If you are a fan of anything, vampires, history, or even Elizabeth Bath you’re going to love this story. I’ve read a lot of stories that revolve around her history and I believe this one was probably the most entertaining and I can’t wait to see what else comes from this author.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this novel! I wasn’t familiar with the history surrounding the inspiration for it, nor was I familiar with the author so I didn’t have many expectations going into it. I loved the writing style and thought the character development was fantastic. One thing I judge a historical fiction/fantasy on is whether it leaves me with a desire to research more into the topic because the novel just made me so invested that I need more. This novel achieved that and I would absolutely recommend. My one minor con is that I wish it was longer so I could have spent more time with the characters.

I think it's probably time for the publishing world to stop using comparisons to Circe in their taglines.

Anyways, back to the book. I was actually a little disappointed by this title. It started out strong for me but once I realized I wasn't actually going to learn anything more about Countess Erzsebet Báthory, the momentum was lost. I personally felt like the first and second halves were two difference books entirely. I do like the author's writing style, so I'll give brownie points for that and will explore her other works. This ended up just not being the book I thought it was going to be.

4.5⭐

Inspired by true events, with elements of Gothic fiction, murder mystery, fantasy and magical realism woven into an immersive narrative, The Nightingale's Castle by Sonia Velton is a fascinating reimagining of the story of Erzsébet Báthory, the “Blood Countess", a sixteenth-century Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer who along with four of her servants were accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of young women.

Set in Hungary, in 1610, the narrative is shared from multiple perspectives including Erzsébet, her trusted servants János Ficzkó Újváry, Ilona Jó Nagy, Dorottya Szentes and Katalin Beneczky who also stood trial for their role in the murders as well as Borbála Boróka Libalány, a young girl who is brought into the Countess’s castle to serve her. Erzsébet takes a liking to Boróka, even allowing her to attend the sessions in the Gynaeceum. Boróka, raised by her adoptive father, never knew of her origins but discovers a mysterious rosewood box that offers not only clues that may lead her to her truth but much more. The narrative follows these characters through the events leading up to the allegations and subsequent trial.

I was captivated by the author’s exquisite writing, masterful storytelling and great attention to detail. The vivid imagery of the castle enables us to visualize the dark and eerie setting of the story and feel the evil lurking in the corners. With complex characters, dark and Gothic vibes and an atmospheric setting, this was a gripping read that kept me hooked until the very last page. The author presents the Countess as a woman with a traumatic past with a legacy of loss that she keeps buried, as a mother who has seen her daughters married and settled, as a lonely widow who devotes time instructing young girls from other noble families on etiquette and as a powerful woman whose wealth and power might have posed a threat to her male counterparts. Yes, the young servant girls working in the castle were treated harshly and yes, the episodes describing girls being treated for their ailments are difficult to read but the author compels us to ponder over the allegations brought against the Countess and question the legitimacy of these claims and the evidence presented against the Countess. Was she truly a depraved killer guilty of these heinous crimes or was she the victim of a conspiracy strategically designed to strip a widowed noblewoman of her wealth and power?

Do read the richly detailed Author’s Note where she discusses the characters and events that inspired this meticulously researched, thought-provoking and absorbing novel.

This was my first time reading Sonia Velton and I can’t wait to explore more of her work.

Many thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

That was unexpected.

When I think of the Carpathian mountains, my mind is drawn to two major blood thirsty historical figures -- Vlad the Impaler aka Dracula and Countess Elizabet Bathory. Bathory may not be as well known as her male counterpart, but her list of bodies is just as long and her methods as equally as barbaric.

So yes… loving the book "The Historian" by Elisabeth Kostova which is about Dracula, I gave the affirmative to The Nightengale's Castle which centered on the bloody countess herself.

But... this wasn't that. This is definitely a feminist twist on what could potentially be the lies men tell when a powerful woman unsettles them from their comfortable positions. Told in third person from various perspectives, we see the 'truth' of the countess through a young servant girl, Boroka who finds herself in a complicated relationship with the Countess herself. In a castle fraught with danger and a bit of magic, Boroka finds the truth she was always looking for, learning lessons of family, loyalty and the evils of men.

I'm not sure if I would call this a retelling, but the author acknowledges that she researched records of the Countess and the subsequent trials of her 'minions' in order to write this novel. It certainly sheds a different light on Countess Bathory. Read this if you like alternative view points of maligned historical figures.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Perrenial and Sonia Velton for an advanced copy of this book!

This book is a fictionalized feminist retelling of the trial of the Countess Erzsébet Báthory, the Blood Countess of Hungary. Said to be the most prolific female serial killer ever, there is no actual proof of her supposed crimes of the 1500s. This story follows Boróka, a new maid in the countess' household, as she navigates the social hierarchy of the time period. When the plague strikes the castle, the countess falls under suspicion for the amount of deaths in her household. Is she truly killing young girls in secret, or are the men in power just searching for a way to take down a powerful woman?

There are several POVs in this story, and the writing was very engaging, and at times gave me actual chills when describing some of the characters' cruelty. But at the same time, I was not very interested in the overall plot when it came to the countess or Boróka searching for her heritage, but the character writing and anecdotes about everyone's past were really interesting. I get that it can be tricky embellishing things based on history, but I also wanted a bit more from the ending. Also, this was marketed as "Hamnet" meets "Circe" meets "Dracula" and so the entire time I was expecting there to be vampires. Alas, no vampires, just feminists. So overall, the writing was great, the story was alright. Thanks to Harper Perennial and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

Adult | Historical Fiction
There’s a sprinkle of romantic spook

I wasn’t familiar with Elizabeth Báthory before I started this book but found her story interesting enough to want to read about.

This story follows a few folks and is very character driven. Character development however, was not here but I can ignore it because this story is rooted in truth and there’s not much we can REALLY know about someone who lived between 1560 and 1614. I’m thankful the author changed some of the names, not because they were hard to pronounce, but they (in real life) were a bit too similar for me to remember from page to page. I think I would have appreciated this book more as an audiobook, I’m not Hungarian and some things I had to stop and Google.

Overall I liked the story and thought it did what it said it would. The writing flowed so well in some areas but in others it was like a grand rapid sucked me in, slapping me in the face with information resulting in me resurfacing very disoriented.

I know of this story, I’ve watched this story on a program called ‘Deadly Women’ and it was horrific.
The Gynaeceum, women’s chamber and become a place for torture and
Boroka libreled ‘the, girls-who-tends-the-geese’.
“Countless maidens buried” “and their bodies were always marked by torture” Ezsebet Bathory the contess, considered the most Blood Countess. Ezebet was known. This is The sound through the eye of Maria. Maria Von Trapp,a well known character better known from The Sound of Music. The novel was a joy to read and I would add the novel to my TBR.

I remember watching “The Sound of Music” on a yearly basis. The voice of Juie Andrews' voice, which I sang to myself l. I recognized the character of Julie Anrew Maria through the music she sang and the movie was a joy. Oscar Hammerstien wrote the film's lyrics. Along with a known film, there was the horror of Hitler. The cover reminded me why I enjoyed the film.


The novel was Gothic historical fiction count me in Comtess’s maidens and “their bodies were aways marked my by torture.” Turture which descrided the miadens. Described as the most ‘innocent of young souls’.

I remember watching “The Sound of Music” on a yearly basis. The voice of Juie Andrews' voice is why I loved this film. I recognized the character of Maria through the music she sang and the movie was a joy. Oscar Hammerstien wrote the film's lyrics. Along with a known film, there was the horror of Hitler. The cover reminded me why I enjoyed the film.

However, most girls were not noble, her cheeks were soft, which is what the Countess preferred.
Thank you Maria: A Novel A Novel of Maria, Michelle Moraran, for the privilege of reading this book

I absolutely loved this account of the “myth” of Elizabeth Bathory, the infamous female serial killer that supposedly murdered young women and used their blood to keep her young. Turns out, the historical accuracy of that horror was probably far off.

The author shows a more feminist and most likely, more accurate, portrayal of Erzsebet Bathory. The story was riveting and I especially was impressed by the follow up of historical facts that helped to shape the story. It was definitely a time period where a wealthy woman was a hindrance to those who might like to abscond with her property (while also putting her in her place!).

Thanks so much to Sonia Velton, Harper Perennial books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sonia Velton for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Nightingale's Castle coming out July 30, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was my first book by this author. I was really interested in the time period and subject matter. I’ve read another book about the Blood Countess and I thought this book was really well done. There were a couple parts that were a little dry for me, but overall I really enjoyed the story. I would be interested in checking out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gothic books!

A feminist reimagining of the story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, the infamous sixteenth-century Hungarian aristocrat known as the "Blood Countess" who was rumored to have murdered hundreds of peasant girls and bathed in their blood. The story is a new take on the history of the Countess and asks "was she really a killer or was she just misunderstood?" The story follows various characters POV and jumps between them. Its a mix of historical drama with Gothic suspense weaved in. It is a bit of a challenging read as it is a bit hard to follow and doesn't exactly read in a smooth way. I unfortunately found it to be a bit of a disappointing read and it wasn't what I was hoping it would be. I found myself getting bored and not engaging in the story or the characters. I initially was so excited to read this but found myself disconnecting the further I got into the story. It just fell completely flat to me and I think that if you like more complex and slow multi character pov historical dramas then this would work for you.

Release Date: July 30,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

First thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me an eARC of this book!

My first thought after finishing was disappointment because from what I know of the blood countess she was a prolific serial killer, but this book did not reflect that. Instead it reflected the face that the blood countess could be innocent. After reading the authors note it made sense. Admittedly though, I wanted more violence and gore 😂

The writing was done well, the story held my attention for the most part just wasn’t what I wanted/was expecting.

The legend of Countess Erzsébet Báthory is people have tried to tell numerous times. Sonia Velton has taken the legend and turned it into a fascinating historical fiction novel.

This 'based on the true story" about the Countess, Velton brings more substance to the story. Was she a serial killer, determined to keep her youth and beauty....or was she, like so many others, completely misunderstood. I truly appreciated that this didn't sexualize the Countess (a la American History Story).

I think this is a special kind of book - I know that not everyone is going to like or really enjoy it at all. It's a bloody, gothic story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book .







In 1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gives birth to an illegitimate child. Secretly taken to a peasant family living in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the infant girl is raised as their own. Years later, a young woman called Boróka—ignorant of her true history—is sent to join the Countess’s household.

Terrified of the Countess’s murderous reputation and the brutally cruel women who run the castle, Boróka struggles to find her place. Then plague breaches the castle’s walls, and a tentative bond unexpectedly forms between the girl and the Countess. But powerful forces are moving against the great lady whose wealth and independence threatens the king. Can the Countess trust the women seemingly so close to her? And when the show trial begins against the infamous “Blood Countess” where will Boróka’s loyalties lie?

"The Nightingale's Castle by Sonia Velton presents a disjointed and confusing narrative that struggles to maintain coherence. Set against the backdrop of 16th-century Hungary during a plague outbreak, the story follows Boróka, a young woman unaware of her noble birth, who enters the foreboding realm of Countess Erzsébet Báthory's castle.

From the outset, the novel's plot is difficult to follow, with abrupt shifts in perspective and timeline that disrupt the flow of the story. Velton's attempt to blend historical drama with Gothic suspense often results in a tangled narrative web, making it challenging for readers to fully immerse themselves in the characters’ experiences and motivations.

While the atmosphere of the castle initially evokes a sense of foreboding, it quickly becomes repetitive and fails to sustain the tension necessary for a compelling Gothic tale. The relationships between characters, particularly that of Boróka and the enigmatic Countess, are underdeveloped and lack emotional depth, leaving their interactions feeling hollow and unconvincing.

Moreover, the novel’s exploration of feminist themes, while promising, remains superficial and fails to resonate due to the narrative's disjointed nature. Moments that could have been poignant or impactful are overshadowed by the confusing plot structure and inconsistent pacing.

The Nightingale's Castle by Sonia Velton is a disappointing read for those seeking a cohesive and engaging historical fiction. Despite its intriguing premise and potential for exploring complex themes, the novel's disjointed execution and confusing narrative detract from its overall impact, leaving readers frustrated and disconnected from the characters' plight."

Countess Erzsébet Báthory is famous for bathing in the blood of virgins. But what is the truth of these claims? Countess Erzsébet Báthory is a remarkable woman doing what is considered to be a man's job running of her estates and property. Could jealousy be behind the claims she's killing young women? I was really impressed by the author's research and crafting of Countess Erzsébet Báthory's story. I look forward to more of this author's work in the future. Until next time Happy Reading!

I want to thank Harper Perennial for this ARC via Netgalley.

Slow start but intriguing, I really wanted to like this because I love Circe and retellings but I never felt fully engaged in the book.

Told through multiple POVs via an omniscient third person narration. We get to know about the countess and life in the castle from the servants and young girls interacting with or having knowledge of the countess but never hear from Erzebet herself.

It’s a character driven story with no plot but for this type of story the characters should be more well developed and multi dimensional, they just fall flat!

We get info dumping background on characters in a single chapter and then barely see them again?! I’d prefer little morsels given throughout to grow the character and our connection to them.

I love the idea of exploring human nature and what it would’ve been like to be a powerful, independent, wealthy woman of this time; being accused of a witch simply because of this unprecedented position the countess holds and the men who attacked her for having power. Unfortunately the execution is falling flat for me.

I set this aside thinking maybe I was in a reading slump but after having several amazing reads in a row and trying to come back to try again, it’s not me it’s you (the book) 🥲 DNFd after 132 pages (about 41% in) because at this point of the book I should be connecting with the characters or something should be happening but it’s just been a whole lot of nothing to engage me or hold my interest

This was a spine-tingling, gothic fictional account of the Countess Erzsebet Bathory of 16th century Hungary. The Countess’s claim to fame? According to Guinness World Records she is the most prolific female serial killer 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 with a body count of at least 600 virgins females. But is she really?

This book explores the later years of the Countess’s life through the POV of a young girl, Boroka, who is brought to the castle as a servant. The book also delves into the back story of some of the Countess’s other murderous associates who were put on trial with her- Ilona, Dorka, Ficzko, and Kata.

I really appreciated the historical retelling of the Countess’s life- including how the book addressed her potential illegitimate daughter she birthed at age 13 and how to account for all those deaths at the castle without much proof other than tortured confessions. There were some aspects of magical realism (didn’t do much for me but helped explain some stuff), witch craft, and feminism.

I recommend this for anyone who likes a good gothic story or historical fiction based on real events or people.

TW: torture, death, murder

This review was left voluntarily. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book was entertaining but felt kind of slow. I know the book is supposed to be about Boróka and her time spent at the castle, but I was really hoping there would be a bit more about the infamous Countess.

This is more literary than I expected. The pace is slow and the plot nearly indiscernable. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The Nightingale's Castle: A Novel of Erzsébet Báthory by Sonia Velton is a historical fiction novel based on the terrifyingly true story about a Hungarian Countess alive during the 1600s who was accused of torturing and murdering virgin girls and bathing in their blood to preserve her youth and beauty. She is infamously known for being so shockingly and sadistically monstrous, she still reigns superior as the face of evil so abhorrent it’s rivaled by only a few other wretched souls from the darkest chapters of history.

As time went on, rumors grew to such grossly engorged proportions, one wouldn’t even know where to begin to identify fact from fiction in a tale as cold blooded and twisted as this one, and the truth will likely remain shrouded in mystery for forever. The countess went on trial for torturing and murdering over 600 young girls and women within her household, but was convicted on conjecture and absent circumstantial evidence and eventually died under suspicious circumstances, all of which infuriatingly thickens the miasma of mystery and legend surrounding her bloody legacy. Was she a vicious and prolific serial killer or was she just unfortunate enough to have been born a woman?

What is really striking about this book is the uniquely feminist approach the author takes on the countess’s bloody story. I would say that I know a good bit more than the average person on gothic literature, dark histories, and horrifying myths and monsters; however, I have not yet run across such an interesting perspective on the Blood Countess, a woman believed to be so shockingly inhuman she is debatably the inspirational lifeblood pumped into origin stories such as Dracula and Carmilla, which makes her the real-life harbinger to the births of some of humanity’s worst nightmares in literature. After reading this book and becoming inspired to do my own independent research on the countess, I was astounded by my own assured belief in facts that were never really facts at all. Could her story be written in the pages of history not with the blood of virgins murdered by her own hand, but with her own blood exsanguinated by the hand of men? Mankind has always insatiably hungered for money, sex, and power. Erzsébet Báthory’s position of power, affluence, and influence as a widowed noble woman with the protection of her married name and strong familial ties to other powerful men in the region would have afforded the countess with significant freedoms to autonomy and independence. Motivations alluded to in the book for possibly witch-hunting the countess include men feeling threatened by her station and freedoms within the Hungarian aristocracy, lusting with irrepressible avarice for her substantial material wealth, or simply becoming incandescent with sanctimonious entitlement over women in general. I am convinced a very compelling argument is made about man being the real-life monster of the countess’s story. Sonia Velton has written an especially propulsive story that evokes strong reader intrigue and stokes the fires of feminine rage. There is thoughtful character development, the plot is saturated in gothic tragedy, and the atmosphere is practically pulsing with dread by the end of the book. My interest was immediately grabbed in the historical note, epigraph, and prologue. Personally, I was challenged to turn inward to reexamine preconceived verdicts and poorly drawn conclusions within the life portrait of the Blood Countess. This book now has me looking at other notorious women in history with a different lens. I loved this book, the thoughts it left me chewing, the questions it had me asking, and the research it had me conducting. I very much recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction (of course) and the darker side of history!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. Publication is July 30th! I have posted this review to my Goodreads account and my FB group, The Book Banquet.