amy_reading_23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
This book was an incredibly compelling read, so much so that I finished it in a day. I can't totally tell you why I found it so compelling. It's not necessarily the kind of book I'd usually enjoy, as it is quite dark and tense and uncomfortable. But it is beautifully written. And it's not exactly that I enjoyed it, I just was fascinated by it. It is a book which perfectly shows what it is like to be in an abusive relationship with a narcissist. And as someone who is familiar with those relationships, I found it interesting. But also because it is clear from page one that she kills him. I think that hope is what draws you forward to the end. That no matter what he does, he will be defeated.
The characters are interesting. You are shown some of their complexities but also not enough of each to know them entirely. There are beautiful lines that are like poetry and some interesting comparisons to religion. I thought I'd be put off by how it is written in letters, but it is very immersive and most the letters are written long enough to be like scenes.
I do love how she took his power away by not naming him (the abuser). Although this has been described as a retelling of Dracula and his wives, its not quite that, and we never quite know who he is. And that takes the power away from him.
I could probably go on for ages talking about this book but I will say, I would have found this difficult to read a few years ago. It is hard hitting, uncomfortable at times, and there's some blurred lines between relationships being familial and sexual, which did make me a bit uncomfortable. So don't read this if you're not in the right head space. But if you are, and you want to read a book about a girl finding her own power while being bound by a narcissist, with a long dark period and a finally happy ish ending, then go for it.
Everything the "Lord" does is characteristic of a narcissistic sociopath in a toxic relationship. He gaslights his wives, tells them they're paranoid, masks his control by making them think they have freedom, taking them away from friends or loved ones, isolating them, allows them scarce joy to keep devoted but derives them of most joy so they depend on him. If you recognise someone in your life who is like this, it is best to seek help and leave.
Last point, I wasn't sure about the ending. At Constantines last chapter I'd thought I wished there was more of their lives now, but then I actually found that I didn't totally like Alexi's bit. His possessiveness and dependency on them worried me a bit and I wondered if the ending was meant to be semi uncomfortable. But I might be overthinking, as otherwise I think it interestingly showed how a loving poly relationship can be without a toxic partner.
The characters are interesting. You are shown some of their complexities but also not enough of each to know them entirely. There are beautiful lines that are like poetry and some interesting comparisons to religion. I thought I'd be put off by how it is written in letters, but it is very immersive and most the letters are written long enough to be like scenes.
I do love how she took his power away by not naming him (the abuser). Although this has been described as a retelling of Dracula and his wives, its not quite that, and we never quite know who he is. And that takes the power away from him.
I could probably go on for ages talking about this book but I will say, I would have found this difficult to read a few years ago. It is hard hitting, uncomfortable at times, and there's some blurred lines between relationships being familial and sexual, which did make me a bit uncomfortable. So don't read this if you're not in the right head space. But if you are, and you want to read a book about a girl finding her own power while being bound by a narcissist, with a long dark period and a finally happy ish ending, then go for it.
Spoiler
I wanted to say more but this is a bit of a spoiler. I loved how the book traversed time from the middle ages to now. I really didn't expect that. I thought it would stay as a gothic text living in history but instead it shows a vampire living through to our world. I would have liked to see more of what she thought of it but I know that wasn't the point at the end of the book.Everything the "Lord" does is characteristic of a narcissistic sociopath in a toxic relationship. He gaslights his wives, tells them they're paranoid, masks his control by making them think they have freedom, taking them away from friends or loved ones, isolating them, allows them scarce joy to keep devoted but derives them of most joy so they depend on him. If you recognise someone in your life who is like this, it is best to seek help and leave.
Last point, I wasn't sure about the ending. At Constantines last chapter I'd thought I wished there was more of their lives now, but then I actually found that I didn't totally like Alexi's bit. His possessiveness and dependency on them worried me a bit and I wondered if the ending was meant to be semi uncomfortable. But I might be overthinking, as otherwise I think it interestingly showed how a loving poly relationship can be without a toxic partner.
Spoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Murder, Mental illness, and Body horror
Minor: Incest
hunkydory's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: War, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Confinement
frenchpants's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Confinement and Death
Minor: War, Murder, and Mental illness
mary_stormageddon's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? No
4.0
It took a bit for me to get hooked, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. It's sexy, it's dark, it's my favorite Dracula story and not because of Dracula
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, and Domestic abuse
marigoldgem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
I enjoyed how the author made Dracula and the three brides her own. It felt so separate from the classic yet tied in some of the details from it so beautifully. The only thing I didn’t like was the fact that the three brides had a weird sibling relationship with each other, calling each other “sister” or “brother”. I would’ve enjoyed the romance between them so much better without that, especially during the spicy parts 🥴.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Confinement, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, and Gaslighting
fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
The premise is cool af, the story of Dracula's brides x the story of Judith from the bible.
