A Dowry of Blood

                                

Title: A Dowry of Blood

Author: S.T. Gibson

Published: Red Hook, March 22, 2022

Pages: 250

Genre: Gothic Horror

This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. . .

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.

I adore a gothic horror. A gothic retelling of a gothic classic?! And make it queer?!?! S.T. Gibson, how dare you! It's incredible! 

This story is told as a love letter from Constanta, Dracula's "first" wife, to the monster himself. The writing is unforgettable. I will be dreaming of the way that she strings words together. It's beautiful. She tells us the story of their life together. His abuse and control only becomes apparent through her journey of realization as well. 

And then she introduces us to Magdalena and Alexi. It was really interesting the roles in the home that everyone took. You have Dracula. Both creator and lover, but definitely the role of "father." Then when they bring Magdalena into the fold, she becomes their lover, but also a "sister" to Constanta. They suffer together under the weight of their creators expectations. But it isn't until Alexi joins their family that either of them become willing to fight back. Because while Constanta's been aware of the abuse, they were both suffering together until Constanta had someone she wanted to protect. Alexi was the "son" in this particular family dynamic. 

Things remain taboo and dark throughout the book. There's blood play and gaslighting and isolation. But so beautifully written that you could almost forget how dark things were getting. But you couldn't forget enough to not enjoy the hell out of their liberation! It was stunning and I highly recommend it.

Ratings

Stars: 5/5

Spice: 3/5