Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

44 reviews

marsh_mall0w's review

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

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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

meowster18's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

In this story we follow Constanta, a woman that was turned at a young age by a mysterious man that we can only assume to be Dracula. Constanta is guided into the world of the dead and unforgiving by promises of life and vengeance against those who took everything from her. In the years leading up to their new bride and husband, Constanta only knew Dracula. Brooding but kind. Harsh but gentle. Loving but ferocious. Narcissist. Constanta has her suspicions about how much Dracula really loved her but as the centuries passed, Dracula would “gift” her a new bride. An aristocrat. Fearless and knows what she wants. Later, a new husband. Young, rambunctious, lively, and an artist. 

Absorbed by Dracula’s inconsistent love and viciousness towards her and the others, Constanta begins to uncover Dracula’s dark and damning secrets. With the help of her new companions, Constanta will need to to not only figure out how to save her family but untangle herself from the love of her life. This story is masterfully written and grips you from the first page. This story explores the mind of Constanta as she battles with her emotions and centuries of conditioning to submit. The themes are handled with care and shows the realistic view of a dark and very toxic relationship. If you are not a fan of LGBTQIA+ material then this not for you. The love making was very well written and the depiction of the violence and rage Dracula would often express is attention grabbing. Even how the author allowed Constanta to explore her flaws and come to terms with them is masterfully done. Lastly the pacing is amazing and relatively quick. 

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, dark yet empowering read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: War

ellenigrace's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

Did its job of being a vampire book, though not a horror novel, and didn't blow me away. The ending frustrated me

because I didn't love that after spending a whole book freeing themselves from a man, Constanta and Magdalena ended up semi-abandoning their new lives for a different man.

I also think that if you're going to say in the blurb that the book is about Dracula, you shouldn't break Dracula canon the one time you allude to that fact?

Even if we allow that he couldn't die in the way he does in Dracula, the fact that the women have to explain who the Harkers were to Alexi means that at that point Dracula only had two brides, not three like in Stoker's canon. A very nitpicky point but it pulled me out of the narrative.

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Content Warnings

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

maren_hemsath's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Blood

Moderate: War, Violence, and Body horror

Minor: Alcohol

persephonefoxx'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: War and Physical abuse

Minor: Drug abuse and Alcohol

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and War

jackieyvette's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.75

Constanta, I would have never treated you like that girl! 
This book was a bright light after a week of slumming through my last book at sloth speed. It’s was dark and cryptic and sad, but also the three are so caring and loving to each other it makes you see them for who they are and not what they’re become. 
Read the TW for this book though there is a lot to deal with. 
It’s a super quick read though I finished it in one sitting.  

Crying score: No, but yes. But no. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gore, Misogyny, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Sexism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

bookishwondergoth's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense slow-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

Have you ever picked up a book and just known instantly you were going rate it 5 stars?

'A Dowry of Blood' by S.T. Gibson was one such book for me. From the very first few pages I became utterly captivated, and then I simply did not stop reading until I'd turned the final page. Once done, I sat in stunned silence for a little while. This is definitely the best book I’ve read so far this year!

The story is the confession of Dracula's first bride, Constanta, concerning her emotionally and physically abusive relationship with Dracula and the complex, solacing love she finds with her fellow "brides", Magdalena and Alexi. There's bisexuality, polyamory and sensuality galore, as well as a lot of blood, a lot of death, and a lot of very beautiful writing.

Seriously, I am in awe of some the lovely turns of phrases S.T. Gibson uses in her work. Her words are poetic, never purple, and everything feels like a dream to read. Truly I was transported to how I felt reading Anne Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire'. The author also cites the likes of Angela Carter, Catherynne Valente and the 2004 Stephen Sommers film 'Van Helsing' as influences, and that is very apparent in the best possible way.

Loved this book. Love love loved it. Please do yourself a favour and pick it up because it truly is gorgeous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Mental illness

Minor: War, Alcohol, and Body horror

bazkrekker111's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, and Confinement

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Abandonment, Torture, Cannibalism, Cursing, Sexual assault, War, Sexual violence, Incest, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

smash_timms's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? No

4.0

4 🌟 3🌶

This book was captivating, easy to read and I would read it again. It is written in a poetic way from the view point of Constanta writing her last love letter to "You". I will admit the first few pages I had to adjust to reading that style of writing.

You know from the start that "You" died, but it doesn't matter because you want to know the journey. You want to know how the MFC developed over the course of time to reach that decision.

There is spice throughout the book. Like the rest of the book it is written very poetically, though you do know the details of what is happening. There are also polygamous scenes.

TW:
This book does have some dark themes, but the author has listed these at the start of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Murder, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Mental illness, Gaslighting, War, Body horror, Violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and Drug use