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pimklasagna's review
2.75
Graphic: Death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and War
Minor: Incest
lightscamerazaction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Incest
emeliah21's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Death, Mental illness, Confinement, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking, Incest, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
Minor: Physical abuse
amy_reading_23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
The characters are interesting. You are shown some of their complexities but also not enough of each to know them entirely. There are beautiful lines that are like poetry and some interesting comparisons to religion. I thought I'd be put off by how it is written in letters, but it is very immersive and most the letters are written long enough to be like scenes.
I do love how she took his power away by not naming him (the abuser). Although this has been described as a retelling of Dracula and his wives, its not quite that, and we never quite know who he is. And that takes the power away from him.
I could probably go on for ages talking about this book but I will say, I would have found this difficult to read a few years ago. It is hard hitting, uncomfortable at times, and there's some blurred lines between relationships being familial and sexual, which did make me a bit uncomfortable. So don't read this if you're not in the right head space. But if you are, and you want to read a book about a girl finding her own power while being bound by a narcissist, with a long dark period and a finally happy ish ending, then go for it.
Everything the "Lord" does is characteristic of a narcissistic sociopath in a toxic relationship. He gaslights his wives, tells them they're paranoid, masks his control by making them think they have freedom, taking them away from friends or loved ones, isolating them, allows them scarce joy to keep devoted but derives them of most joy so they depend on him. If you recognise someone in your life who is like this, it is best to seek help and leave.
Last point, I wasn't sure about the ending. At Constantines last chapter I'd thought I wished there was more of their lives now, but then I actually found that I didn't totally like Alexi's bit. His possessiveness and dependency on them worried me a bit and I wondered if the ending was meant to be semi uncomfortable. But I might be overthinking, as otherwise I think it interestingly showed how a loving poly relationship can be without a toxic partner.
Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Murder, Mental illness, and Body horror
Minor: Incest
katiegraham00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Incest and Physical abuse
ellenigrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Graphic: Incest, Blood, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Physical abuse, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, and War
mirroaoror's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gore, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Incest and Pedophilia
fromthefoxhole's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The premise is cool af, the story of Dracula's brides x the story of Judith from the bible.
I just personally can't deal with the whole faux-incest plot (I did my time with Cassandra Clare, okay?).
The chapters are....kind of letters? Like the POV is from Constata, his first wife, but she's writing "you did x and I felt bad about it" so it's a bit clunky.
For the plot, we watch as Constata is saved and turned by Dracula, and then realized beneath his charm and promises lay both a madman and an abuser. He opens their marriage by force, setting her up to be the bad guy if she denied Magdalena and Dracula - but M is introduced as both a companion for C and a sister to her, as well as a lover. For a while, C manages to tamp down her jealousy and frustration, but watching him wear down Magdalena's extroverted and curious nature erodes her restraint. When he feels as though he has hit a wall with M and C, he pries the marriage open again, this time for Alexi, a youthful, exuberant arts model. His arrival brightens both Dracula and Magdalena, where C is wrought with a protective urge, and likens herself to his nursemaid. A, though, is young and bullheaded, and likes to pick fights with Dracula, arguing and demanding, pushing the envelope as far as he can. When Dracula's restraint snaps, leading to him publicly killing a young woman Alexi had invited into their home and then slapping Alexi across the face while scolding him, C is finally sure. She schemes with her fellow brides, puts together a plot based on Dracula's own knowledge and research on the vampiric limitations, and they enter into a pact to murder their sire.
Upon the completion of this gruesome task, all 3 brides wrestle with twin rivers of grief and relief winding through their ribs. They promise to write and meet regularly, then split and travel on their own.
The epilogue is from Alexi's perspective, and he is sad that both M and C have taken other companions during their years apart. He worries they no longer care for him as much as they used to. Like any good quasi-related trio of lovers, they fuck about it.
For all it's contents, I think a Dowry of Blood most suffers from the POV, though that sort of incest piece is a very close second. I did enjoy the writing, both the quality and the gentle way Gibson approaches the abusive nature of the relationship between Dracula and it's brides.
I won't read it again, but I'm not mad I read it.
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Toxic relationship, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Infidelity, Incest, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Death
sagadotter's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Cannibalism
Moderate: War, Physical abuse, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Incest
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: War, Chronic illness, and Confinement
MC calls her love interest "sister" while they do it.....