The year is 1464, and young King Matthias controls Hungary, his family, and the fate of the world’s most notorious political prisoner, Prince Vlad Dracula. Ilona Szilágy, the king’s cousin, is young and ambitious. Dracula is determined to marry into the Hunyadi family. It is love at first sight¿but the king has other plans. The Impaler Prince, however, never takes no for an answer. This … begins Ilona’s journey into the treacherous world of court intrigues, family betrayals, and her husband’s dark desires. Eager to become Vlad’s trusted confidant, Ilona soon discovers that marriage to man tortured by his past comes with a price.
more
I’ve been fascinated with Vlad Dracula since I was a little girl. Don’t judge, I was a little macabre as a kid 🙂 I haven’t read much about him as an adult so I jumped super quick to pick up The Impaler’s Wife and I am so glad that I did. It’s phenomenal! Author Autumn Bardot expertly crafted a fascinating look into Vlad’s life and his relationship with his wife, Ilona. I did not want to put it down!
It was dark, twisted, passionate, sexy, and absolutely riveting!
The Impaler’s Wife starts off at the coronation of King Matthias of Hungary when his cousin, Ilona, meets his political prisoner, Vlad who is a Prince of Wallachia. Despite the machinations of her Aunt who wanted her sister to marry Vlad, Ilona steals his heart and they begin their life together. Jumping back and forth in time we also get glimpses into Vlad’s youth, where he spent much of his childhood as a prisoner with his brother in order to make his father the King behave. Vlad honed his violent tendencies and acquires his infamous torture method of impaling from his enemies.
Ilona’s character was great and a perfect match for Vlad. Despite his violent past and rumored temper, she is drawn to him. They were a great match in bed too 🙂 Be prepared for some sexy scenes!
“A storm rages inside Vlad Dracula, one you must learn to control and subdue.”
There’s nothing better than reading a book that makes you think about it all day until you can finally sit down to read it and that was The Impaler’s Wife for me. I cannot wait to read more from Autumn Bardot!
5 Cranky Stars
Have you ever wondered what Count Dracula was really like or if he had a family? Well, this story tells a version of what his life may have been really like. It is well written, and her geography and history were well researched. In fact, you find yourself liking poor Prince Dracula.
It is the 1440’s Vlad is 11 and his brother Ruda is 7 when they accompany their father on a trip to Turkey to hopefully arrange a truce with the emperor. Nothing goes as planned and the next few years are what shapes their lives. Vlad becomes angry and vengeful while Ruda becomes peaceful and diplomatic.
Twenty-two years later, Vlad meets the woman he wants but she is the sister of his fiancé. Vlad is a prisoner of the King. The King’s niece Margit thinks she is going to marry Vlad and become a princess when he retakes his birthright throne.
However, he sees Ilona and knows she is his. Turns out that she is his perfect match but since he is a criminal, it will be years before he can marry either girl.
I have only touched on the general story. If I tell you more than this, I’ll ruin the suspense. This is a must read it yourself book to understand all the palace intrigues. These characters are both loveable and hateful. You’ll have to decide. Vlad and Ilona are perfect for each other. The ending will make you cry from sadness and joy. I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to other books by this author.
The audiobook of The Impaler’s Wife by Autumn Bardot has been a delight to listen to. I have had the great fortune to savour this book in audio format and would like to first express my appreciation on the professionalism of the narrator, the great delivery and performance and what sounds to me – as someone not skilled in Eastern European languages – as probably a native or close to native pronunciation of names and words or phrases that were expressed in those languages.
I am not sure what I expected but this book exceeded all my expectations and preconceptions. To start out with, I have to say that I have not had any historical knowledge prior to reading this book of Prince Dracula whom I have only known of in the context of fictional vampire stories, originally penned by Bram Stoker.
I have been assured by my Romanian friend, none other than the amazing internationally renowned book blogger The Magic Book Corner (https://www.themagicbookcorner.com), I asked for a recommendation on a historical novel on that wider area that the author has kept closely to historical facts in her narrative. The main characters of Vlad Dracula and his wife Ilona both go through an inner and outer transformation and development in an arc that is both relatable and impressive, in both their positive and negative personality traits, as is human nature in the face of violence, betrayal, war and infliction of pain and torture all being part of daily life.
Vlad Dracula was called “The Impaler” because he left entire fields full of impaled men, women and children. He had learned this form of torturous execution by the very person he had dedicated his life battling against, the cruel sultan he had been a captive of in his youth, and made an artform of it. Although this sounds very cruel, he has at the same time been a great scholar and a leader devoted to the wellbeing of his people.
When he meets Ilona, he is at first intended to marry her sister but he prefers the darker Ilona, both in colouring and in character. At this time, Ilona does not yet suspect the existence of this darker side of her nature herself, although we are given hints as clues to what is to come. At that time, she enjoys battling her wit against Dracula in light banter, trying to impress him. But as time goes on and she lives with this troubled and traumatised, also cruel and genius husband, she is schooled further in the arts of diplomacy and strategy but also through factors that include parts of her husband’s nature, the environment she constantly finds herself in, the people she is surrounded with, and her obsession with her husband’s sexuality and the pleasure it gives her.
She finds herself slowly stepping out of her comfort zone and thus, discovering and embracing her darker side. Their sexual practices, explicitly described, grow over time more into what would be in modern times classified as BDSM. This may also be the reason why some have nicknamed this book “50 Shades of Romania”, but however explicitly these scenes are described, they are not meant to sexually arouse the reader but serve to further impress upon him Ilona’s and Vlad’s relationship becoming closer, more raw, more honest and darker in their love, devotion and sexuality. These scenes are written with a view to character development and giving the reader an insight into the psychological aspects of Ilona and her husband and their relationship with each other, they are not designed to sexually arouse the reader as is the focus of explicit scenes in romance novels.
In this way, first driven by her fear to lose her husband’s interest, Ilona discovers her love for pain, power and punishment, both in terms of sexuality but also in dishing it out to other people. On the few occasions she exerts blatant verbal or physical violence against others, she finds pleasure in the deed and is almost surprised by it, yet embraces this aspect of her own character without much hesitation.
I have listened to probably most of the chapters twice. Not because I was confused and unable to follow the plot but because I was so moved by the beauty and eloquence of the narrative that I felt the need to revisit and savour it one more time. Throughout the book, the arc of Ilona’s character development, as well as that of her husband, are exceptionally outlined, deep in psychological details and cleverly written in the most singularly unique style that has given me pleasure, both in the language used, as well as the intricacies of the development of the plot and the characters. I absolutely loved it!
Written from a unique viewpoint and a believable interpretation of the myths and figures in history of which little is truly known. Grabs you from the very beginning.
The test of a good book is one that successfully tells a tale from which you can’t turn away. The test of a good writer is one who constructs characters anyone can care about, even if their beliefs may not align with the reader. Suspension of disbelief, and being drawn into the fictional world is key. Bardot’s The Impaler’s Wife is one such title. This gothic romance is thrilling, with unerring historical accuracy, and a hint of the legend of Dracula which most have heard of.
I love tales about Dracula, and this one is just as fascinating. Housed in historical fiction, complete with gory descriptions of war and a tale of unrivaled passion, The Impaler’s Wife gives us a unique take on not only the legend of Dracula, but also the story of the man. Who is Vlad the Impaler? And, who is Ilona, the strong, amazing woman that falls for him?
As a reader, I was yanked into the tale from page one, equal parts mystified throughout, and by turns horrified yet unusually resigned to the circumstances. This book may test your faith in…well, everything you think you know. Bardot has an uncanny ability to make one of the most vilified historical figures utterly human. Or is he far more than that?
Ilona really comes into her own from the first time we encounter her – and that pivotal moment when Vlad approaches her – to the well-rounded, confident, strong female she becomes by the end of the book. I enjoyed learning about both characters.
So…is Dracula just a story? It is tempting to think otherwise. Bardot may make you a believer too. Take a chance on this read. You won’t be disappointed!
