I do love those old school vampire novels. It's like going all the way back to Bram Stoker's tale of Dracula.

This book was very dark and savage, but at the same time really interesting. The plot reminded me of a puzzle where lives of few people are described in seemingly random fashion until at some point those lives intersect, and then you understand why the author took time to tell us about those characters.

As this book has Elizabeth Bathori as a main character, the narration starts with one of her ancestors and then proceeds to show us Elizabeth in different times of her life within half a century time period.

Elaine Bergstrom is brilliant at describing the casual cruelty and torture of the era, the helplessness of the poor and immense power over life and death and complete lawlessness of the rich.

Elizabeth Bathori grows up as a sadistic, cold child, and from the moment her life touches Catherine's, a banished vampire from Austra family, it takes turn for worse. The story is very intricate and complex, and at the same time it doesn't allow us to sympathise with the main anti-heroine (thanks, God!), it draws our attention to the lives ruined by Elizabeth's touch.

Vampires of Austra family do not really try to be and feel human, they are what they are, and this alienness feels like such a contrast to modern paranormal novels which attempt to humanise them.

Truly fascinating historical novel for those of you who sometimes want to pick up a classic Gothic novel and get lost in it. ( )

The 4th book in a series about the Austra family, who happen to be vampires. Catherine Austra meets Countess Elizabeth Bathory. This is a very seductive book. Beautifully written. If you are interested in the history of Elizabeth Bathory this is a must read. ( )