I just personally can't deal with the whole faux-incest plot (I did my time with Cassandra Clare, okay?).
The chapters are....kind of letters? Like the POV is from Constata, his first wife, but she's writing "you did x and I felt bad about it" so it's a bit clunky.
For the plot, we watch as Constata is saved and turned by Dracula, and then realized beneath his charm and promises lay both a madman and an abuser. He opens their marriage by force, setting her up to be the bad guy if she denied Magdalena and Dracula - but M is introduced as both a companion for C and a sister to her, as well as a lover. For a while, C manages to tamp down her jealousy and frustration, but watching him wear down Magdalena's extroverted and curious nature erodes her restraint. When he feels as though he has hit a wall with M and C, he pries the marriage open again, this time for Alexi, a youthful, exuberant arts model. His arrival brightens both Dracula and Magdalena, where C is wrought with a protective urge, and likens herself to his nursemaid. A, though, is young and bullheaded, and likes to pick fights with Dracula, arguing and demanding, pushing the envelope as far as he can. When Dracula's restraint snaps, leading to him publicly killing a young woman Alexi had invited into their home and then slapping Alexi across the face while scolding him, C is finally sure. She schemes with her fellow brides, puts together a plot based on Dracula's own knowledge and research on the vampiric limitations, and they enter into a pact to murder their sire.
Upon the completion of this gruesome task, all 3 brides wrestle with twin rivers of grief and relief winding through their ribs. They promise to write and meet regularly, then split and travel on their own.
The epilogue is from Alexi's perspective, and he is sad that both M and C have taken other companions during their years apart. He worries they no longer care for him as much as they used to. Like any good quasi-related trio of lovers, they fuck about it.
For all it's contents, I think a Dowry of Blood most suffers from the POV, though that sort of incest piece is a very close second. I did enjoy the writing, both the quality and the gentle way Gibson approaches the abusive nature of the relationship between Dracula and it's brides.
I won't read it again, but I'm not mad I read it.
The premise is cool af, the story of Dracula's brides x the story of Judith from the bible.
I just personally can't deal with the whole faux-incest plot (I did my time with Cassandra Clare, okay?).
The chapters are....kind of letters? Like the POV is from Constata, his first wife, but she's writing "you did x and I felt bad about it" so it's a bit clunky.
For the plot, we watch as Constata is saved and turned by Dracula, and then realized beneath his charm and promises lay both a madman and an abuser. He opens their marriage by force, setting her up to be the bad guy if she denied Magdalena and Dracula - but M is introduced as both a companion for C and a sister to her, as well as a lover. For a while, C manages to tamp down her jealousy and frustration, but watching him wear down Magdalena's extroverted and curious nature erodes her restraint. When he feels as though he has hit a wall with M and C, he pries the marriage open again, this time for Alexi, a youthful, exuberant arts model. His arrival brightens both Dracula and Magdalena, where C is wrought with a protective urge, and likens herself to his nursemaid. A, though, is young and bullheaded, and likes to pick fights with Dracula, arguing and demanding, pushing the envelope as far as he can. When Dracula's restraint snaps, leading to him publicly killing a young woman Alexi had invited into their home and then slapping Alexi across the face while scolding him, C is finally sure. She schemes with her fellow brides, puts together a plot based on Dracula's own knowledge and research on the vampiric limitations, and they enter into a pact to murder their sire.
Upon the completion of this gruesome task, all 3 brides wrestle with twin rivers of grief and relief winding through their ribs. They promise to write and meet regularly, then split and travel on their own.
The epilogue is from Alexi's perspective, and he is sad that both M and C have taken other companions during their years apart. He worries they no longer care for him as much as they used to. Like any good quasi-related trio of lovers, they fuck about it.
For all it's contents, I think a Dowry of Blood most suffers from the POV, though that sort of incest piece is a very close second. I did enjoy the writing, both the quality and the gentle way Gibson approaches the abusive nature of the relationship between Dracula and it's brides.
I won't read it again, but I'm not mad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Toxic relationship, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Infidelity, Incest, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Death
shector1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content and War
kitanda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
lemonadehead's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
alittleoverrated's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
an amazing and quick read. I feel like I'm a pretty slow reader but I finished 85% of this in one day. The story is amazingly told through Constanta's POV in a way that really put on display the mentality if someone in an abusive relationship. Each of the characters that gets added to the story makes it feel richer for it, there's so little fluff or side plots that you truly feel like someone is telling you their life story. this review isn't doing this book justice but like its so worth it. Polyamorous Bisexual Vampires without all the extra filler, a beautiful story of love and hate, amazing amazing amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Drug use and War
This whole book is obviously about a very toxic relationship with someone emotionally abusive and manipulative. You are often in the head of the abused, even as she is describing how she loves/ loved him. It all handled pretty well in general but if you think you might have trouble with any of of that mind frame, not the book for u.