Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

262 reviews

niamhyjay's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Gore, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, and Death

notapenguin's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual content and Physical abuse

bookswithbethx's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Child death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and War

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

Dowry of Blood was a solid read for me, but I don't think my experience with it lived up to the hype from its release. Lyrically written, with an apt handling of sensitive topics from the perspective of a survivor of trauma and literal centuries of domestic abuse. Yet, I still struggled to feel invested in the overall story. Some of that issue came from not feeling like I understood the main character Constanta on her own; I only ever grasped her in relation to other characters and the emotions they brought about in her. And maybe that's the point? That Constanta's finally able to make meaning in her life in the wake of

murdering her tyrannical, abusive maker

. If so, I sadly don't think that resonated with me in a way that makes this novel shine. If you're a fan of classics and/or retellings of classics, this is still a worthwhile read though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Grief, Self harm, Sexual content, Abandonment, and War

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I lack the words to do this book justice. I knew it would shatter me the moment I started reading it and it did.

Every line is written so beautifully and it feels so unique and special. Half, if not more, of my notes are just quotes that sunk into me. Like the most beautiful rose surrounded by roses that are stunning but only a sliver less beautiful.

Each relationship and character feels so unique and well written. There’s a realism to every dynamic, every character that’s stark and clear. The abuse within the home is so carefully laid out, but as Constanta looks back and speaks on it she feels gentle with herself. Like she truly understands why it all happened and that it’s not her, or the other’s fault, they fell into the situation they did.

The narrator was also stunning. Her voice has the perfect quality and every time there was dialogue she so perfectly captured the character and how they had changed over time. It’s easily my favourite performance for an audiobook I’ve ever listened to. Just absolutely amazing.

Overall just a soul achingly beautiful book that I will, without hesitation, recommend to anyone who asks. It’s shattered me and I’m so grateful for it.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

izzy_bella_02's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness

subflower219's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

chelsea_nailpolishlover's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

5.0

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I could not put this down. It’s a short read, and every chapter was filled with meaning and thoughtfulness for the readers understanding and enjoyment. 

This is book was about love. But not the kind you assume. This is about the kind of torturous toxic love that you delude yourself into thinking their love is worth the pain, worth the bad, that’s it’s because they love you that they treat you that way. 

This was about finding one’s self, breaking free, living to live and not for the whims of someone else’s existence. It was painful, heartbreaking, exhausting to witness. And I loved every word. 

It was beautifully written. It held my attention at every turn. The ending was perfect. I honestly have not one single criticism for this book. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual content, Blood, Mental illness, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Death, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Confinement, and Toxic relationship

skillyillian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

y'all this book is my new roman empire. oh my god, i will never be over this. s.t. gibson has written the most ethereal, stunning, devastating, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching book i've probably ever read. it's unparalleled. it's fucking divine. you don't believe me? try this on for size:

I wanted to dash myself against your rocks like a wave, obliterate my old self and see what rose shining and new from the sea foam. The only words I had to describe you in those early days were plunging cliffside or primordial sea, crystal-cold stars or black expanse of sky.

you still need convincing? fine, have another:

I craved you like maidens crave the grave, the way death burns for human touch: inconsolably, unrelentingly, aching for the annihilation in your kiss.

and one more for good measure: 

I say you are a smoke-wisp memory of a flame, thawing ice suffering under an early spring sun, a chalk ledger of debts being wiped clean.
I say you do not have a name.

holy fuck. nothing will rip you apart and put you back together like this will. you will suffer at the hands of constanta's abuser with her, with the others, and watch as she is desensitized to him. you beg and plead for her to say something, do anything, to leave, but it's written so excruciatingly well that you know why she doesn't. it only makes you hate him more, and only makes the ending of the book so much more bittersweet.

this is the perfect testament to "they don't have to hit you for it to be abuse" because 99% of the abuse in this book is not physical. it makes you want to follow the survivors around, tugging on their shirt sleeves like a child, and beg them to stand up to him, to not give up, not let themselves be treated so poorly by such a bastard. but they do it anyway, and you see the way that the good days are ecstasy, almost enough to forget the misery of the bad ones. it makes you rage like the fires of hell, and then be sad all over again because you know they're all still in love with him despite knowing exactly who he is. it's excruciating. 

one of the most unique things about this book is that it's written as basically a journal or letter addressed to the abuser, from the point of view of constanta, the FMC. so instead of "he took me to the market" it's "you took me to the market" and it's perfect. it's flawless. the whole entire book is flawless. i was so intrigued by the POV when i started this and it ended up being one of my favorite parts.

if you're looking for a gothic, polyamorous romance about the brides of dracula teaming up to end his reign of terror over their lives, look no further. if you're looking for even one of those things, read this. it's beautiful. it's agony. it's probably the best thing i've ever read. this is classic literature in the making.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault

queenkath32's review against another edition

dark tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

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