I give this a rating of four stars for an outstanding, unforgettable reading experience. Fantastic job, Autumn!
Vlad III Dracula, known as Vlad the Impaler was the second son of Vlad Dracul, who became the ruler of Wallachia in 1436. Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were held as hostages in the Ottoman Empire in 1442 to secure their father’s loyalty. The relationship between Vlad and Radu deteriorated as Radu became Islam and a friend of Mehmed II, ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad’s father and eldest brother, Mircea, were murdered after John Hunyadi, regent-governor of Hungary, invaded Wallachia in 1447. Vlad was held in captivity in Visegrád from 1463 to 1475. The stories of his cruelty began to spread from Germany during that time. Whether they were true or how bad he was is pure speculation. I guess you have to remember that it was in medieval times and cruelty was normal for the time.
His second wife was Ilona Szilagy, the main character in the book was a cousin to King Matthias Corvinus, king of Bohemia, Hungary, and Croatia. Vlad is determined to marry into the Szilagy family. Vlad and Ilona had a tumultuous relationship and marriage. They had two children, Vladut and Nicolae. Vlad seized Wallachia in late 1476 but was soon murdered, decapitated. This was the ending of the book, I would like to see a sequel because it appears that there is a lot more to tell of Ilona.
The story had a lot of war, Vlad was definitely a warrior, sex, murders, and court intrigues. The book went back and forth from when Vlad was young to the present day and his marriage to Ilona. I knew the stories of Vlad Tepes, the Impaler, but had never read much about him. There are a lot of characters in the book, lots with names that I could not pronounce. That did not stop me from enjoying the story thoroughly. Of course, there are a lot of stories about Dracula related to vampirism, those were the stories I knew about, not Vlad the person. I loved Bardot’s writing, even though there was a lot of war scenes, she mixed in the daily lives of Vlad and Ilona. She put a personal touch to Vlad and Ilona, the book did not read like a history book like some historical fiction books do. I think that I would love to read more about Ilona. If you like historical fiction and want to read about the love between Vlad and Ilona then this book is for you. I highly recommend it!
The Impaler’s Wife is a fabulous historical fiction debut for Autumn Bardot. It is one of those stories that made me want to search online to see if the details were actual historical events or the author’s imagination. Oh my! I was quite fascinated. I would have never thought of reading an enjoyable read involving Vlad the Impaler and his wife. Miss Bardot did an awesome job making it work. Ilona is a great female character. I enjoyed her right from the start.
The Impaler’s Wife gets five stars from me. I would love to read the next historical fiction release by this author in the future. I would love to know who she would write about next.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
*“Fear makes poor decisions.” Dracula leaned against the wall. “Anger is more practical.”*
If you loved the movie Dracula Untold or the stories by Philippa Gregory, then I think you are going to enjoy this story. Ilona is a wonderful character. Initially, a little sheltered from the world, she does not understand the struggles of the common people but she has a sharp mind and smart mouth. She learns quickly and discovers a different side of herself with Prince Vlad. Ilona does however find the prince to be a mystery. His moods change like the weather, often quickly and without warning. He is mystifying, strategic, charming and well learned. Prince Vlad has learned harsh lessons throughout his life and is determined to regain what is rightful his to claim. From a young age, Prince Vlad is an old soul. He is driven and complicated but he has his own sense of justice and his own code. With Ilona, the two make a formidable pair. Ilona and Vlad are both intellectual and witty individuals and enjoy sparing in a battle of minds. The two of them together are quite combustible and rather than taming the beast, Ilona finds that Vlad awakens a beast within her.
There were elements in the story that reminded me of Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. There is intrigue and betrayal, jealousy and love, secrets and truths. There is so much to appreciate in this story. It’s not just about vengeance and a thirst for blood. It looks at relationships and trust and examines the lengths one is willing to go to for the one they love. The historian in me loved the fact that Autumn Bardot researched the story to add in details that enrich the tale. Vlad the Impaler has always been a mysterious figure in history and it is exciting to see this tale blending fact and fiction not just of his life but also the life of the woman at his side.