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

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing sad 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

5.0

I don't know where to begin. Perhaps I should just list all the beautiful quotes in the hope that it convinces anyone stumbling upon this review to read this book. 

But I still need to talk about Constanta. Through her, I've come to love Magdalena, Alexi and even Dracula (despite his cruelties). I could go off at an endless tangent on how and why I've loved all of these characters and how and why the story played out perfectly like it did and how the author managed to describe the dates and settings perfectly without spilling too much ink on paper. But I just want to talk about Constanta. Despite living for centuries and witnessing an insurmountable amount of cruelties and violence, she stayed a loving, faithful and kind person. How she only hunted those who'd hurt others, in her own way serving justice to those who were wronged and tried to protect the people she loved. She really is so befitting of her name. I genuinely feel a smothering kind of love towards her. Until the very end she was steadfast in her love and values. 

And this story has enraptured me. I would have read it in one sitting if I could. It almost upsets me how long I've waited to read this and now I understand why people think this could rival any vampiric cult classic. 

Finally, I want to close this with two of my favourite quote from this story;

I think, my lord, that this is when you loved me best. When I was freshly made, and still as malleable as wet clay in your hands,

I had never been inclined to violence before. But then again, I had never borne witness to acts so vile they demanded retribution.