The Nightingale's Castle: A Novel of Erzsebet Bathory, the Blood Countess Authored By Sonia Velton

In the vein of riveting historical novels such as Hamnet and Circe—with a touch of Dracula—Blood Countess offers a propulsive, feminist reimagining of the story of Erzsébet Bthory, the infamous sixteenth-century Hungarian aristocrat known as the “Blood Countess,” rumored to have murdered hundreds of peasant girls and bathed in their blood.

In 1573, Countess Erzsébet Bthory gives birth to an illegitimate child. To protect her, the infant is secretly placed with a peasant family in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, raised as their own. Years later, the young woman, Borka, unaware of her true heritage, is sent to join the Countess’s household.

Borka is terrified by the Countess’s notorious reputation and the brutal, cruel women who run the castle. Struggling to find her place amidst the fear and suspicion, she faces further turmoil when plague breaches the castle’s walls. In this climate of fear and uncertainty, a tentative bond forms between Borka and the Countess.

As powerful forces conspire against the Countess, whose wealth and independence threaten the king, Borka finds herself caught between loyalties. The impending show trial against the “Blood Countess” raises critical questions: Can the Countess trust those around her, and where will Borka’s true allegiances lie?

Blood Countess is a gripping tale of history, power, and betrayal, exploring the complexities of loyalty and the darkness within as it reexamines one of history's most infamous figures. 📚❤️