12 new SFF books to help beat back the January blues

Blood Countess – Lana Papovic

Blood Countess is historical YA horror story based on the real life history of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman who is often credited as the most prolific female murderer in history. Her body count was positively staggering, as it’s alleged that she killed as many as 600 people, most of whom were serving woman.

Therefore you probably shouldn’t be surprised that this is isn’t a story about Elizabeth Bathory, per se, but rather a young woman who comes to work for her. (It’s a dark story, but not quite that dark.) The countess takes a liking to Anna when she comes to work for her, enough to elevate her to a job with better pay rather than experiment on her and kill her, as was the fate that met so many other servants in her employ.

Instead, Elizabeth beings to groom Anna as a friend and confidante, which given the rather grisly nature of her extracurricular activities gets real problematic real quick. How complicit is Anna in the Countess’ activities? And as Elizabeth decides into madness, can Anna escape before she herself becomes a victim.

The official synopsis describes the story in dark and frightening terms.

"In 17th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante. It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too."

Blood Countess is available on January 28.