Tomes of Shadowstalking

Welcome to the land of shadows, where evil is the greatest power, where nightfall marks the birth of terror, where your very soul is at risk. Join me as I investigate worlds filled with black magic and dark souls and encounter the monsters rule these wicked places.

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

In days long past a young noblewoman by her father's orders spent the night with a visitor not of her own kind: one of the fabled Mountain Lords. By rights nothing should have come of the evening; in truth a seed was planted that would haunt the region in years to come. For while not fully of the Austra blood, a descendant from that coupling would spread a wave of terror through the townsfolk, and especially the young maidens of the villages in the area. For in attempting to emulate an exiled relation, and in efforts to retain her youthful beauty and vigor, young Elizabeth Bathori would slaughter hundreds to provide her with the blood that her own mixed blood called for. And in the end, was there anything at all that could stop one who, sharing as she did some of the gifts of the Austras, was more than human...and less?

Daughter of the Night is a stand alone novel, although the characters do appear in the author's other books. Think of the novel, rather as a sort of alternative history, or as a fantastic historical account of the life of one of the most notorious women in history. As the author explains, the novel is for the most part historically accurate...excepting Catherine Austra, of course.

Having read The Blood Countess and already knowing something of Elizabeth Bathori's history, this novel was easily understood and accepted. It could be discomforting at times, but that's only to be expected, given that I live in a supposedly civilized era with high moral standards ingrained in children at an early age. But that discomfort is welcome, because I know that it was common practice in an era that practically all educated people reflect upon with disgust. To be honest, though, I don't think the novel would have been half as good and interesting as it was if it hadn't incorporated that historically accurate barbarism that the nobles display so continually.

As with Shattered Glass and Blood Alone, this novel is not for readers with weak stomachs. History can be hard enough to accept with adding fantastic, lurid details. Then again, sometimes its the details that make the history lesson more palatable. So I leave it up to you whether or not you gloss over the opportunity to read the novel, or dive right in and start reading!

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