Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

23 reviews

thebankofbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

starzzz's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

The writing was beautiful. Each page you can find more than one sentence that really strikes you. 

There were times where I genuinely felt myself getting sick when reading the things she was feeling or going through.

I found the storytelling to be really immersive. At times I did not find the sex scenes to be appealing, but I suppose it did coincide with the plot to show us the bonds in which they shared. 

I think the book could have ended without the “An Encore of Roses” but that is merely my opinion. I guess it can appeal to those that want to see our main characters living a better life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

codyjne's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

chanlo1994's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

Excellent writing. Loved this point of view. And relatable, even if the characters were all vampires. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

Content warning: drowning

jaylene's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

I am floored. A Dowry of Blood contains the most beautiful writing I have ever come across, it is almost lyrical with its vivid imagery and atmospheric storytelling.

Best read of the year!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

A dark retelling of Dracula from his bride's perspective.

hanz's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, and War

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

rene_kampfer's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is both sensual and devastating. The author somehow managed to deal with heavy topics of abuse in a way that isn’t glorified but is also tragically seductive. The author took everything I love about vampires and threw it into a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

neomreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I was not expecting this book to be so good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

sproutedpages's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

tranquiltides's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

What a rousing read! Gibson has the gift of poetic prose that I so love from authors like Erin Morgenstern and the like. 
But the story itself… interesting, dark, and plenty bloody. I cannot, in good faith, describe this book as “sexy” For the vast majority of it. The experiences of these characters is shrouded by an aura of ilk… but the Brilliant thing is I think that was on purpose. The narrative is written like a letter, but the addressee is dead. So it feels like something you write with no intention to send for the express purpose of healing. 

I read the Bookish Box version of this book, which not only includes an epilogue, but also a bonus chapter, that helps you feel like our protagonists have finally found health and happiness in their undying in lives. 

Gibson is kind enough to give some content warnings at the beginning of the book, so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you start reading, and that alone has me solidly among Gibson’s new forever fans. 
I can’t wait to see what comes from Gibson next! I highly recommend A Dowry of Blood for any and all who love a good, dark, and bloody story. Complete with a “why choose” romance and a happy ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and War

Minor: Drug use, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting