The Blood Confession

November 1, 2006
Gr 9 Up-As this novel opens, Countess Erzebet Bizecka, imprisoned in the castle tower awaiting trial for the murders of a number of her serving girls, recounts her gruesome story. A beautiful young noblewoman living in 16th-century Hungary, Erzebet becomes obsessed with youth and beauty after her mother goes insane, and performs a ritual that involves bathing in blood. As Erzebet herself teeters on the edge of sanity, she begins to hallucinate about an attractive young man who encourages her hobby and eventually convinces her that she must commit murder in order to gain immortality. Erzebet, based on a real-life Hungarian blood countess, is an interesting character. She feels trapped and powerless in a world dominated by men, but soon learns that her beauty is a source of power. Readers will sympathize with her feelings of loneliness and abandonment, while being repulsed by her actions. The descriptions are mildly gruesome without being overly graphic or sensationalized. Even so, the book is not for the faint of heart. While the characterization is solid, the depiction of Erzebets descent into madness is overly lengthy, which may deter all but die-hard horror fans."Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2007
Pampered from childhood, sixteenth-century countess Erzebet fears a prophecy predicting her early death or eternal youth. Encouraged by a shadowy suitor, she bathes in peasant girls' blood (reflected by the red ink printing bleed that serves as a footer on the pages) to achieve the latter. Despite the initial slow pacing, readers will be intrigued by the claustrophobic atmosphere and unreliable narrator.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)