When Constanta was pulled from the brink of death and made vampire, she thought it was the start of a new life. But her sire, the one and only Dracula, wasn’t the savior she thought he was. As the centuries roll on Constanta discovers the depths of Dracula’s deception. She will have to overcome years of dependency if she hopes to free herself and his other Brides from a lifetime of lies and deceit.

Trigger warning: I will issue a word of caution: if you generally consider gaslighting to be a trigger for you, please take heed before adventuring into this story since Dracula’s gaslighting takes many forms with varying degrees of severity.

review

“It was never my intention to murder you. Not in the beginning, anyway.”

This was such a great reimagining of Dracula’s story for many reasons. The first thing that really stood out to me was just how beautiful the writing is throughout A Dowry of Blood. Right from the very beginning, Constanta’s voice is strong yet poetic and continues that way even as the life she knew starts to fall apart around her.

With such beautiful prose throughout the narrative, it’s no surprise that Constanta’s emotions are readily present at every turn and realization. Readers are along for the ride as Constanta soars as a newly-made vampire as well as when she plummets with the knowledge that her vampire husband is keeping more than just secrets from her.

If I had to pick a single word to summarize the plot of A Dowry of Blood, I would have to choose “gaslighting.” Dracula, who has hurt our narrator so badly she can’t bring herself to call him by his name, does nothing but gaslight Constanta and the other Brides from the moment they are turned. It was at times disheartening to see all the ways in which he would gaslight those he was supposed to be taking care of. However, there was a bright spot as Constanta began to finally see the sort of creature he truly was.

Outside of the manipulation and deception the Brides go through, I loved the empowerment in Constanta’s tale. She was brave enough to question her sire, and strong enough in her sexuality to find enjoyment in places Dracula didn’t want her to. A Dowry in Blood does features polyamorous characters, and I loved seeing polyamory so prominent when it usually isn’t featured so heavily in gothic stories.

in conclusion

If you are looking for a reimagining of Dracula that focuses on the strength and bravery of his Brides, definitely check out A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson.

Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson

5/5 Stars

Thank you to Saint and NetGalley for an ARC of the re-release of my favorite book!

If I was ever held hostage and had to say something to let people know, I would say that Dowry is the worst book and should never be read. Because I would be lying and everyone who knows me knows that I love Dowry more than life itself.

Dowry holds such a special place in my heart, it is just what I need always – no matter the season or what mood I’m in. And it just gets better and better each time I open it. I first read it when it was first self-published, I bought a copy for myself and my best friend so we could read together in different provinces, both finishing in just a few hours and gushing to each other about it.

Our story is of a diary, letters that the main character Constanta writes as Dracula’s first bride. It fills the pages with so much love that turns to dread as we learn that the things we love are not always good and pure like we thought they were, it follows the events of all the brides as they join the coven, the downfall of Dracula as the love haze is lifted from them and his daily betrayals as they sink into their skin.

This is perfect for fans of Phantom of the Opera, Interview with a Vampire, and anyone who loves agood moody, atmospheric, vampiric, bi and LGBTIQ novel that has so much emotion it almost makes you suffocate sometimes.

With the newly published edition, you can now read the original story along with a never-before-printed epilogue that has been hiding in the depths of the Hedonist email.

As always, thank you to Saint for letting be a part of this amazing journey and NetGalley for the free E-book. To all those who are tempted to pick up Dowry and dig into it, please check trigger warnings before reading for your own comfort.

I have enjoyed reading vampire books ever since I was in middle school, and I frequently keep an eye out for new ones to read. I will read just about any of them – ranging from the likes of Twilight to Sookie Stackhouse to Interview with the Vampire. So, when I saw A Dowry of Blood on offer I immediately knew I'd want to read it.

A Dowry of Blood begins with the revelation that the narrator, Constanta, has killed her master, who she calls "My Lord" throughout the book. The entire story is written like a confession letter to My Lord, and it details how she first met him and leads up to his death and her life afterwards. It is a story that takes place over the course of centuries as one might expect with a story about vampires.

Constanta first meets My Lord as she's dying in her village in Romania sometime in the early Middle Ages. She is the victim of an invasion, and as she lies bleeding, in pain and alone on the road between houses, she is approached by My Lord. He offers her his blood as a way to heal and become his wife, and she accepts without fully understanding what the offer is.

