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Fairest Flesh
"Deftly mashing together notorious historical figures, feminism, and the grimmest of fairy tales, Fairest Flesh is as brutally horrifying as it is mesmeric. Consider me a K.P. Kulski fan for life." -Paul Tremblay author of A Head Full of Ghosts and Survivor Song
In 16th century Hungary, Countess Erszébet Báthory commits acts of legendary bloodshed, but she is not working alone, and the reality is worse than anyone dare imagine. Part fairytale, part historical novel, and steeped in an atmosphere of horrific dread, Fairest Flesh is the debut novel from author K.P. Kulski. Lady Báthory by way of Brothers Grimm, a notorious monster is given startling new agency in this stunning novel of brutal power and tragic witchcraft.
In 16th century Hungary, Countess Erszébet Báthory commits acts of legendary bloodshed, but she is not working alone, and the reality is worse than anyone dare imagine. Part fairytale, part historical novel, and steeped in an atmosphere of horrific dread, Fairest Flesh is the debut novel from author K.P. Kulski. Lady Báthory by way of Brothers Grimm, a notorious monster is given startling new agency in this stunning novel of brutal power and tragic witchcraft.
234 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 28, 2020
A stunning debut! In K.P. Kulski’s Fairest Flesh, historical horror and blood-soaked fairy tales coalesce to form a world entirely its own. If you think you know the story of Countess Elizabeth Báthory, wait until you see what Kulski has in store. This book holds nothing back, and once you fall into the dark clutches of Kulski’s writing, you won’t be able to stop reading. Each dynamic character is full of sins and humanity alike; their desires will bleed into your soul, refusing to set you free until you know how it ends. Within, you will become ensnared by witchcraft and teeth, massacre and secrets…how prepared are you to step into this world where blood stains the snow?
January 25, 2021
I literally do not understand how this book is so highly rated (let alone nominated for a Bram Stoker award)...
I received this book in my December 2020 Night Worms package and was so excited by the premise. A fictional retelling of the life of Erszebet Bathory sounded right up my alley, however, this story is anything BUT a life story of the Blood Countess.
First off, any time an author uses things like pedophilia, rape, and incest as horror, I am immediately turned off, especially when the story the author is adapting is about one of the most infamous mass murderers in history. There were a disgusting amount of sex fiends in this story and barely any murder, which is not what I signed up for when reading this. And on top of that, Kulski then went out of her way to try to make the reader feel sympathy towards a rapist, a child molester and a willing participant in incest, and yes these are all different characters.
In fact, the only real traits these protagonists had seemed to be being miserable and dislikable. There isn't a morally decent main character introduced in this novel until two-thirds of the way through, and when we finally meet her, she has almost no character development or personality beyond one that satisfies the plot to this story.
Oddly enough, Kuski decided to make the main character of Fairest Flesh the witch Dory, instead of the Blood Countess that makes this historical account interesting. In doing so, Kulski desperately tries to make up connections to the fairy tale, Snow White, which is odd because Snow White was not at all inspired by Erszebet Bathory's reign of terror. In fact, this part of the story felt incredibly forced and cheesy due to the fact that it wasn't a direct inspiration.
When we first meet Erszebet in Fairest Flesh, she is about 14 years old. The reader tags along with Erszebet for about a year (and for two-thirds of the book), developing her character and showing how evil she is. There is no character arc for Erszebet at all. She is evil when we meet her, and evil then on out. Then suddenly the book jumps more than a decade forward and Erszebet is now simply a villain spoken about and feared, but rarely seen throughout the novel. All focus shifts to the servant girl, Anna, who is about as interesting as a blank wall. There is no resolution to Erszebet's story or evil deeds. The novel glances over the implication that she is caught in the end but never outwardly addresses that the Countess paid for her crimes.
Overall, this book was just frustrating. I kept hoping that it was go more in-depth into Erszebet's descent into evil and murder, but it just glossed over any type of story arc for her in favor of lesser known minor characters in history. Perhaps Kulski felt she could take more creative liberties with smaller figures, but it did little to grasp my attention. I probably would have DNF'ed this novel had it not be so short.
I received this book in my December 2020 Night Worms package and was so excited by the premise. A fictional retelling of the life of Erszebet Bathory sounded right up my alley, however, this story is anything BUT a life story of the Blood Countess.
First off, any time an author uses things like pedophilia, rape, and incest as horror, I am immediately turned off, especially when the story the author is adapting is about one of the most infamous mass murderers in history. There were a disgusting amount of sex fiends in this story and barely any murder, which is not what I signed up for when reading this. And on top of that, Kulski then went out of her way to try to make the reader feel sympathy towards a rapist, a child molester and a willing participant in incest, and yes these are all different characters.
In fact, the only real traits these protagonists had seemed to be being miserable and dislikable. There isn't a morally decent main character introduced in this novel until two-thirds of the way through, and when we finally meet her, she has almost no character development or personality beyond one that satisfies the plot to this story.
Oddly enough, Kuski decided to make the main character of Fairest Flesh the witch Dory, instead of the Blood Countess that makes this historical account interesting. In doing so, Kulski desperately tries to make up connections to the fairy tale, Snow White, which is odd because Snow White was not at all inspired by Erszebet Bathory's reign of terror. In fact, this part of the story felt incredibly forced and cheesy due to the fact that it wasn't a direct inspiration.
When we first meet Erszebet in Fairest Flesh, she is about 14 years old. The reader tags along with Erszebet for about a year (and for two-thirds of the book), developing her character and showing how evil she is. There is no character arc for Erszebet at all. She is evil when we meet her, and evil then on out. Then suddenly the book jumps more than a decade forward and Erszebet is now simply a villain spoken about and feared, but rarely seen throughout the novel. All focus shifts to the servant girl, Anna, who is about as interesting as a blank wall. There is no resolution to Erszebet's story or evil deeds. The novel glances over the implication that she is caught in the end but never outwardly addresses that the Countess paid for her crimes.
Overall, this book was just frustrating. I kept hoping that it was go more in-depth into Erszebet's descent into evil and murder, but it just glossed over any type of story arc for her in favor of lesser known minor characters in history. Perhaps Kulski felt she could take more creative liberties with smaller figures, but it did little to grasp my attention. I probably would have DNF'ed this novel had it not be so short.
January 28, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
‘Fairest Flesh’ is a book that I’ve seen frequently on Twitter and Instagram of late, being raved about by many members of the Ladies of Horror Fiction crew.
I wasn’t completely sure what the book was about, so I added it to my future purchase list on my phone, but never really dove into it. It wasn’t until I saw author Hailey Piper share how much they enjoyed the book, that I took a closer look and realized it was about the Countess Bathory.
I remember the first time really hearing about the Bathory lore, through Cradle of Filth none-the-less, and when this was offered for review for Kendall Reviews, I snapped it up, excited to dove in.
What I liked: Many people have heard of Elizabeth Bathory or more accurately Erzsébet Báthory, a royal woman who was said to bathe in the blood of sacrificed virgins. In ‘Fairest Flesh,’ Kulski gives us a reimagined telling of Bathory’s life and events surrounding it.
I really loved how we saw different aspects highlighted and how, as Bathory gains in prominence, different characters rose and ebbed throughout her life. Kulski does a fine job of bringing the characters to life and the atmosphere that was created in this was fantastic. It was as though the book was written with a dirty sheen, or that you’re watching a play only by candlelight.
The character of Erzsébet herself is fascinating and I found it very unsettling that at times we can clearly see why certain things are done whereas other times there didn’t appear to be a rhyme or reason.
The notes section at the end was phenomenal. I love seeing the research and various aspects of getting books together and Kulski really delivers on this one.
Side note for Kulski – I’ll forgive you this time for abandoning your research on door latches!
What I didn’t like: To me, the book felt like it just faded to an ending. It was an odd thing and hard to describe, but it was as though there was unfinished business and we never got to see how some things happened. That may purely be my feeling because of how strong the notes were after, but it had an air of a song that just keeps going as it fades to black.
Why you should buy this: This was a really well done ‘historical fiction’ piece. Kulski has done her due diligence in researching this and when things go dark and brutal they go dark and brutal. I loved the setting for this one and any time we get a story set in a 16th-century castle that isn’t about Dracula, we’re in for a treat.
‘Fairest Flesh’ is a book that I’ve seen frequently on Twitter and Instagram of late, being raved about by many members of the Ladies of Horror Fiction crew.
I wasn’t completely sure what the book was about, so I added it to my future purchase list on my phone, but never really dove into it. It wasn’t until I saw author Hailey Piper share how much they enjoyed the book, that I took a closer look and realized it was about the Countess Bathory.
I remember the first time really hearing about the Bathory lore, through Cradle of Filth none-the-less, and when this was offered for review for Kendall Reviews, I snapped it up, excited to dove in.
What I liked: Many people have heard of Elizabeth Bathory or more accurately Erzsébet Báthory, a royal woman who was said to bathe in the blood of sacrificed virgins. In ‘Fairest Flesh,’ Kulski gives us a reimagined telling of Bathory’s life and events surrounding it.
I really loved how we saw different aspects highlighted and how, as Bathory gains in prominence, different characters rose and ebbed throughout her life. Kulski does a fine job of bringing the characters to life and the atmosphere that was created in this was fantastic. It was as though the book was written with a dirty sheen, or that you’re watching a play only by candlelight.
The character of Erzsébet herself is fascinating and I found it very unsettling that at times we can clearly see why certain things are done whereas other times there didn’t appear to be a rhyme or reason.
The notes section at the end was phenomenal. I love seeing the research and various aspects of getting books together and Kulski really delivers on this one.
Side note for Kulski – I’ll forgive you this time for abandoning your research on door latches!
What I didn’t like: To me, the book felt like it just faded to an ending. It was an odd thing and hard to describe, but it was as though there was unfinished business and we never got to see how some things happened. That may purely be my feeling because of how strong the notes were after, but it had an air of a song that just keeps going as it fades to black.
Why you should buy this: This was a really well done ‘historical fiction’ piece. Kulski has done her due diligence in researching this and when things go dark and brutal they go dark and brutal. I loved the setting for this one and any time we get a story set in a 16th-century castle that isn’t about Dracula, we’re in for a treat.
January 4, 2021
“Poor Persephone, she had a season too. Hades only wanted her dewy. Everyone thinks the queen of the underworld ate the seeds. Wasn’t so. She was the food and Hades the greedy one who ate and ate before plucking another...Persephone gave Hades a stomachache and afterward—she was all needles.”
FAIREST FLESH turns this tale of Erszébet Báthory into a fairytale that would give the Grimm brothers the shivers. All the elements from the countess who needs to be the fairest, a witch who covets beauty, poison apples, to a maiden who becomes Snow White become threads Kulski uses to weave this beautifully horrific story.
Each of the key characters has solid desires and motivations and the ending is extremely satisfying as the author makes that final knot in the tapestry of the story, tying up every thread perfectly.
I loved the references to mythology and fairytales and how while the men believed they were in control, the women were the true power. Addiction is a driver to this story, addiction to opiates, power, beauty, and truth. This is one of those books that will hold up upon multiple readings as the author has created so many rich layers.
FAIREST FLESH turns this tale of Erszébet Báthory into a fairytale that would give the Grimm brothers the shivers. All the elements from the countess who needs to be the fairest, a witch who covets beauty, poison apples, to a maiden who becomes Snow White become threads Kulski uses to weave this beautifully horrific story.
Each of the key characters has solid desires and motivations and the ending is extremely satisfying as the author makes that final knot in the tapestry of the story, tying up every thread perfectly.
I loved the references to mythology and fairytales and how while the men believed they were in control, the women were the true power. Addiction is a driver to this story, addiction to opiates, power, beauty, and truth. This is one of those books that will hold up upon multiple readings as the author has created so many rich layers.
January 6, 2021
Review to come for Night Worms
July 15, 2021
First DNF of the year. Almost made it, just quit caring about the characters
January 1, 2021
Through a lens of witchcraft and folklore, Fairest Flesh takes the vanity-focused mainstream narrative on Bathory and shifts it to focus on pain. Alleviating trauma, alleviating physical torment. These become desperate reasons to kill, elevated toward need, as the novel follows through Bathory's life from childhood and, maybe more importantly, the woman she meets who gives her means toward bloody ends. Quick-paced and decades-spanning, Fairest Flesh takes you on a lifelong journey, with horrors aplenty at every corner.
August 29, 2022
FAIREST FLESH surprised me! I haven't heard about it from any other readers, nor have I read anything by the author before, but I was looking for a historical horror book, and there it was. This was a short and beautifully brutal book that made me want to know everything about Countess Bathory.
You might enjoy this if you like:
•Short, fast paced books
•Books that take place over a number of years
•Historical horror that takes a few liberties but sticks fairly close to real events
•Medieval-ish settings
You might enjoy this if you like:
•Short, fast paced books
•Books that take place over a number of years
•Historical horror that takes a few liberties but sticks fairly close to real events
•Medieval-ish settings
March 31, 2021
Such a beautiful retelling of Snow White and one that despite the horror of the witch (Dorottya), still invokes your sympathy for such a character. As the story progresses, based on the suffering of Dorottya because of her hideous appearance, it hurts even more as she becomes complicit in evil - you don't want her to be like that, you don't want her to be what she has become - but she has been formed by her abuse at the hands of others. It was her character above all, with the legend of the Bathory family forming the backdrop, which carried the story for me. Terrific.
