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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.”
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
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 was so excited when I opened the package from Hachette with this book in it that I audibly squealed. I read A Dowry of Blood initially when it was self-published by the author. I’m a huge fan of fantasy romance, especially those with horror elements, and this particular book does it so well.
Even more so is it the chocolate to my peanut butter with its queerness! As a queer woman myself, I love seeing bisexual representation in books. And on top of all THAT, Gibson’s prose is dripping with lyrical brilliance. This book definitely holds up through a reread.
I’m also super excited because An Encore of Roses is included in the back of the book, and I haven’t read that at all, yet!
Check the CWs if you need; the author includes them in a note at the beginning of the book.
I highly recommend A Dowry of Blood. It comes out today–Tuesday, October 4th–from Redhook. Isn’t it *stunning*?
Thank you to the publisher for sending this book for me to review. All opinions are my own.
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
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