The Last Handmaid is a dark, intoxicating descent into the world of Csejte Castle—one that feels as claustrophobic and compelling as the legends surrounding Countess Báthory herself. Clare Whitfield blends gothic tension with sharp emotional insight, creating a story that’s as much about power and hunger as it is about survival.

Catalina is a wonderfully drawn protagonist: vulnerable yet quietly observant, trying to navigate a household where obedience is currency and girls vanish without explanation. Her relationship with the Countess is the beating heart of the novel—uneasy, magnetic, and threaded with a creeping dread that builds beautifully. Whitfield never rushes the horror; instead, she lets it simmer, making every disappearance, every whispered “medicine,” feel like a step closer to something inevitable.

The atmosphere is lush and unsettling, the historical detail vivid without ever weighing down the pace. I loved how the novel plays with the idea of compulsion—what we do to survive, what we become when survival demands more than we ever intended to give. There’s more than one way to feed a hunger, and Whitfield explores each one with elegant menace.

Perfect for readers who enjoy gothic historical fiction with teeth. The Favourite meets Dracula is exactly right: decadent, dangerous, and impossible to look away from.

With thanks to Clare Whitfield, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

I picked this up based on the author. Didn't read the blurb.
So I was part of the way in when my brain just clicked that this was about Bathory. I've read a good few books about her.
This is a good one.
It paints a toxic relationship that you want to get out of, because you know everything around you is wrong, yet still you stay.
So many conflicting emotions from this young girl with nothing, to now a girl with a lot to loose.
I thought it gave a well rounded story , seeing how anyone and everyone found themselves caught up in the madness.
A sure sign of a great story, I'm off to Google the facts now.

The Last Handmaid provided a captivating take on the Countess Báthory myth/history. Catalina was a relatable heroine, torn between what she feels is right and what is right for her, and how the two may not always align. I enjoyed the gradual escalation of the tale, which was dark and atmospheric from start to finish. The pacing was good, always making me want to keep turning the pages, and the characters were all well drawn. There were a few times I thought Catalina a bit of a fool, but she had had, after the initial drama, a fairly sheltered upbringing, which perhaps accounts for her willingness to believe in people who were so clearly unworthy of her trust. Despite my occasional frustrations with her, though, I had fun following her tale to the bitter end. I am giving this book 4 stars. It's worth a read if you like dark historical fiction offering a twist on real events.