A Dowry of Blood is a dark and delicious story of Dracula and his first bride, Constanta, spread across centuries.
Synopsis
Constanta lies in the mud on the brink of death when a man suddenly appears, saying he cannot save her, but it is in his power to help her. And so Constanta begins her second life with this arresting man who is as passionate as he is cruel.
Constanta tells her story in the form of a letter to her husband, although she never once utters his name. It is her first and last love letter to him because in her own words:
It was never my intention to murder you.
Not in the beginning, anyway.
As her husband adds two more people to their dysfunctional group, Constanta gradually realizes how brutal and suffocating his love could be.
Review of A Dowry of Blood
This seductively written story is a quick read and can be consumed in a single sitting. It held my rapt attention from beginning to end. Although, it took some time to get used to the second-person singular voice.
I thought it would be a bit spicier than it was, considering most vampire books I’ve read are extra spicy. The open-door scenes were pretty brief.
The polyamorous relationship was well done, not just in the bedroom, but in their deep connection with each other.
As this is a dark vampire story, the author has a list of possible triggers at the beginning of the book and on Goodreads (in her review).
I have no clue what the next book will be like, but I cannot wait to read it. In the meantime, I need to deep dive into the author’s backlist.
My Rating: 🧛♀️🧛♀️🧛♀️🧛♀️
Expected Publication: 4 October 2022
Many thanks to Redhook (Orbit) for providing me with a copy to review.
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