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A review by buildawallofbooks
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief and Gore
My first read of 2023 and what an amazing start 🖤🩸
I picked up A Dowry of Blood from my tbr and I devoured it (no pun intended!!)
I am not a horror girlie in fact I’m the furthest from that but give me gothic, dark, beautiful prose and I will eat it up.
I loved the format of this book, a series of letters which make for short chapters (the dream) I raced through this book, it was the epitome of #justonemorechapter
Told from the point of view of Constanta who is the first wife of “YOU” this is an exploration of love in all its different forms, an exploration of complicated, dark, messy relationships- please check the content warnings which the author lays out so well at the start of the book!
This for me wasn’t a Dracula retelling it was so much more- I loved the omission of “YOU’s” name of course we know who this is but this book isn’t about them - this is special and something which I loved when reading Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell it puts the focus on the woman telling the tale and their strength 🖤
I am so excited to read more from this author!