The Blood Countess

The Blood Countess

by Lana Popović 

3 out of 5

Synopsis
A historical YA horror novel based on the infamous real-life inspiration for Countess Dracula

In 17th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante. It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too.



Review
Fed up with her violent father and lack of prospects, Anna seeks a new kind of freedom, under the employ of Countess Elizabeth Báthory. The two young women will soon make a mark in history.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anna is following in the footsteps of her midwife mother, learning all she can about healing and medicine. But Anna has a further gift, and has to ignore the taunts of "witch" behind her back.
Her father is the village drink, and has a foul temper, beating and starving the women in his home, whilst encouraging his sons to be just as vile.
Anna can already see the future she is expected to follow, to become the wife and property of one of the village men, to push out babies and disappear into the shadows. Anna is independent and has never been attracted to any man, so this is an awful fate.
She jumps at the chance to escape, when she is offered a decent wage working for the beautiful and enigmatic Countess.

I enjoyed the story, how it explores unhealthy relationships, and the lengths people will go to, not to recognise what everyone else sees.
Anna is completely enamoured by Elizabeth, so much so, that she ignores all the warnings from everyone around her, of Elizabeth's cruelty. She so wants to believe in the good in her lady's heart, that she excuses the fits of anger, blaming them on the influence of her evil husband.
As Anna and Elizabeth become lovers, it is even harder to believe the dark tales. Elizabeth is passionate, but considerate and caring. It is much easier to think that the rest of the castle's occupants are just jealous that Anna is in favour.

As to be expected, with a story about Countess Dracula, there is a lot of blood and violence. There are scenes with explicit torture, and painful deaths.
I think these are done really well.

The not-so-good.
Anna isn't a very likable main character. She starts off great, and finishes well; but once she gets involved with Elizabeth it all goes askew. She lies and cheats her way into Elizabeth's service, then becomes very shallow and giggly with her new partner. She doesn't blink an eye at the punishments dished out by her lady, and does some awful things herself.
I can understand seeing Anna testing the morals and the idea of being forced to do the lesser evil; and that she is just sixteen when all of this starts; but it lost me a little, as a reader.

Despite this, I was still enjoying the story. Until the end.
The plot was wrapped up very quickly, via a device that made me snort. There was no way anything they did was going to turn the Countess into an obedient little lamb.

Overall, I enjoyed this, and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

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