Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

81 reviews

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Grief, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Gore

Moderate: Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

Minor: War

wolf013's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, Blood, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and War

buildawallofbooks's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Grief and Gore

My first read of 2023 and what an amazing start 🖤🩸 I picked up A Dowry of Blood from my tbr and I devoured it (no pun intended!!) I am not a horror girlie in fact I’m the furthest from that but give me gothic, dark, beautiful prose and I will eat it up. I loved the format of this book, a series of letters which make for short chapters (the dream) I raced through this book, it was the epitome of #justonemorechapter Told from the point of view of Constanta who is the first wife of “YOU” this is an exploration of love in all its different forms, an exploration of complicated, dark, messy relationships- please check the content warnings which the author lays out so well at the start of the book! This for me wasn’t a Dracula retelling it was so much more- I loved the omission of “YOU’s” name of course we know who this is but this book isn’t about them - this is special and something which I loved when reading Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell it puts the focus on the woman telling the tale and their strength 🖤 I am so excited to read more from this author!

rachelcotter1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Murder, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Gore, and Grief

zghutcheson01's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

A short, entertaining Dracula novel but full of strong relationships and overcoming abuse. It’s just a good book about the sluts (affectionate) unionizing to kill an abuser.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Grief, Violence, and Murder

clairew97's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Death, and Grief

hellodebbies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

It is in my top 5 best read of the year!
 First of all, I am so happy Fairyloot did a SE because I would have never picked the book. 
From the start, I knew I would love the book and I was not disappointed. The way it was written was so unique (for me at least) and the storyline was so good, I couldn't stop myself from reading. It tackles such an important and sensible subject in a real-life way with a touch of fantasy. Before I even knew I wished there was more. Indeed, this is very fast paced because Constanta is the one telling us her story. However it brings more emotions because everything happens really fast or at least it feels  like it, the fast pace with Constanta thought amplifies those emotions felt. 
Constanta was such a great character and her evolution was satisfying and so heartbreaking, because she was ready to risk it all for Maggie and Alexi and she would have never risk it if Maggie and Alexi were not there with her.
The way the author portrays their relationship with the lord (I don't remember if at any point his name was mentioned) was immaculate and realistic. They knew how much their relationship was unhealthy but couldn't leave because they also knew they were still in love. I am so happy that they got their happy end and finally felt free ! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Minor: Grief and Violence

hafable's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

"talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it." ~ lady gaga

This has some of the most well utilized prose I've read. It's beautiful but not in an unnecessary or superfluous way; it's used to enrich the story to no end and I feel better for having read this. There is no prerequisite to reading this either, although I recommend reading Dracula, its purely because I like that book because you do not need to have read that book to read this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, War, Gore, Grief, Body horror, Blood, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Murder

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

As someone escaping a toxic polycule, this was a kick in the balls for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, War, Infidelity, and Murder

Minor: Abandonment, Cursing, Genocide, and Cannibalism

Huge content warnings for anyone who has experienced an abusive, toxic polyamorous relationship and how it affects everyone in the polycule. There is also an example of healthy polyamory and great bisexual representation.

pagesbyolivia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

If you’re looking for a beautifully written, dark and horrifically romantic book for fall then this is it! A queer reimagining of Dracula‘s brides featuring sapphic yearning at the opera and a polyamorous relationship.
It is told in the form of a letter by the protagonist Constanta over centuries of her being with Dracula. Saved from death and drawn into his world of blood and gore, Constanta finds herself torn between love, blind devotion and hesitant loathing.
I cannot even put into words what this story did to me and I urge you all to read it because it is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read so far and will surely stick with me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Grief