This was another book that deviated from the plot I expected, and while I was disappointed with it in the beginning I did come to enjoy it the deeper I got into the plot. It was interesting to see how the story portrayed Erzsebet's reputation as a misunderstanding, and I was almost afraid that the story would ignore all the claims and paint her entirely innocent - but it didn't. I was glad to see that her reputation was built up as though she were vindictive yet justified, and her actions lived up to her infamy anyway - even if I was a bit disappointed by the lack of bloodbaths.

I wondered how the author could turn the relatively innocent little girl into the Countess she was famed to be, yet I was pleased beyond a doubt with how it happened. It was great to see how she evolved into the role of the lady of the house and the violent woman she ended up being. The punishments escalated nicely, and her anger with them felt justified (although some punishments weren't completely deserved). I liked how mentions of Erzsebet's sexuality weren't as obvious, so that it wasn't a satisfyingly sexual book, but that her anger and violence were described in great detail in such a way that drew me in whenever it happened. She became a powerful woman not because of her sexuality and her partners, but because of her control of the house and the punishment of the ladies under her control.

Erzsebet's story was intriguing. I didn't care much for her past when it started, but the author's control of the flow in the story kept me interested all the way through without any sloppy time skips. I could've done without her narration from her jail cell, as that felt unnecessary to me. I was afraid that there would be a slow section after her arrest all the way to her death, but there was none of that - it was resolved quickly after her arrest and it ended well.

One of the reasons I didn't enjoy her narration during her imprisonment was the lack of association the names of the other characters had. Name them as she might soon after in the narration of the past, the characters that caused her arrest didn't connect with the version of them from then - if I even remembered the names or made the correct association at all. Names were another thing that were hard to remember, and it wasn't for lack of trying. I sometimes wondered if it would be better to have used the English names for the characters, however I understand the difficulties behind that as well as the reason why they were that way.

I would've preferred if the story didn't have the jail time narration in it at all because I felt a disconnect with them. The story would've been better if I didn't know her outcome so that I could have something to look forward to or to dread, but this way I didn't enjoy myself as much when I knew what was coming and that there was no surprise or disappointment about it.

The setting was lovely, though. I was immersed in the story quickly, and the feeling of the plot was dark from the get go. Erzsebet's behaviour and attitude fit so well with the plot, and the world around her was painted by her personality perfectly.

It was interesting to see how Erzsebet ended up similar to her mother-in-law: attached to her son. I didn't feel like it was justified, however, in the sense that there didn't seem to be a reason for her to favour her son throughout the story as opposed to the others - in fact, I don't recall there being much mention of him aside from his birth and a couple of meetings when he was with the tutor.

I am glad the book ended up being enjoyable despite the different expectations I had for it. I wasn't going to rate it that highly in the beginning, nor did I like it much at first, but the author managed to draw me into the setting and Erzsebet's character so well that I had no choice but to be pleased.