Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by witchchapter
The Nightingale's Castle: A Novel of Erzabeth Báthory by Sonia Velton
5.0
What a stunning historical fiction novel, about the very real Elizabeth Bathory, known as the “Blood Countess.” Sonia Velton’s take on the dubious circumstances of the Countess’s downfall is exquisite. Instead of a sensationalized account of a vampire, Velton explores the treatment of powerful, independent, intelligent, rich women, throughout history.
While this is a work of fiction, Velton incorporates and weaves known facts and players from the time into the story. Her carrying character, Boroka, is used to tie together the world of “upstairs” and “downstairs.” Again, Boroka’s existence is extrapolated from a supposedly real illegitimate child. However, the surrounding characters were very real people.
Velton highlights how hysteria, corruption, and the witch-hunt-mindset crucify women, historically. Bathory, a wealthy widow, who managed estates and a vast fortune, was an easy target for the men around her to manipulate a story about, and from which to profit. This is a much more likely explanation for the Countess’s downfall than the death of 600+ young girls.
The complicated female relationships throughout this novel were also expertly crafted. Whether it’s with other women, children, status, etc., Velton paints the complicated relationships women of the time faced with a masterful touch.
I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction!
While this is a work of fiction, Velton incorporates and weaves known facts and players from the time into the story. Her carrying character, Boroka, is used to tie together the world of “upstairs” and “downstairs.” Again, Boroka’s existence is extrapolated from a supposedly real illegitimate child. However, the surrounding characters were very real people.
Velton highlights how hysteria, corruption, and the witch-hunt-mindset crucify women, historically. Bathory, a wealthy widow, who managed estates and a vast fortune, was an easy target for the men around her to manipulate a story about, and from which to profit. This is a much more likely explanation for the Countess’s downfall than the death of 600+ young girls.
The complicated female relationships throughout this novel were also expertly crafted. Whether it’s with other women, children, status, etc., Velton paints the complicated relationships women of the time faced with a masterful touch.
I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction!