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frenchpants's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Confinement and Death
Minor: War, Murder, and Mental illness
meowster18's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: War
middlekmissie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Terminal illness and War
saphfics's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder
Minor: War and Violence
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.
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 against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: War, Violence, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
But a few flourishes and embellishments couldn’t change the fact that the very fabric of our life together was tangled and suffocating. I had given you a thousand second chances, made a thousand concessions. And this wasn’t just about me anymore.
The writing in A Dowry of Blood was exceptional and the second-person narrative was a unique touch that made sense for the story. While the ending was satisfying, I found myself wanting more substance in the second half of the book. Specifically, I wished to delve deeper into Constanta's emotional journey leading up to her realization of what she needed to do. While I understand the book's depiction of abuse was an important theme, I would have preferred it to be limited to the first half. It would have been interesting to see Constanta's transformation from an abused wife to a powerful woman seeking revenge, including her planning and emotional state leading up to it.
My main issue with the book was its pacing in the second half. Despite being glad that it was a short read, I found it dragged on. I also believe that while the book contained elements of horror due to the presence of vampires, it should not be classified solely as a horror novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
tranquiltides's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
What a rousing read! Gibson has the gift of poetic prose that I so love from authors like Erin Morgenstern and the like.
But the story itself… interesting, dark, and plenty bloody. I cannot, in good faith, describe this book as “sexy” For the vast majority of it. The experiences of these characters is shrouded by an aura of ilk… but the Brilliant thing is I think that was on purpose. The narrative is written like a letter, but the addressee is dead. So it feels like something you write with no intention to send for the express purpose of healing.
I read the Bookish Box version of this book, which not only includes an epilogue, but also a bonus chapter, that helps you feel like our protagonists have finally found health and happiness in their undying in lives.
Gibson is kind enough to give some content warnings at the beginning of the book, so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you start reading, and that alone has me solidly among Gibson’s new forever fans.
I can’t wait to see what comes from Gibson next! I highly recommend A Dowry of Blood for any and all who love a good, dark, and bloody story. Complete with a “why choose” romance and a happy ending.
But the story itself… interesting, dark, and plenty bloody. I cannot, in good faith, describe this book as “sexy” For the vast majority of it. The experiences of these characters is shrouded by an aura of ilk… but the Brilliant thing is I think that was on purpose. The narrative is written like a letter, but the addressee is dead. So it feels like something you write with no intention to send for the express purpose of healing.
I read the Bookish Box version of this book, which not only includes an epilogue, but also a bonus chapter, that helps you feel like our protagonists have finally found health and happiness in their undying in lives.
Gibson is kind enough to give some content warnings at the beginning of the book, so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you start reading, and that alone has me solidly among Gibson’s new forever fans.
I can’t wait to see what comes from Gibson next! I highly recommend A Dowry of Blood for any and all who love a good, dark, and bloody story. Complete with a “why choose” romance and a happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, War, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Drug use, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
librasgroove's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A telling of Dracula from the diary entries of his first wife, Constanta. We move from place to place pretty quickly, never really getting a grasp on any one place besides Vienna. Dracula slowly exerts his control over his three spouses and limits their movement and interactions with the outside world. His abuse and control never jumps out all at once, but creeps up in little moments. Dracula is a horror to his spouses as much as to the local peasantry. More over, I think this book as the right blood/beauty/sex ratio that vampires should have; horrible beauty, vicious handsomeness, gorey sex, etc. Also, it does seem to capture vampirism as a manifestation of humanity’s social taboos and darkest fears, while not leaning into the antisemitic underpinnings of Stroker’s Dracula.
Also, the original cover is sooooo much pretty than the updated one. Going from gothic marriage horror to basic aristocratic blood smear. Bring it back!!!!!!
Also, the original cover is sooooo much pretty than the updated one. Going from gothic marriage horror to basic aristocratic blood smear. Bring it back!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, War, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Gore, Murder, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
linneak's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: War