My Lord immediately steals her away to his crumbling castle nearby, and he dubs his new wife Constanta. This simple act of gifting her a new name, essentially erasing her old life and old self and molding her into a new identity, foreshadows the direction their relationship will take over the course of the next several centuries. She quickly realizes that she both loves and fears her new Lord and husband. My Lord is nothing if not exacting in how he wishes the world around him to behave.

If this sounds like an abusive and manipulative relationship to you, then you'd be right. Constanta even admits that it's entirely possible My Lord manufactured the timing of their meeting after watching her from afar. He hunted Constanta, even if she didn't realize it until she had been with him for many years. The entire story being written like a letter to him or a journal entry almost seems like an act of catharsis on Constanta's part. She's trying to come to terms with her long life of being subjected to emotional abuse by someone she loved, and she's trying to figure out how she feels about it all.

That being said, the author's note with trigger warnings at the beginning was very necessary. My Lord is psychologically and emotionally abusive, and he constantly gaslights Constanta. He uses knowledge, power, and her love for him to control her completely. It takes Constanta many years to realize how much he has been manipulating her, but even then she doesn't bring herself to do anything about it until My Lord becomes physically abusive. So, anyone with sensitivities to these topics should be aware they are prevalent throughout the story, and I only recommend reading it if you are comfortable.

Another little disclaimer, there are a number of sex scenes in the book. I personally didn't have a problem with that, but just fair warning that they are in the book. Although, the sex in this book was interesting in another way (besides being interesting for it being sex of course). My Lord is open to having lovers both male and female, and Constanta is as well. It just made me think about how if you were almost guaranteed to have a centuries-long life that sexuality would certainly be more fluid with less taboos than many people are used to.

Speaking of long lives, the story also touched on the idea that maybe human minds weren't meant to live so long. Sure the characters in the story are vampires, but vampires start out as humans. My Lord becomes obsessive with scientific discovery, especially with the study of the differences between humans and vampires. Constanta mentions that they all begin to have interests to while away the time and keep their minds occupied, and it was interesting to see a vampire story approach that idea in a realistic way.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Dowry of Blood for multiple reasons. It seemed to explore what it might really be like to be a vampire while also diving into how emotional abuse and control can be just as damaging as physical abuse. I also enjoyed the protagonist taking back her power from her abuser and giving both herself and those she loved a better life. My only caution would be to readers who may be sensitive to triggering topics, but otherwise, this was an excellent read.

I gave A Dowry of Blood four out of five stars. It was an interesting take on vampire lore that managed to be realistic without resorting to typical horror fair. The story also explored relationships and power and manipulation in a way that felt respectful while still managing to tell a good story. I think anyone looking for a new vampire book to sink their teeth into should read this one.

Oh, the essays I could write about the brilliance that is A Dowry of Blood. Engaging with this incredible story left my heart achingly raw. Saint Gibson successfully pairs religious imagery with her masterful prose to create a piece of work that is equally beautiful and bloody, and unapologetically queer. Written in three glorious parts, A Dowry of Blood charts centuries of love and abuse that ultimately leads to the emancipation of the survivors.

The Premise
“I know you loved us all, in your own way. Magdalena for her brilliance, Alexi for his loveliness. But I was your war bride, your faithful Constanta, and you loved me for my will to survive.”
A Dowry of Blood is written from the point of view of Dracula’s wife, Constanta, detailing the brutal beginning and end of her marriage to him. Found breaths away from Death’s doorstep, Dracula conveniently descends from the shadows with vows of vengeance and immortality. The centuries that follow are a tale of terrible violence, and all-consuming passion where Constanta begins to glimpse Dracula’s true nature while finding love and liberation in the arms of their shared husband and wife, Alexi, and Magdalena.

The Review
“All the sermons equated God with triumphant, searing light, rising in the east to drive away demons and disease. But I wondered if the Creator of the day also dwelled in night, guiding us all in the darkness. Perhaps I had not been forsaken when I made the night my eternal home.”
I loved virtually everything about A Dowry of Blood, but I think perhaps my favorite was Saint’s use of religious imagery. Constanta, though now a vampire and assumed to be forsaken, remains fervently faithful. At times, her faith seems to slip between her fingers, leaving a yawning chasm inside her that demands to be filled. I found this book extremely easy to read and comprehend while remaining exceptionally complex. Saint’s use of prose is one of the most remarkable parts of A Dowry of Blood.

“I am trying to tell you why I did what I did. It is the only way I can think to survive and I hope, even now, that you would be proud of my determination to persist. God. Proud. Am I sick to still think on you softly, even after all the blood and broken promises?”
The plot is straightforward. It’s a recollection of Constanta and Dracula’s marriage all the way up to his eventual murder by her. I was pleasantly surprised by Saint’s ability to absolutely engross the reader in what was happening at that moment while never losing sight of what the story was building up to. By the end Dracula’s murder didn’t catch me off guard. The story had a very real, natural progression that didn’t lag or make me lose interest. Queerness is also an integral part of this book, so it feels only right to mention it in relation to the plot. All the MCs are bisexual and polyamorous which is one of the main driving forces in the story in terms of the dynamics of their relationships. I appreciated how this book moved through different time periods without having the characters’ safety hinge on their queerness, particularly since they are vampires. Saint created a very real picture of what abuse looks like, and how it’s not always physical. No, a majority of Dracula’s abuse is psychological and emotional which isn’t any less harmful, but I thought it was a notable choice since the typical image of abuse involves some sort of physicality. It also seemed like a wise, intentional choice since Dracula’s characterization revolves around his “restraint.”

There weren’t really any negatives or worries for me with this book. I specifically picked it up because it sounded like something I’d enjoy, and I did. For other readers though I could see some disliking the prose. It is used quite often but doesn’t quite step into purple territory in my opinion.

* * *

Finishing A Dowry of Blood left my heart both wounded and hopeful. Constanta, Magdalena, and Alexi’s story is one that I will carry with me forever, alongside the blooming faith that perhaps, there is a way out of the storm even if you must tear apart the sky itself. Saint has definitely found a lifelong reader in me, and I can’t wait to see what other incredible work she creates.

A Dowry Of Blood by S.T. Gibson is a brilliant and engrossing book, with the gothic atmosphere expected in a novel about Dracula and his brides.

The format it’s written in is so unique, and perfectly fit for this book: the way Constanta tells her story, recalling her past with the knowledge and emotional maturity of her present self, is as brilliant as it is painful.
Saint has a talent for describing her journey through her centuries, how her feelings and her way of moving through the world slowly evolve with the passing of years and the changes in her surroundings.

There is a unique tenderness in the way the plot and the characters are portrayed, like soft but painful brushstrokes on a dark canvas- it made me fall in love with Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi, with the beautiful yet lonely mansion they lived in and the lively city they walked through like beautiful ghosts (so stunningly described), with the strong bond that grew between them between one page and the next.

A Dowry of Blood is definitely a story that will stay in my mind for a long time, among all the other strange and fascinating little books I love all very much.
The new edition includes a short story about Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi set centuries after the ending of the book, and I assure you can’t absolutely miss it.

Vampire lore states that these creatures can mesmerize their victims, leaving them powerless to resist the lure of their captor: well, like a vampire, this book managed to mesmerize me from start to finish, making it almost impossible for me to put it down - I lost count of the number of times I told myself “just one more chapter, then I’ll stop”, only to keep reading on…

The vampire myth is one of my favorite themes in horror, so once I learned that A Dowry of Blood focused on a retelling of the story of Dracula and his brides it was a given that I would read it, but what I found was a very unexpected tale told in an equally unexpected narrative style, which added to my enjoyment of the book. The narrator is Constanta, one of the famous vampire’s brides as she relates her story in an impassioned letter to her sire who, as we learn from the very first sentence in the book, she killed in an act that she describes as possessing “its own sort of inevitability”.

Constanta’s first encounter with the creature who will change her existence happens outside a Romanian village devastated by a brutal attack: she lies dying on the ground, images of her family’s massacre mixing with the awareness of her imminent demise, when this fascinating stranger makes her an offer that seems like salvation but which will lead her on a very unpredictable path. Her beginnings as the vampire’s bride flow in a mix of fascination and discovery that appear all the more extraordinary given Constanta’s origin as a poor peasant girl, but as time elapses it becomes increasingly clear that her husband/master’s outer veneer of charm hides a volatile, domineering disposition that becomes even more marked when their “family” comes to include the presence of Magdalena, a beautiful Spanish heiress, and later on of young Alexi, a penniless Russian actor.

More than being another story about vampires, A Dowry of Blood represents the deconstruction of their myth as it shows the other side of the coin represented by the fascinating lure of an immortal predator: here Dracula (even though his name is never actually mentioned) comes across as an abusive despot, a creature of fickle disposition, easily angered and possessed of a mean streak. At first Constanta accepts it all as part and parcel of her new life, never having had the opportunity for a comparison - either in her previous life or in her new, immortal one - and living as she does in almost total isolation with her sire. Things however change when Magdalena joins their “family”: the transition from jealousy to attraction to complicity allows Constanta to put her existence into perspective and to observe their lord’s treatment of his brides from an equidistant position, therefore bringing to light his manipulative and control-oriented tactics. The situation worsens when starving actor Alexi is brought into their midsts, his lust for life and human companionship undiminished by the changes in his body: the younger man’s desire to keep a foot in both worlds - the living and the undead - takes the vampire lord’s stranglehold on his “family” to new heights, ultimately laying the foundations for his (untimely?) end.

Even though I’m usually not very comfortable with allegories, I can view this novel as one about toxic relationships - and who better than a blood-sucking vampire to epitomize the draining of agency, self-worth and freedom caused by an abusive spouse? Constanta is the classic example of the naive woman who finds herself married to a control freak who does everything in his power to establish his authority on her, either cutting off any chance of outside contact, or constantly belittling her, or both, in what she labels as “the cycle of brutality and tenderness” than informs their relationship. She is only an extension of himself, something he created for his own ends, not for her benefit:

[…] 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.

In the end, the mistake of the vampire lord comes from the choice to increase his entourage, because instead of adding more “accessories” to his dominion he unwittingly lays the basis for a found family: the strength of the bonds that unite Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi is what ultimately allows them to see their sire for what he truly is, and to find the courage to sever the ties linking them to him and to regain their freedom. What finally struck me, once I finished the book, was the realization that in never using her husband’s name in the story (only hinting at his true identity in an oblique reference to the “troublesome Harkers”) Constanta took back the agency she was robbed of for so many centuries: in denying him his identity, his name, she exacted the perfect kind of vengeance against the constant theft of power and self-determination he visited on his brides.

I described A Dowry of Blood as a mesmerizing book, and the greatest part of such effect comes from the narrative style and the almost lyrical prose that took hold of my imagination and created a rich, three-dimensional picture of these characters and their surroundings: there is a gothic flavor to this story that nevertheless does not lapse into purple prose, blending the quaint and the modern into a seamless whole. If, like it seems, this is only the first volume in a saga, I more than look forward to what the author has in store for us in the next books…

If you want a quick little bite 🧛‍♀️of a book, Dowry of Blood is going to be the perfect book for you. Bad vampire puns aside, I really enjoyed this book and it was perfect for October.

It follows Constanta, Dracula’s bride. She is turned from brutalized peasant to a strong, undead consort. He saves her from her date and because of this, she feels a wealth of devotion to him. Constanta wants more, though. She wants revenge on the worst of men. She wants to travel and explore. She wants to learn. Her husband is committed to keeping her as close to his side as he can, never letting her have too much freedom. When others are brought into the mix, Constanta eventually decides enough is enough.

This was a fantastic, lush tale. It was darkly enthralling. So atmospheric and seductive.

Despite its fantastical focus, I think many people could relate to her feeling of suffocation by a controlling lover. Constanta wasn’t allowed to fulfill her potential when she was with Dracula, and eventually she takes her power back. I loved this! I would be thrilled to follow Constanta on more of her journeys, even.

Thank you to Orbit/Redhook for the review copy. I encourage others to add this to their fall reading list!

“What is more lovely, after all, than a monster undone with want?”

Y’all, I am absolutely obsessed with this book.I was already excited when I heard “retelling of Dracula’s brides” but the storytelling and atmosphere in this book is  ✨ amazing ✨ the underlying tension, even through their good times, stays steady through the book and builds in the best way. Dowry was an even better read the second time and I am SO excited to see more from S. T. Gibson.

Magdalena is the best and I love her. She has absolutely no chill- just straight up hand feeds Constanta in the middle of a room full of people. Amazing 😂 and also "you are half of my heart" this was such a good scene.
Constanta had so much love for everyone and that really comes through in her words while telling us her story. I really liked that we followed her POV. It was also cool to see a character turned into a vampire and keep her religious beliefs. I feel like often we see the opposite happen in media.

This book is written in a letter to Dracula, describing their lives and how their ending came about. But in reality, this is a letter written to survival, to love, to the connections built between the brides, the relationships they forge with each other, to doing what you need to to get through the day. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished it. I’m gonna be rereading this for YEARS.

Gibson has taken Dracula and crafted a story that is as sensual as it is dark, filled with desires and lusts that evoke jealousy and passions that burn. In lush prose, they conjure time and place with decadence and indulgence, but also with a tint of humanity lurking in feelings of neglect and not being enough. How the relationship blooms between our vampire lord and his spouses draws the reader in and keeps them on edge as we bear witness to this tragedy, for we are made aware of what is to befall our lovers.

Perfect for that spooky read with fang.

this book was incredible and beautifully written , each character was very well written and individual, the plot was fantastic as we follow constanta grow and overcome dracula for the love of her family and come into her oen and i loved the bonus content in the end

I totally agree with reviews recommending this vampire gothic for folks who love atmospheric lyricism. Alas, atmospheric lyricism doesn’t do much for me. Pretty words, so-so storyline. This was REALLY short — I assumed wrongly that this was a full-length novel. Terrific narration, though. Read via Scribd/audio (narrated by Abby Craden).

Disclaimer: While I read an audiobook copy that I borrowed from Scribd, I initially received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A DOWRY OF BLOOD was just as enthralling the second time I read it, if not more. Author S.T. Gibson offers a most palatable and poetic story to sink your teeth into! Brimming with sensual indulgences, a monstrous love, religious symbolism, and an all Bi cast — you won’t want to put it down! Saint truly knew how to take us by the heartstrings, and pluck a beautiful little song full of emotion and life. Pulling us into a story so vivid, so richly written, Saint offers a most delicious engagement that feels as though the reader has stumbled upon Constanta’s letters themself.

Throughout the story, Constanta, Dracula’s first Bride, unravels the events from beginning to end, providing detailed accounts into just what the Brides endured and triumphed. We learn about love so deep and so heavy, it’s suffocating. A DOWRY OF BLOOD also depicts the subtle (and otherwise) ways even the ones we love and trust can be or become the monsters we fear most.

If you are looking for a story with love, violence, justice, and my personal favorite… vampires — then this is the perfect novella to pick up! With a stunning, newly printed edition in hardcover that includes the never-before printed epilogue, it is THE seasonal splurge to make! You can also slowly undress the book from its jacket to find a red body and a beautifully embossed excerpt beneath it.

NOTE: Readers should always check content warnings to ensure safe, enjoyable reading! This story contains some content that may be triggering or otherwise uncomfortable to some!

"This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. I suppose both are a sort of gentle violence, putting down in ink what scorches the air when spoken aloud.

If you can still hear me wherever you are, my love, my tormentor, hear this:

It was never my intention to murder you.

Not in the beginning, anyway."

I hadn't intended on starting my read through of this so soon, but as I stole peeks at the dedication page and then that gloriously dark and fascinating first chapter, I found I couldn't stop. I read and read until I was finished—and oh my god was this an unexpected delight of a book.

At less than 250 pages (50K words), I think perhaps this is slightly too long to be called a novella—I like to think of it as more of a concise novel, lean, its length is perfectly suited to the storytelling and style of the work. Anything longer and it risks feeling as if it drags. This is absolutely a character-driven story, which pace a bit slower anyway, so the brevity is perfectly suited for this particular story.

We are given one POV, Constanta's, and believe me when I say that it reads as an achingly intimate farewell letter to an unnamed Dracula. That's right—this entire work is written to Dracula in the second person, which was a spectacular treat for me personally.

At its soul, A Dowry of Blood is a really, really shrewd examination of a centuries-spanning toxic relationship of the highest order—abuse, physical and emotional; manipulation; greed; lust; dominance; masterfully crafted scenes of gaslighting... This book was an excellent character study on what goes through the thoughts and behaviors of a victim when they find themselves in an abusive situation.

Marketed as a loose reimagining of Dracula, A Dowry of Blood balances what a complex M/F/F/M polyamorous relationship would be like given the circumstances and gothic setting while highlighting interesting bits of history and glimpses of Stoker's original. Exceptionally well done.

If you enjoy lush, lyrical prose, brooding vistas, and a good character study, you might want to read this one. It also contains violence, sex, and head games, and you can read it in one sitting if you dare. I'm glad I picked this one up as it was one of my anticipated new releases on my booktube channel during its first release.

