Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

362 reviews

sangsmiles's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Murder

brenna4231's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Minor: Confinement, Torture, Medical trauma, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

cyrussolaris's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

polyamorous, vengeful vampires murdering their abusive sire. need i say more?? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

megad_06's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

Very intense mix of psychological and non-monogamous relationship

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

wickedgrumpy's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

There were some things I really enjoyed about this book but sometimes I'm not really one for really flowery and descriptive language.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ashleybeingbookish's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

 

This book is in first person POV and I loved that aspect of it. 

It took a bit in the beginning for it to pick up but once it did I couldn't put it down. You see her get turned to the introduction of their subsequent partners. 

Constanta goes through a transformation and learns her power by the end of the book. It's a beautiful thing to see. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Murder

mj_nightingale's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I've heard so much about this book, and it disappointed me so much I can't even. The one thing to know when you go into it especially being a reader from Ukraine is there is glorification of the neighboring terrorist state. In a book written in 2022. Because there's literally nowhere else in the world this story could go, right? Disgusting. 

Up until the third part I was thinking, well, it's an ok read a 3 or maybe even a 4 if it picks up, a bit repetitive, and not very well written out. I tried to explain the shallowness of the narration by the fact that it is addressed to someone who was there to see it all so no need to go into the details, not that it made my experience as a reader any better toh. But I tried to justify it for myself. 

But the freaking 3d part just did it for me. There's literally nowhere else to go, right? Nowhere in the world that would not glorify a terrorist country destroying thousands of lives in the modern day. I'd really love to see a mention of that at least somewhere in the description of the book, so that I can avoid picking it up since I know that I am not interested in anything trying to glorify imperialism especially in this case. 

But there was nothing. So in writing this review, I warn whoever intends to pick it up. I'm disgusted and really upset on where this went. 

I had high expectations of this book, it being so universally praised but it's just not good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

kylarkylar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This was…not good. Fantastic idea for a book, the audiobook voice was amazing, and I did enjoy the ending.

But the rest of it was just listening to a super depressing story of controlling and abusive relationships. Not to mention not enough story developments to justify the love each character had for the main vampire, or why they stayed with him for so long. Like Constanza immediately wanting to sleep with him and fall in love with him???? Not explained at ALL.

I wanted an easy spooky book to read this October, but this was not it :/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

nekomeith's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? N/A

3.75

I really enjoyed the authors writing style and this different look at Dracula. I would have liked to delve deeper into the relationships between the wives and husband.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content and Murder

Minor: Sexual harassment and War

music_girl93's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder