Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

81 reviews

sagadotter's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Cannibalism

Moderate: War, Physical abuse, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Incest

allisonmspiers's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, and Self harm

Minor: War, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Drug use

alilbitofeveryth1ng's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship

itsjadenbaby's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was truly amazing. Hard to read but very cathartic for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: War, Confinement, and Gore

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Grief

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and War

watsontheslytherin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Beautiful prose... Just beautiful descriptions of even the most toxic and evil situations/sentiments. I've never read depression put in such a mesmerising way. I love the contrast between a love so toxic and a love so nurturing. The only reason it's not a 5 star it's because it can be a little repetitive in some points... But despite that, very easy and enjoyable read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, Torture, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: War

archaicrobin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Beautifully written retelling about Dracula’s brides (and one husband) from the perspective of his first bride Constanta. The prose in this book and the love between the brides is so well done, a perfect dark romance for February. 

I’m not much for retelling and often avoid them but I’m glad I tried Dowry of Blood because it’s an easy, quick, and beautiful read with elegant vampires and just enough horror. I also liked how this author began with a page of trigger warnings for her readers which I think should happen more! 
 
Only reasons I didn’t give this a 5 is that I had to be in the mood to read this one and it was easy for me to put down. I always save 5 stars for those books I can’t stop reading. There were also a LOT of typos in this, to the point where I wonder what the editor was doing. It’s unfortunate when such a beautifully written book with such strong prose has typos because it pulls you out of the book’s spell. 

Overall 100% recommend for anyone looking for a vampire novel, or even a dark romance!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Body horror, Classism, Gaslighting, Gore, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

nyx_belial's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I read this for a book club, so would not be what I would choose normally. 

I like how this book is written, and the flipping of the Dracula story on its head taking it from the perspective of those closest to him.

Main thing that knocked the marks of is that I didn't particularly like the short chapters, I understand it's a style choice made for the type of book it is but it's not something I liked too much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Blood, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Confinement, Gore, Gaslighting, Violence, Murder, Grief, and Stalking

jackieyvette's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Constanta, I would have never treated you like that girl! 
This book was a bright light after a week of slumming through my last book at sloth speed. It’s was dark and cryptic and sad, but also the three are so caring and loving to each other it makes you see them for who they are and not what they’re become. 
Read the TW for this book though there is a lot to deal with. 
It’s a super quick read though I finished it in one sitting.  

Crying score: No, but yes. But no. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gore, Misogyny, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Sexism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

bazkrekker111's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gore, Violence, Murder, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Infidelity, Drug use, and Misogyny

Minor: Mental illness, War, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture