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Quiver
In sixteenth-century Hungary, Countess Elizabeth Báthory tortured and killed over six hundred servant girls in order to bathe in their blood; she believed this brutal ritual would preserve her youth and beauty. Danica, a young forensic psychologist, is drawn to Báthory’s legend. She has moved from Canada to England to work at Stowmoor, a Victorian insane asylum turned modern-day forensic hospital. One of her patients, the notorious Martin Foster, murdered a fourteen-year-old girl in homage to Báthory. He cultivates his criminal celebrity, and Danica struggles to maintain a professional demeanor with the charismatic Foster as she begins to suspect that his activities may be linked to a cabal that idolizes the countess. Danica’s life in London becomes increasingly complicated when Maria, a glamorous friend from Danica’s past, arrives to do archival work in the city. She claims to have discovered Báthory’s long-lost diaries and she slowly reveals to Danica the horrific, yet fascinating passages. As Danica’s career and her relationship with her artist-boyfriend, Henry, falters, Maria lures her into a complex social sphere. Unsure of whom to trust as her professional and personal lives become dangerously entwined, Danica must decide what she is willing to risk to satisfy her attraction to Báthory’s ominous legend.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
24 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Holly Luhning
6 books12 followersRaised in rural Saskatchewan and now living in Toronto, Holly Luhning holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature, madness and theories of the body. She has received a Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Award, and her collection of poetry, Sway, was nominated for a Saskatchewan Book Award. Her first novel, Quiver, is forthcoming in January 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
March 7, 2012
I'm sorry this book isn't getting better reviews because I think it's extremely well done for what it is. The problem seems to lie in the marketing - they keep saying it's supposed to be a thriller but it didn't strike me that way at all. It's much more of a psychological exploration than anything else and no, honestly, not a lot "happens" in the traditional thriller/suspense novel tradition. It is instead a fascinating look at the way people can form connections between violence and beauty, obsession, and the thin line that separates sanity from madness. I thought it was very, very well done.
That isn't to say it isn't a disturbing read. This book is certainly not for the faint of heart, the Countess was extremely violent. I have to admit I expected that though, having read about her before, and found the descriptions of animal cruelty to be the worst parts. I understand why they were there and what each illustrated but I was not happy to read them. My other disappointment is that the ending seemed to come very suddenly and it feels incomplete in some way. I didn't get the impression that there would be a sequel, as some have been speculating in their reviews, the book just seemed wrap up too quickly.
That isn't to say it isn't a disturbing read. This book is certainly not for the faint of heart, the Countess was extremely violent. I have to admit I expected that though, having read about her before, and found the descriptions of animal cruelty to be the worst parts. I understand why they were there and what each illustrated but I was not happy to read them. My other disappointment is that the ending seemed to come very suddenly and it feels incomplete in some way. I didn't get the impression that there would be a sequel, as some have been speculating in their reviews, the book just seemed wrap up too quickly.
October 6, 2018
I don't know what I expected when picking up a book that so heavily features Elizabeth Bathory, but this was gorier than I was prepared for. The other aspect is the toxic friendship (with sexual tension) between Maria and Danica, which I always find simultaneously engrossing and unpleasant.
January 2, 2016
I don't know what everyone was talking about with this book being "slow" - I was hooked the whole time. I wanted to keep reading and keep reading. I like how it flip-flopped in time a little and I like how it included the diary entries of Bathory. I was just plain impressed.
It ended well and I am going to go looking to see if there will be a sequel. The story leaves it up in the air as if there could be a sequel.
It ended well and I am going to go looking to see if there will be a sequel. The story leaves it up in the air as if there could be a sequel.
May 8, 2012
Fins this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
Luhning’s writing is pretty decent for a debut, but I can’t bring myself to go any higher than three stars. She is definitely on the right track, I don’t want to come off as discouraging, but the basic construction leaves much to be desired. More than that though, I think the marketing department failed her in that they set the book up to be something it simply isn’t.
I’ll come back to the construction issues later; I want to address the marketing issues first. Quiver is advertised as a thriller. No offense to Luhning or her publisher, but I wouldn’t shelve this next to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Angels and Demons. It just isn’t that kind of book. I personally feel it would do better if it were marketed as a contemporary mystery. Quiver is a decent story, but it doesn’t have the edge of your seat momentum you would expect from a suspenseful whodunit or even the psychological drama of say Silence of the Lambs. Classifying it as such sets an expectation that the book just doesn’t achieve.
Similarly, I think the blurb makes too big a deal out of the Bathory. This isn’t her story in the same way that the Da Vinci Code isn’t the story of Mary Magdalene. I don’t know who makes the decisions regarding cover blurbs, but I think whoever created this one misstepped in relying too heavily on the drawing power of the Blood Countess. The name dropping ensures you will sell copies, but people who pick up the book expecting to find sixteenth century Hungary aren’t going to be impressed with present day London, relationship drama and art exhibitions.
Since I’m already dissecting the blurb can someone please explain to me exactly which “discoveries” Danica’s peers disregard? She brings up her concerns only in the final chapters of the book and while she is blown off, I don’t think her employers were unjustified considering their assessment of her mental state and the time her information was given. And what are the “disturbing incidents” that seem to follow Dr. Winston home after hours? So far as I can tell the only incidents that affect Danica involve Henry’s philandering and in all honesty, cheaters are a dime a dozen. Either I somehow overlooked several chapters worth of information or we are again over exaggerating the content.
The plot felt disjointed, a good idea but there wasn’t enough to really get into Danica’s story. There wasn’t enough Foster to be disturbed, there wasn’t enough jeopardy to evoke alarm and there wasn’t enough suspense to keep the audience guessing (Not to toot my own horn, but I called the ending midway through the reading). The Bathory diaries were interesting but they are short, limited in scope and few and far between. I felt myself asking which story Luhning was trying to tell. The psychological aspects of both the present day cult and the historic mistress who inspired it are literary gold, but neither was satisfyingly fleshed out.
This is really one of the books you want to go into with little or no expectations. It isn’t bad, but I think those who pick it up with an open mind will garner more enjoyment than those whose interest is sparked by the description of content.
Luhning’s writing is pretty decent for a debut, but I can’t bring myself to go any higher than three stars. She is definitely on the right track, I don’t want to come off as discouraging, but the basic construction leaves much to be desired. More than that though, I think the marketing department failed her in that they set the book up to be something it simply isn’t.
I’ll come back to the construction issues later; I want to address the marketing issues first. Quiver is advertised as a thriller. No offense to Luhning or her publisher, but I wouldn’t shelve this next to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Angels and Demons. It just isn’t that kind of book. I personally feel it would do better if it were marketed as a contemporary mystery. Quiver is a decent story, but it doesn’t have the edge of your seat momentum you would expect from a suspenseful whodunit or even the psychological drama of say Silence of the Lambs. Classifying it as such sets an expectation that the book just doesn’t achieve.
Similarly, I think the blurb makes too big a deal out of the Bathory. This isn’t her story in the same way that the Da Vinci Code isn’t the story of Mary Magdalene. I don’t know who makes the decisions regarding cover blurbs, but I think whoever created this one misstepped in relying too heavily on the drawing power of the Blood Countess. The name dropping ensures you will sell copies, but people who pick up the book expecting to find sixteenth century Hungary aren’t going to be impressed with present day London, relationship drama and art exhibitions.
Since I’m already dissecting the blurb can someone please explain to me exactly which “discoveries” Danica’s peers disregard? She brings up her concerns only in the final chapters of the book and while she is blown off, I don’t think her employers were unjustified considering their assessment of her mental state and the time her information was given. And what are the “disturbing incidents” that seem to follow Dr. Winston home after hours? So far as I can tell the only incidents that affect Danica involve Henry’s philandering and in all honesty, cheaters are a dime a dozen. Either I somehow overlooked several chapters worth of information or we are again over exaggerating the content.
The plot felt disjointed, a good idea but there wasn’t enough to really get into Danica’s story. There wasn’t enough Foster to be disturbed, there wasn’t enough jeopardy to evoke alarm and there wasn’t enough suspense to keep the audience guessing (Not to toot my own horn, but I called the ending midway through the reading). The Bathory diaries were interesting but they are short, limited in scope and few and far between. I felt myself asking which story Luhning was trying to tell. The psychological aspects of both the present day cult and the historic mistress who inspired it are literary gold, but neither was satisfyingly fleshed out.
This is really one of the books you want to go into with little or no expectations. It isn’t bad, but I think those who pick it up with an open mind will garner more enjoyment than those whose interest is sparked by the description of content.
April 8, 2012
Oddly enough, "Quiver" makes two books in a row that mention Elizabeth Bathory. Or, as she's known in her native Hungarian and in Holly Luhning's book, Erzsébet Báthory.
Bathory, for those who haven't heard of her, is a 16th-century countess who is infamous for having tortured and killed hundreds of girls before she was arrested and bricked up in her castle, where she later died. "Quiver" is the story of a young woman who is fascinated — really, you could say obsessed — with Bathory. Danica is completing the last of her training as a clinical psychologist, a field she entered because of her interest in psychotics. She's managed to get herself a job a mental hospital in England, where she's assigned to work with a convicted murderer who claims to have killed his victim for Bathory. Danica's work there attracts the attention of an old acquaintance, Maria, who tempts Danica with what she says are pages from Bathory's diary. What Maria really wants is a more complicated question, and it's one that Danica will have no choice but to answer.
I was more than a little put off by Danica's interest in Bathory. The story doesn't work unless she's borderline obsessed, but it's still disconcerting how little the extent of the countess' cruelty and monstrosity bother her. She blames her interest on a supremely safe childhood.
"Technically, I was fixated," she says later. For sure. When she reads scenes Maria sends her from Bathory's diary — scenes of unbelievable torture, total dismissal of the value of countless human lives — her reaction borders on aroused. (And, yes, there is a subtext of sexual tension between Danica and Maria, who resembles the countess in many ways.)
Without those diary scenes, this book would fall in line with the characters it describes, glorifying a woman who destroyed hundreds of lives and families simply because she could. With them, the reader is kept from buying into the warped adoration of Danica or, more so, Maria. (After I finished "Quiver," one of my first reactions was that no one would think of Bathory as Danica, Maria, and others in the book do. When I headed online to research some of the details of her story, however, I was shocked to find multiple sites whose authors defend her without denying her crimes. How sad.)
This isn't a book I'll be rushing to re-read, despite solid writing and editing. It certainly isn't uplifting, and the main character is both frustratingly obtuse and difficult to root for. If you enjoy horror and are a fan of movies such as "Hostel" or the "Saw" series (which I am not), you'll enjoy this book more than I did.
Bathory, for those who haven't heard of her, is a 16th-century countess who is infamous for having tortured and killed hundreds of girls before she was arrested and bricked up in her castle, where she later died. "Quiver" is the story of a young woman who is fascinated — really, you could say obsessed — with Bathory. Danica is completing the last of her training as a clinical psychologist, a field she entered because of her interest in psychotics. She's managed to get herself a job a mental hospital in England, where she's assigned to work with a convicted murderer who claims to have killed his victim for Bathory. Danica's work there attracts the attention of an old acquaintance, Maria, who tempts Danica with what she says are pages from Bathory's diary. What Maria really wants is a more complicated question, and it's one that Danica will have no choice but to answer.
I was more than a little put off by Danica's interest in Bathory. The story doesn't work unless she's borderline obsessed, but it's still disconcerting how little the extent of the countess' cruelty and monstrosity bother her. She blames her interest on a supremely safe childhood.
"Technically, I was fixated," she says later. For sure. When she reads scenes Maria sends her from Bathory's diary — scenes of unbelievable torture, total dismissal of the value of countless human lives — her reaction borders on aroused. (And, yes, there is a subtext of sexual tension between Danica and Maria, who resembles the countess in many ways.)
Without those diary scenes, this book would fall in line with the characters it describes, glorifying a woman who destroyed hundreds of lives and families simply because she could. With them, the reader is kept from buying into the warped adoration of Danica or, more so, Maria. (After I finished "Quiver," one of my first reactions was that no one would think of Bathory as Danica, Maria, and others in the book do. When I headed online to research some of the details of her story, however, I was shocked to find multiple sites whose authors defend her without denying her crimes. How sad.)
This isn't a book I'll be rushing to re-read, despite solid writing and editing. It certainly isn't uplifting, and the main character is both frustratingly obtuse and difficult to root for. If you enjoy horror and are a fan of movies such as "Hostel" or the "Saw" series (which I am not), you'll enjoy this book more than I did.
July 2, 2011
When I picked this book up at the library, I didn't know what it was. The synopsis seemed intriguing enough, so I decided to give it a try. Well, I guess not having any expectation was a good thing, because I didn't really get anything out of it.
All in all, the book had an intriguing premise based on an infamous historical figure, a fairly good start, but failed to capture my interest about a quarter of the way through because by then I had already guessed that the protagonist was being led on by the villain. Meh...
I give this book 2 stars only.
All in all, the book had an intriguing premise based on an infamous historical figure, a fairly good start, but failed to capture my interest about a quarter of the way through because by then I had already guessed that the protagonist was being led on by the villain. Meh...
I give this book 2 stars only.
September 15, 2011
Saskatchewan native Holly Luhning has written a compelling novel based on the shocking life of the Hungarian Countess, Elizabeth Bathory. Bathory, who was born in 1560, earned her shocking reputation for having tortured and killed over 600 young girls so that she might bathe in their blood and thus retain her youthful beauty.
Luhning’s novel, Quiver, is a creepy crawly book that follows Danica, a young forensic psychologist, who has moved to London with her artist boyfriend, Henry, to work at Stowmoor, a Victorian hospital for the criminally insane. Danica’s patient is Martin Foster, a young man incarcerated for murdering a young girl as a tribute to Bathory.
Danica’s fascination with Bathory grows when a woman from her past, the beautiful and duplicitous Maria, comes back into her life. Maria, it seems, has discovered Bathory’s private diaries and as she translates them and begins sending the horrific snippets to Danica, Danica’s life starts to shift.
We’re all, to some degree at least, train-wreck fascinated by the heart of darkness. Danica’s morbid curiosity about Bathory (and the translated diary entries are not for the weak-stomached, believe me!) is complicated by her attraction/repulsion to Maria. Maria is impossibly beautiful and crazy-cool. I didn’t trust her at all, but I could see Danica’s attraction. There was something sinister about her and always an undercurrent of sexual attraction, too.
Quiver races along like the best thrillers, but it also has something compelling to say about art and that 15 minutes of fame so many of us seem to desperately crave.
Luhning’s novel, Quiver, is a creepy crawly book that follows Danica, a young forensic psychologist, who has moved to London with her artist boyfriend, Henry, to work at Stowmoor, a Victorian hospital for the criminally insane. Danica’s patient is Martin Foster, a young man incarcerated for murdering a young girl as a tribute to Bathory.
Danica’s fascination with Bathory grows when a woman from her past, the beautiful and duplicitous Maria, comes back into her life. Maria, it seems, has discovered Bathory’s private diaries and as she translates them and begins sending the horrific snippets to Danica, Danica’s life starts to shift.
We’re all, to some degree at least, train-wreck fascinated by the heart of darkness. Danica’s morbid curiosity about Bathory (and the translated diary entries are not for the weak-stomached, believe me!) is complicated by her attraction/repulsion to Maria. Maria is impossibly beautiful and crazy-cool. I didn’t trust her at all, but I could see Danica’s attraction. There was something sinister about her and always an undercurrent of sexual attraction, too.
Quiver races along like the best thrillers, but it also has something compelling to say about art and that 15 minutes of fame so many of us seem to desperately crave.
January 11, 2013
2.5 stars. I had this on my Kindle for about a year & have decided in 2013 to get some of the lingerers read & done. The best thing I can say is that my task was completed & I finished reading this book. It was well written but a true slog.
Dani annoyed me for much of the story because I was able to see that Maria was a serious problem & not a very nice person but Dani was pulled in & dismissed just about everything because she believed Maria's story about Bathory's diary. It just reached a point with the chaos ensuing that I no longer cared about Dani & her obsession. Foster was quite interesting but even that bit of the story unravelled for me. The excerpts of the diary were fairly harrowing but they didn't really anchor anything else going on with the story to feel to me as anything but a macabre sideshow. I lost the will to gawk long before Dani so it was a bit wasted on me. The epic finale/showdown fell a bit flat because of course that was going to be the outcome & the reader figured it out hundreds of pages earlier. That said, Dani does have growth as a character by story's end, so that's better than nothing.
Dani annoyed me for much of the story because I was able to see that Maria was a serious problem & not a very nice person but Dani was pulled in & dismissed just about everything because she believed Maria's story about Bathory's diary. It just reached a point with the chaos ensuing that I no longer cared about Dani & her obsession. Foster was quite interesting but even that bit of the story unravelled for me. The excerpts of the diary were fairly harrowing but they didn't really anchor anything else going on with the story to feel to me as anything but a macabre sideshow. I lost the will to gawk long before Dani so it was a bit wasted on me. The epic finale/showdown fell a bit flat because of course that was going to be the outcome & the reader figured it out hundreds of pages earlier. That said, Dani does have growth as a character by story's end, so that's better than nothing.
December 1, 2011
I did not like this book at all. It's well-written, but it just disgusts me. I am so sick of reading fiction about Elizabeth Bathory and the consistent glamorization of what this monster did. There were no redeeming qualities. It wasn't erotic. It wasn't sexy. She was a sadistic serial killer with a serious disorder. And yet, author after author glamorizes her. People may not think that's what Holly Luhning is doing and she probably doesn't believe it herself, but I had to stop reading. I'm still waiting for the fiction book that will finally portray this monster for what she really was. Gruesome, unspeakable torture isn't art and it shouldn't be eroticized.
February 22, 2011
Danica, a forensic psychologist, has left Canada and moved to England to work in a forensic hospital. One of Danica’s patients is the infamous Malcolm Foster, who has been imprisoned for murdering a young girl. He’s been surrounded by much media attention as his crime has been tailored after Elizabeth Bathory. Danica has always had a fascination with Bathory, which in part has been made worse by Maria, someone Danica met in her travels.
Once Danica arrives in London, she receives a note from Maria that states she has found Bathory’s Diaries. Maria starts to insert herself into Danica’s life, which starts many complications in Danica’s professional life and private life with her boyfriend Henry. But Danica is in to deep with Maria and it may be to late for her.
I’m going to begin this review by telling you briefly who Elizabeth Bathory is:
"Hungarian Countess Erszebet Bathory (1560-1614), who tortured and killed over six hundred of her servant girls. She often bathed in her victims blood as part of a beauty ritual designed to preserve her youth. The Countess’s famed “honey torture” involved coating a naked girl in honey and making her stand in the woods for a day. The honey attracted various pests, and the girl would eventually die from excessive insect bites and exposure. -pg. 93"
Elizabeth Bathory was a brutal mistress and ended up being bricked into her castle for her crimes. I have been intrigued by the legend of Bathory, so once I heard Quiver was based on the Bathory legend, I had to read it. I was not disappointed, Holly Luhning’s debut was the most brilliantly written thriller I have read in 2011!
Quiver reminded me of Silence of the Lambs meets Single White Female, in terms of the “dear god, what am I reading, I’m freaking out people” and then “Run Danica, get away from that woman she’s straight up crazy”. Alas, book characters don’t listen to me, so Danica didn’t run but it made for one helluva story! It drew me in right from the start and even when I wasn’t reading it, I kept thinking about it which would lead me right back to the book.
Maria is one hell of a “friend” to Danica, you can see Danica wanting to trust her but pulling back. But by the time she realizes what Maria’s been doing, it’s too late. All I can say is DAMN. When this book all ties together near the end, your mouth will drop. You suspect things through the book, but once everything’s been pieced together you want to shout “SEQUEL”. It’s been over 12 hours since I finished the book and it’s all I can think of, it was just that fantastic.
In between Danica’s part in the story, there are bits of Bathory’s Diaries which are horrifying and graphic. *Shudder* but they are written in a way to keep you hooked, even when you want to do anything but visualize what Bathory did to her servants. There is a part that horrified me so bad, I saw horses on TV that evening and had a Quiver flashback.
Quiver is action packed and full of things you don’t want to read about late at night, but you won’t be able to help yourself.
Once Danica arrives in London, she receives a note from Maria that states she has found Bathory’s Diaries. Maria starts to insert herself into Danica’s life, which starts many complications in Danica’s professional life and private life with her boyfriend Henry. But Danica is in to deep with Maria and it may be to late for her.
I’m going to begin this review by telling you briefly who Elizabeth Bathory is:
"Hungarian Countess Erszebet Bathory (1560-1614), who tortured and killed over six hundred of her servant girls. She often bathed in her victims blood as part of a beauty ritual designed to preserve her youth. The Countess’s famed “honey torture” involved coating a naked girl in honey and making her stand in the woods for a day. The honey attracted various pests, and the girl would eventually die from excessive insect bites and exposure. -pg. 93"
Elizabeth Bathory was a brutal mistress and ended up being bricked into her castle for her crimes. I have been intrigued by the legend of Bathory, so once I heard Quiver was based on the Bathory legend, I had to read it. I was not disappointed, Holly Luhning’s debut was the most brilliantly written thriller I have read in 2011!
Quiver reminded me of Silence of the Lambs meets Single White Female, in terms of the “dear god, what am I reading, I’m freaking out people” and then “Run Danica, get away from that woman she’s straight up crazy”. Alas, book characters don’t listen to me, so Danica didn’t run but it made for one helluva story! It drew me in right from the start and even when I wasn’t reading it, I kept thinking about it which would lead me right back to the book.
Maria is one hell of a “friend” to Danica, you can see Danica wanting to trust her but pulling back. But by the time she realizes what Maria’s been doing, it’s too late. All I can say is DAMN. When this book all ties together near the end, your mouth will drop. You suspect things through the book, but once everything’s been pieced together you want to shout “SEQUEL”. It’s been over 12 hours since I finished the book and it’s all I can think of, it was just that fantastic.
In between Danica’s part in the story, there are bits of Bathory’s Diaries which are horrifying and graphic. *Shudder* but they are written in a way to keep you hooked, even when you want to do anything but visualize what Bathory did to her servants. There is a part that horrified me so bad, I saw horses on TV that evening and had a Quiver flashback.
Quiver is action packed and full of things you don’t want to read about late at night, but you won’t be able to help yourself.
April 4, 2011
Reason for Reading: I already knew about Elizabeth Bathory and a thriller with a murder based on her crimes was one I simply *had* to read.
Elizabeth Bathory was a 16th century Hungarian Countess who tortured and murdered young women and rumour has it bathed in their blood to keep herself beautiful. No one knows how many girls she killed but figures go as high as 650.
In this book a man, Martin Foster, kills a 14 year-old girl and says it was in homage to Elizabeth Bathory. Canadian forensic psychologist, Danica, moves to England to work at the criminal hospital where the killer is being treated. She has followed his case since the day it hit the papers and is thrilled when she actually gets to start working on his team. Danica has her own thoughts on his crime though, that he may have not been working alone and that he belongs to some sort of cabal that worships the countess. At the same time, Danica receives a message from an old friend, Maria, that she also is in London. The two had a falling out several years ago when they were working together in Budapest looking for the lost diaries of Elizabeth Bathory with plans to write a book together if they found them. With Danica's strange relationships with Foster and Maria her life begins to revolve around Bathory and her clinical observations of killers may just bring her face to face with with a killer on the outside, in the real world.
I had high expectations of this book and was really looking forward to the read. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The book is written in three points of view. The present from Danica's point of view, flashbacks to the recent past from an unknown source's point of view and excerpts from the Countess' diary. For me the book broke down with the second flashback as I figured out what the whole book was about and what the outcome would be at that point. Thus I found the rest of the book boring. Nothing really happens. There's a lot of talking and going places in the present, but no murders or crimes. The only crimes are the flashback to Foster's killing and then the diary excerpts; which are pretty gruesome reading but have no bearing on the plot, they simply are there for the violence factor. (No diaries have ever been really found.) The climax at the end is the only bit of excitement. I read the book through, though. I guess I must have found it engaging enough to do that, though I never found the book compelling or page-turning. I didn't particularly like Danica. She was weak, whiny and easily lead astray. Usually I would DNF a book like this but for some reason I read to the end. Sorry, but my final answer is ... Boring.
Elizabeth Bathory was a 16th century Hungarian Countess who tortured and murdered young women and rumour has it bathed in their blood to keep herself beautiful. No one knows how many girls she killed but figures go as high as 650.
In this book a man, Martin Foster, kills a 14 year-old girl and says it was in homage to Elizabeth Bathory. Canadian forensic psychologist, Danica, moves to England to work at the criminal hospital where the killer is being treated. She has followed his case since the day it hit the papers and is thrilled when she actually gets to start working on his team. Danica has her own thoughts on his crime though, that he may have not been working alone and that he belongs to some sort of cabal that worships the countess. At the same time, Danica receives a message from an old friend, Maria, that she also is in London. The two had a falling out several years ago when they were working together in Budapest looking for the lost diaries of Elizabeth Bathory with plans to write a book together if they found them. With Danica's strange relationships with Foster and Maria her life begins to revolve around Bathory and her clinical observations of killers may just bring her face to face with with a killer on the outside, in the real world.
I had high expectations of this book and was really looking forward to the read. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The book is written in three points of view. The present from Danica's point of view, flashbacks to the recent past from an unknown source's point of view and excerpts from the Countess' diary. For me the book broke down with the second flashback as I figured out what the whole book was about and what the outcome would be at that point. Thus I found the rest of the book boring. Nothing really happens. There's a lot of talking and going places in the present, but no murders or crimes. The only crimes are the flashback to Foster's killing and then the diary excerpts; which are pretty gruesome reading but have no bearing on the plot, they simply are there for the violence factor. (No diaries have ever been really found.) The climax at the end is the only bit of excitement. I read the book through, though. I guess I must have found it engaging enough to do that, though I never found the book compelling or page-turning. I didn't particularly like Danica. She was weak, whiny and easily lead astray. Usually I would DNF a book like this but for some reason I read to the end. Sorry, but my final answer is ... Boring.
May 23, 2011
At its core, this book has a confessional autobiographical quality, contrasting the exotic allure of serial killers and psychopaths that draws people into the study of psychology with the stark, quotidian reality of standardized protocols, objectivity and tedium that characterizes the professional practice of psychology. Psychometrics and bureaucracy give way to aesthetics, especially as captured in the seeming external fragility and delicacy of women that can mask a ruthlessness and strength of mind, inaccessible to men. As if to emphasize this last point, the male characters are for the most part weak and flawed, playing secondary instrumental roles. At the same time, a possibly excessive amount of description regarding hair, make-up, dresses and shoes somewhat detracts from the story - the word tulle appears too many times for my liking.
In places, the narrative seems clinical and detached, and the course of events is rather predictable. However, this is a well-written, well-paced, economical piece of story-telling that balances the historical with the contemporary and the horrific with the beautiful.
In places, the narrative seems clinical and detached, and the course of events is rather predictable. However, this is a well-written, well-paced, economical piece of story-telling that balances the historical with the contemporary and the horrific with the beautiful.
May 16, 2011
I just finished reading this book which was one of our book club picks. Book club was on May 10th and today is May 15th.
The book sounded so exciting and interesting on the cover and then just did not live up to the write up.
It was an interesting story and very well written is some ways however the story takes a long time to build, painstakingly slow I would say. The characters were interesting but there were many of them and most of them aren't likable although they are memorable.
Several gory scenes will make this a difficult read for many. It was not a scary or thriller type story.
This is also a story that jumps from place to place and time to time which is partially the reason it took so long to build.
I finished the book because I was determined that I would and it ended much the way I thought it would which did not endure the main character to me.
All in all not one I would recommend to many. Left me feeling betrayed because it didn't live up to the promise on the cover.
The book sounded so exciting and interesting on the cover and then just did not live up to the write up.
It was an interesting story and very well written is some ways however the story takes a long time to build, painstakingly slow I would say. The characters were interesting but there were many of them and most of them aren't likable although they are memorable.
Several gory scenes will make this a difficult read for many. It was not a scary or thriller type story.
This is also a story that jumps from place to place and time to time which is partially the reason it took so long to build.
I finished the book because I was determined that I would and it ended much the way I thought it would which did not endure the main character to me.
All in all not one I would recommend to many. Left me feeling betrayed because it didn't live up to the promise on the cover.
March 24, 2016
I was so disapointed by this book. I really wanted to like it. A crazy serial killer, Elizabeth Bathory diaries and a cult that worships her? What could be better? However the main character was obnoxious and in the end her life just plain sucks and she loses everything and the ending is depressing.
Also I HATE cheating and when the MC's boyfriend gets caught screwing someone else and he is cold and callous about it, well I almost put the book down at that point and refused to pick it up 1) because it was written so well that it actually hurt me and 2)I didn't find it needed to move the plot along, better to have killed him off, at least that would have been FUN.
This is one of those books where if the bad guy (or girl in this case) isn't going to get caught then they should at least have a "happy" ending. I wanted to MC to join the cult at the end and instead she picked the "right" path and winds up in an asylum.
It was one of the worst books I read in 2011, especially one with so much promise.
Also I HATE cheating and when the MC's boyfriend gets caught screwing someone else and he is cold and callous about it, well I almost put the book down at that point and refused to pick it up 1) because it was written so well that it actually hurt me and 2)I didn't find it needed to move the plot along, better to have killed him off, at least that would have been FUN.
This is one of those books where if the bad guy (or girl in this case) isn't going to get caught then they should at least have a "happy" ending. I wanted to MC to join the cult at the end and instead she picked the "right" path and winds up in an asylum.
It was one of the worst books I read in 2011, especially one with so much promise.
October 12, 2012
I have got to agree with a lot of the other reviewers about this book. I had high expectations and for the first 75 pages I was really into it. But then it starts all falling apart. Virtually every character not only knows about but is intensely interested in the evil Countess Elizabeth Bathory who died over 300 years before. The main character (Danica, the psychologist) is the most spineless protagonist I have ever read. Everything her friend Maria tells her she believes, virtually everything she tells her to do she does. Only a fool could not catch on that she was manipulated. This brings me to the final problem with about 150 pages left you can figure out what is going on to the point you want to strangle Danica yourself and tell her to wake up. Readable.
November 11, 2011
This is one of the most disappointing books I've come across. I picked it up because it purported to be about the infamous Elizabeth of Bathory, the "Blood Countess" -- In a way it is, but it is more concerned with a parallel modern story, which completely falls apart. There simply is such a scarcity of any factual information about Bathory that the book is just not worth reading. There are several, far better books for anyone interested in this distant relative of ... wait for it.... Vlad Tepes, Count Dracula himself.
I guess a thirst for either bathing in blood or drinking it must run in that family....
I guess a thirst for either bathing in blood or drinking it must run in that family....
June 26, 2013
Synopsis:
“In sixteenth-century Hungary, Countess Elizabeth Báthory tortured and killed over six hundred servant girls in order to bathe in their blood; she believed this brutal ritual would preserve her youth and beauty. Danica, a young forensic psychologist, is drawn to Báthory’s legend. She has moved from Canada to England to work at Stowmoor, a Victorian insane asylum turned modern-day forensic hospital. One of her patients, the notorious Martin Foster, murdered a fourteen-year-old girl in homage to Báthory. He cultivates his criminal celebrity, and Danica struggles to maintain a professional demeanor with the charismatic Foster as she begins to suspect that his activities may be linked to a cabal that idolizes the countess.
Danica’s life in London becomes increasingly complicated when Maria, a glamorous friend from Danica’s past, arrives to do archival work in the city. She claims to have discovered Báthory’s long-lost diaries and she slowly reveals to Danica the horrific, yet fascinating passages. As Danica’s career and her relationship with her artist-boyfriend, Henry, falters, Maria lures her into a complex social sphere. Unsure of whom to trust as her professional and personal lives become dangerously entwined, Danica must decide what she is willing to risk to satisfy her attraction to Báthory’s ominous legend.”
-.-
I can understand why one might compare it to the Historian. Both deal with historical figures and the drama surrounding them and the present time. But where the Historian excelled, Quiver kind of falls flat.
Quiver follows Danica a forensic psychologist who has been given the go ahead to interview Foster. Foster is a man obsessed with Countess Elizabeth Báthory, aka The Blood Countess. She was one of the most prolific serial killers. Stories have been written about her. Myths have been made. Bits of Dracula have been inspired by her. So Foster decides to take his obsession with her to the next level. How you ask? By killing a virgin girl of course.
He's captured and Danica now has job to evaluation his mental state while trying not to get charmed by him. You see, Danica is also somewhat enamoured by Báthory as well. I mean, why would someone of that status go out of her way to kill what is rumoured to be over9000! 600 girls?
Now I know what you're thinking.
Danica sits down with the famed school girl killer. Alone in a room she conducts her interview trying to get Foster to repent and come to terms with what he’s done. He says what she wants to hear, but starts to ask questions of his own. When she asks why he did it, he mentions ‘Have you ever been so in love with someone that you would do anything for them?” Taken back by his confession of love, she asks who he’s talking about. He starts talking about Báthory and Danica’s eyes start to change. Foster notices that she’s as much into Báthory as him, starts to use this to his advantage. The mind games begin and Danica starts to fall lower and lower into the hole Foster digs for her. She starts obsessing even more over Báthory and loses her boyfriend, her friends, and almost her jobs due to it. At the end, the dark world of the Countess comes to life with Danica, while Foster, who remains behind bars, smiles as he hears about the series of murders spreading throughout the city. The book ends.
So does this happen?
No.
No. Nope. Nada.
Despite how the synopsis sounds, there is hardly any interaction between Danica and Foster. She meets him once and nothing happens. She meets him again, nothing. The third time was a meeting only in passing. And the fourth didn’t really do both parties any favours.
Due to the little screen time he’s provided, we don’t really see anything to be at awed at when Foster is mentioned. So is he charismatic? No, in fact I don’t think you can even call him charming. He does spend one part complaining about his ginger hair and freckles, so I guess that gives him some depth…My only feeling for Foster was that he's just some sick Báthory otaku who thought it would be fun to kill in her honour. Usually, when it comes to books like these, you'd expect more from a killer. But no. He just didn't do anything for me.
Thankfully, the book isn't really about Foster. It's about Danica....and…um…ah! It’s about meeting her friend Maria. You see, Maria is a master manipulator, narcissistic, and kind of a sociopath. Someone you are drawn to, but wary of at the same time. Danica, who is pretty weak willed, knows all this, but still allows Maria to play puppeteer over her life. Why would someone do this you ask? Well, it’s quite simple really. Maria loves the Blood Countess as much as Danica and to top that all off, she claims to have found the rumoured Báthory's diaries. Diaries that Danica has been wanting to read for years!
It's through this that we get to see some of the more interesting and cruel aspects of the novel. The diaries provide a look into Báthory's mind as she recounting her time as a serial killer. Danica, at first, doesn’t trust that these are authentic. But she still can’t stop herself from reading it.
Flashbacks happen. Present stuff happens. Criminal behaviour is shown.
And near the end Danica figures out everything, which is great! She solves the crime and stops something terrible from happening. Sadly, for those reading, we figure out who is the mastermind behind this fairly early on. So instead of being surprised at what Danica uncovers, you’re left wondering how Danica could be so stupid.
I mean... It was frustrating and just made Danica look naïve. Almost like a little kid stepping into the world of adults. The kid isn’t going to be smart, but you expect this. With Danica, you wonder how she went through life with this level of absentmindedness. I mean, she’s a forensic psychologist. How? How….
Quiver did pick up near the middle of the novel and I did enjoy reading it after that. The ending was a bit quick though and left me wanting more from this resolution. I almost feel like the novel could have been a bit longer, though not Historian long. Instead, Danica finds out the truth by accident, things happen fairly quickly after that and it just ends. This was the most disappointing part for two reasons:
1.
2. Because there was so much potential for Quiver to be a fantastic novel and once it starts to develop some life, it just ends.
Should you read this? If you like reading about Elizabeth Bathory then maybe you should pick it up. The diaries really are the best part of this novel. And if you want to check out a new Canadian author, who I suspect we’ll be hearing more from, then definitely give this one a look. But if you are looking for a thriller, a mystery, and a compelling lead character, then you might want to take a pass on this.
“In sixteenth-century Hungary, Countess Elizabeth Báthory tortured and killed over six hundred servant girls in order to bathe in their blood; she believed this brutal ritual would preserve her youth and beauty. Danica, a young forensic psychologist, is drawn to Báthory’s legend. She has moved from Canada to England to work at Stowmoor, a Victorian insane asylum turned modern-day forensic hospital. One of her patients, the notorious Martin Foster, murdered a fourteen-year-old girl in homage to Báthory. He cultivates his criminal celebrity, and Danica struggles to maintain a professional demeanor with the charismatic Foster as she begins to suspect that his activities may be linked to a cabal that idolizes the countess.
Danica’s life in London becomes increasingly complicated when Maria, a glamorous friend from Danica’s past, arrives to do archival work in the city. She claims to have discovered Báthory’s long-lost diaries and she slowly reveals to Danica the horrific, yet fascinating passages. As Danica’s career and her relationship with her artist-boyfriend, Henry, falters, Maria lures her into a complex social sphere. Unsure of whom to trust as her professional and personal lives become dangerously entwined, Danica must decide what she is willing to risk to satisfy her attraction to Báthory’s ominous legend.”
-.-
I can understand why one might compare it to the Historian. Both deal with historical figures and the drama surrounding them and the present time. But where the Historian excelled, Quiver kind of falls flat.
Quiver follows Danica a forensic psychologist who has been given the go ahead to interview Foster. Foster is a man obsessed with Countess Elizabeth Báthory, aka The Blood Countess. She was one of the most prolific serial killers. Stories have been written about her. Myths have been made. Bits of Dracula have been inspired by her. So Foster decides to take his obsession with her to the next level. How you ask? By killing a virgin girl of course.
He's captured and Danica now has job to evaluation his mental state while trying not to get charmed by him. You see, Danica is also somewhat enamoured by Báthory as well. I mean, why would someone of that status go out of her way to kill what is rumoured to be over
Now I know what you're thinking.
Danica sits down with the famed school girl killer. Alone in a room she conducts her interview trying to get Foster to repent and come to terms with what he’s done. He says what she wants to hear, but starts to ask questions of his own. When she asks why he did it, he mentions ‘Have you ever been so in love with someone that you would do anything for them?” Taken back by his confession of love, she asks who he’s talking about. He starts talking about Báthory and Danica’s eyes start to change. Foster notices that she’s as much into Báthory as him, starts to use this to his advantage. The mind games begin and Danica starts to fall lower and lower into the hole Foster digs for her. She starts obsessing even more over Báthory and loses her boyfriend, her friends, and almost her jobs due to it. At the end, the dark world of the Countess comes to life with Danica, while Foster, who remains behind bars, smiles as he hears about the series of murders spreading throughout the city. The book ends.
So does this happen?
No.
No. Nope. Nada.
Despite how the synopsis sounds, there is hardly any interaction between Danica and Foster. She meets him once and nothing happens. She meets him again, nothing. The third time was a meeting only in passing. And the fourth didn’t really do both parties any favours.
Due to the little screen time he’s provided, we don’t really see anything to be at awed at when Foster is mentioned. So is he charismatic? No, in fact I don’t think you can even call him charming. He does spend one part complaining about his ginger hair and freckles, so I guess that gives him some depth…My only feeling for Foster was that he's just some sick Báthory otaku who thought it would be fun to kill in her honour. Usually, when it comes to books like these, you'd expect more from a killer. But no. He just didn't do anything for me.
Thankfully, the book isn't really about Foster. It's about Danica....and…um…ah! It’s about meeting her friend Maria. You see, Maria is a master manipulator, narcissistic, and kind of a sociopath. Someone you are drawn to, but wary of at the same time. Danica, who is pretty weak willed, knows all this, but still allows Maria to play puppeteer over her life. Why would someone do this you ask? Well, it’s quite simple really. Maria loves the Blood Countess as much as Danica and to top that all off, she claims to have found the rumoured Báthory's diaries. Diaries that Danica has been wanting to read for years!
It's through this that we get to see some of the more interesting and cruel aspects of the novel. The diaries provide a look into Báthory's mind as she recounting her time as a serial killer. Danica, at first, doesn’t trust that these are authentic. But she still can’t stop herself from reading it.
Flashbacks happen. Present stuff happens. Criminal behaviour is shown.
And near the end Danica figures out everything, which is great! She solves the crime and stops something terrible from happening. Sadly, for those reading, we figure out who is the mastermind behind this fairly early on. So instead of being surprised at what Danica uncovers, you’re left wondering how Danica could be so stupid.
I mean... It was frustrating and just made Danica look naïve. Almost like a little kid stepping into the world of adults. The kid isn’t going to be smart, but you expect this. With Danica, you wonder how she went through life with this level of absentmindedness. I mean, she’s a forensic psychologist. How? How….
Quiver did pick up near the middle of the novel and I did enjoy reading it after that. The ending was a bit quick though and left me wanting more from this resolution. I almost feel like the novel could have been a bit longer, though not Historian long. Instead, Danica finds out the truth by accident, things happen fairly quickly after that and it just ends. This was the most disappointing part for two reasons:
1.
2. Because there was so much potential for Quiver to be a fantastic novel and once it starts to develop some life, it just ends.
Should you read this? If you like reading about Elizabeth Bathory then maybe you should pick it up. The diaries really are the best part of this novel. And if you want to check out a new Canadian author, who I suspect we’ll be hearing more from, then definitely give this one a look. But if you are looking for a thriller, a mystery, and a compelling lead character, then you might want to take a pass on this.
June 28, 2019
I got to 100 and just couldn't go on I was just imagining those poor girls and how terrible it must have been for them and Elizabeth just being the devil herself so sick. The back of this book pretty much tells you what the books about so I just couldn't read anymore, now the way it was written was not bad and storytelling was ok but I just did not have the heart to go on..these girls need their story told just in a better way...and as for Elizabeth's life I know she will be burning in hell sick twit...I would recommend if you are wanting fiction on Elizabeth Bathory life...Gina Clabo
March 3, 2023
Wow! I loved this book, even though some of the reviews were saying not to read it! I picked it up as it’s a Saskatchewan local author and it did not disappoint! It kept me interested and guessing the entire time! I loved the characters, and the storyline! It was very enjoyable! I finished it in a couple of days!
Read
December 9, 2021Based on the Hungarian fable/myth that I previously had never heard of despite my mother's Hungarian heritage, Holly, who facilitated my final project for the certificate in creative writing at U of T, manages to weave bits of the folklore into a contemporary tale.
February 19, 2022
I liked it, it was a little too gory for my liking but pretty interesting. I found that the book was like a straight line in till the very ending and it just was like BAM BAM BOOM. I didn’t mind that but just keep that in mind.
April 23, 2019
This novel was incredibly well written and researched. I thoroughly enjoyed it and don’t understand all the negative reviews whatsoever. Give it a read!!
January 26, 2020
Not bad for a first novel but not quite as satisfying as I hoped
February 23, 2024
This book almost hit the mark but fell a bit short. I wish it had been 100 pages longer at the end to delve deeper into Maria and her network.
January 9, 2014
For the reader coming to this book expecting suspense, excitement, danger...well, look somewhere else. While the book's storyline has every opportunity to rig itself up as a psychological thriller, it did not catch and hold me as it might have done. There are various reasons for this. First off, the main character is about as bright as a lead weight. From nearly the very start it becomes clear that she is being led around the garden path by a dangerously charismatic antagonist. As a consequence, in terms of the overarching plot line, you can see the ending coming from miles away. This realization leads you to wonder why exactly you should be walking over every yellow brick on this road.
In trying to answer this question myself, I came upon the idea that the author excused herself from making anything more than a barebones plot so that she might simply use the narrative as a device to explore the gradual shift that a person can go through to bring them from a simple obsession and into a psychotic mania. Congratulating myself on this realization, I watched with some (in this case unintentional, I expect) horror as this goal was completely hamstringed in the final few chapters. It seems that even the author could not convince herself that her main character could be dense enough to let the plot go on unchecked. In a flurry of activity, the character desperately fights back against the tide, succeeding, in a small way, at frustrating the plans of the antagonist. The following summary of the protagonist's subsequent difficulties and submersion into madness is a disappointing cop-out that gives one the not-unbelievable idea that the author was just as tired of the plot as her readers.
But perhaps, like me, you feel the need to give the author a chance, and there are some benefits to this. While you may only be able to stomach a few pages a day of the protagonist's dense plunge into the spider's web, you will find yourself enjoying the author's descriptions of locations and classy events. The book is peppered with haute couture references - the stage set in some of the most unique and trendy clubs and boutiques in London. The action has a tendency to flow from elaborately described set piece to elaborately described set piece, with great emphasis also on the clothing, makeup and hairstyles of the men and particularly women circling around the story. Breaking these up are vivid short stories describing the horrific murders attributed to Elisabeth Bathory, and a fictional modern-day copy-cat murderer. Both these carefully rendered features of the book are interesting in and of themselves. The dichotomy of the height of beauty and heinous murder bound together is practically Bathory's thesis, after all, and it is perhaps here that the author manages to save some face. One questions whether she shouldn't have simply released the book as a series of alternating short scenes in this vein rather than try to weave them all together with a narrative, but perhaps hindsight is 20/20. If that kind of thing in any way appeals to you, then there's plenty of reason to delve in.
In trying to answer this question myself, I came upon the idea that the author excused herself from making anything more than a barebones plot so that she might simply use the narrative as a device to explore the gradual shift that a person can go through to bring them from a simple obsession and into a psychotic mania. Congratulating myself on this realization, I watched with some (in this case unintentional, I expect) horror as this goal was completely hamstringed in the final few chapters. It seems that even the author could not convince herself that her main character could be dense enough to let the plot go on unchecked. In a flurry of activity, the character desperately fights back against the tide, succeeding, in a small way, at frustrating the plans of the antagonist. The following summary of the protagonist's subsequent difficulties and submersion into madness is a disappointing cop-out that gives one the not-unbelievable idea that the author was just as tired of the plot as her readers.
But perhaps, like me, you feel the need to give the author a chance, and there are some benefits to this. While you may only be able to stomach a few pages a day of the protagonist's dense plunge into the spider's web, you will find yourself enjoying the author's descriptions of locations and classy events. The book is peppered with haute couture references - the stage set in some of the most unique and trendy clubs and boutiques in London. The action has a tendency to flow from elaborately described set piece to elaborately described set piece, with great emphasis also on the clothing, makeup and hairstyles of the men and particularly women circling around the story. Breaking these up are vivid short stories describing the horrific murders attributed to Elisabeth Bathory, and a fictional modern-day copy-cat murderer. Both these carefully rendered features of the book are interesting in and of themselves. The dichotomy of the height of beauty and heinous murder bound together is practically Bathory's thesis, after all, and it is perhaps here that the author manages to save some face. One questions whether she shouldn't have simply released the book as a series of alternating short scenes in this vein rather than try to weave them all together with a narrative, but perhaps hindsight is 20/20. If that kind of thing in any way appeals to you, then there's plenty of reason to delve in.
November 16, 2012
This came up as a kindle daily deal the other day and the subject matter really piqued my interest so I took a chance on it.
I'm pretty impressed that this is a first novel. I found the story based around a supposed cult that worships Elisabeth Bathory intriguing.
Danica Winston, a training psychologist, met the mysterious Maria while at a conference several years ago. They were drawn together by a mutual fascination of Bathory..her crimes, her beauty, her monstrous nature. Prior to the events of the novel they were scouring Europe for Bathory's personal journals. The mysterious Maria pops back into Danica's life when she's finally found what they looked for for so long. She wants to write a book and she wants more for Dani. She wants Dani to leave her job and consult with her on the book. It would be 'her time to shine.'
This happens at a time when Danica is assessing and counseling Mr. Foster, a deranged killer that also worships bathory and brutally killed a 15 year old girl. Did he act alone or did he actually have help? And why does everything in Dani's life seemingly fall apart when Maria's around, just trying to help her?
One of the highlights of the book, I found, were the translated passages from Bathory's diary that Maria sends to Dani. VERY disturbing things. It's like seeing through the eyes of a perfect monster.
I also found Maria to be frustratingly fun to read. She obviously wanted to be the marionette to Dani's puppet which was very frustrating for Dani, but Maria's attitudes and actions were fun to read.
I do have a few complaints about the book though. While I liked the main character I felt her to be a little weak. She honestly follows Maria around like a lost puppy despite the fact that Maria (seemingly with good intentions) makes Dani's life a mess time and again. There are even flashbacks in the book where Maria treated Dani like garbage and she still kept coming back for more. It was plainly obvious that Maria was totally selfish and I was a little disappointed in Dani, a trained psychoanalyst, would just put up with that type of treatment and not see it coming a mile away. It's supposedly because she's fascinated by the whole Bathory thing that she puts up with Maria, but it didn't come across that way. She just seemed to get punished and loved coming back for more.
I also found that there weren't that many surprises here. I had a feeling which way the book was going to go and who was responsible for what early on. However, the Bathory journals and reading Maria's quirky dialogue made up for that.
Of note, the book is told in the first person PRESENT tense. I've read plenty of first person novels but not always in that tense so it took a little getting used to.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read with some good ideas and a good flow to the writing. I'll be keeping an eye peeled for further works from this author!
I'm pretty impressed that this is a first novel. I found the story based around a supposed cult that worships Elisabeth Bathory intriguing.
Danica Winston, a training psychologist, met the mysterious Maria while at a conference several years ago. They were drawn together by a mutual fascination of Bathory..her crimes, her beauty, her monstrous nature. Prior to the events of the novel they were scouring Europe for Bathory's personal journals. The mysterious Maria pops back into Danica's life when she's finally found what they looked for for so long. She wants to write a book and she wants more for Dani. She wants Dani to leave her job and consult with her on the book. It would be 'her time to shine.'
This happens at a time when Danica is assessing and counseling Mr. Foster, a deranged killer that also worships bathory and brutally killed a 15 year old girl. Did he act alone or did he actually have help? And why does everything in Dani's life seemingly fall apart when Maria's around, just trying to help her?
One of the highlights of the book, I found, were the translated passages from Bathory's diary that Maria sends to Dani. VERY disturbing things. It's like seeing through the eyes of a perfect monster.
I also found Maria to be frustratingly fun to read. She obviously wanted to be the marionette to Dani's puppet which was very frustrating for Dani, but Maria's attitudes and actions were fun to read.
I do have a few complaints about the book though. While I liked the main character I felt her to be a little weak. She honestly follows Maria around like a lost puppy despite the fact that Maria (seemingly with good intentions) makes Dani's life a mess time and again. There are even flashbacks in the book where Maria treated Dani like garbage and she still kept coming back for more. It was plainly obvious that Maria was totally selfish and I was a little disappointed in Dani, a trained psychoanalyst, would just put up with that type of treatment and not see it coming a mile away. It's supposedly because she's fascinated by the whole Bathory thing that she puts up with Maria, but it didn't come across that way. She just seemed to get punished and loved coming back for more.
I also found that there weren't that many surprises here. I had a feeling which way the book was going to go and who was responsible for what early on. However, the Bathory journals and reading Maria's quirky dialogue made up for that.
Of note, the book is told in the first person PRESENT tense. I've read plenty of first person novels but not always in that tense so it took a little getting used to.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read with some good ideas and a good flow to the writing. I'll be keeping an eye peeled for further works from this author!
May 3, 2012
I really was looking forward to this one and there is definitely an audience for it. An audience of people that I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley but an audience nonetheless. But I find Bathory, the greatest female serial killer of all time, a fascinating subject.
There are two parts to this book that complement each other: The first is the modern day story of Danica, a psychologist who is, together with her friend Maria, researching Bathory out of her own interest (what can I say, the girl has strange hobbies) while also being part of the team that is treating a killer whose murders were committed in homage to Bathory. Kinda sounds like a conflict of interest to me but nonetheless makes for a rather interesting story. The second part are the excerpts from the long lost diary of Bathory herself that Danica’s friend Maria has found. These excerpts are not for the faint of heart. I would not have normally put myself in that category, but I must say these bits were even difficult for me to get through. And I found the diary read more like a mere recitation of the day’s events. I would have liked a little more insight into the psyche of Bathory, an exploration of the pleasure she took in the torture of these young girls. If their blood was the only reason for the killing, she would not have devised such elaborate tortures. She would have just bled them and then taken a bath. A modern-day cabal in this story glamorizes these events, citing the “aesthetic” of the tortures as the reason for their fascination. It seemed to me a bit of a shallow reason to engage in such nefarious activities but perhaps that’s just me.
Would I recommend this book? The story is well-developed and interesting, but read with caution if blood and gore is not part of your daily fare.
There are two parts to this book that complement each other: The first is the modern day story of Danica, a psychologist who is, together with her friend Maria, researching Bathory out of her own interest (what can I say, the girl has strange hobbies) while also being part of the team that is treating a killer whose murders were committed in homage to Bathory. Kinda sounds like a conflict of interest to me but nonetheless makes for a rather interesting story. The second part are the excerpts from the long lost diary of Bathory herself that Danica’s friend Maria has found. These excerpts are not for the faint of heart. I would not have normally put myself in that category, but I must say these bits were even difficult for me to get through. And I found the diary read more like a mere recitation of the day’s events. I would have liked a little more insight into the psyche of Bathory, an exploration of the pleasure she took in the torture of these young girls. If their blood was the only reason for the killing, she would not have devised such elaborate tortures. She would have just bled them and then taken a bath. A modern-day cabal in this story glamorizes these events, citing the “aesthetic” of the tortures as the reason for their fascination. It seemed to me a bit of a shallow reason to engage in such nefarious activities but perhaps that’s just me.
Would I recommend this book? The story is well-developed and interesting, but read with caution if blood and gore is not part of your daily fare.
August 20, 2012
If you've ever been intrigued by the Countess Elizabeth Bathory, better known as the Blood Countess who liked to bathe in the blood of young girls to stay young, then you would find this book enjoyable.
This is the story about Dani, a young psychologist fellow in London, who had a fascination with Bathory, and then is given a patient who killed in the name of the Blood Countess. And, supposedly, he is in a secret society who worships the Blood Countess and kill in her name.
Dani has this old "friend" named Maria, who was also fascinated by Bathory. A few years ago, they went to Hungary looking for the lost diaries of this crazy countess and come up empty handed. Then, in the present day, Maria comes back into Dani's life having found the diaries, feeding her tidbits of them as she translates them to english. Dani is fascinated but also cautious to trust this woman again.
I liked it, but I felt the main character was just a pitiful loser who is easily talked into anything. She doesn't seem to have much depth to her. She doubts herself and seems like she just gives excuses for everything. She can't even stand up to the bullying and outright lies of a more senior psychologist at the mental hospital where she works. She seems intoxicated by Maria, even when her clinical self doubts Maria is a narcissistic freak.
It's a good mysterious story, especially getting to read the absolute horror of Bathory's diary entries. They just made me cringe.
Even with the character issue, I really enjoyed it.
This is the story about Dani, a young psychologist fellow in London, who had a fascination with Bathory, and then is given a patient who killed in the name of the Blood Countess. And, supposedly, he is in a secret society who worships the Blood Countess and kill in her name.
Dani has this old "friend" named Maria, who was also fascinated by Bathory. A few years ago, they went to Hungary looking for the lost diaries of this crazy countess and come up empty handed. Then, in the present day, Maria comes back into Dani's life having found the diaries, feeding her tidbits of them as she translates them to english. Dani is fascinated but also cautious to trust this woman again.
I liked it, but I felt the main character was just a pitiful loser who is easily talked into anything. She doesn't seem to have much depth to her. She doubts herself and seems like she just gives excuses for everything. She can't even stand up to the bullying and outright lies of a more senior psychologist at the mental hospital where she works. She seems intoxicated by Maria, even when her clinical self doubts Maria is a narcissistic freak.
It's a good mysterious story, especially getting to read the absolute horror of Bathory's diary entries. They just made me cringe.
Even with the character issue, I really enjoyed it.
September 4, 2012
If it were possible to give this book NEGATIVE stars, I would rate it -3 stars! I only began this book because the Amazon description made it sound amazing, what I should have done was read the reviews. Turns out most people, like myself, thought they were getting one thing, but were handed something else entirely.
To say that this book was predictable would be the understatement of the year. Only someone with zero knowledge of classic cliches and a 3rd grade education wouldn't be able to figure out "who" was the "mastermind." (I'm trying to be vague in case you are actually still thinking of reading this tripe.) And our dear stupid Danica should have known as well considering how educated she supposedly is. And while we are on the topic of Danica, may I just say that I have met 8 year olds with better self perception and understanding than she does. Maybe she should hit some of those classes on Freuds work that she obviously missed if she wants to continue in the field of psychology. REALLY!!
Now as far as the writing goes, it so over padded with mundane and useless descriptions that you start skimming for your life! I realize that it takes a lot of work and talent to write a book and this is why I'm not an author... maybe some people should think of switching professions as well.
Not since The Last Harem have I hated a book this much, all be it for different reasons. But they, at this point in time, stand as the worst books I've read in the last 10 years.
To say that this book was predictable would be the understatement of the year. Only someone with zero knowledge of classic cliches and a 3rd grade education wouldn't be able to figure out "who" was the "mastermind." (I'm trying to be vague in case you are actually still thinking of reading this tripe.) And our dear stupid Danica should have known as well considering how educated she supposedly is. And while we are on the topic of Danica, may I just say that I have met 8 year olds with better self perception and understanding than she does. Maybe she should hit some of those classes on Freuds work that she obviously missed if she wants to continue in the field of psychology. REALLY!!
Now as far as the writing goes, it so over padded with mundane and useless descriptions that you start skimming for your life! I realize that it takes a lot of work and talent to write a book and this is why I'm not an author... maybe some people should think of switching professions as well.
Not since The Last Harem have I hated a book this much, all be it for different reasons. But they, at this point in time, stand as the worst books I've read in the last 10 years.
April 9, 2012
I bought this book as an impulse buy, snagging a good deal on it. I figured it would be a quick, fun read, and that it was. I must admit that I was misinformed in starting this book, thinking that it was a book about vampires. That it is not. I am not however, a vampire enthusiast, I merely like to dapple in different sorts of literature every once in a while. So, for someone looking for a book a bit off the beaten path that would be quick to read, this book fits the bill.
The closest connection this book has to vampires is that the main character is obsessed with a 17th century madwoman, Lady Barthory, who would torture and kill young, beautiful women to drink their blood in order to stay young and beautiful looking forever. Although some may find the journal entries describing these tortures as being too gruesome and gory in detail, I suppose I have a stronger stomach than many. And, the story needed these details to stay interesting.
The book itself is a little bit chick-lit, a little bit vampire-esque gore, and a little bit mystery. I didn't find the story necessarily predictable, but I also wasn't greatly shocked by any events. It all seemed par for the course.
All in all, I would recommend this book if you can get a good deal on it and are looking for something light and entertaining, albeit a bit gory at parts. I'm not sure it would be a book I'd jump to recommend over other books I've enjoyed better.
The closest connection this book has to vampires is that the main character is obsessed with a 17th century madwoman, Lady Barthory, who would torture and kill young, beautiful women to drink their blood in order to stay young and beautiful looking forever. Although some may find the journal entries describing these tortures as being too gruesome and gory in detail, I suppose I have a stronger stomach than many. And, the story needed these details to stay interesting.
The book itself is a little bit chick-lit, a little bit vampire-esque gore, and a little bit mystery. I didn't find the story necessarily predictable, but I also wasn't greatly shocked by any events. It all seemed par for the course.
All in all, I would recommend this book if you can get a good deal on it and are looking for something light and entertaining, albeit a bit gory at parts. I'm not sure it would be a book I'd jump to recommend over other books I've enjoyed better.
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