Scan barcode
bethsreading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
A dark and intoxicating exploration of love, polyamory, and abusive relationships. While I did find the writing style to be somewhat too overindulgent, it still worked given the gothic nature of the story. I think the relationships and dynamics felt real and nuanced and the vampire element added to the gothic atmosphere, but did not overshadow the real focal point of the book which was the relationships. I definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: War
mountain_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
It would have been 5 for me. However, the author used the word “suckle” too frequently and it grosses me out. Also - it was too spicy for my personal tastes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Sexual content
themagicalworldofnian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Getting into this book I didn't know that much about aside from that it is a dark, twisted, queer and sapphic story about vampires, which I later learned was a reimagining of Dracula's brides.
And OMG this book. I absolutely loved it and it is a new all time favourite.
The books starts of with "I never dreamed it would end like this, my lord: your blood splashing hot flecks onto my nightgown and pouring in rivulets onto our bedchamber floor. But creatures like us live a long time. There is no horror left in this world that can surprise me. Eventually, even your death becomes its own sort of inevitability". Reading this sentence alone, I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me.
Just how lyrical the prose is, astounding. It adds to the amazing gothic vibe throughout the story.
The book is written in the form of an open letter from the point of view of Constanta, the first bride. It shows thin line between love, obsession and evil.
I just loved that it was written in the form of an open letter, since it made the book way more personal and you could just feel the on going struggle of feelings.
The ever changing relationships were also so intriguiging to see and be a part of.
Further the power dynamics, manipulation and gaslighting in the story illustrate how it can sometimes be very hard to see the abusive nature of a relationship. And the nature of consent, how it can sometimes feel impossible to say no.
This will definitely be a book that will reappear into my mind. And overall I cannot recommend this book enough.
However keep in mind the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
Triggerwarnings: emotional, verbal, and physical intimate partner abuse, gaslighting, war, famine, and plague, blood and gore, consensual sexual content, sadomasochism, self-harm, body horror, violence and murder, alcohol use, depression and mania.
And OMG this book. I absolutely loved it and it is a new all time favourite.
The books starts of with "I never dreamed it would end like this, my lord: your blood splashing hot flecks onto my nightgown and pouring in rivulets onto our bedchamber floor. But creatures like us live a long time. There is no horror left in this world that can surprise me. Eventually, even your death becomes its own sort of inevitability". Reading this sentence alone, I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me.
Just how lyrical the prose is, astounding. It adds to the amazing gothic vibe throughout the story.
The book is written in the form of an open letter from the point of view of Constanta, the first bride. It shows thin line between love, obsession and evil.
I just loved that it was written in the form of an open letter, since it made the book way more personal and you could just feel the on going struggle of feelings.
The ever changing relationships were also so intriguiging to see and be a part of.
Further the power dynamics, manipulation and gaslighting in the story illustrate how it can sometimes be very hard to see the abusive nature of a relationship. And the nature of consent, how it can sometimes feel impossible to say no.
This will definitely be a book that will reappear into my mind. And overall I cannot recommend this book enough.
However keep in mind the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
Triggerwarnings: emotional, verbal, and physical intimate partner abuse, gaslighting, war, famine, and plague, blood and gore, consensual sexual content, sadomasochism, self-harm, body horror, violence and murder, alcohol use, depression and mania.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gore, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
ljp817's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Minor: Abandonment and Infidelity
storytime2390's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Blood, Death, Sexual content, and Gore
Minor: Classism, Confinement, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Mental illness
jackyy93's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content
spektriva'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? Yes
5.0
I'm not sure I have words for how much I loved this book, I wanted to reread as soon as I finished it. The writing was exquisite, evocative and poignant, the characters had so much depth and came alive on the page, and the emotions, oh god, the emotions this book elicited in me. The depiction of an abusive relationship is so realistic, from the allure and attraction of a partner like that and how they reel you in, to the insidious little moments that start cropping up and how much you deny and excuse the bad signs, and how it slowly kills you to love someone like that.
The bond and love Constanta, Alexi and Magdalena shared was heartwarming yet heartbreaking in their shared trauma, and the way they banded together to protect each other made me emotional. The ending too was so so cathartic, them not only killing him but also consuming him was poetic justice on how he consumed them for so long, I loved it so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
xapoptosisx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
5.0
I have no words for how good this book is, it has absolutely enamoured me and I think everyone should read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Gore
Minor: War
a_violentfemme's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Apart from being sexy as hell I don't really understand the hype over this one. I was left a bit underwhelmed by the vague sense of plot and the ending was neither here nor there for me. I felt like the storyline was a brief exercise to allow for the spicy scenes and tbh I would have preferred a fun spicy book about sexy vampires having a good time across Europe. I preferred the first half and it was entertaining which is why I'm giving it a 3/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Violence
clementine__'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse