A Dowry of Blood Review: A Queer Gothic Dracula Retelling
A Dowry of Blood review: S.T. Gibson reimagines Dracula’s brides as a queer, polyamorous gothic confession. Is it sapphic? Read on →
Dracula has been retold a thousand times. Almost never by the women he left in the dark. A Dowry of Blood hands the story to Constanta, his first bride, and lets her write the confession he never wanted read. S.T. Gibson’s gothic dark fantasy is queer, polyamorous, and written like poetry: three spouses bound to an immortal husband whose love looks a lot like control. This A Dowry of Blood review covers what the book does best, the one part that didn’t land, and exactly who should read it. If you want gothic horror with romance, rage, and a sapphic thread running through it, here’s the rundown.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
Standalone
March 22, 2022
Read this if you want:
- A retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula from the perspective of his Brides!
- LGBTQ+ polyamorous story
- Dark, gothic vibes
What is A Dowry of Blood about?
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.
A Dowry of Blood Review: Gorgeous Prose, Brutal Gaslighting
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.
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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.
Final Thoughts: Should You Read A Dowry of Blood?
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.
A Dowry of Blood FAQ
Here’s what readers ask most before picking this one up.
What genre is A Dowry of Blood?
Dark fantasy and gothic horror, with a vampire romance running through it. The core tropes are a Dracula retelling told from the brides’ perspective, a bisexual polyamorous relationship that includes a sapphic thread, an escaping-an-abuser arc, and a centuries spanning structure told as letters (epistolary). It’s written as Constanta’s confession to her husband, so it reads literary and atmospheric rather than action-driven.
Is A Dowry of Blood sapphic?
It’s a queer, bisexual polyamorous story. There’s a sapphic relationship between Constanta and one of the other brides, but it’s one thread within the polyamory, not a dedicated F/F romance. Worth knowing if that’s what you’re coming for.
Is A Dowry of Blood a standalone?
Yes, a complete standalone. There’s a connected companion novel, An Education in Malice, set in the same world with different characters, but you don’t need it to finish Constanta’s story.
Is A Dowry of Blood spicy?
Mild to moderate, this isn’t a spice first read. There’s on page sexual content. Constanta has intimate scenes with both Dracula and one of the other brides, so the heat that’s here is woven into the polyamory.
What books are like A Dowry of Blood?
If A Dowry of Blood left you wanting more vampires with a darker, gothic edge, start with books like Interview with the Vampire to get the same brooding, bloody atmosphere and morally grey immortals. And if it was the polyamory that hooked you, Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco is another dark fantasy vampire story built around a throuple, with the romance and body count.
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