Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

110 reviews

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

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Sexual assault

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

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

heyshelb's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

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

4.5

What a brave and honest perspective of what life might’ve been like as a wife and lover and victim of Dracula. 
Constanta gives hope to women whom might otherwise be too scared to seek freedom. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Gaslighting

gondorgirl's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Alcohol

kailynpaig's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting

loui's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder

lexyverstraete's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

I absolutely devoured this book. It is a heartbreakingly beautiful story of love and resistance. I do highly recommend checking the trigger warnings ahead of reading this book. But, if you are able to handle those topics, this book is well worth it. The love that Constanta has for her consorts while facing the wrath and unpredictability of her husband gives hope they will one day be free from his rule. I could not put this story down until I knew how it ended. Definitely recommend reading!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body horror and Death

rayannotates's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism