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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Slow and uninteresting, no characters that I cared about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Infertility
Minor: Body shaming, Blood, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Classism
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I went in expecting blood countess. I left feeling like history lied to me. Which it very well could have.
I feel this book very adequately explored the political aspect of Elizabeth Bathory. We can see how she was framed for political gain. We can see how superstition was used against her. And we can see how details over time became this crazy affair.
The book was on the slower side. I wasn’t a fan of the magical box aspect simply because it was like a golden ticket to fix/explain a lot of things.
I feel this book very adequately explored the political aspect of Elizabeth Bathory. We can see how she was framed for political gain. We can see how superstition was used against her. And we can see how details over time became this crazy affair.
The book was on the slower side. I wasn’t a fan of the magical box aspect simply because it was like a golden ticket to fix/explain a lot of things.
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:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
dark
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
The Nightingale’s Castle is an absorbing tale, its fascination only heightened when you look further into the real-life character on which this is based.
The story begins with our key character, a young girl called Boroka, having to leave the care of the doctor who rescued her as a baby as villagers are talking. Rumours about the doctor and his charge are circulating, and though it pains him to do so the doctor arranges for Boroka to go into service.
Boroka is terrified at the prospect of leaving the only home she has known. Particularly when she realises she is to go into service to the Countess Bathory. Rumours abound about the Countess and the high number of servants she appears to get through, with many young girls dying in her service. But Boroka has no choice if she is to survive.
Life under the Countess is hard. Vindictive head-servants punish the girls for their supposed misdemeanours yet the girls are fed and cared for, and some are even taken under the wing of the Countess. Boroka herself comes to the attention of the Countess for her ability to read and write, and she is asked to stand-in for the Countess during a portrait sitting.
As the book progresses little details are noted that suggest Boroka may have ties to the Countess that she is unaware of. There are physical similarities between them, and Boroka is captivated by a mysterious rosewood box that seems to contain a book holding details of her past.
I found the story riveting, particularly when we see the moves taken to bring down the Countess. I knew nothing of the character on which this story is based, but the historical details appear to be painted in a more nuanced light creating some sympathy for the Countess and those loyal to her.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.
The story begins with our key character, a young girl called Boroka, having to leave the care of the doctor who rescued her as a baby as villagers are talking. Rumours about the doctor and his charge are circulating, and though it pains him to do so the doctor arranges for Boroka to go into service.
Boroka is terrified at the prospect of leaving the only home she has known. Particularly when she realises she is to go into service to the Countess Bathory. Rumours abound about the Countess and the high number of servants she appears to get through, with many young girls dying in her service. But Boroka has no choice if she is to survive.
Life under the Countess is hard. Vindictive head-servants punish the girls for their supposed misdemeanours yet the girls are fed and cared for, and some are even taken under the wing of the Countess. Boroka herself comes to the attention of the Countess for her ability to read and write, and she is asked to stand-in for the Countess during a portrait sitting.
As the book progresses little details are noted that suggest Boroka may have ties to the Countess that she is unaware of. There are physical similarities between them, and Boroka is captivated by a mysterious rosewood box that seems to contain a book holding details of her past.
I found the story riveting, particularly when we see the moves taken to bring down the Countess. I knew nothing of the character on which this story is based, but the historical details appear to be painted in a more nuanced light creating some sympathy for the Countess and those loyal to her.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.
dark
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:
Yes
I'm not really sure why I kept reading this book, honestly. When I read the synopsis about it being about a female serial killer, and I was on board! But the read of this book is very much NOT about that at all. It's more about showing this woman as possibly not a serial killer and there's very little death or killing until towards the end. The rest of it is dry and slow. I think I just kept going to see if we would see something happen besides a lot of nothing. It never really did...