kaibee168's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, War, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
izzyfleckner's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, War, Self harm, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Violence, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gore, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
buildawallofbooks's review against another edition
- 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!trufflebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Death, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Slavery and War
molls's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood and Confinement
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Physical abuse, Gore, War, and Misogyny
enpassants's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: War
thebookishlibra_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: War
annamorgan27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, War, Medical content, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse
ccouey's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: War
hafable's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This has some of the most well utilized prose I've read. It's beautiful but not in an unnecessary or superfluous way; it's used to enrich the story to no end and I feel better for having read this. There is no prerequisite to reading this either, although I recommend reading Dracula, its purely because I like that book because you do not need to have read that book to read this one.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, War, Gore, Grief, Body horror, Blood, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Murder