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dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, War
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I forget how I originally heard about this book. I feel like I was seeing it everywhere on Instagram not too long ago. So, when I found a copy of this book while I was at the library I decided to take a chance on it.
I devoured this book once I started reading. Gibson's writing was vivid and really drew me into Constanta's story. I was almost immediately invested in her as a character and was intrigued by the mystery aspect of the story.
I think that Gibson did a nice job of navigating the more delicate parts of the story that she was constructing and she really made the relationships between all of the characters interesting and dynamic. I also really appreciated how the characters felt so vivid and individualized.
My only real complaint about this book is the ending. I felt that Constanta's choices at the end didn't entirely fit with her overall character arc. I wish there had been a few more details concerning why she made the decisions she did.
This is a very well-written and fresh retelling of a classic story. Highly recommend it, particularly if you like stories about vampires.
I devoured this book once I started reading. Gibson's writing was vivid and really drew me into Constanta's story. I was almost immediately invested in her as a character and was intrigued by the mystery aspect of the story.
I think that Gibson did a nice job of navigating the more delicate parts of the story that she was constructing and she really made the relationships between all of the characters interesting and dynamic. I also really appreciated how the characters felt so vivid and individualized.
My only real complaint about this book is the ending. I felt that Constanta's choices at the end didn't entirely fit with her overall character arc. I wish there had been a few more details concerning why she made the decisions she did.
This is a very well-written and fresh retelling of a classic story. Highly recommend it, particularly if you like stories about vampires.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Murder, War
When you read the content warnings in the beginning of the book, take the gaslighting one VERY seriously. it is abundant. The other warnings yes but, gas-lighting and toxic relationship are the majors.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Self harm, Medical trauma, Stalking, Alcohol, War
dark
emotional
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
Beautifully written. What I always wanted IWTV to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood
Minor: Sexual content, War
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's not so much a queer reimagining of Dracula's brides but rather the story of how one woman got up the courage to kill her abusive vampire sire. The story doesn't really use any of Dracula's story beats (Dracula doesn't even die the same way) or any of Dracula's characters (besides maybe Dracula), and to be fair Dracula isn't even named in this book, so it seems safe to say this isn't a Dracula story and it kind of rubs me the wrong way that it was advertised as one.
As far as the book itself, it's intentionally repetitive to establish a pattern of abuse (Dracula gets a partner, is abusive, gets another partner to fix the problem, is abusive, gets another partner to fix the problem, is abusive, dies before getting a fourth partner, the end) but as a reader this structure left me a little bored.
Vampire relationships can feel very incestuous and this is pretty much true across the genre as a whole, leading to "daughter/wives" and "brother/son/lovers" but there usually are a plethora of relationship types so you get at least a few nonsexual ones in other works (e.g. Eric and Pam/Bill and Jessica in true blood, the Cullens that aren't dating in Twilight, Louis and Claudia in interview with a vampire). Every relationship in this book is sexual in nature. I think I was a little grossed out by the main character thinking of one of their vampire companions as a son for years, and then eventually sleeping with him, but maybe that's just me.
I did find the three humans turned into Vampires in this narrative likable and their relationships with each other were sweet, even with the backdrop of a trauma bond. It would have been interesting to see the main character's partners struggle a little more with the fact that she didn't warn them they would be living with an abuser for all eternity (especially after she withholds the knowledge that 'Dracula' has murdered previous partners for waaaaay too long), but that didn't happen. I also thought the switch of POV character at the very end was a little jarring, but I understand wanting to give the cast some closure.
As far as the book itself, it's intentionally repetitive to establish a pattern of abuse (Dracula gets a partner, is abusive, gets another partner to fix the problem, is abusive, gets another partner to fix the problem, is abusive, dies before getting a fourth partner, the end) but as a reader this structure left me a little bored.
Vampire relationships can feel very incestuous and this is pretty much true across the genre as a whole, leading to "daughter/wives" and "brother/son/lovers" but there usually are a plethora of relationship types so you get at least a few nonsexual ones in other works (e.g. Eric and Pam/Bill and Jessica in true blood, the Cullens that aren't dating in Twilight, Louis and Claudia in interview with a vampire). Every relationship in this book is sexual in nature. I think I was a little grossed out by the main character thinking of one of their vampire companions as a son for years, and then eventually sleeping with him, but maybe that's just me.
I did find the three humans turned into Vampires in this narrative likable and their relationships with each other were sweet, even with the backdrop of a trauma bond. It would have been interesting to see the main character's partners struggle a little more with the fact that she didn't warn them they would be living with an abuser for all eternity (especially after she withholds the knowledge that 'Dracula' has murdered previous partners for waaaaay too long), but that didn't happen. I also thought the switch of POV character at the very end was a little jarring, but I understand wanting to give the cast some closure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Death
Minor: Mental illness, Murder, War
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Terminal illness, War