"Love is violence, my darling, it is a thunderstorm that tears apart your world. More often than not, love ends in tragedy, but we go on loving in the hopes that this time, it will be different. This time, the beloved will understand us. They will not try to flee from our embrace, or become discontent with us."

It’s no secret that I absolutely adore vampire novels, but with the wealth of books out there, it can be hard to find ones that bring something new to the genre - one such book is A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson.

A Dowry of Blood is a reimagining of Dracula, told from the view of his brides. We follow Constanta, the first of the brides, as she chronicles her centuries long existence starting with the day she was turned by Dracula to be saved from a village raid. She owes her (un)life to him, and that’s when the lines between love, desire, devotion, obsession and cruelty start to get blurry. Throughout the ages, fierce Magdalena and vivacious Alexi join them. As their master’s true personality emerges, there is only one way this can end for him…

I’m often surprised by the multi-faceted metaphors vampire stories offer, whether it is for societal, political, theological, philosophical purposes, and more. Here, Dracula’s story is used as a sort of conduit for abusive relationships. All the characters are hundreds of years old, have experienced things we will never do, and yet, the depictions of abuse feel very real. With Stoker, the brides stayed nameless, but here, we get to meet Constanta, Magdalena and Alexi. Instead, it is Dracula who is not named - he is refused authority by not having his name said out loud.

I’m writing this just after finishing my second read of Dowry in celebration of its rerelease: The former indie darling has now been rereleased by Orbit, but I’ve followed it pretty much since its initial release. I still remember browsing indie publishers for some hidden gems on Goodreads, Amazon and Bookstagram, discovering all sorts of new authors, saving lots of bookmarks… From these discoveries, Dowry was the one book I just couldn’t get out of my mind. Everyone was raving about it back then; and people still are. If you ask me, Dowry’s incredible journey, championed by passionate readers, and its rerelease definitely are more than well deserved!
I am picky about my vampires, but this book hits every single mark. It’s hard to pick just one of my favorite features - the vivid prose, the absolutely lush sensual scenes, or the beautifully rendered poly relationship between the brides… Honestly, I could gush about this book for days. A new staple of modern Gothic fiction, Dowry is a book I’m sure I’ll revisit many times in the years to come.

Thank you so much to Orbit for sending me an ARc! This is a delectably dark and sexy retelling of Dracula's Brides. It is queer and the format is uniquely befitting of the story. A perfect Autumn read.

A Dowry of Blood is queer fantasy romance with horror elements by S.T. Gibson. We follow our main character with a second-person point-of-view as if she is writing a love letter or confession.

“This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. I suppose both are a sort of gentle violence, putting down in ink what scorches the air when spoken aloud.”

Our heroine Constanta was a dying medieval peasant until she became Dracula's first bride. Once turned, he sweeps her away to make a home in a remote castle until the plague comes and they leave to travel around Europe.

I don't read too many books that are in the second-person, but I really enjoyed this one. Gibson's prose is dripping with lyrical brilliance. Excuse me while I go read everything else the author has ever written.

Tropes in this book include: bisexual featured characters, ethical nonmonogamy (m/f/f/m), retelling (Dracula's Brides), vampires

CW: violence, murder, depression, mania, self-harm, blood, gore, gaslighting, domestic violence (emotional, verbal, physical), sadomashochism

Do you love vampires and firmly believe they need to be queerer? Do you like reinterpretations of classic lit? Do you also go wild for polyamorous relationships? Do you appreciate the gothic genre in general? If the answer to literally any of these questions is yes, go pick this up immediately. (Personally, I was sold three times over at “queer polyamorous vampires.”)

This is a beautifully written, gorgeously genre-aware, deeply compassionate and romantic book. Gibson's flowery language is perfectly suited to the genre she writes in; her characters are vibrant and interesting, the story she weaves is compelling and engaging, and her take on the gothic genre as a whole is deeply thoughtful and considered.

I originally read this back when it was self-published; the Orbit edition includes an epilogue which makes for an excellent cap to the story. Also, it's pretty, and there's a companion novel coming next year, which I am already excited for.

In short: I loved this, and really can’t recommend it enough. Thanks so much to the author, Orbit, and Netgalley for the early review copy!

This gothic vampire romance should be your next fall read!

"I lost myself so entirely in charting the contours of my love for you that there wasn't any room for tracking time."

Constanta writes
A love letter
A story of control taken back
A goodbye letter
A build up of passion, abuse, love and time that explodes triumphantly!

Gibson's writing is so beautifully done. You feel the love, the longing, and the buildup of emotions so intensely by all of the characters. The setting is shrouded in the most immersive, visceral and bloody atmosphere. It is so easy to fall head over heels into this story, to the point you feel as if you are one of the brides.

"Love is violence my darling; it is a thunderstorm that tears apart your world."

You will love this book for it's:
~Strong characters
~LGBTQ representation
~MM
~FF
~MF
~Badass female growth, where the narcissist asshole finally gets got!

Thank you S.T Gibson for allowing me to be part of the Heavenly Hedonist Club. It has been such a fun club, to get snippets of your WIP, and to meet others like me who absolutely love gothic romances! I can barely wait to read what you put out into the world next!

I've been sitting here struggling to write a review for this book because it's just so captivating and dark and perfectly written that nothing I say will do it justice.

A Draculas brides retelling but queer, poly, and a story about breaking out of an abusive relationship. It does such a good job of pulling you in and making you feel the anxiety and desperation of the situation. The line "it always amazed me, how you could play victim and aggressor at the same time" just hit me right in the chest.

Don't go into this one lightly but do know that the end is very hopeful.

[4.25 rounded to 4] Modern popular culture tends to romanticize vampires to varying degrees. Take Louis de Pointe du Lac from INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, waxing melancholy poetic about his reflections and realizations living as one of the undead. Or Dracula from Castlevania, sequestered in his castle with his science and disdain for humans who are slow to learn yet quick to anger. Both of these popular culture tales depict vampires through the lens of time, blurring their fictional existence across a backdrop of history, horror, and sex curiosity into an amalgam of curiosity. In this regard, S.T. Gibson's A DOWRY OF BLOOD shares many similarities to these well-received vampire legends.

It's an incredibly atmospheric read that starts in medieval eastern Europe with the aftermath of a village raid. Constanta shares her vampire origin story, the death of her original self, both in body and mind, and her rebirth as someone beholden to her sire. Though Constanta witholds her new husband's name to diminish his importance, for legends hold sway, it's fairly evident Dracula made and married her. The opening lines of the story spell Dracula's doom. But Constana takes the reader through her evolution of obsessive love for him and how that resulted in his demise.

What begins as total admiration and supplication eventually morphs into bitter devotion. Vampires essentially have all the time in the world. And this time allows for the accrual of observations and experiences to compound into realizations. To Constanta, a young woman, brought up devout, pure, and kind, mental and emotional manipulation were not easy to recognize at first. But centuries of the denial of independence and the dissuasion of curiosity eventually yield a slow epiphany of circumstances. Gibson writes a fantastic portrayal of subtle, masterful domestic manipulation through Dracula. My dislike for him was immediate and I couldn't wait for Constanta to shake herself free of his invisible bonds.

However, the more fascinating aspect to me was the undercurrent, and sometimes obvious, comparison of Dracula to God or Jesus. Although Dracula scoffed at religion, Constanta never lost her taste for it and used it to ground her at times. But her devotion to Dracula is the equivalent of idolatry. She drank of his blood and he is her savior. My knowledge of the specifics of Christianity has waned significantly over the years. Consequently it's difficult for me to relay this imagery into review format; but this metaphor is heavily present in her worship of him, body and mind.

One aspect that puzzled me in this retelling is the blurred lines between amorous, sexual love and sibling love. I won't delve into the details. But I would hazard an analysis that this is because Dracula controls everything. Constanta's made family is also her family of lovers. They have no one else. So they each serve different roles to each other during various mental and emotional states.

There is just so much to unpack in this 300-page book. It also vividly shows that one's mind needs to be exercised to thrive; forced sequestration does the soul no good, no matter the length of one's existence. I found this point particularly interesting because Dracula holds humans in such low regard--they are only sustenance to him. Yet he and his sires still share so many similarities to them despite their immortality. The constant machinations of the mind, through hobbies of choice, are what keep their humanity intact. I am very curious as to why Dracula became such a manipulator given his humble beginnings. Was it due to survival? Did his enslavement during his former life harden him to humankind?

In summary, A DOWRY OF BLOOD is a somber realization that not all love is unconditional. It's a prosaic expose of recognizing the signs of manipulation through the haze of passion. It's about putting one's welfare first and having the courage to let shared history be history.