December 4, 2020
Fascinating fictionalized retelling for the Erzsébet Báthory story. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2021
So much blood! And beauty!
I highly recommend this stunningly written and beautifully horrifying novelization of the life of “the blood countess,” Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed of Hungary—one of the most prolific and sadistic serial killers ever. Hints of Angela Carter’s creepy and sharply clever tales and also casts the same breed of unsettling shadow as other historical monsters like Vlad the Impaler. But this book's very much its own dangerously mesmerizing creature too. Love the complicated psyche of the blood countess, and the deft flurry of twists and turns in the narrative. Not to mention this is a brilliant meditation on female beauty and power. If you’re a fan of horror or historical fiction or just great books in general, I can’t recommend this enough.
I highly recommend this stunningly written and beautifully horrifying novelization of the life of “the blood countess,” Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed of Hungary—one of the most prolific and sadistic serial killers ever. Hints of Angela Carter’s creepy and sharply clever tales and also casts the same breed of unsettling shadow as other historical monsters like Vlad the Impaler. But this book's very much its own dangerously mesmerizing creature too. Love the complicated psyche of the blood countess, and the deft flurry of twists and turns in the narrative. Not to mention this is a brilliant meditation on female beauty and power. If you’re a fan of horror or historical fiction or just great books in general, I can’t recommend this enough.
January 10, 2021
2.5 stars.
This book meant well.
At the very least, it certainly had a lot on its mind. An uneasy, not-at-all successful blend of historical fiction, slasher novel, and fairy tale, Fairest Flesh sort of exists as a weird inverse of Garth Risk Hallberg’s mammoth City on Fire. Where Hallberg’s book really needed to be cut in half to streamline its narrative, K.P. Kulski instead tries to cram so much into Fairest Flesh’s 200 pages that she asks the reader to take a series of unsupported leaps in logic that ultimately don’t pan out. With 100 extra pages, the story’s fabric could have been stronger and more satisfying.
But I can admire Kulski’s intent.
She takes the admittedly compelling real-life story of Hungary’s Erszébet Báthory, the 16th Century noble who’s widely considered to be the most prolific serial killer in history, and spins it into a fictional narrative. With (supposedly) 650 victims to her name between the years 1590 and 1610, Báthory is certainly a figure ripe for a horror novel. Add in the oogy legends that she supposedly bathed in the blood of virgins to stay young or had vampiric tendencies, and it’s sort of surprising Báthory hasn’t shown up in horror fiction before now.
But here’s what else Kulski tries to tackle in, again, just over 200 pages:
Witchcraft
Incest
Epilepsy
Hungary’s war with the Ottoman Empire
The “Snow White” story
Social ostracism
Ancestral rivalries
Orphan children who may or may not be royalty
And that’s just off the top of my head.
Báthory’s eventual trial is used as a sort of half-hearted framing device that pops in and out of the book but doesn’t actually add up to much, and by the end, the entire story just ends up toppling under the weight of everything Kulski tries to do.
But it really didn’t have to be this way. There’s absolutely room for everything in my earlier list in a book long enough for Kulski to do justice to it. She even admits in an Author’s Note at the end that she could only do so much research “before losing both the story and [her] sanity.”
That may be true. But in a clear case of breadth over depth, she also didn’t include enough of all the other stuff to leave readers with a story that resonates.
This book meant well.
At the very least, it certainly had a lot on its mind. An uneasy, not-at-all successful blend of historical fiction, slasher novel, and fairy tale, Fairest Flesh sort of exists as a weird inverse of Garth Risk Hallberg’s mammoth City on Fire. Where Hallberg’s book really needed to be cut in half to streamline its narrative, K.P. Kulski instead tries to cram so much into Fairest Flesh’s 200 pages that she asks the reader to take a series of unsupported leaps in logic that ultimately don’t pan out. With 100 extra pages, the story’s fabric could have been stronger and more satisfying.
But I can admire Kulski’s intent.
She takes the admittedly compelling real-life story of Hungary’s Erszébet Báthory, the 16th Century noble who’s widely considered to be the most prolific serial killer in history, and spins it into a fictional narrative. With (supposedly) 650 victims to her name between the years 1590 and 1610, Báthory is certainly a figure ripe for a horror novel. Add in the oogy legends that she supposedly bathed in the blood of virgins to stay young or had vampiric tendencies, and it’s sort of surprising Báthory hasn’t shown up in horror fiction before now.
