Reviews tagging 'Classism'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

18 reviews

bashsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• 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

4.5

Such a sexy and engaging vampire novel. I love the bisexual drama of it all, and the eroticism of the blood drinking in particular is done so well. Epistolary novels are usually hit or miss for me, but this one was a hit - I think the fact that Constanta was speaking to Dracula the entire time was really in this novel's favor. I do think that marketing it as a Dracula reimagining is a little misleading as it doesn't engage much with the actual text of Dracula. If it didn't mention the Harkers in passing, it would easily be any other vampire story (and in this version of events, they survive the Harkers anyway? I was confused as to why we surpassed the point in time where they would've been). That said, I do love that one of the "brides" was a man. I also greatly enjoyed Gibson's take on vampirism as a slow-grade draining of humanity over a long period of time rather than an instant transformation. That was super cool, and I'd love to see that in more vampire media.

"Encore of Roses" was included in the version that I read; I thought it was a sweet epilogue to their story, and I love that Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexi remained important to each other while living out their own lives. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Classism

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There were some things I really enjoyed about this book but sometimes I'm not really one for really flowery and descriptive language.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

mj_nightingale's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.0

I've heard so much about this book, and it disappointed me so much I can't even. The one thing to know when you go into it especially being a reader from Ukraine is there is glorification of the neighboring terrorist state. In a book written in 2022. Because there's literally nowhere else in the world this story could go, right? Disgusting. 

Up until the third part I was thinking, well, it's an ok read a 3 or maybe even a 4 if it picks up, a bit repetitive, and not very well written out. I tried to explain the shallowness of the narration by the fact that it is addressed to someone who was there to see it all so no need to go into the details, not that it made my experience as a reader any better toh. But I tried to justify it for myself. 

But the freaking 3d part just did it for me. There's literally nowhere else to go, right? Nowhere in the world that would not glorify a terrorist country destroying thousands of lives in the modern day. I'd really love to see a mention of that at least somewhere in the description of the book, so that I can avoid picking it up since I know that I am not interested in anything trying to glorify imperialism especially in this case. 

But there was nothing. So in writing this review, I warn whoever intends to pick it up. I'm disgusted and really upset on where this went. 

I had high expectations of this book, it being so universally praised but it's just not good.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

rchulin1's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

Good but since the book is very short and there are less than five characters, and the story takes place within hundreds of years, and the plot isn’t too detailed it could have been better. I have read a similar book series called the tale of the vampire bride which is similar to this hook but done better

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

baileybeloved's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A tale of Dracula’s bride(s) - who they are, how they were made, & how it ended.

You’re told in the first five pages how the story will end, but I was still enraptured & tense, waiting for the final blow. 

Beautiful prose, a strong voice, & a character that deserved 300ish pages of contempt. Incredible story with great pacing, epic storytelling, wonderful attention to detail, & a perfect ending. Read it in one sitting!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, War, and Classism

sweetrosegirl76's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

4.5 I actually really liked this!! I like how it was told in a letter, similar to how Dracula is told. I don't think it's about him though, due to the ending. I remember in Dracula there were three women, I thought this would be about the 3 of them, where they rewrite this to be his brides, which would have been cool since we don't know who they are. I loved the chaotically bisexual throuple/quad vibes and would so love to read a less toxic version. I don't read a lot of books with polycules, or closed multiple partner relationships, I did like that part but bc it's told as a letter there's only so much we can say I think. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book, it was short, easy to follow the audiobook, and would love a non toxic, non abusive version of a MMFF vampire couple lol makes me wanna keep decorating my gothic themed room bc this is def the vibes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, War, and Classism

rbuhrke's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Classism

storytime2390's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Dowry of Blood was a solid read for me, but I don't think my experience with it lived up to the hype from its release. Lyrically written, with an apt handling of sensitive topics from the perspective of a survivor of trauma and literal centuries of domestic abuse. Yet, I still struggled to feel invested in the overall story. Some of that issue came from not feeling like I understood the main character Constanta on her own; I only ever grasped her in relation to other characters and the emotions they brought about in her. And maybe that's the point? That Constanta's finally able to make meaning in her life in the wake of

murdering her tyrannical, abusive maker

. If so, I sadly don't think that resonated with me in a way that makes this novel shine. If you're a fan of classics and/or retellings of classics, this is still a worthwhile read though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, and War

rayannotates's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism