The Nightingale's Castle: A Novel of Erzsébet Báthory, the Blood Countess

by Sonia Velton

Overview

In the vein of riveting historical novels such as Hamnet and Circe—with a touch of Dracula—a propulsive, feminist reimagining of the story of 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.

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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063351486
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/30/2024
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Sonia Velton has been a solicitor in Hong Kong, a Robert Schuman Scholar in Luxembourg, and spent eight years as an expat mother of three in Dubai. She now lives in Kent, England. She is the author of Blackberry and Wild Rose—which was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown and has been optioned for film—and The Image of Her, a literary thriller.

Editorial Reviews

05/27/2024

Velton (The Image of Her) spins an alluring story based on the historical Hungarian “blood countess” Erzsébet Báthory, who was accused in the 17th century of murdering hundreds of girls. In 1610, 15-year-old orphan Boróka goes to work for the countess at Č achtice Castle. Boróka, who was raised by a doctor and taught to read, but otherwise has no skills, is assigned to work in the laundry house. She befriends her seamstress roommate, Suzanna, who grows resentful when Boróka is picked to serve as a model for the countess’s portrait. According to Suzanna, the countess tortures the house’s servant girls in their quarters. Boróka chalks Suzanna’s accusations up to superstition, though her curiosity is piqued enough to snoop around the countess’s belongings, where she finds a journal describing how another noblewoman gave birth to an illegitimate daughter when she was 13. When the countess is charged with murdering hundreds of servants based on scant evidence, Boróka remains loyal. Revelations about the connections between Boróka, the countess, and the woman mentioned in the diary are unsurprising, but Velton’s riveting narrative vividly evokes the misogyny and paranoia of the era’s witch trials. Historical fiction fans will find plenty to enjoy. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"A dark and powerful tale of women fighting for their truths to be heard. Dripping with unease, it is a story filled with the bloodthirsty horror, not of monsters, but of humankind." — Polly Crosby, author of Vita and the Birds

"I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice. The writing is exquisite, the atmosphere of late 16th century Hungary magnificently evoked with all its forbidding secrets, sinister machinations and heart wrenching detail. I was gripped from start to finish. The Nightingale's Castle is a triumph of story-telling and nothing short of brilliant." — Mary Chamberlain, bestselling author of The Dressmaker of Dachau

"The Nightingale's Castle is as intricately and deftly woven as the lace made by the girls of the castle. It's a moving, fascinating and haunting tale, immaculately researched. A mesmerizing combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint" — Francesca Haig, author of The Fire Sermon series

"The Nightingale's Castle is a gripping read - beautifully written, skillfully plotted, and a fascinating exploration of women's struggle to have their truth heard" — Louise O'Neill, author of Idol

"An enthralling retelling of the story of the Blood Countess, with all the unsettling mystery of a dark fairytale, yet populated by utterly believable characters. A book to lose yourself in" — Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman and The Smallest Man

"Dark, unsettling and so skillfully written, The Nightingale's Castle is a novel that takes the reader by the hand and leads them to the wintry side of the human soul. Tinged with a creeping horror from the opening pages, it reads like the finest fairy tale. I loved it, and admired it greatly" — Joanne Burn, author of The Hemlock Cure

"A gripping tale of feminism and power, love and deceit, secrets and revenge, all soaked in a dark and rich tapestry of history. An unforgettable novel that inspires and enthralls in equal measure, it had me reading well into the night. Velton's best one yet"  — Awais Khan, author of No Honour and Someone Like Her

"The Nightingale's Castle is a beautifully crafted story that keeps the reader constantly balanced between hope and fear, just as the characters are. A gripping tale of power, loyalty and betrayal. I loved it" — Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women

"Absolutely loved this novel of the 'Blood Countess' - secrets, betrayals and survival, and how women's stories are told and twisted and changed" — Sarah Brooks, author of The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands 

From the Publisher