But here’s what else Kulski tries to tackle in, again, just over 200 pages:
Witchcraft
Incest
Epilepsy
Hungary’s war with the Ottoman Empire
The “Snow White” story
Social ostracism
Ancestral rivalries
Orphan children who may or may not be royalty
And that’s just off the top of my head.
Báthory’s eventual trial is used as a sort of half-hearted framing device that pops in and out of the book but doesn’t actually add up to much, and by the end, the entire story just ends up toppling under the weight of everything Kulski tries to do.
But it really didn’t have to be this way. There’s absolutely room for everything in my earlier list in a book long enough for Kulski to do justice to it. She even admits in an Author’s Note at the end that she could only do so much research “before losing both the story and [her] sanity.”
That may be true. But in a clear case of breadth over depth, she also didn’t include enough of all the other stuff to leave readers with a story that resonates.
August 15, 2022
Fairest Flesh is a darkly gorgeous and grim retelling of one of history’s most sadistic killers: the Countess Elizabeth Bathory. It’s also a brilliant and cutting interrogation of the power of beauty and the beauty of power, and how women have had to negotiate their relationships and access to these elements, sometimes, with hellish consequences. Kulski weaves sharp historical detail and bloody fairy tale fable with a deft hand, creating a journey through time and character that is at once horrifying, fascinating, tragic, and inevitable.
A stunning debut. I can't wait to read Kulski's next work.
A stunning debut. I can't wait to read Kulski's next work.
January 26, 2021
"Hope is a trick. Comfort is a trick." Such sorrowful words that can only make for a pained and despairing existence. Truly, this is the underlying motif of this story.
This is a compelling historical fiction novel about Erzsébet Báthory. It encompasses not only her life, but the lives of those around her and just how dark quite a few of their minds and hearts were. When I was younger, I always thought that Báthory worked alone and was feared by all, but it is clear (and true!) that she had help and was not alone in her vices and inclinations. I applaud the author for using factual details about Erzsébet to move the story along, like her epilepsy that was probably a result of her parents' inbreeding.
There are fairytale elements sprinkled in this story that dabble within the realm of witches and Snow White. The theme dances upon a retelling of the murders that Erzsébet committed as well as beauty and vivaciousness becoming an addiction. The two main characters we see, Erzsébet and Dorottya, are polar opposites physically, but twins when it comes to their visceral appetites and dark leanings. K.P. Kulski does an exceptional job of casting light on both characters. She makes you like them, understand them in some ways, and then feel absolute revulsion and horror when their innermost thoughts are revealed through irredeemable actions. The cold, meticulous evil is summed up so neatly in the line, "It never had to do with the blood. It was about the absence, the cleanliness of the vessel left behind."
I was taken in by the author's writing and ability to so beautifully draw metaphors and utilize foreshadowing. For example, "Above the bed, a tapestry of the Báthory dragon snaked along the wall, bearing its three great teeth piercing a glove of crimson. Susanna couldn't think of a better symbol for this child she had raised." K.P. Kulski also describes a simple setting in a very effectual way, "Windows stared like empty sockets, casting about for light they remembered but could no longer sense." This line struck me in particular because Erzsébet Báthory was actually placed under house arrest (castle arrest, really) at the end of her murderous reign, and it feels accurate to me that her very own expression would mimic this description perfectly.
I absolutely love how this novel wraps itself up in a neat package. I had to carefully re-read certain parts to make connections, but that was my fault for trying to fly my eyes through the pages with the same speed as my mind's alacrity.
A huge thank you to K.P. Kulski for providing Horrorbound.net with a copy of her book for review!
This is a compelling historical fiction novel about Erzsébet Báthory. It encompasses not only her life, but the lives of those around her and just how dark quite a few of their minds and hearts were. When I was younger, I always thought that Báthory worked alone and was feared by all, but it is clear (and true!) that she had help and was not alone in her vices and inclinations. I applaud the author for using factual details about Erzsébet to move the story along, like her epilepsy that was probably a result of her parents' inbreeding.
There are fairytale elements sprinkled in this story that dabble within the realm of witches and Snow White. The theme dances upon a retelling of the murders that Erzsébet committed as well as beauty and vivaciousness becoming an addiction. The two main characters we see, Erzsébet and Dorottya, are polar opposites physically, but twins when it comes to their visceral appetites and dark leanings. K.P. Kulski does an exceptional job of casting light on both characters. She makes you like them, understand them in some ways, and then feel absolute revulsion and horror when their innermost thoughts are revealed through irredeemable actions. The cold, meticulous evil is summed up so neatly in the line, "It never had to do with the blood. It was about the absence, the cleanliness of the vessel left behind."
I was taken in by the author's writing and ability to so beautifully draw metaphors and utilize foreshadowing. For example, "Above the bed, a tapestry of the Báthory dragon snaked along the wall, bearing its three great teeth piercing a glove of crimson. Susanna couldn't think of a better symbol for this child she had raised." K.P. Kulski also describes a simple setting in a very effectual way, "Windows stared like empty sockets, casting about for light they remembered but could no longer sense." This line struck me in particular because Erzsébet Báthory was actually placed under house arrest (castle arrest, really) at the end of her murderous reign, and it feels accurate to me that her very own expression would mimic this description perfectly.
I absolutely love how this novel wraps itself up in a neat package. I had to carefully re-read certain parts to make connections, but that was my fault for trying to fly my eyes through the pages with the same speed as my mind's alacrity.
A huge thank you to K.P. Kulski for providing Horrorbound.net with a copy of her book for review!
February 16, 2021
This was an interesting take on Lady Bathory/Snow White, but it really jumped around quite a bit to the point of being confusing. I think the author just really tries to cram too much in at once. There were some really graphic and horrifying parts (in a good way). Would try her next book for sure. Not a bad debut.
January 17, 2021
Interesting take on Lady Bathory. Fun read.
January 26, 2021
Awesome blend of fairytale and history; This twisted tale had me hiding in dark corners and watching over the shoulders of murderers and mistresses, witches and evil mothers, good and evil. The attention to historic detail is blended so well with the enchanted storyline that I was left forgetting anything I THOUGHT I knew about Elizabeth Báthory. In its place is a twisted, new fairytale that I won’t soon forget.
September 28, 2020
Review to come in Rue Morgue magazine.
January 16, 2021
I received this book in my Night Worms subscription box, and started reading having no knowledge other than the blurb on the back cover. Glad I went into it blind, because I wasn't expecting a lot of the twists and turns, which made them all the more effective.
One thing in particular that I found very effective: we know what Elizabeth/Erszebet Bathory did, but it still ended up a punch in the gut when I got to the part of the book where she was actually doing it.
I did feel that the ending was a little rushed; another 50 pages or so would have let that climax breathe just a bit more.
One thing in particular that I found very effective: we know what Elizabeth/Erszebet Bathory did, but it still ended up a punch in the gut when I got to the part of the book where she was actually doing it.
I did feel that the ending was a little rushed; another 50 pages or so would have let that climax breathe just a bit more.
January 10, 2021
The Fairest Flesh was part of the December Nightworms box. I would classify this as historical horror fiction (something I didn’t realize existed!) and part dark fairy tale and feminist literature. These elements create a story that is a beautifully crafted page turner.
The Fairest Flesh is based on Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who supposedly bathed in the blood of young women in an attempt to stay young and beautiful. From reading the author’s note I have learned that part of the legend is largely fictionalized—the crimes that actually occurred were much worse and were all perpetrated on young women between the ages of 11 and 16. This is a horror novel that is vividly atmospheric (image a castle decaying in the 1850s as servants rapidly disappear from within its walls) and the horror is largely alluded to rather than being extremely in your face, which I appreciate as I’m not a huge fan of body horror. I also appreciated the discussions about women’s worth and power being largely tied to their beauty and how that translates into marriage and their future. All in all this novel is gorgeous in its darkness and it will be a book I definitely recommend in the future.
The Fairest Flesh is based on Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who supposedly bathed in the blood of young women in an attempt to stay young and beautiful. From reading the author’s note I have learned that part of the legend is largely fictionalized—the crimes that actually occurred were much worse and were all perpetrated on young women between the ages of 11 and 16. This is a horror novel that is vividly atmospheric (image a castle decaying in the 1850s as servants rapidly disappear from within its walls) and the horror is largely alluded to rather than being extremely in your face, which I appreciate as I’m not a huge fan of body horror. I also appreciated the discussions about women’s worth and power being largely tied to their beauty and how that translates into marriage and their future. All in all this novel is gorgeous in its darkness and it will be a book I definitely recommend in the future.
February 18, 2021
I came across many mixed reviews of this book prior to reading. Some good, some bad, some in between. With some trepidation, I decided to try it out for myself.
There is a lot in this story, which is a blend of fiction, non-fiction and fairy tale. Part history lesson and cautionary tale of the true, horrid depths of human desire and selfishness, this story reads like a forgotten tale from the Brothers Grimm.
The writing style was authentically vintage and there was suspense throughout, with plenty of horror to satisfy me as a reader. The twist at the end was good, as well. Overall I enjoyed this book even though it wasn't my preferred flavor of horror. I'm glad I gave it a shot.
