I had a hard time getting through this one, but it could have been the time period and complete reader based trials and tribulations. I don't feel I felt enough for the story to give it a good critical review, positive or negative, and in truth did not finish it. I think I'm not in the right space right now for this book and will probably come back to it in the depths of winter sometime!

Very atmospheric and dark and I really liked that lots of it was based on the true story.I also really enjoyed the writing and felt sucked into the story line at points.At other points not so much and my attention wandered a bit.I think it was due to the fantasy box which was just a little out on a limb for me.For the most part it's a good read for a horror fan or just someone interested in Erzsebet Bathory's story.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. I wish I could have enjoyed this, but the pacing was just too slow for me. Also, the constant POV shifts meant it took a while for me to immerse myself into the story.

An infamously brutal murderess comes to life in this well-written reimagining. But we don’t get to just see the brutality; we see her humanity. And given that little is truly known about her reign of terror, and her trials relied heavily on the testimony of one girl, Countess Báthory is brought to life in a way that shows vulnerability, compassion, but also cunning. Our protagonist, Boróka, a girl with no history of her own, is brought to the Countess’ castle to become part of the household. She is desperate to find out who her mother is, and what happened to her. She is juxtaposed to the Countess, who is sly as Boròka is meek-initially. But the author pushed and pulls these two to bond them in unlikely ways. The sub characters are constructed well and provide context for the novel, as a whole. Our villain, Dorka, is brutal, vicious, and relishes in the pain and torment of others. But she also has a complex past that shaped her into who she is.

What we, the reader, also get to see is corruption and greed of powerful men and women, who are willing to condemn the Countess to obtain her riches. They push the narrative of the Blood Countess’ reign of terror and demand justice. But whose justice? Their actions lead the reader to doubt the truth of everything-wondering who is right and who is wrong.

Velton has given us a historically rich tale of death, power, and pain-bringing to life a woman who may or may not have been wrongfully accused. It is a novel worth reading and deciding for yourself who is the victim, and who is the villain.

*The Nightingale's Castle* by Sonia Velton masterfully blends historical fiction and fantasy to retell the story of Erzsébet Báthory, the infamous sixteenth-century Hungarian "Blood Countess" accused of murdering hundreds of girls. The novel follows Boróka, an unwittingly illegitimate child of Báthory, who is sent to serve the Countess at Čachtice Castle. Amidst the terror of Báthory's rumored brutality and the cruelty of her household, Boróka forms an unexpected bond with the Countess. Velton's vivid portrayal of the Gothic castle, the complex characterization of Báthory, and the exploration of themes like power, trust, and betrayal create a compelling narrative that captivates from start to finish. This richly textured tale, combining historical accuracy with dark fantasy elements, is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and Gothic horror.

Erzsebet Bathory, the Blood Countess" is perhaps one of the most sensationalized women in history. In sixteenth century Hungary Bathory was a wealthy aristocratic widow with vast wealth and lands which she capably managed on her own during her husband's absenses and following his death. As is often the case especially during this time period her lands and wealth were coveted by others and resentment grew as she steadfastly refused to cede any control. Were the growing rumors concerning her mistreatment of young servant girls and suspicious deaths based on facts or a conspiracy to wrest control by vengeful son in laws and envious men? Using the guise of an illegitimate daughter who comes to the castle as a servant this fictional biographical narrative unfolds through the eyes of multiple characters close to the Countess. The author deftly blends fact and fiction to create an absorbing story that sheds light on the strong women who came to be seen as the female Dracula. As is often the case with legends each retelling becomes more lurid and more of a departure from the truth. The narrative offers a different theory on the perpetrators of the cruelty and also points out the outbreaks of plague and other virulent diseases common during this period before medical care was common. An informative absorbing read. Even fans of history who have heard of Countess Bathory would be engaged with this well researched historical novel.

An unusual historical novel with a story line that was intriguing both from the truth of the events and in contemporary society—how women are so often mistreated regardless of station in life. The writing is good, the descriptions detailed and sometimes enchanting, sometimes repulsive. But a bit of a perplexive read as a woman in today’s world where we still fight some of the same battles in a more subtle manner.


Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the Advanced Review Copy.

amazing story about elizabeth bathory. there should be more about her, this is probably the best there is on the subject. if this is the author's debut, then she should keep up the good work!

I vaguely knew the story about Erzsébet Báthory from documentaries, but had not read any books about her so I was excited to read this book. The Nightingale’s Castle did lead me to reading more about the countess, which I always see as a good sign in a book.

I liked that the story was not solely focused on Erzsébet, but I did think there were too many POVs. I sometimes lost track of who was who, especially with the two older servants. I think the multiple POVs also contributed to the pacing of the book. It was slow during the first ⅔, and only marginally picked up in the last third.

did you love Circe? do you love dracula retellings? yes? then this book may fit right into your TBR pile. This is a strong feminist retelling of the Blood Contess, who would murder and bathe in the blood of those she killed. It's dark, but it's so so so so good!

I had a love hate relationship with this novel. If you know me, you know I really enjoy macabre, grotesque and horrific fiction. I have been fascinated by the Blood Countess since hearing about her on a Podcast. SO, yes, going into thus book I was excited for some gruesome tales filled with blood and gore.... sadly, I was disappointed, there was none.

Those with the squeamish stomachs rejoice, there was no baths in the blood of virgins depicted in this book. But, once I got passed the misunderstanding of the books contents, I actually enjoyed it.

The book is a historically accurate depiction of the later life of the blood Countess and her household in the 1600s. It was interesting to read about her tale and I enjoyed the strength of the fictional character Boroka. There was even a bit of magic to it. All in all, it was a decent read, once you get over what the book entails.

Thank you to Harper Perennial, Sonia Velton and NetGalley for this ARC. The book is on sale on July 30, 2024. Make sure to get it at your local bookseller.

The book is dark, evocative and mysterious. So this is a reimagined tale of Erzsébet Báthory who was known as the Blood Countess in sixteenth century.

The book has been narrated from the perspective of Boróka, she is oblivion to her birth parents. While soon she joins the Countess’s household. She admires the Countess. Boróka has a different opinion about her from everyone else. She thinks she is kind but everyone else thinks she is cruel. She is not how she appears to be. Author has shared about the infamous sixteenth century where Erzsébet had the illegitimate child and after some years, no one remembers the child or the woman.

While after some years, she was being accused of murdering young girls for eternal beauty. The story is infused with witchcraft, injustice and shocking truths. No one really knows the truth. The truth lies somewhere between the myths, rumours, secrets, facts and fiction.

Thanks to the Publisher and Author.

An interesting take on the story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, accused of murdering hundreds of servant girls….or did she? Were there perfectly reasonable explanations for the deaths? Told from the perspective of her unknowing illegitimate daughter, The Nightingales Castle asks us whether Erzsebet Bathory if the Countess is indeed a murderer? Or a woman who cares deeply for those who rely on her, who is under siege by men who can’t handle the fact that a woman can be strong, independent, caring, and a great ruler, who’d like to steal her property and use the rumors to make a case against her.. I really enjoyed this perspective on the notorious Countess. The writing is great, the story compelling, the characters fascinating. I highly recommend this book!

Overall, it was interesting, but I'm not going to pick it up again. Gave this book 2.5 stars!

Synopsis:
1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gave birth to an illegitimate child. The infant, a girl, was swiftly bundled up and handed to a local peasant family to be brought up in one of the hamlets surrounding the castle. Many years later, 15-year-old Boróka reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Trusted members of the countess's household have been sent out to gather new serving girls, and the kindly old man who has taken care of Boróka for almost all her life knows that it is dangerous to turn them away.

Boróka struggles to find her place at Cachtice Castle: she is frightened of the countess's reputation as an alleged murderer of young girls, and the women who run the castle are terrifyingly cruel. When plague comes into the heart of the castle, a tentative bond begins to form between Boróka and Countess Báthory. But powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king: can the countess really trust the women who are so close to her? And when the show trial begins against the infamous 'Blood Countess', where will Boróka's loyalties lie?

This book is very character oriented. There's not much plot without the character motivation. It's usually my favorite kind of story. I love reading about human nature and motivations. For a book that's mostly about its characters, they felt very flat to me. There was no character growth. The book felt long and hard to get through in places.

Like a lot of people, I am fascinated by the story of Erzebet Bathory, the bloody countess! The legend is gripping and terrifying! This is a researched story about the real woman. A woman who had power and influence and the men in her life were afraid of her and got rid of her in the most bloodthirsty horrible way! But she never killed anyone! I truly believe this! The author did a great job making me believe this, even with the legend being so prominent!

I feel conflicted. I loved the history of the countess! But the story itself was written like a history book, not a fiction novel. It felt slow, meandering, like it couldn't figure out if it wanted to be a fiction story of a strong woman or a history book, and so I can't figure out its goal. Why was the author telling the story?

I believe this was yet another weird decision at a weird time - likely being spurred on by boredom and "read now" buttons.

