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marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Sexism, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Alcohol, Stalking, Medical trauma, and War
tinybluepixel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
3.5
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!
I've been sitting and stewing on this review for a while, just not finding the words to express my feelings, because I think this is a brilliant little book, but it just wasn't for me.
Not to get all TMI here, but I have a really hard time with poly relationships. Not because I'm morally against them; actually, I wholeheartedly support them. But, once again, we have a saying in Germany: The burnt child shies away from the fire. And my daddy issues won't let me appreciate poly relationships for what they can be.
Whew, my therapist would be proud of me for saying that. So yeah, realm of TMI: I can't deal with poly relationships because they remind me of my cheating father. And, to be even more honest, the main "villain" of this book had to much in common with my father for me to enjoy it.
This book is a brilliantly written reimagining of the three brides of Dracula. In the original novel, they're three women who are actually not confirmed to be Dracula's wives; however, it is generally accepted that they are. This is not a retelling of Dracula, it's more of an examination of how this relationship came to be and how it ended.
Our narrator is Constanta, Dracula's first wife, and after his death, she writes him letters, maybe to gt it all ofher chest, or to explain, or to apologize. So this point of view is absolutely interesting and actually something I have never read before: Constanta writes these letters adressed to Dracula, from first person perspective, and Dracula's name is actually never ever mentioned. She only adresses him as "you". As she tells her story, we learn how Dracula transformed her into a vampire and made her his first wife, and then how he added Magdalena and Alexi to this relationship.
The relationship between these four people is generally a very toxic one, mostly because of Dracula's manipulation. Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexi seem to generally love each other, and they work together to, in the end, band together and murder their captor and husband. This is not a spoiler - it's literally mentioned on the first page. The plot of the original Dracula is barely in this book - it's just a single line, actually. I liked that. This book really focuses on that relationship.
As I mentioned before, the writing is absolutely gorgeous. Constanta's personality shines through her sentences, and the point of view is so innovative and new.
However, I just couldn't. I had to put the book down more than once because Dracula reminded me too much of my father. And then I had to put it down again because that relationship is so fucked up and it physically hurt me.
Another thing I didn't really like was the oversexualization of vampirism. The brides of Dracula are contantly protrayed as overtly sexual, and it's a point of general annoyance with me - I would prefer to see them just as cold, calculating, and brutal as their husband - but it does fit with the overall theme of the novel. I just personally didn't like it very much. (Also, Dracula is like, so unsexy. Maybe it's because I was reading the original novel at the same time, but those two people did not fit together, even though they're supposed to be the same character.)
So, yeah, tldr: Great novel, beautiful writing, not for me.
I've been sitting and stewing on this review for a while, just not finding the words to express my feelings, because I think this is a brilliant little book, but it just wasn't for me.
Not to get all TMI here, but I have a really hard time with poly relationships. Not because I'm morally against them; actually, I wholeheartedly support them. But, once again, we have a saying in Germany: The burnt child shies away from the fire. And my daddy issues won't let me appreciate poly relationships for what they can be.
Whew, my therapist would be proud of me for saying that. So yeah, realm of TMI: I can't deal with poly relationships because they remind me of my cheating father. And, to be even more honest, the main "villain" of this book had to much in common with my father for me to enjoy it.
This book is a brilliantly written reimagining of the three brides of Dracula. In the original novel, they're three women who are actually not confirmed to be Dracula's wives; however, it is generally accepted that they are. This is not a retelling of Dracula, it's more of an examination of how this relationship came to be and how it ended.
Our narrator is Constanta, Dracula's first wife, and after his death, she writes him letters, maybe to gt it all ofher chest, or to explain, or to apologize. So this point of view is absolutely interesting and actually something I have never read before: Constanta writes these letters adressed to Dracula, from first person perspective, and Dracula's name is actually never ever mentioned. She only adresses him as "you". As she tells her story, we learn how Dracula transformed her into a vampire and made her his first wife, and then how he added Magdalena and Alexi to this relationship.
The relationship between these four people is generally a very toxic one, mostly because of Dracula's manipulation. Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexi seem to generally love each other, and they work together to, in the end, band together and murder their captor and husband. This is not a spoiler - it's literally mentioned on the first page. The plot of the original Dracula is barely in this book - it's just a single line, actually. I liked that. This book really focuses on that relationship.
As I mentioned before, the writing is absolutely gorgeous. Constanta's personality shines through her sentences, and the point of view is so innovative and new.
However, I just couldn't. I had to put the book down more than once because Dracula reminded me too much of my father. And then I had to put it down again because that relationship is so fucked up and it physically hurt me.
Another thing I didn't really like was the oversexualization of vampirism. The brides of Dracula are contantly protrayed as overtly sexual, and it's a point of general annoyance with me - I would prefer to see them just as cold, calculating, and brutal as their husband - but it does fit with the overall theme of the novel. I just personally didn't like it very much. (Also, Dracula is like, so unsexy. Maybe it's because I was reading the original novel at the same time, but those two people did not fit together, even though they're supposed to be the same character.)
So, yeah, tldr: Great novel, beautiful writing, not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Violence
kelleykamanda's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
I wanted to like this but found it incredibly slow. Interesting themes but overall kind of cringey and sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, War, and Violence
Minor: Stalking and Medical trauma
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