'Absorbing' Sunday Times, Historical Fiction Picks

'I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice' Mary Chamberlain

'A mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint' Francesca De Tores, author of Saltblood

Members of Countess Báthory's household have been sent out to gather new serving girls and the kindly old man who gave Boróka a home as a baby knows that it is dangerous to turn them away. As the 15-year-old girl reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the future looks uncertain - and dangerous.

Boróka is frightened of the countess's reputation and the whispers of cruelty and unexplained deaths. She finds the women who run Cachtice Castle terrifyingly cold and the other girls are as scared as she is. Despite this, Boróka slowly begins to find her feet - until a bout of plague breaks out at the castle.

Powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king. And when the show trial begins against the infamous 'Blood Countess' where will Boróka's loyalties really lie?

"A page-turning tale of witchcraft and cruelty... Perfect for fans of Stacey Halls, Laura Purcell, and Anna Mazzola" - Historical Novel Society

"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

"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 mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint" - Francesca De Tores, author of Saltblood

"The Nightingale's Castle is a gripping read - beautifully written, skilfully 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