Nocturne is the type of gothic tale I live for! This is the book for you if you love:
- Arranged marriage
- First person POV
- Gothic vibes
- Moral ambiguity
- Political intrigue
- Ottoman Empire
- Vlad the Impaler
Nocturne
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Genre: Gothic Historical Fiction
After a series of humiliating betrothal rejections from princes throughout Europe, the eldest daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor gets engaged to the mysterious Prince of Romania. Wary of a betrothal to this enigmatic prince, she has no choice but to follow her father’s orders.
In a new land that borders the Ottoman Empire where hostilities and conflicts could escalate any moment, her new role is to help her husband secure political alliances. At the same time, she discovers that the prince she married is the son of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, whose atrocious actions are nightmarish. This shocking revelation is followed by a host of unfathomable and seemingly supernatural incidents, leaving her isolated and afraid in a foreign land.
Dreading to discover if her husband inherited the cruelty of his father, but unable to flee unescorted due to the looming threat of seen and unseen enemies, she must find out the truth behind the strange events in order to convince the Emperor to allow her return home. In her pursuit to return to the safety of Austria, she learns that there is more to her husband, his deceased father, and this land brimming with superstition and folklore.
Rating & Review
5 out of 5
Take a step back in time with this captivating gothic historical novel. I loved Shoshana from the moment we met her, and my heart truly went out ot her. Forced into an arranged marriage so far from home, with the son of Vlad the Impaler of all people. If you’re at all familiar with Vlad, you’ll know just how terrifying all that is. She handles it better than I think I would, and I have to applaud her strength in the face of everything (without giving spoilers). I do love how Bolingbroke wove in supernatural elements as well, a nice nod to all the folklore that originates in Romania (if you haven’t read up on any of it, it’s one of my favorite areas for spooky lore). The tension and twists will keep you hooked from cover to cover, the characters have plenty of depth, and you really get to know them over the course of the story. There are some truly dark moments, but they only add to the story, and none of them are gratuitous. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good, gothic read!
Trigger Warnings:
- Violence
- Sexual assault
- Stillbirth
- Adult innuendo
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