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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my bad for not realizing how much into horror this was going to be. I honestly could have been ok with the “bathing in blood of virgins” but not the sociopathic side characters.
The narrative style is difficult as well. There are so many asides and side stories to the main story, it’s hard to keep focus.
Sadly not for me. But I think a horror fan could get into this.
The narrative style is difficult as well. There are so many asides and side stories to the main story, it’s hard to keep focus.
Sadly not for me. But I think a horror fan could get into this.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Veery good. I was often confused by the switching of perspectives, but overall the story was so compelling I barely put it down
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and Harper Perennial for a chance to read and review. My opinions are my own.
A female perspective on historical tellings is one of my favorites, so I was very excited to get my hands on this little gem.
Hungary, 1610: Countess Erzsébet Báthory (accused of killing over 500- likely the prolific female serial killer if is this is true) has a new lady in waiting, Boróka, our FMC.
Boróka is fully aware of the rumors, but gives the Countess the benefit of the doubt. And together with a few others becomes her most trusted companions.
This is a very unique view of how women were treated and often accused of heinous acts, and how often women in power were "managed" by claiming their behaviors were either illegal or mentally unstable.
Many compare to Circe, and while the vibe is similar, this has a few more intense trigger warning topics. I mean, it is based on a woman they claim drank the blook of peasants girls,...so be warned.
A female perspective on historical tellings is one of my favorites, so I was very excited to get my hands on this little gem.
Hungary, 1610: Countess Erzsébet Báthory (accused of killing over 500- likely the prolific female serial killer if is this is true) has a new lady in waiting, Boróka, our FMC.
Boróka is fully aware of the rumors, but gives the Countess the benefit of the doubt. And together with a few others becomes her most trusted companions.
This is a very unique view of how women were treated and often accused of heinous acts, and how often women in power were "managed" by claiming their behaviors were either illegal or mentally unstable.
Many compare to Circe, and while the vibe is similar, this has a few more intense trigger warning topics. I mean, it is based on a woman they claim drank the blook of peasants girls,...so be warned.
dark
tense
slow-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
dark
mysterious
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Perrenial and Sonia Velton for an advanced copy of this book!
The writing style is sharp, smart and resonant. So often I’d read a passage and be seriously impressed by the diction, the pacing, the general mood/atmosphere the author cultivated, the setting(s) and more. Not to mention the control over how information was conveyed to the reader in terms of writerly authority, which was huge: I absolutely trusted that I was receiving deliberately and meticulously crafted scenes that culminated in a tight novel that balanced plot with character.
The writing style is sharp, smart and resonant. So often I’d read a passage and be seriously impressed by the diction, the pacing, the general mood/atmosphere the author cultivated, the setting(s) and more. Not to mention the control over how information was conveyed to the reader in terms of writerly authority, which was huge: I absolutely trusted that I was receiving deliberately and meticulously crafted scenes that culminated in a tight novel that balanced plot with character.
While part of me wanted and expected to read a story in which one person, in this case the countess, functions as the sole evil figure for whom their underlings are forced to do their horrendous bidding, I appreciated that the novel took a more nuanced approach. This made for what sounds like a more accurate retelling as well as for an exciting read, as everything was dynamic and constantly unfolding, and there were lots of grey areas; the complications in the story (stemming notably from the relationships between people, the power struggles, issues of abandonment, the economy of Hungary in the 16th and 17th century, etc.) didn’t necessarily have clear answers, which was fascinating and prompted me to think more deeply about the real-world implications of the story, including the historical influences/inspiration and how we conceive of (even today) witchcraft, female agency and beyond.
Tl;dr: Recommend, particularly for folks seeking a historical novel and who enjoy intrigue/mystery, light horror, European/Eastern European folklore and retellings generally.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
reflective
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