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A review by faeriequeenlauren
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
“… I don’t think you ever truly saw me as a whole woman. I was always a student. A project. An accessory in the legal and decorative sense.”
Wow, just wow.
I can’t remember the last time I devoured a book as quickly as I did with this one. This was so so good, I’m still trying to get my thoughts together about it.
The writing here is absolutely breathtaking. It’s so lyrical and poetic and overall just so beautiful to read. There are so many impactful passages and quotes in this book that I’ll think about for the weeks, and maybe even months, to come.
In particular, I loved the way the author developed the relationships between all of the main characters. Constanta’s initial enamor of Dracula and his charms was so well written that it was almost understandable why she lived him despite his manipulation and control over her. Similarly, I liked how Constanta wasn’t full-on head over heels for Magdalena right off the bat, but rather that their relationship developed as they truly got to know each other.
Surprisingly, I think the most interesting relationship in this book though is Constanta and Alexi’s relationship. It is understandable that their relationship starts as more of a mother-son relationship. At this point, Constanta feels both an exceptional need to protect someone as she has never been able to protect herself or Magdalena, but also because she needs to feel as if she has some semblance of autonomy in something within her life, and being able to protect Alexi affords her one thing she can have some autonomy in.
This was everything it needed to be and more. It deals with sensitive topics of abuse and manipulation by a lover, as well as depression in a very tasteful way. Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year.
Wow, just wow.
I can’t remember the last time I devoured a book as quickly as I did with this one. This was so so good, I’m still trying to get my thoughts together about it.
The writing here is absolutely breathtaking. It’s so lyrical and poetic and overall just so beautiful to read. There are so many impactful passages and quotes in this book that I’ll think about for the weeks, and maybe even months, to come.
In particular, I loved the way the author developed the relationships between all of the main characters. Constanta’s initial enamor of Dracula and his charms was so well written that it was almost understandable why she lived him despite his manipulation and control over her. Similarly, I liked how Constanta wasn’t full-on head over heels for Magdalena right off the bat, but rather that their relationship developed as they truly got to know each other.
Surprisingly, I think the most interesting relationship in this book though is Constanta and Alexi’s relationship. It is understandable that their relationship starts as more of a mother-son relationship. At this point, Constanta feels both an exceptional need to protect someone as she has never been able to protect herself or Magdalena, but also because she needs to feel as if she has some semblance of autonomy in something within her life, and being able to protect Alexi affords her one thing she can have some autonomy in.
This was everything it needed to be and more. It deals with sensitive topics of abuse and manipulation by a lover, as well as depression in a very tasteful way. Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year.