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masoncasper's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A dark, sometimes erotic, vampire story that details the journey of a woman on her journey to establish independence and her own power and life. I enjoyed how it was written as a letter to her abuser which was phenomenal. I also really enjoyed the progression through time, it emphasizes the eternity and the longevity of the abuse and of their vindication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, and Emotional abuse
liss_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement and Death
nightmarebees's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
HOLY SHIT. i absolutely devoured this story, every bit as horny and bloody and twisted as it was. what a gorgeous psychosexual nightmare. constanta looking back on the past is such a perfect narrator: she is able to explore both what she felt in the past and what she knows now to be the truth after so much time being suppressed.
“You made it into an art form, this quiet sort of violence. You were so far into our heads your gentle suggestions so often felt like our own thoughts.”
this does exactly what a good vampire story should do: examine what immortality might do to the human psyche, how a person’s feelings and emotions might warp over centuries. this is also what makes it the perfect background to explore the intricacies of emotional abuse and power dynamics. this is not a comfortable tale, but i couldn’t put it down.
“It isn’t a contest, there are no winners or losers. There is only love.”
at the same time, it manages to be a moving love story. constanta, magdalena, and alexi are ultimately saved by their love for each other, and it’s the same thing that makes them realize their capacity to love others. the last chapters are a beautiful portrayal of healthy polyamory full of trust, vulnerability, and honesty. which should be part of any relationship, no matter how many people are in it.
gibson’s writing is beautiful and painful all at once. i felt both deeply uncomfortable and enthralled the whole time. i cannot wait to read more of her work.
“You made it into an art form, this quiet sort of violence. You were so far into our heads your gentle suggestions so often felt like our own thoughts.”
this does exactly what a good vampire story should do: examine what immortality might do to the human psyche, how a person’s feelings and emotions might warp over centuries. this is also what makes it the perfect background to explore the intricacies of emotional abuse and power dynamics. this is not a comfortable tale, but i couldn’t put it down.
“It isn’t a contest, there are no winners or losers. There is only love.”
at the same time, it manages to be a moving love story. constanta, magdalena, and alexi are ultimately saved by their love for each other, and it’s the same thing that makes them realize their capacity to love others. the last chapters are a beautiful portrayal of healthy polyamory full of trust, vulnerability, and honesty. which should be part of any relationship, no matter how many people are in it.
gibson’s writing is beautiful and painful all at once. i felt both deeply uncomfortable and enthralled the whole time. i cannot wait to read more of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gaslighting and Violence
Minor: Physical abuse
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.
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
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
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
jaecae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
ebeereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Blood
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Blood, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity