- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 360 pages
- Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (August 17, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0525477322
- ISBN-13: 978-0525477327
Purchase The Blood Confession:
Amazon / Dutton Books
Synopsis:
Erzebet is young, beautiful, rich, and imprisoned in her castle, waiting to be sentenced for murder. In a brilliant fiction debut, Alisa M. Libby resurrects the real-life Erzebet Bathory, a seventeenth-century countess who believed that bathing in human blood would preserve her looks forever. The jailed countess tells her story from her birth, which was overshadowed by a bad omen, to her mother’s mental deterioration, Erzebet’s own love for a mysterious figure, and the crimes she committed in pursuit of eternal life.
Review:
The Blood Confession circles around the life of Erzebet Bizecka, the daughter of a count who was born under an ill omen. She was predicted to be "a child whose days will end quickly or whose days will have no end". Under the influence of Sinestra, a mysterious stranger, she started to murder virgin girls, believing that their sacred blood will protect her from death and bring herself a step closer to eternal youth and beauty.
Erzebet's ways of sarificing the lives of numerous young girls were cruel and sickening. In her attempt of pursuing immortality, she had lost her sanity and aborted all her morality. She had become a horrifying monster, even though she deceived herself by saying "I'm not a murderess." after slaughtering a victim. The scenes are not too graphic, so it's suitable for everyone (teenagers and adults), unless you have Haemophobia.
Erzebet is portrayed as an evil person, but somehow I sympathize her because of the loneliness and emptiness she had endured in her early years. Erzebet lived a luxurious life, but behind the glorious facade was a sad and lonely heart. Maybe she was good in nature, but her mind was corrupted with evil thoughts (infused by Sinestra, and partly because her own madness), and she was eventually led astray.
The Blood Confession is the first book by author Alisa M. Libby which is deftly written based on the legend of Countess Bathory. It succeeds in capturing and revealing the dark sides of human nature and shows readers how far would a person go to ensure their own benefits. The Blood Confession is a compelling novel which teenagers, especially Goth-lovers will love.
Rating: 10/10
Many thanks to Alisa M. Libby for sending me a signed hardcover copy of The Blood Confession! I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope to read more books by Alisa in the future!
Erzebet's ways of sarificing the lives of numerous young girls were cruel and sickening. In her attempt of pursuing immortality, she had lost her sanity and aborted all her morality. She had become a horrifying monster, even though she deceived herself by saying "I'm not a murderess." after slaughtering a victim. The scenes are not too graphic, so it's suitable for everyone (teenagers and adults), unless you have Haemophobia.
Erzebet is portrayed as an evil person, but somehow I sympathize her because of the loneliness and emptiness she had endured in her early years. Erzebet lived a luxurious life, but behind the glorious facade was a sad and lonely heart. Maybe she was good in nature, but her mind was corrupted with evil thoughts (infused by Sinestra, and partly because her own madness), and she was eventually led astray.
The Blood Confession is the first book by author Alisa M. Libby which is deftly written based on the legend of Countess Bathory. It succeeds in capturing and revealing the dark sides of human nature and shows readers how far would a person go to ensure their own benefits. The Blood Confession is a compelling novel which teenagers, especially Goth-lovers will love.
Rating: 10/10
Many thanks to Alisa M. Libby for sending me a signed hardcover copy of The Blood Confession! I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope to read more books by Alisa in the future!
15 comments:
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Love those book covers!
Ohman, this sounds creepy! She starts murdering virgin girls! AGh! And yet you somehow sympathize with her. That's curious. . .
thanks for the review!
That cover looks really creepy. I'm not sure if I want to read this one or not.
Laura: I entered your giveaway. Thanks for telling me about it! :)
brizmus: I always think that a person is good in nature, but they become bad because of unsuitable growing environments the bad influences of others. Erzebet was a lonely child and was never loved, and she believed that she was going to die soon. This made her succumb to Sinestra's evil teachings easily.
xxsquigglesxx: Yeah, I agree. The cover IS creepy. I gave it full marks because it is relevant to the story, which is all about The Bloody Countess.
Let me tell you something even creepier: The lower part of the pages are smeared with blood. But don't worry, they are not real. X)
This is a young adult book? A little adult in content isn't it? Or I am just old and not up to date on what is considered young adult these days...?
The cover looks VERY CREEPY. Her face is scarey
Thank you for sharing.
I agree with Melisaa - the cover IS creepy.
:)
All the best,
RKCharron
Pricilla: It is written for young adults, but I'm sure adults will like it too if they are interested in the storyline. Yes, there are a little adult contents, but not overboard. Pricilla, you won't be old if you're young at heart. The radiance that shines from within will always make you young. Smile always, Pricilla! :)
Melissa Burmester & RKCharron: Thanks for commenting! If you want to know why I gave it full marks, please refer to my answer for xxsquigglesxx on top. :)
This sounds like a fascinating book that I am going to put on my wish list.
thank you
I know you can't judge a book by it's cover, literally, but this one is just freaky. Makes me not think I would like it at all.
What a scary story! And still I'm intrigued. I'd like to read it.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
sounds like a great read.
karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com
Came over from Cym Lowell's Book Review Blog Party.
Two things I skirt away from is historical and horror. However, preconceptions aside, this book looks like it's a good read!
My Book Review Blog Party offering: http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2009/12/hush-hush.html
Cherry
www.cherrymischievous.com
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
I love YA books, because my daughters and I both read them. This one looks great. Can't wait to read it.
The fact that this book is based on the life of a real Countess makes it very interesting and all the more real!
saemmerson at yahoo dot com
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