Spoiler-Free Review
If you like gothic novels with a little bit of the paranormal added in, you’ll love A Dowry of Blood. This slow-paced Dracula retelling takes a look at control and abuse in the context of a romantic relationship that can last centuries.
It does cover dark themes. Click here for trigger warnings.
What’s A Dowry of Blood about?
This is a retelling of Dracula that focuses less on the famed vampire and more on his partners. Told from the perspective of Constanta’s letters to Dracula, we follow her through the centuries of her second life as the ancient vampire’s first bride.
With beautiful writing and an intriguing premise, this is easily one of my favorites of the year.
There are many books out there that center their stories on an abusive relationship, highlighting power imbalances and psychological warfare. But there aren’t many that look at it through the lens of an undead couple. That’s what truly set this book apart. Bloodlust and historical events were both big factors in this story.
But it’s not just about the relationship between Dracula and Constanta. The author took full advantage of the opportunity to showcase polyamorous and queer relationships as Dracula brought in new people to the relationship over the centuries. It worked really well.
On that note – there are some spicy scenes, but this is not a romance. Keep that in mind before diving in.
The writing was lush and beautiful. I was skeptical about the second-person POV going in, but it worked really well. The story is told from Constanta’s perspective, but she’s speaking directly to Dracula in these letters, so every time she speaks about Dracula or what he did, she uses the pronoun, “you.” It created such an interesting and intimate experience.
While the characters move around, we get to see small glimpses of each passing era. But the story never loses its focus on Constanta’s everyday existence. The fact that we do only see a little here and there of her surroundings speaks to the strict limitations she faces within her relationship. Constanta wants so badly to explore the world, but cannot.
Overall, the ending left me feeling full and satisfied. It was a quick and absorbing read for me.
I will say that the extended epilogue, An Encore of Roses, added little to the story. You can skip it, if you like. I’m not much of an epilogue person myself, so one that goes on for several chapters as a “slice of life” is generally not for me.
Should you read A Dowry of Blood?
A Dowry of Blood is for anyone interested in reading stories about the complicated feelings in relationships, especially abusive ones. It’s also for anyone who likes gothic stories, vampires, old European settings, steamy scenes, and stories that span across time. You may also like it if you enjoy stories that break from the usual narrative format.
This may not be for you if you prefer a fast-paced, plot-driven story, or if you don’t like second-person POV. A Dowry of Blood is slow and lyrical, which worked for the story it was telling, but isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. The main character can also be passive and permissive at times, which some readers don’t enjoy – though, that is part of her arc.
