Reviews tagging 'War'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

155 reviews

chanlo1994's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.25

Excellent writing. Loved this point of view. And relatable, even if the characters were all vampires. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, War, Self harm, and Violence

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

Content warning: drowning

steppecreature's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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: Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: War and Violence

jadegrea's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Confinement

Minor: War

minamouse's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, and Death

Minor: War

tori_borialis's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: War

jassieex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence

Minor: War

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!!

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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.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content

Minor: Murder and War

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

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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

lailybibliography's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I made you into my private Christ, duplicated with my own dark devotions. Nothing existed beyond the range of your exacting gaze, not even me. I was simply a nonentity when you weren’t looking at me, an empty vessel waiting to be filled by the sweet water of your attention.

A woman can’t live like that, my lord. No one can. Don’t ask me why I did it.

I think this might just be my favourite retelling. The dynamic between Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi is so touching and tragic, soaked in blood yet so enticingly erotic and horrific. I’m left in awe of how S. T. Gibson weaved this masterclass in depicting the centuries-long abuse of these three lost souls by an intricate web of gaslighting, isolation, love-bombing and manipulation. Equal parts a love story and escaping a monster, I am so in love with this novel. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s works.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Infidelity, Body horror, and War

Minor: Sexual content