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judassilver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Specific spoilers:
The sex scenes were fine, I do feel like they were to the detriment of any possible emotional development though. This could be commentary on sex as a coping mechanism but the epilogue kinda killed that for me.
The sexual relationship between Alexi and Constanta: Ew, ew, ew, ew. I liked the setup of the implication Dracula groomed his brides, even while underage, and swooped in on their most vulnerable. That felt very real to an abuser and was a rare moment of subtlety. I could have done without Constanta getting the hots for Alexi while reiterating how young he was and how much she felt like his mom, and then having sex with him. Which again almost felt like a commentary on emotional incest and how entangled sexual and emotional relationships can get under an oppressive abuser who controls every aspect of your freedom of expression. Their splitting up at the end almost sealed this for me... and then the epilogue killed my appreciation.
"a modern Machiavelli"... 5 seconds with Google, I beg you.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, Blood, Murder, Violence, Death, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: War and Religious bigotry
Minor: Mental illness
tifftastic87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Constanta's growth from meek and demure wife to someone strong and protective under the abuse of her unnamed husband was such a dark ride to be on. The way abuse and control was used in this story was so real and raw that I had to pause for a moment a few times.
I was tired of the circumference of the whole universe living in your circled arms.
I was tired of carrying around the weight of a love like worship.
The way he manipulated his spouses into loving him and fearing him and how Constanta felt it as both safety and chains really got to me.
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Mental illness, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
sxndaze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
can definitely see why it’s highly recommended by others
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Confinement
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
amandapenn724's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Violence
bjww34's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Grief, and Emotional abuse
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Infidelity, Confinement, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: War and Pandemic/Epidemic
boredarchivist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
cwkhalil's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood and Violence
taylorreads17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gore, Blood, Infidelity, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Body horror
Moderate: Physical abuse
gisblanketfort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Toxic relationship