A Dowry of Blood (A Dowry Of Blood #1) by S.T. Gibson - Starting September 1st 2023

[Dannii]

A lyrical and dreamy reimagining of Dracula’s brides, A DOWRY OF BLOOD is a story of desire, obsession, and emancipation.

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things. Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets.

With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

[Danique]

Finished this a few days ago, not sure how I feel

P. 49
(view spoiler)[Okay interesting start, although I’m already a bit confused lol. She’s apparently writing love letters to her husband (?) that she murdered. And there were other wives too? It’s going to be hard to use markers as to where we are while reading since there are no actual chapter titles.

Okay so he’s a vampire and she won’t even give his name? I don’t love the ‘you’ form of writing, don’t love the letter format tbh. She’s a vampire too now and ripped apart all those men, that went really fast and was brutal lmao? He already seems pretty intense, not sure how to feel yet! And apparently they are married, even though they’re not really, but he already calls her wife…? Odd. And they basically had sex on the first night alright Constanta calm down?? (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

P. 109
(view spoiler)[I can’t believe they killed that poor doctor :( He was basically a child still. The plague was creepy though, kinda wish we could’ve seen more of it. It doesn’t have a lot of depth so far, she just brushes over the events.

I wonder why he was so scared of Hanne, does he really have heartbreak in his past? Hmmm. Oh there are parts!

I already don’t like Magdalena at all, even though Constanta apparently does. Okay they’re just having sex now? Well damn, her sex life definitely got spruced up. But what the fuck girl, stand up for yourself??? ‘You’ sucks in his controlling behaviour. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[Everything just happens so fast and vaguely that it’s hard to even care about any of the characters. Her love for Magdalena also feels rushed and it’s hard to feel for them. Not sure why I’m not loving it 🥴

Apparently he had more lovers/wives/husbands? The fuck dude? I also wonder how long he’s been alive. Poor Magdalena isn’t loving life anymore either, ‘you’ still sucks. Can we just get his name argh it frustrates me. And now they’re going to meet ANOTHER for their marriage? Well okay then. It's like a weird reverse harem. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

P 237
(view spoiler)[Now he wants Alexi to join them. This is so messed up wtf? What is this story? Once again he’s guilttripping Constanta in allowing it. Not sure whether I like Alexi tbh, and Constanta’s immediate love for all of them is just annoying. She indeed reminds me of a mother so it’s weird to see her lust after Alexi. It’s also insanely weird that they keep calling each other siblings but then proceed to have sex??? What the fuck. Alexi is slowly getting on his nerves though, something is about to blow. I can’t believe Constanta stepped in to save Magdalena and they didn’t do shit when he had Constanta pinned at the throat wtf??? They’re finally going to fight against him tho. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Damn they killed him and then drank his blood like animals, that was brutal. And then gave him to the angry mob to be defiled even more, I actually feel bad for him tbh. Constantia seems like the real bad guy idk?🤣 and now they’re all splitting up, what was the point of all this then?? At least they’re free I guess.

Alexi still cares for them & they were reunited for a bit. I still don’t really understand how Alexi could be in theatres, the pamphlets and such would feature his face and it’d be clear that he doesn’t age?? Odd, but okay then. Glad they’re happy I guess. Still hate that we never got ‘you’s name wtf. We never got Constanta's real name either. Not sure how I feel about all of this, the story felt quite flat (hide spoiler)]