A review by amy_reads4
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

3.5

I went into this book expecting something completely different to what it actually is. I thought this was going to be a sapphic Draculas bride retelling and whilst there are elements of that to it, that was only a very small part. This book is more of a character study and the story of breaking free from a toxic partner who has surpressed and tortured her for her so many years, quite literally hundreds of years. But it’s not just Constanta breaking free, there are other parties involved that I wasn’t expecting. 

This is written as a letter to their capture and sire, from Constanta. She starts with the story of how he turned her, and the continuea theoguh their life together, to adding members to their marriage, and the over bearing nature he has over all of them, until it becomes to much for them all to bare. This book follows so many different love stories, from what ends up being 4 love interests, how they navigate life together and how they all share in the trauma bond created from living under his rules for so long. 

) didn’t not enjoy the book, I found it incredibly easy to read, I really enjoyed the very short chapters and found that I needed to know what happened next. However I think because I was expecting some different from what it was I found I was slightly disappointed, but I would say that is totally my fault rather than the fault of the book itself. IIt is a beautiful and complex character study, where the plot is completely character driven and we don’t even see much of the outside world. I also found the vampire elements took a back seat, whilst it was a part of their lives and was looked at and discussed it wasn’t a key point to the story. If you removed the vampire aspect of this you would still have a plausible book that focuses on relationships, trauma and abuse. 

I really enjoyed each of the main characters, expect the man himself but I believe that is intended as he is just awful and abusive. There’s so many elements of controlling behaviour, love bombing, gas lighting, controlling, with holding and so many more. We see him try to do this to all 3 of them, and how each of them deal wirh it so differently. Constanta lies to herself until she can’t anymore, Magdalena completely withdraws and shuts down, and Alexis triea to rebel and is combative. Whilst his name is never mentioned there’s many nods to him being Dracula, with the 3 wives (although this is 2 wives and a husband) his age and history and how many previous lives he has led, it does not to this. However it also mentions his sire, which could also mean his sire was Dracula and not the man himself. 

If I had gone into this book understanding a bit more about it I think I would of enjoyed it more as my mindset would have been different, everyone I have seen talking about this as a sapphic Draculas bride and I personally do not think it’s that at all.