A review by joareads
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

2.5

A Dracula retelling written from the point of view of Constanta, his first wife whom he transformed from a medieval peasant into a resplendent bride. Constanta has everything she could desire, except perhaps freedom as she is drawn further into her husband's clutches which seemed innocuous to begin with but have turned sour. Soon he brings other poor unfortunates into his dark and starving trap and things take a grim turn for them all.

This is a very short and fast-paced book written in the second person narrative which felt a little odd and jarring at times. Constanta is writing to her husband and recounting her life with him, a ghastly collection of journal entries detailing her nightmarish centuries. What first seemed like a saviour morphs into a jailer as Constanta comes to realise the monstrous reality of who her husband really is.

Two more characters are inserted into their relationship and the four become a dysfunctional family, dreading their husband yet also yearning for his love. They share a twisted relationship with him, Constanta likening them to his children and her other wife and husband her sister and brother. This made for quite a disturbing read at times; it was very unsettling to read about them experiencing his wrath and punishment but also being enamoured with him.

The years fly by just like how reading a journal feels and soon the story is over with some resounding consequences. I wasn't very keen on this form of narrative - being told from Constanta's perspective - and written almost like a love letter to her husband. I didn't like any of the characters much and the book lacked any plot - it was just a miserable recount of a life with a controlling partner which obviously wasn't enjoyable to read.

This book wasn't for me as I didn't like the structure of it and it was rather dark and gloomy with some grave themes explored.