens of feminism in it's best form. The reader gets to experience a taste of womanhood in that time across many social classes, which I found to be really intriguing. The author's reimagining of the events within the folklore is full of magic and drama, and yet it still feels very real, and entirely plausible. It isn't a happy book by any means, but I did leave it with a sense of peace at the outcome and there is a small twist I won't spoil that was pretty sweet at the end. I went into the novel not expecting to love it, and expecting something gruesome. Instead it was colorful, interesting, without the gore I had expected and with characters I really cared about. I am giving it 5 stars because it's so well written, has a great plot, the characters have real depth, and I just generally enjoyed it!
I was enthralled by the twist on this chilling account about Erzsébet Báthory, the so-called Blood Countess of Hungary, accused of heinous, murderous crimes against hundreds of innocent girls and women under her care.
In The Nightingale’s Castle, Sonia Velton fictitiously puts her spin on the mystery behind the horrifying accusations against Countess Báthory and her four accomplices that took place within the walls of Čachtice Castle.
A tale of intrigue unfolds as a young woman, Boróka, raised in obscurity, is thrust into Countess Erzsébet Báthory’s tumultuous world. Dark secrets surface and dangerous alliances are formed. Boróka is caught between loyalty to the Countess and survival as she navigates the workings behind the treacherous castle walls and the looming threat of the king's power.
This is a riveting account of power and betrayal; where loyalties are tested and alliances are formed as the fate of Boróka, the Countess, and other’s lives hang in the balance.
Be prepared to be captivated by this dark medieval tale that will send shivers down your spine.
I found the Author’s Note at the end intriguing as she shares further insight into her research.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers, for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 30 Jul 2024
CONTENT
In The Nightingale’s Castle, Sonia Velton fictitiously puts her spin on the mystery behind the horrifying accusations against Countess Báthory and her four accomplices that took place within the walls of Čachtice Castle.
A tale of intrigue unfolds as a young woman, Boróka, raised in obscurity, is thrust into Countess Erzsébet Báthory’s tumultuous world. Dark secrets surface and dangerous alliances are formed. Boróka is caught between loyalty to the Countess and survival as she navigates the workings behind the treacherous castle walls and the looming threat of the king's power.
This is a riveting account of power and betrayal; where loyalties are tested and alliances are formed as the fate of Boróka, the Countess, and other’s lives hang in the balance.
Be prepared to be captivated by this dark medieval tale that will send shivers down your spine.
I found the Author’s Note at the end intriguing as she shares further insight into her research.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers, for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 30 Jul 2024
CONTENT
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I love, looooove the story of Elizabeth Bathory, and picking up this book was very exciting to me. The more I read it, the more engaged I feel. This gives me a different perspective of the Blood Countess but is still very much devourable, and the writing style is so, so delicate and evocative.
What makes me more in love is the detailed author's note about the translation of material she used for this book. Extra reading material? I am SO in.
What makes me more in love is the detailed author's note about the translation of material she used for this book. Extra reading material? I am SO in.
The Hungarian legend of countess Elizabeth Bàthory comes to life in this fictional account of the goings on in the late 1500s, when Bàthory is supposed to have tortured and killed hundreds of servant girls in her employ. About 200 years after her conviction, the legend evolves to claim she bathed in the blood of her victims to preserve her youth. The author of this novel does a great job of honoring the available historical documents concerning the trial, accomplices, other relations, and politics at the time. The end does not provide a clean conclusion of the countess’s innocence nor guilt, rather, leaves the reader with the historical facts to contemplate and draw their own conclusions. Very well done. I did sometimes have a bit of trouble following the characters relations to one another, and following who the characters were since some of their names are very similar. And there is something about a witch and one of the noble girls at the end that I didn’t fully understand… but I really enjoyed this story. **The author also includes authors notes at the end that explain the history behind the story! Very interesting.
I had a love hate relationship with this novel. If you know me, you know I really enjoy macabre, grotesque and horrific fiction. I have been fascinated by the Blood Countess since hearing about her on a Podcast. SO, yes, going into thus book I was excited for some gruesome tales filled with blood and gore.... sadly, I was disappointed, there was none.
Those with the squeamish stomachs rejoice, there was no baths in the blood of virgins depicted in this book. But, once I got passed the misunderstanding of the books contents, I actually enjoyed it.
The book is a historically accurate depiction of the later life of the blood Countess and her household in the 1600s. It was interesting to read about her tale and I enjoyed the strength of the fictional character Boroka. There was even a bit of magic to it. All in all, it was a decent read, once you get over what the book entails.
Thank you to Harper Perennial, Sonia Velton and NetGalley for this ARC. The book is on sale on July 30, 2024. Make sure to get it at your local bookseller.
Those with the squeamish stomachs rejoice, there was no baths in the blood of virgins depicted in this book. But, once I got passed the misunderstanding of the books contents, I actually enjoyed it.
The book is a historically accurate depiction of the later life of the blood Countess and her household in the 1600s. It was interesting to read about her tale and I enjoyed the strength of the fictional character Boroka. There was even a bit of magic to it. All in all, it was a decent read, once you get over what the book entails.
Thank you to Harper Perennial, Sonia Velton and NetGalley for this ARC. The book is on sale on July 30, 2024. Make sure to get it at your local bookseller.
dark
medium-paced
Just, wow! This is an utterly captivating historical fiction inspired by the “Blood Countess,” Erzsébet Báthory, that combines Gothic fiction and magical realism. It’s truly such an eye-opening history of the lies spun to undo powerful women. Fantastic read, I would absolutely recommend!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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
Mixed Bag
I’m not sure how to even begin this review, as my feelings about The Nightingale’s Castle are decidedly mixed. I went into the book with high expectations, drawn by its intriguing premise and the promise of a feminist reimagining of history. While the novel delivers a richly atmospheric and thought-provoking narrative, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it fell short of its potential.
Sonia Velton’s story dives into the legend of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, reframing her infamous history with an alternative lens. This isn’t strictly a retelling; instead, Velton acknowledges her use of historical research to craft a narrative that interrogates the biases and power dynamics of the time. The result is a novel that challenges the reader to question how much of Bathory’s infamy was shaped by the lies men tell when powerful women threaten their positions.
Told in the third person from multiple perspectives, the story revolves around Boroka, a young servant girl whose complicated relationship with the Countess serves as the novel’s emotional core. Through Boroka’s eyes, we navigate a castle fraught with danger, whispers of magic, and buried truths. Themes of loyalty, family, and the destructive power of patriarchal fear thread through the narrative as Boroka seeks answers that ultimately reshape her understanding of herself and the world around her.
Velton’s research adds depth to the portrayal of Bathory, shedding new light on the trials of her alleged accomplices and casting the Countess in a more sympathetic, complex light. However, while the book is brimming with atmosphere and rich ideas, it doesn’t fully capitalize on them. The emotional depth and clarity I had hoped for felt elusive, leaving some threads unresolved and some moments less impactful than they could have been.
Still, for readers who enjoy alternative viewpoints on maligned historical figures or stories that blend feminist critique with elements of mystery and magic, The Nightingale’s Castle is a compelling choice. It offers a fresh perspective on the infamous Countess Bathory, even if it doesn’t entirely satisfy its ambitious premise. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book but wanted more from it. A solid 3 out of 5 stars.
