“A lushly written, dream-like modern gothic with as many dark turns and twists as the Montebianco family tree has branches. Welcome to the family.” – Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of Survivor Song
After a DNA test reveals that Alberta “Bert” Monte is the sole heir of a wealthy noble family in the Italian Alps, she leaves New York to visit the family estate: Montebianco Castle, a … estate: Montebianco Castle, a centuries-old compound isolated in the mountains. What appeared to be a fairy tale inheritance, however, soon turns into a nightmare as Bert begins to uncover the dark legacy of her family: the truth about the abandoned village at the base of the castle; the whispers of stolen children; and the rumors of a legendary monster in the mountains. As Bert unravels the truth, she learns that her true inheritance lies not in a noble title or ancestral treasures, but in her very genes, and now she must choose between preserving a secret centuries in the keeping or abandoning it forever.
“Vivid and uncanny…makes the most of Trussoni’s signature blend of science, myth, and mystery.” —Deborah Harkness, bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches
“Inventive and entertaining.” — People
“A Gothic Extravaganza.” —Kirkus
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This book took me surprise with its crooked plot path full of surprises. Perhaps the tweak on historical fiction genre isn’t familiar enough to me to predict where things were going but for me, I didn’t quite know what was happening until it did. And that’s good. A story full of family secrets, a title, castle and tons ‘o money is always a great hook for me. But the true inheritance was what set it apart from a typical book about a royal family the MC didn’t know she belonged to! Enjoy!
A haunting tale that will have you cleaning your calendar so you will not be interrupted while finding out what possibly could happen next in this page turning thriller. A bit disturbing at times, it will have you glued to the pages till the very end. Then it will play like a vivid movie in one’s mind way after the tale is done.
Just imagine for a second that your dreams of being royalty (a princess or a countess) comes true. Then you receive a letter stating you have inherited a castle in Italy and you are a Countess! What would you do?
Well this is the story of Alberta “Bert” Monte who was told she is the new “Countess Alberta Montebianco”. She is flown to the Alps of Northern Italy near the city of Turin to see the estate she just inherited via a private jet. She meets with the attorneys and is whisked to her new life as a Countess with a long blood line of royalty. But of course, not all is roses when things start to take a turn and you uncover some strange mysteries surrounding the family and wealth you just inherited.
Trussoni’s writing was amazing, in that she is able to set the tone of the story, leading the readers to want to find out what is going to happen next – this is truly her brilliance in this writing. The dark twists and turns really had my attention and I could not and would not stop turning those pages while anxiously anticipating what is going to happen next.
I also admired the characters that Trussoni wrote about with the strange and mysterious family members. The setting and the world building was short of incredible – bringing that gothic, mysterious, isolated, cold, feeling of seclusion, and being trapped. The short chapters and the perfect pacing really added to the enjoyment of this well written and well researched novel that I could stop recommending.
Pick this up for the perfect quarantine read. You will not be disappointed.
From the very first page, I was captivated by this twisted fairytale, which transported me to the icy beauty of the Italian Alps and into the ominous world of the Montebianco family. Danielle Trussoni’s gothic novel is like Cinderella meets Bluebeard meets Mary Shelley – a dark story brilliantly imagined, filled with unexpected turns. I read this book in a gulp and now that it’s over I miss Bert’s clear, wry voice. I envy the reader who has yet to experience this book for the first time.
I couldn’t decide between four or five stars, but finally decided it’s a five star book, mainly because it’s writing. Written with many dark turns and twists.
Who wouldn’t be happy to find out they have a surprise inheritance? Of course, this inheritance comes with a castle in the Alps and a family line that seems cursed. This book will keep you spellbounded. Sometimes you are right in the middle of a Gothic haunted house. The next, you are transported to a world created for a monster.
It’s both suspenseful and an exploration of inheritance. You may end up questioning things about you and your ancestors.
Thanks to Goodreads, William Murrow, and Danielle Trussoni for the book.