Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

317 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.

catletterer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

A story of queer, tense, dark, polyamorous, vampires told from the point of view of one of Dracula’s brides? Um, yes please! 
This book may be short but it’s the kind of gothic, horror, romance that I can’t help but consume in one sitting. Obsessed.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, and Murder

evgeorge's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This is a layered and empowering retelling of the Dracula story. It’s not a gore fest but has enough murder and mayhem to carry the story quickly to the conclusion we all see coming. It’s a great ride!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

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

mals_library's review against another edition

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content and Physical abuse

ninasmilliondreams's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

“We will rebuild. We will survive. It’s what we’re best at”

This book was phenomenal!
At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but the book really pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. The prose was beautiful and Constanza, Magdalena and Alexi were such well written characters. I found it really impressive that a book this short can have such an impact. Also loved the fast that the book was addressed to her abuser. 
The relationship dynamics were so realistic and well written that I felt like I was experiencing the relationship with them. Constanza’s journey was very realistic and I understood her completely. Her conflicting emotions and feelings about him and their relationship were beautifully written and depicted the nature of a toxic relationship very well. I loved the ending and that they each went after what they wanted. 
There were so many beautiful quotes and the last few sentences made me tear up I was just so happy that they managed to free themselves  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Sexual content

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

ann_cathrin'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

4.25

I am not your wife anymore, my lord, and I don’t think you ever truly saw me as a whole woman. I was always a student. A project. An accessory in the legal and decorative sense.

I wanted to cause you a lifetime of inconvenience, dig my heels in the next time you tried to move us, kick and scream when you tried to enforce your curfews. I wanted to fill the cathedral with accusations of every unkind and controlling thing you had ever done to me or Magdalena, and make you answer for them. But instead, all I could say was: “I’m sorry.”

You spun whole personalities out of silken promises to get close to whoever you needed to. It was one of the reasons you were able to keep us alive so long, and one of the reasons I sometimes woke with a start in the middle of the day and stared at you, wondering who I was sharing a bed with.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder

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