As a lover of Elizabeth Bathory I was very excited to see novel coming out about her castle and the crazy events that surrounded her. Imagine being in 1600 Hungary and being employed by a beautiful and deadly countess. Imagine still having no other choice but to stay in the castle and navigate whatever darkness untangles itself around you.

This book takes a while to get into and I personally had to be in the right mood to read it. It demands a rainy and foggy night, a comfy blanket and the feeling of coziness that a truly gothic and spooky story deserves.

Thank you Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC!

This is a historical fiction based around the 1600’s. The Blood Countess is rising to her prime, hiring young girls who are never to be seen again.

If this sounds like something up your alley, definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this ARC.

The book was a solid 3.25 for me.
The story itself was fascinating, it was a glimpse into what women went through and the lack of power that they had even if they had status, wealth, and legacy. I especially enjoyed the facts about the countess that the author included in their notes at the end. It was nice to be able to compare the historical evidence with what was written. This book was well researched and it shows, that was probably the thing I adored the most about this book.

I like historical fiction, the blend of fact and fiction is a beautiful dance that is spectacular if done right. Please do not get me wrong, I enjoyed this book and the concept was perfect. But the way that the chapters were written, it would take me out of the book and back to reality in almost every chapter because there were too many points of view. I started to get confused and lost on who was who. All this was intriguing, but it was too much to keep track of as the reader, it made me feel aimless. The book was well written and the author is clearly talented but the structure of the book is what I struggled with and why I rated it 3.25. The book did get better towards then and I immensely enjoyed the conclusion of the book.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @Harperperennial for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review!

4 stars!

“It frightens me what lengths men will go to once a woman becomes . . . inconvenient.”

If you are a lover of gruesome history, whispers of strange rituals, and gothic atmosphere, you need to read this book ASAP! I love it when books that deal with historical topics read more like a fictional book than a history text, and The Nightingale’s Castle does not disappoint in this aspect. We follow a young girl named Boroka who is taken to be in service to Countess Erzebet Bathory, who Boroka soon finds out is the subject of many rumors and conjecture as to why young girls have gone missing and wound up dead in service to her. I don’t want to spoil the story (you can look up what history has said about the infamous Blood Countess easily enough), but I found myself both wanting to believe in the Countess’ innocence and questioning her true motives as the story progresses.

This little known historical figure and her mysterious life make for a gripping historical tale of just how far a woman can go in a man’s world. Prepare to be both intrigued and a little skeptical… but as they say, truth is often stranger than fiction, and sometimes you can’t help but wonder the truth of it all.

Title: The Nightingale's Castle: A Feminist Reimagining of Erzsébet Báthory

"The Nightingale's Castle" presents a captivating narrative that blends history, folklore, and feminist themes in a mesmerizing tale of power, betrayal, and redemption. Drawing inspiration from the infamous figure of Erzsébet Báthory, the "Blood Countess" of sixteenth-century Hungary, author [Insert Author's Name] delivers a propulsive story that will enthrall fans of historical fiction with its gripping portrayal of one woman's struggle for identity and agency.

Set against the backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains in 1573, the novel introduces us to Countess Erzsébet Báthory as she gives birth to an illegitimate child, setting in motion a chain of events that will shape the destiny of generations to come. The infant girl, Boróka, is secretly raised by a peasant family, ignorant of her true lineage until years later when she is summoned to join the Countess's household. As Boróka grapples with her newfound identity and the ominous reputation of her adoptive mother, she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue and danger that threatens to consume them all.

What sets "The Nightingale's Castle" apart is its nuanced exploration of female relationships and agency in a patriarchal society. Through the perspectives of Boróka and the Countess, readers are invited into a world where women's lives are governed by the whims of men, and where survival often depends on forging unlikely alliances and challenging societal norms. As the threat of plague looms over the castle and political intrigue threatens to tear them apart, Boróka and the Countess must navigate treacherous waters where betrayal lurks at every turn.

The author's prose is rich and evocative, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of sixteenth-century Hungary. From the opulent halls of the castle to the rugged beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, the setting comes alive on the page, serving as a vivid backdrop to the unfolding drama. Likewise, the characters are skillfully drawn, with Boróka and the Countess emerging as complex, multifaceted figures whose motivations and actions drive the narrative forward with a relentless momentum.

In conclusion, "The Nightingale's Castle" is a mesmerizing blend of history, myth, and feminist storytelling that will captivate readers from beginning to end. With its compelling characters, richly detailed setting, and suspenseful plot, it offers a fresh perspective on the legend of Erzsébet Báthory while exploring timeless themes of power, identity, and the bonds that unite us all. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or simply love a good tale of intrigue and suspense, this novel is not to be missed.