A Dowry of Blood
A Dowry of Blood
standalone
Author: ST Gibson
Pages: 250
Published: March 22, 2022
“This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. . .“
In this final love letter—or confession—Constanta recounts her transformation from a medieval peasant to a bride of an immortal king after being saved by a mysterious stranger. As Dracula entangles both a scheming aristocrat and a starving artist in his web of passion and deceit, Constanta discovers the darker side of her beloved. Seeking solace with her rival consorts, she starts to uncover Dracula’s sinister secrets. With the safety of her loved ones at stake, Constanta faces a harrowing choice between her own freedom and her love for her husband, knowing that bonds forged in blood are only severed by death.
I. could. not. put. this. down.
The prose is beautiful and the narrative is wonderfully crafted, making it stand out. I highly recommend this book for its originality. My only minor issue is with the ending—it felt too definitive and I really would’ve liked to see this end a bit more ambiguous. I believe an open-ended conclusion would have sparked more discussion and left a lasting impact. Despite this, the book’s execution is superb for its length, and it remains an incredibly impressive read.
