Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

332 reviews

midnightrubies's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I loved this look at the lives of Dracula's wives. The retrospective look at a life together that stretched over centuries, tainted by abuse until its bloody end. Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi getting to venture out on their own was a fitting and beautiful ending to this story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content

jaylene's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I am floored. A Dowry of Blood contains the most beautiful writing I have ever come across, it is almost lyrical with its vivid imagery and atmospheric storytelling.

Best read of the year!!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Murder, Self harm, Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, and Blood

Minor: Sexual assault and Drug use

A dark retelling of Dracula from his bride's perspective.

mrskc4's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

abies's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

beautifully written. well crafted prose, characters, and story. i especially appreciated how the voice of the narrator reads, descriptive and wordy like someone from her time might be without being dry at all. absolutely would recommend, though be sure to heed the content warnings as this book deals with potentially sensative themes.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

bodiless's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious relaxing sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

THE BEST BOOK EVER ITS SO SAD.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

peregrinwho's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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 was so beautiful. A haunting, sublime sort that evoked velvet imagery on every page. It's so easy to get swept up in that kind of beauty, and once they were able to step out of that church, away from worship, the night began to feel like endless warm days.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content

Minor: Murder and War

bucketsjen's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

A tale of Dracula's brides, from the point of view of his first wife Constanta. They are lured by promises of life and freedom and desire... and instead find themselves trapped in an unlife of control and abuse.  It was very well done and darkly engaging. The presentation of an abusive relationship and the complicated emotions/thoughts involved was chillingly legit.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Blood

Polyamory under duress.

elskede's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gaslighting, Grief, War, Terminal illness, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Blood, Domestic abuse, Bullying, and Death

lailybibliography's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

I made you into my private Christ, duplicated with my own dark devotions. Nothing existed beyond the range of your exacting gaze, not even me. I was simply a nonentity when you weren’t looking at me, an empty vessel waiting to be filled by the sweet water of your attention.

A woman can’t live like that, my lord. No one can. Don’t ask me why I did it.

I think this might just be my favourite retelling. The dynamic between Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi is so touching and tragic, soaked in blood yet so enticingly erotic and horrific. I’m left in awe of how S. T. Gibson weaved this masterclass in depicting the centuries-long abuse of these three lost souls by an intricate web of gaslighting, isolation, love-bombing and manipulation. Equal parts a love story and escaping a monster, I am so in love with this novel. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s works.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Infidelity, Body horror, and War

Minor: Sexual content

rachelblair's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, and Murder