livfowler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, War, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
sarahsbooklife's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Body horror, Gaslighting, Grief, Classism, Murder, and Confinement
Minor: Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, and War
archaicrobin's review
- 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
4.5
I’m not much for retelling and often avoid them but I’m glad I tried Dowry of Blood because it’s an easy, quick, and beautiful read with elegant vampires and just enough horror. I also liked how this author began with a page of trigger warnings for her readers which I think should happen more!
Only reasons I didn’t give this a 5 is that I had to be in the mood to read this one and it was easy for me to put down. I always save 5 stars for those books I can’t stop reading. There were also a LOT of typos in this, to the point where I wonder what the editor was doing. It’s unfortunate when such a beautifully written book with such strong prose has typos because it pulls you out of the book’s spell.
Overall 100% recommend for anyone looking for a vampire novel, or even a dark romance!
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Body horror, Classism, Gaslighting, Gore, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Child death, Physical abuse, Classism, and Medical content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Abandonment
brucethegirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My favorite aspect of this book was that while watching Constanza fall prey to the abuse and controlling whims of the vampire, she regularly uses language that makes it clear she is now aware of his abuse and how he wielded different emotions and controlling tactics. To paraphrase one of my favorite lines: "I was thriving as you were miserable, I later realized my thriving is what made you miserable"
Watching the world change through her eyes was gorgeous and haunting, as she explained the constant thrum toward modernization, as she watched the world change outside her window. I loved how the other characters could double as actual historical figures linked to the specific place and time they were found. How each bride of the vampire brought their own habits and interests to the passage of time. And how those interests were stymied and crushed by the Vampire out of jealousy and an incessant need for complete control.
Equally a great guide on abuser red flags, and a feel good horror read, there was very little I disliked about this book. Suffice to say, which reading there were some aspects, but once I finished the book- I couldn't tell you what they were. I honestly just adored everything about it.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Classism, and Gore
Minor: Incest
celestriakle'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The main weakness of the book however is the characters relationships outside of Dracula. The book ends with
Spoiler
all 3 in a romantic relationship, and supposedly they fell in love this whole time, but they never have very much chemistry. They read far more like sister-wives trying to protect each other from Dracula than lovers with their own relationship outside him, with nothing to keep each other together once he's gone.Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Confinement, Bullying, Blood, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Murder, Abandonment, and Incest
Minor: War, Homophobia, Death of parent, Torture, and Misogyny
I tagged for incest, but it's not true incest: all four main characters are not related, but are frequently described with family terminology, despite being in a romantic relationship. Alexi and Constanta in particular are constantly described as mother/son, with Alexi's youth compared to everyone else frequently mentioned, but they still end up romantically entangled and share a sex scene.