Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

58 reviews

gabthebookworm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Blood, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug use, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War

alex_wordweaver's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

I love the polyship in this book! It's great, and I love the book being from the point of view of Dracula's wives. For a minute, I honestly forgot the book was about Dracula. I had to ask my wife, the history buff, which fall of Athens Drac might've been referencing to Constanta, and she countered with, "Which fall of Athens?--there were three." I'm so glad I got the edition with Encore of Roses in it as well! It's a nice cap off. The only thing I wish there was more of was what Constanta calls "The Harker Incident." I know that side of things has been done to death, but I'd've loved to know what was going on with all that from the wives' perspectives.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body horror, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and War

bookedandbusy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I loved how lyrical this was. It was beautifully written and I loved it! I did find it a bit slow at times, but I still really enjoyed it! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Self harm, and Alcohol

sammy357's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

Such a good book I am absolutely obsessed with it! Also one of the best audiobooks I've listened to

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Self harm, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault

cyrussolaris's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

polyamorous, vengeful vampires murdering their abusive sire. need i say more?? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

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

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

spherocytosis's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• 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

3.0

gay people… (derogatory)

i’ve been on a huge vampire kick lately and this was recommended to me by my local bookstore. unfortunately i am disappointed! i think i learned a valuable lesson from reading this, which is that i don’t like erotic fiction. womp womp! i did like the very brief original dracula novel reference, though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Gore, Torture, and Alcohol

librarymouse's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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? Yes

4.0

As a Dracula retelling, A Dowry of Blood was unique in its total dismissal of the vampire sire in the story. He remains unnamed as an intentional choice to take away his power in the story. I laughed out loud when the Harkers are mentioned, just brushed aside in a quick aside to Alexei. Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexei's relationship is so dedicated, and though I enjoyed the idea of a happy ending for them, the ending somehow felt like it fell short for me. Still, poly vampires is a fun thing, especially when one is an angel of vengeance, the second is a more creative version of Machiavelli, and the third is a sweet Dionysian actor. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Alcohol and Colonisation

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

---

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