A review by cassiecat
The Nightingale's Castle by Sonia Velton

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

🎧3.5⭐️

I had the audiobook of a new to me historical / women’s fiction author. Read by Elinor Coleman who did a good job I found her easy to listen to. 

Inspired by history Erzsébet Báthory gained notoriety as the blood Countess accused of the death of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary. 

In 1573 the Countess gave birth to an illegitimate girl, on birth she was bundled up and sent to live with a peasant family. 15 years later people from the Castle are sent to procure workers, and Boróka is sent  to work at the castle. 

Firstly with the names and place names I think it was an easier option having the audiobook with someone doing the pronunciations for me. It’s also an earlier period in history than I am used to reading. The language used didn’t feel ‘old’ which made it easy to follow. 

I found it a slow burn, it leaves the reader questioning what the truth was. I was interested in the story’s premise, but struggled to engage with it as the majority of the book there wasn’t enough going on.