Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

81 reviews

bjww34's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Grief, and Emotional abuse

sleepyreaderthings's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I devoured this book in less than a day. Absolutely perfect story full of emotion.

 I don’t even have the words to describe how wonderful this book is, and I’m mad at myself for not picking it up sooner. I love how it was beautifully written as a letter to Constanta’s lord, husband, and captor. S.T. Gibson told a story about love, manipulation, friendship, sexuality, and abuse. The poetic prose gripped me and transported me to their time. I felt angry, joyous, and sad all at once. This is relatable for so many who have been treated wrongly by past lovers who said or did bad things in the name of love or protection. This book is about selfishness and hate, but it’s also about how we can escape those things and hope for a better future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

leedolee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was the most entertaining read ever. I love reading anything involving vampires and retellings of Dracula. It was a fast paced book and written as if it were in letters. I've never read a book quite like this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, Grief, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, and Toxic relationship

kynarreth's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad

• 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

This book would have been 5 stars if not for the last chapter "Encore of Roses". It ruined the ending/mood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gore

hottermelon's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-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: Confinement, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, War, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Blood, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Mental illness

dodiejoyle's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, Pandemic/Epidemic, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, War, Kidnapping, Blood, Cannibalism, and Death

wickeddelights's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I loved this book. It made me feel so many things, and gave name and words to parts of myself still healing. It is told in a beautiful and impactful way, and it is inspiring. A story of survival, and self actualization, reflection, and love. I am so glad I read it, and proud to call this my first 5* read of 2024

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Blood, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity

booking_along's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

hmaggs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence

Minor: Murder

crispynugget's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

I picked this book up on a whim before a flight and was pleasantly surprised but how captivated I was by the story. It is short and flows very well. Without giving away too much, the story is about how DV and DA change the people involved over their lives. What keeps it interesting is that the characters are all vampires in a poly relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, War, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Blood, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content, Mental illness, Infidelity, Murder, and Grief