There is a lot in this story, which is a blend of fiction, non-fiction and fairy tale. Part history lesson and cautionary tale of the true, horrid depths of human desire and selfishness, this story reads like a forgotten tale from the Brothers Grimm.
The writing style was authentically vintage and there was suspense throughout, with plenty of horror to satisfy me as a reader. The twist at the end was good, as well. Overall I enjoyed this book even though it wasn't my preferred flavor of horror. I'm glad I gave it a shot.
October 6, 2020
What an accomplishment for a first novel! The writing is exquisite — “Girls have poisoned themselves in the pursuit of beauty, drowned in the need for perfection. Just to obtain some worth, because even a little worth is everything.”
The threads and themes create an amazing tapestry of fear, suffering, and depravity all while bringing in history and folklore to create one of the best treatments of Bathory I’ve read. Very, very highly recommended.
The threads and themes create an amazing tapestry of fear, suffering, and depravity all while bringing in history and folklore to create one of the best treatments of Bathory I’ve read. Very, very highly recommended.
January 29, 2021
I think it's really incredible to be able to write a book featuring so many characters that are genuinely dislikable yet still compelling.
I've seen some reviews that knock stars for this, but if you ask me... It's horror. And what greater horror than finding yourself on the verge of sympathising with a character that's frankly horrible, and none of what they've been through can excuse it?
I've seen some reviews that knock stars for this, but if you ask me... It's horror. And what greater horror than finding yourself on the verge of sympathising with a character that's frankly horrible, and none of what they've been through can excuse it?
February 15, 2021
Fairest Flesh by K.P. Kulski was a combination of Dracula, Lady Bathory and Snow White. It brought new and interesting parallels between all 3. I can’t say I liked any of the characters, although I was immersed in each of their stories.
We’ll start with Erszebet. I felt so many things with this character. At first a strong amount of pity. Having grown up in nobility with that pressure, but also with disgust of her father and family. Her only friend the woman who raised her Susanna. But as the story goes on I felt an immense amount of disgust. But was she the most reprehensible character? No, not to me.
That title belongs to Ficzko. He was a true sociopath in my mind. Jolly, charming and glib on the outside. Controlling and full of entitlement on the inside. Predator of children. I loathed him and could only hope that karma prevailed and he got what he deserved.
Dory, the witch, was a pitiable character and in a modern day tale would have been diagnosed with a mental illness and possibly could have gotten the help she deserved. She brought the most horror to the story. The “treating” of her beauties was terrifying!
This story had a deep and brooding atmosphere and the world building drew you in quickly and didn’t let you go. But the hook for me was the characters. Again, not likable, but so well fleshed out that I felt like I’d met them.
I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile. I loved the historical aspects melded with the horror. Pick this one up if you love historical fiction, horrific scenes of blood and gore and solidly built characters.
We’ll start with Erszebet. I felt so many things with this character. At first a strong amount of pity. Having grown up in nobility with that pressure, but also with disgust of her father and family. Her only friend the woman who raised her Susanna. But as the story goes on I felt an immense amount of disgust. But was she the most reprehensible character? No, not to me.
That title belongs to Ficzko. He was a true sociopath in my mind. Jolly, charming and glib on the outside. Controlling and full of entitlement on the inside. Predator of children. I loathed him and could only hope that karma prevailed and he got what he deserved.
Dory, the witch, was a pitiable character and in a modern day tale would have been diagnosed with a mental illness and possibly could have gotten the help she deserved. She brought the most horror to the story. The “treating” of her beauties was terrifying!
This story had a deep and brooding atmosphere and the world building drew you in quickly and didn’t let you go. But the hook for me was the characters. Again, not likable, but so well fleshed out that I felt like I’d met them.
I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile. I loved the historical aspects melded with the horror. Pick this one up if you love historical fiction, horrific scenes of blood and gore and solidly built characters.
February 7, 2021
“An apple. A perfect beauty of a fruit, something like what Eve must have plucked from Eden. The witch shoved it forward, offering the apple. It rested in the witch’s knobby hand, a perfect sphere of crimson so dark and ripened that it appeared almost black.”
This story is horrific and dark yet enchanting. Kulski’s prose is poetic and she has such a beautiful way with words and storytelling.
This is a historical reimagining of the life of the Countess Erszébet Báthory and her heinous crimes, woven in with a dark version of the fairytale Snow White. This book is not a Disney fairytale though so prepare it to be dark, gruesome and disturbing.
While reading this it is clear to see the high amount of research Kulski carried out in her preparation for writing it. As an avid reader of historical fiction I deeply appreciated this.
The way Kulski weaves the lives of two women together is intricate and mesmerizing. For a small book, there are many intricacies and Kulksi’s command of language is truly impressive. It is also obvious she writes poetry, as her prose has such a poetic quality about it.
This story is horrific and dark yet enchanting. Kulski’s prose is poetic and she has such a beautiful way with words and storytelling.
This is a historical reimagining of the life of the Countess Erszébet Báthory and her heinous crimes, woven in with a dark version of the fairytale Snow White. This book is not a Disney fairytale though so prepare it to be dark, gruesome and disturbing.
While reading this it is clear to see the high amount of research Kulski carried out in her preparation for writing it. As an avid reader of historical fiction I deeply appreciated this.
The way Kulski weaves the lives of two women together is intricate and mesmerizing. For a small book, there are many intricacies and Kulksi’s command of language is truly impressive. It is also obvious she writes poetry, as her prose has such a poetic quality about it.
January 9, 2021
An interesting look at a real life monster, this book has many memorable moments. The gruesome parts stick with you, sure, but the characters and the path they almost all take to complete evil is almost just as bad compelling.
I’m not particularly a fan of historical fiction, so there were parts of the story that were not exactly for me, however, to the author’s credit, I was never bored or uninterested.
The final section of the book is hard to put down with more and more gore and disturbing imagery as you go. In fact, I wish there was more of that section of the book. It feels a bit separate from the rest of the story and if there were more small snippets of those later parts to build it up, chapters that take place in the future scattered in maybe, I feel like it wouldn’t have felt as jarring to me.
Overall, this is disturbing book with some wonderful prose and a fascinating look at one of history’s most frightening killers.
I’m not particularly a fan of historical fiction, so there were parts of the story that were not exactly for me, however, to the author’s credit, I was never bored or uninterested.
The final section of the book is hard to put down with more and more gore and disturbing imagery as you go. In fact, I wish there was more of that section of the book. It feels a bit separate from the rest of the story and if there were more small snippets of those later parts to build it up, chapters that take place in the future scattered in maybe, I feel like it wouldn’t have felt as jarring to me.
Overall, this is disturbing book with some wonderful prose and a fascinating look at one of history’s most frightening killers.
February 24, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book! Maybe I was expecting too much( I was SO excited to get it) OR something different? Because seriously it has so many amazing reviews.
The concept of the book is amazing but there was too much going on sometimes and it made my head spin. Sadly I didn't always have the energy to pay attention which I'm sure contributed to how I felt about this book. I really loved that it was historical horror and part of the plot was a reimaging(for lack of a better word) of the Countess Bathory (talk about wicked and not in a good way! LOL) I've talked about in other reviews that I love to read about characters I dislike and that's also applicable here.
Overall I think this was a strong book for a debut author and I would read another book by Kulski.
The concept of the book is amazing but there was too much going on sometimes and it made my head spin. Sadly I didn't always have the energy to pay attention which I'm sure contributed to how I felt about this book. I really loved that it was historical horror and part of the plot was a reimaging(for lack of a better word) of the Countess Bathory (talk about wicked and not in a good way! LOL) I've talked about in other reviews that I love to read about characters I dislike and that's also applicable here.
Overall I think this was a strong book for a debut author and I would read another book by Kulski.
December 21, 2020
What beautiful, lurid darkness Kulski has spun in this book! Fairest Flesh takes on the retelling if Erszébet Bathory's famed killing spree with evocative, poetic style, framing even the goriest of moments with beauty. Weaving these together along with a healthy dollop of fairy tale creates a beautiful examination of what women are driven to do to themselves and each other in pursuit of fairest flesh.
February 19, 2021
One of my Night Worms books! I was super excited to read this one because, well, a fairy-tale take on the Blood Queen? Eeek.
This book has a Greek tragedy-esque tone to it. The stories and fates of the characters intertwine and connect. At first I was a little shocked that Elizabeth Bathory was so kind, and then she started changing or diving into her obsessions that I was like, 'okay, maybe not!'
My favorite character to read about in the story was Dory. She was pitiful and mad, but so excellently written.
I recommend this for people wanting to get a historical, gothic, fictional tale.
This book has a Greek tragedy-esque tone to it. The stories and fates of the characters intertwine and connect. At first I was a little shocked that Elizabeth Bathory was so kind, and then she started changing or diving into her obsessions that I was like, 'okay, maybe not!'
My favorite character to read about in the story was Dory. She was pitiful and mad, but so excellently written.
I recommend this for people wanting to get a historical, gothic, fictional tale.
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