Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - A Dowry of Blood

Dowry of Blood was a solid read for me, but I don't think my experience with it lived up to the hype from its release. Lyrically written, with an apt handling of sensitive topics from the perspective of a survivor of trauma and literal centuries of domestic abuse. Yet, I still struggled to feel invested in the overall story. Some of that issue came from not feeling like I understood the main character Constanta on her own; I only ever grasped her in relation to other characters and the emotions they brought about in her. And maybe that's the point? That Constanta's finally able to make meaning in her life in the wake of

murdering her tyrannical, abusive maker

. If so, I sadly don't think that resonated with me in a way that makes this novel shine. If you're a fan of classics and/or retellings of classics, this is still a worthwhile read though.

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rayannotates's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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chelsea_nailpolishlover's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I could not put this down. It’s a short read, and every chapter was filled with meaning and thoughtfulness for the readers understanding and enjoyment.

This is book was about love. But not the kind you assume. This is about the kind of torturous toxic love that you delude yourself into thinking their love is worth the pain, worth the bad, that’s it’s because they love you that they treat you that way.

This was about finding one’s self, breaking free, living to live and not for the whims of someone else’s existence. It was painful, heartbreaking, exhausting to witness. And I loved every word.

It was beautifully written. It held my attention at every turn. The ending was perfect. I honestly have not one single criticism for this book.

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skillyillian's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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

y'all this book is my new roman empire. oh my god, i will never be over this. s.t. gibson has written the most ethereal, stunning, devastating, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching book i've probably ever read. it's unparalleled. it's fucking divine. you don't believe me? try this on for size:

I wanted to dash myself against your rocks like a wave, obliterate my old self and see what rose shining and new from the sea foam. The only words I had to describe you in those early days were plunging cliffside or primordial sea, crystal-cold stars or black expanse of sky.

you still need convincing? fine, have another:

I craved you like maidens crave the grave, the way death burns for human touch: inconsolably, unrelentingly, aching for the annihilation in your kiss.

and one more for good measure:

I say you are a smoke-wisp memory of a flame, thawing ice suffering under an early spring sun, a chalk ledger of debts being wiped clean.
I say you do not have a name.

holy fuck. nothing will rip you apart and put you back together like this will. you will suffer at the hands of constanta's abuser with her, with the others, and watch as she is desensitized to him. you beg and plead for her to say something, do anything, to leave, but it's written so excruciatingly well that you know why she doesn't. it only makes you hate him more, and only makes the ending of the book so much more bittersweet.

this is the perfect testament to "they don't have to hit you for it to be abuse" because 99% of the abuse in this book is not physical. it makes you want to follow the survivors around, tugging on their shirt sleeves like a child, and beg them to stand up to him, to not give up, not let themselves be treated so poorly by such a bastard. but they do it anyway, and you see the way that the good days are ecstasy, almost enough to forget the misery of the bad ones. it makes you rage like the fires of hell, and then be sad all over again because you know they're all still in love with him despite knowing exactly who he is. it's excruciating.

one of the most unique things about this book is that it's written as basically a journal or letter addressed to the abuser, from the point of view of constanta, the FMC. so instead of "he took me to the market" it's "you took me to the market" and it's perfect. it's flawless. the whole entire book is flawless. i was so intrigued by the POV when i started this and it ended up being one of my favorite parts.

if you're looking for a gothic, polyamorous romance about the brides of dracula teaming up to end his reign of terror over their lives, look no further. if you're looking for even one of those things, read this. it's beautiful. it's agony. it's probably the best thing i've ever read. this is classic literature in the making.

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