Hungary, 1610. A dark, gothic read based on true accounts of Countess Bathory who was accused of torturing young servant girls in her employ.
This was my second Sonia Velton novel after thoroughly enjoying Black Berry & Wild Rose, I was totally thrilled to read another one of her works and have also just purchased The Image of Her that I am looking forward to picking up soon.


Thank you to author Sonia Velton and NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for my review.

First I love the cover! It really catches the eye! I enjoyed this book! I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the world! It's well written and entertaining! I will definitely be reading more by this author!

A mix of Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati, Weyward by Emilia Hart, and, oddly enough, a sprinkle of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter; The Nightingale's Castle is an ambitious addition to the 'mythology retelling' genre. Most people probably know the story of the "Blood Countess" aka Elizabeth Báthory, but few take the time to research and understand the nuances of the tale. In The Nightingale's Castle, Sonia Velton proposes an alternative, albeit fictional, account that is entertaining, complex, and refreshing, especially considering this genre's redundant tendencies.

Stylistically, this book is very well executed. Velton tells the story through many different perspectives, including those of minor characters that provide clever insight into the actions and personality of the two main characters. These little inserts were the highlight of the book for me. My favorite was Marta, a "feeble-minded" woman who is tasked with caring for the bodies of the deceased. Her narrative voice is so distinct and pure, it is hard not to root for her despite her minimal "screen time." Having multiple POVs was a great decision by the author, especially since the main character's POV gets repetitive. For me, the choppy switches between POVs were often more enjoyable than not and made the book and its characters come alive.

An important disclaimer about this book is that it does not claim to be historically accurate, which is a relief---I've certainly been traumatized by "historical" retellings in the past. Most historians agree that Báthory and her accomplices did commit at least some of these crimes, a fact that should be kept in mind while reading. While I understand that these individuals are long deceased, we must not forget that Báthory's victims were real people with real lives. Nonetheless, as this book is a work of fiction, I'm not too troubled by the author's alterations, especially since she seems to genuinely respect the individuals upon whom these characters are based.

The plot was fine. The beginning is stronger than the end, which was disappointing, especially considering that the end was supposed to be the climax. Obviously, Velton is working with a pre-established plot, so it's hard to criticize the ending, and I think she makes the best of the material she was given. Because this is a work of fiction, Velton does take some artistic liberties with the plot, which at times amplified the story and at others muddled it. I truly feel Velton may have felt trapped by conflicting expectations of historical accuracy and the story that she wanted to tell. She walks a fine--sometimes wobbly--line between historical retelling and a new narrative. For example, there is a magical aspect in the book that is never explained and that should've been either removed or used more often. I would've loved if Velton leaned more into this fantasy aspect, as it is refreshing and unexpected. It is not Velton's fault that there is a disconnect between her creative additions and the historical narrative; instead, it is a limitation of the genre.

If you're curious about this book, don't let my borderline obsession with accuracy dissuade you. This is a fun read! The characters and their relationships with each other are interesting and, honestly, deserve to live outside of the strict framework that history has placed on them. Velton does Báthory's character justice, and although historians will continue to debate the countess' innocence, this story reminds us of female strength under persecution--a tale as old as time.

VERDICT: I would recommend this book to fans of Madeline Miller, people interested in true crime, and casual historians. It's an ambitious work that has considerable strengths despite its sometimes confusing plot. As long as you're not picky about historical accuracies and are in the mood for some female empowerment and a cool looking cover, this book is for you.

Rating: 3.5
Thank you NetGally and the publishers for this ARC!
Available July 30th, 2024.

This cover is stunning! The story is interesting and creepy. I only wish it was more about/more involved with the actual countess. I was excited to read it for the historical aspect and it ended up being more about other characters. But it's still a very enjoyable and intriguing story!

Title: The Nightingale's Castle
Genre: Historical Fiction
Expected Pub Date: July 30, 2024

I would like to preface this by saying I hadn't heard of the Blood Countess therefore I was definitely expecting something more along the lines of historical fantasy (possibly vampires 🩸) than historical fiction. That being said, I still quite enjoyed the story, once I figured out what was going on.
We read from the POV of basically all the main characters (like 7 characters) and it can become somewhat confusing at the beginning. I found the authors note at the end very interesting, I almost wish I'd read it first just so I'd have known better what the story was about. I appreciate the authors efforts to include facts from the actual story throughout, while still taking artistic liberties to make it unique.

This was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed her writing style. If I'm in the mood for a historical fiction again, I'll happily read her work.

⭐ 4/5

The book it itself is a page-turner. I loved the authors writing style and her play on words. "Beautiful things have always flinched form him, when all he wants to do is touch them, stroke them, love them."

I have heard of the infamous Elizabeth Bathory and was interested to see how this story could be twisted to feel "sympathy" for sure a cruel person. It was interesting to learn her servants were the main culprits in this perspective but I felt like it wasn't believable enough because I don't see how she couldn't notice the constant rotation of girls, the rumors, etc as well as the cruelty of Dorka and Ilona. Overall this book is perfect for readers that love a historical retelling and I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial Paperbacks for the eARC.

For fans of historical fiction (especially from the 16th and 17th centuries) and fans of female centric retellings of famous tales, Sonia Velton's "The Nightingale's Castle" offers an exciting and intriguing premise . . . what if the famous tale of Elizabeth Bathory, the infamous "Blood Countess", we retold and explored from the viewpoint of the Countess herself and several of her servants? In "The Nightingale's Castle", Velton works to create a vivid tapestry of what daily castle life was like in Hungary in the early 17th century, and builds the background stories of several characters who surround Countess Bathory. As the tale unfolds, the author takes the reader through the history of the Countess, and slowly unveils the circumstances and plot that lead to the Countess being accused and punished for the murder and torture of hundreds of young girls from her estate. For years, history has falsely painted Bathory as one of history's first serial killers, based largely on "confessions" and false evidence given against her by parties with nefarious motivations, and as pawns by rivals who sought to discredit her and take her wealth. Velton offers up a well researched and executed historical narrative to explain what most probably actually happened, and offers a glimpse of the harsh times of that era, and how a strong and capable woman would have been seen as a threat by the spoiled nobility of that time.

Overall, I would rate this novel with three and a half stars, with Velton's gift for writing clearly evident with several engrossing passages and chapters. The characters are interesting and draw the reader in, and Velton's research allows her to paint a picture of the activities and realities of European castle life in the 1600's. Overall, the books strengthens as it progresses, with the last third some of the strongest narratively, and urging the reader to continue on to discover what happens next. The first third of the book works to set up the characters and introduce some of the roots of the plot, but at times some of the transitions are clumsy and may leave the reader a bit unmoored. But readers who stick with the novel are rewarded with a tragic tale based on this fascinating real life figure.

A definite for fans of Oliver Potzsch's "Hangman's Daughter" series, and for fans of historical reinvestigations of famous events from the point of view of the women involved. Definite recommend.

I mostly enjoyed this novel. It seemed well-researched and an interesting view. I think narrative from the characters was a bit weak at times but overall I thought the story was good

This was an interesting way to tell the story about a time of terror in the 16th century. The countess is an interesting woman, The unspeakable things that happened to these poor girls, and the legends that were born because of them… wow. I loved the characters, and thought the maternal relationship between the main girl was unique.

Thank you for the book! It was a slow start to the book, but I enjoyed it! The twists and turns were great! The pacing in the beginning was slow but got better after a third of the way through. Thanks again!

I was enthralled by the twist on this chilling account about Erzsébet Báthory, the so-called Blood Countess of Hungary, accused of heinous, murderous crimes against hundreds of innocent girls and women under her care.

In The Nightingale’s Castle, Sonia Velton fictitiously puts her spin on the mystery behind the horrifying accusations against Countess Báthory and her four accomplices that took place within the walls of Čachtice Castle.

A tale of intrigue unfolds as a young woman, Boróka, raised in obscurity, is thrust into Countess Erzsébet Báthory’s tumultuous world. Dark secrets surface and dangerous alliances are formed. Boróka is caught between loyalty to the Countess and survival as she navigates the workings behind the treacherous castle walls and the looming threat of the king's power.

This is a riveting account of power and betrayal; where loyalties are tested and alliances are formed as the fate of Boróka, the Countess, and other’s lives hang in the balance.

Be prepared to be captivated by this dark medieval tale that will send shivers down your spine.

I found the Author’s Note at the end intriguing as she shares further insight into her research.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers, for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 30 Jul 2024

CONTENT⚠️
💋 Sexual content: Recounting of a baby out of wedlock, and an account of a closed door scene. No explicit detail.
🤬 Foul language: A handful of minor swear words.
💪🏻 Violence: Severe physical abuses against children, including starvation and threats of torture. Recounts graphic torture of women and children.

I went into this book knowing nothing of Erszebet Bathory, but the idea of a female Dracula intrigued me. I’m so glad I gave it a try! This gothic historical fiction novel is absolutely amazing. I was completely immersed in the time period, the writing is beautifully descriptive without being flowery, and I was captivated by the story. It interested me enough to do further research on Erszebet. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read. I’ll be recommending this book on publication day!

This book explores the infamous tale of Countess Elizabeth Báthory, often referred to as the female Dracula or the first female serial killer. It presents her as a proto-feminist, a strong woman ahead of her time, who faces opposition from those threatened by her intelligence and power. The story unfolds in a battle for survival at her castle, where the Countess is transformed into the monster history remembers her as. With a large cast of characters, it can be challenging to keep track of them all. The inclusion of a glossary or pronunciation guide for the Hungarian words would have been helpful. Overall, the book is decent but not outstanding, with an ambitious plot that falls short in execution. It is recommended for fans of alternative histories, feminist history, and slightly spooky tales. A copy of the book was provided by NetGalley for this review.

I love a good historical retelling and was excited to get the arc for this one! Everyone knows some facet of Elizabeth Bathory’s story as the bloody countess but what if the story was largely a fabrication by her enemies? The book is well researched with some appropriately spooky scenes. Some of the characters/characterizations didn’t quite hit for me, but overall it was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC.

I will say I knew next to nothing about Erszebet Bathory, other than the hundreds of women she killed probably being a myth. This novel was immersive enough to help me get a feel for Hungarian history of the 16th-17th centuries. The story itself was overall fairly serviceable. It presents Countess Bathory as perhaps an antihero, protofeminist, etc. through the lens of the many people she surrounded herself with and who worked for her. The different perspectives were entertaining but at times made the pacing feel a bit slow.

I also don't know that I loved the cop-out of using magic as a narrative device/deus ex machina. I suppose it worked to some extent, but it didn't feel "right" that one of the main characters just happens to conveniently piece together everything about her past because a magical book told her. And the time it took to reach these conclusions again felt a bit sluggish. But overall, this novel is a perfectly good interpretation of the Blood Countess' life before and a little after her persecution.

Normally I'd start this with a brief synopsis of the book but I don't really think that's needed this case. Most people have heard of Elizabeth Bathory, she's almost a household name, so much so that my phone actually autocorrected her last name there when I mistyped it. Which doubly proves my point because I've never really been into the Bathory story. And while this book didn't make me anymore interesting I found it was an original take on a story that's been rewritten almost as many times as her supposed distant relative Vlad's has been.

In the Nightingale's Castle Velton argues that Bathory's four real life "accomplices" accomplices are actually to be blamed for the slew of young women dead while in the Countess's care. Dorka and Ilona especially are painted as truly cruel and utterly depraved murderesses who take advantage of the trust that Bathory places in them to torture and murder the servants of Bathory's estate almost completely unchecked. While I find this to be an interesting twist I find it be contradictory to the woman Bathory is portrayed to be both in this book and in really life. I find it very hard to believe that a woman whose financial acumen and political power is so great she causes the great men of Hungary to plot her downfall to not just be unaware of but to allow these murders to go unchecked. At some point a character states that Bathory puts up with her sadistic staff members because she is afraid of them but again not buying that. There is also a chapter that does point to Bathory herself being incredibly cruel and using torture as punishiments for the smaller of transgressions amongst her staff. In my mind it would actually have made a bit more sense to have painted this as what it most likely was: a witch hunt.

Boroka is an interesting character, except when she's just not making any damn sense. She is definitely supposed to be the positive force in the book and for the most part I appreciate her dedication to Bathory and her pragmatic outlook on everything, she is often the voice of reason. But her almost lack of reaction, especially to situations that called for way more emotion than she showed was just really awkward. She confronts Suzanna (who is really the person who drove home the final nail in Bathory's coffin in both the book and real life) and its just very anticlimactic. She just kind of shrugs her shoulders and says "Welp arguing with this woman is a waste of my breath" which while accurate seems like an almost inhuman response considering the circumstances.

That all being said this was actually a damn good book. You've got a really amazing story about a couple of seriously sick individuals on a power trip torturing women they felt were beneath them because they *could*. Not only that they take advantage of a young boy they know has been brutally abused and turn him into nothing short of a monster making him an accomplice in unspeakable acts. Because this follows the last year or so before Bathory is walled up there's a timeline that must be kept and every chapter reveals some new horror. It's genuinely like knowing the train on the track next to you is going to get into a head on collision with another train shortly and not only can you not turn away from it you are urging it to go just a little faster while simultaneously hoping it'll never get there.

What I liked the most about this though is I don't feel like the book was actually about Bathory. I mean yes it was but it was more about Boroka than anything, which regardless of her faults was an excellent character. She actually cares what happens to Bathory in a very real way. She also finds herself swept up into something that is so much larger than herself and not only keeps her cool but doesn't waver in her dedication to a person she believes to be innocent.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel, regardless of whether or not you get into Bathory legend.

As always thanks to Harper Perennial Paperbacks and NetGalley for the eArc!

I’m sure we’re all familiar with Elizabeth Báthory, sometimes called the female Dracula or maybe the first female serial killer. When I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to check out a historical fiction novel based on this infamous tale.

Here, I found a chorus of voices telling a twisted tale of a proto-feminist who’s too much of a strong woman for her era. Countess Báthory could easily be called a “nasty woman” with all the political implications of that label. She knows she’s as smart and powerful as any man. The problem is, she’s not the most powerful. When others are threatened by her, the situation at her castle turns into an every person for themself battle where the Countess, through rumors and lies, is transformed into the monster that history and legend remembers her as.

This novel has a huge cast of characters, way more than I could keep up with. I kept forgetting who was the washerwoman or the cook or a maid and kind of kept going instead of going back to figure out how I’m supposed to know this person. Additionally, I would have appreciated a glossary or pronunciation guide because there are many Romanian words sprinkled in and I’m the kind of reader who will realize that I’m pronouncing a character’s name wrong way too late in the book.

I give this book three stars overall. It’s good, not great. It’s ambitious and the story has a lot of moving parts that aren’t executed in the best way, but it’s worth a read if you’re into alternative histories, feminist history, or slightly spooky stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book for this review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

The Nightingale’s Castle is about the blood countess. I had never heard of her before reading this book, so this was a very exciting introduction. This was a very interesting story with great characters. I definitely want to read more from Velton in the future.

loved this book! A more realistic (I feel) telling of the Countess. A great point of view and very hard to put down.

Interesting story about the Blood Countess. I've watched documentaries about her but this gives a whole new look at her life.
The story is told through a servant girl Boroka's eyes. Boroka is an orphan that was raised by the towns doctor. She becomes a favorite of the Countess. She even stands in for her while a painter paints the Countesses portrait.
I've definitely changed my mind about who they call a serial killer. So many new ideas are thrown out there. A well researched book.