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.anapthine'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Injury/injury detail, Gore, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Confinement, Bullying, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Minor: War, Incest, and Fire/Fire injury
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
speaking of calling her "the narrator," it's interesting that it shares this unnamed-woman-narrator quality with the last book i read, The Handmaid's Tale, but a notable difference is that here the narrator only refers to her Commander-equivalent as "you" and never his name in order to strip him of his power.
Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Murder, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual violence, Body horror, Child death, Alcohol, Incest, Infidelity, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Drug use, Self harm, Sexism, Death of parent, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Genocide
no biphobia. homophobia and lesbophobia are only mentioned once as a concern of the narrator but are never realized. adult/minor relationship and incest are debatable because of the characters being immortal vampires and having an …unusual family dynamic, but there's definitely something messed up therequeenbeemimi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Incest
inferiorwit'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: Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Incest
li_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Self harm, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Infidelity, Gore, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Confinement
Minor: Incest and Cannibalism
dreareads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
kestrel'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Incest
madarauchiha'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
In very brief summary, this book is 'Domestic Abuse, but vampires [Dracula variation]'.
The writing is beautiful and succinct, it never overstays its welcome. I am glad it doesn't romantizise the abuse. There is a happy ending. The characters feel very unique and with their own voices.
I give this a 4.75 stars, because white people will never get my 5 stars of color.
Content warnings:
minor: mass death, incest, rape, csa, slavery,
medium: child death, torture, violence,
major: blood, gore, death, murder, diseases, body horror, grooming, NSFW, domestic violence, domestic abuse, body horror, gore, manipulation, nsfw, unhealthy relationships, toxic relationships, sexual abuse, marital rape / coersion.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Violence
Minor: Incest