🎧3.5⭐️

I had the audiobook of a new to me historical / women’s fiction author. Read by Elinor Coleman who did a good job I found her easy to listen to.

Inspired by history Erzsébet Báthory gained notoriety as the blood Countess accused of the death of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary.

In 1573 the Countess gave birth to an illegitimate girl, on birth she was bundled up and sent to live with a peasant family. 15 years later people from the Castle are sent to procure workers, and Boróka is sent to work at the castle.

Firstly with the names and place names I think it was an easier option having the audiobook with someone doing the pronunciations for me. It’s also an earlier period in history than I am used to reading. The language used didn’t feel ‘old’ which made it easy to follow.

I found it a slow burn, it leaves the reader questioning what the truth was. I was interested in the story’s premise, but struggled to engage with it as the majority of the book there wasn’t enough going on.

The Nightingale's Castle is an immersive, lyrical historical novel reimagining of the trial of Erzsebet Báthory, a Hungarian noblewoman who was accused of killing and torturing hundreds of young women. The protagonist is Boróka, a young serving girl who gains the Countess's favour and whose loyalties are tested as the accusations about her begin to swarm.

A lot of ink has been spilled over whether Countess Báthory was an unusually prolific serial killer or a an innocent woman brought down by a smear patriarchal campaign. The Nightingale's Castle takes a balanced view: the Countess is capable of petty cruelties and tyranny (and two of her female confidantes are more obviously sadistic) but it's clear that the more lurid stories about her are just that. The story uses its multi-perspective viewpoint to show how the truth is gradually exaggerated, distorted and then abandoned all together.

I really enjoyed the author's attention to detail in bringing the setting to life. The historical accuracy made the subtle fantastical/magical realist elements feel grounded and believable. I felt the multiple perspectives worked really well to examine the issue from all angles and I appreciated the wide range of voices. At times the prose reminded me of an Angela Carter fairytale: dark, lush, lyrical and with real teeth.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette UK for providing an advanced review copy.

A dazzling telling based on the true story of the blood countess, Erzsébet Báthory, who was rumoured to have murdered 600 peasant girls. I got the advance copy from NetGalley and would like to thank them for this amazing book.

I devoured this audiobook in two days it was so engrossing!
I didn't know much about this historical figure other than her being a prolific serial killer. This was a dark, mysterious and atmospheric retelling which was beautifully written and really brought these people to life.
It is well worth also reading the authors notes in the book as they give lots of information and historical context
This was great!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc