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liss_reads's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement and Death
kynarreth's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
ehmannky's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
In terms of the horror advertised, it doesn't exist. It's a fine study of an abusive relationship, but it's not much of a horror novel. There's no tension in this book. It's an epistolary novel told by the eldest of "Dracula's" brides, Constanta, and you're never left to wonder how or why the relationship gets bad or the true nature of Dracula or even really how she escapes from him. And because it's an epistolary novel, a lot of the little moments of possible character development aren't shown. Like, why are the three brides drawn to this vampire...we only ever see his worst sides, never the allure that she assures us is there. In every aspect, it felt like a summary of a story rather than the story itself. Also, Constanta is a boring character. She is never truly angry, she's so Emotionally Strong and never falls into depression, and she's always 100% right about only feeding on those who "deserve it" (which is a vampire trope I'm just coming to strongly dislike). Also, despite the fact she states in the book that people are not meant to live forever, it's fine she made new vampires because she is, after all, Good(TM) and will never ever turn abusive or uncanny even if she also lives 1000 years.
And my smallest complaint about this book is I hated the way the Harkers and the original novel are brought in as a funny aside. This novel is so barely based on Dracula that I felt it should have been omitted entirely.
Gibson's writing is lovely, but this story just fell flat for me. The best part is the epilogue, which is set
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
hottermelon's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and War
ljp817's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment
storytime2390's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
professorfrog's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Blood
anxious_librarian's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, and Murder
bchat001's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder
dodiejoyle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic