title: The Blood Confession
author: Alisa Libby
description: Grade 9 UpAs this novel opens, Countess Erzebet Bizecka, imprisoned in the castle tower awaiting trial for the murders of a number of her serving girls, recounts her gruesome story. A beautiful young noblewoman living in 16th-century Hungary, Erzebet becomes obsessed with youth and beauty after her mother goes insane, and performs a ritual that involves bathing in blood. As Erzebet herself teeters on the edge of sanity, she begins to hallucinate about an attractive young man who encourages her hobby and eventually convinces her that she must commit murder in order to gain immortality. Erzebet, based on a real-life Hungarian blood countess, is an interesting character. She feels trapped and powerless in a world dominated by men, but soon learns that her beauty is a source of power. Readers will sympathize with her feelings of loneliness and abandonment, while being repulsed by her actions. The descriptions are mildly gruesome without being overly graphic or sensationalized. Even so, the book is not for the faint of heart. While the characterization is solid, the depiction of Erzebet's descent into madness is overly lengthy, which may deter all but die-hard horror fans.<i>Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  ## “Talk to me, Libby,” he said, looking into the depths of her amber eyes.
  
  
  
  
  
  “What is it?” he whispered, afraid he would scare her away.
  
  
  
  
  
  “It’s nothing,” she answered, and tried to break free, but he held her tight.
  
  
  
  
  
  When he turned her face with one finger so he could look into her eyes again,
  he saw the sparkle of tears.
  
  
  
  
  
  Cupping her cheek with one hand, he pulled her closer with his other. “Won’t
  you let me help?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Her sigh seemed to come from the depths of her, but she didn’t look away.
  Tears mixed with raindrops as they made a path down her cheek, and then her
  eyes slowly drifted shut. Without thinking, he lowered his head and pressed
  his lips to hers. Garrett felt her start to pull away, and then she seemed to
  fold herself into him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  Dear Reader,
  
  
  
  
  
  The winter of 2010–2011 has been a tough one for those of us who live in North
  America. Between snowstorms and flooding, no one has escaped unusua