A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

A dark, feminist retelling of Dracula.

S.T Gibson re-imagines the story of Dracula through the eyes of the woman he turns from human to vampire and keeps alongside him for centuries. Is he a saint or a monster? Constanza only knows her life from the moment she is turned into a vampire by Dracula. He names her Constanza and tells her he loves her, that everything he does is because he loves her, supports her and wants to keep her safe.

The story slowly starts to show the darkness, control and manipulation used to keep Constanza helpless and without agency all under the guise of love.

I love the beautiful female friendships, the ease of which sex, and sexuality are explored, and the path of a woman stepping into her own power. This is my second time reading it, and I'll likely be reading it again.

This book is best read in a large stone house, lit by candles with the full moon high in the sky. Feel free to have a glass of red wine, if you still have a taste for mortal things.