“We’ve waltzed through a hundred tiny apocalypses, you and I, walked unharmed through the ash of countless crumbling regimes. We feast on the ruin of empires […]. Their destruction is our high feast day”.

S.T. Gibson, A Dowry of Blood, p. 156.

woops I wrote so many queers being incorrect that I wrote my own book 0_0

Hello, Tumblr. Here's my first post.

(Am I doing this right?)

Anyway. I review books over on my blog blog. Almost always spoiler-free, and also almost always a good time. Unless you don't like my reviews, in which case, it'll probably be a mid time. That's okay.

Today I posted a review for A Dowry of Blood, which is in the running for one of the best reads I've picked up this year.

Premise: 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.

Quick thoughts: This book explores themes of manipulation, jealousy, control, and sexuality -- told expertly in the context of a relationship that can literally last eternally. I'm also a sucker for any book that breaks the usual narrative form, so I loved the 2nd-person POV. This is a must-read for fans of gothic tales.

For all you book nerds who'd like the full review, you can read it here. It has a 2-minute read time, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for being here and reading my first post. Unless it was kinda mid. In which case: sorry.

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: A gripping second-chance retelling of the classic Nosferatu & Dracula tale! Listen to them, the children of the night… Mina Harker bites off more than she can chew the night that she and her fellow treasure hunters open up a tomb with more in it than just some dusty family relics. A monster is now loose, and has his sights set squarely on her. The vampire is ancient, seemingly unstoppable, and claims to know Mina from another life. But as history begins to repeat itself, will he get another chance at love? Or is he forever doomed to be alone with nothing but the corpses he leaves in his wake for company? Caught in the alluring web of the unknowable creature, Mina has to choose between her friends…and the man with the red eyes who seems to call out to her very soul. Warning: The Vengeful Vampire has themes of murder and betrayal. But mostly just a lot of murder. This is “horror romance,” so some content may be upsetting to some readers.

Review:

A Dracula retelling in which Mina and Dracula end up together? Uhm ABSOLUTELY. The story follows Mina Harker, a treasure hunter who accidentally unleashes a creature from a tomb with her treasure hunting friends. A monster that has set its sight on her and claims that he knows her and that they have a shared history. Despite everything. Mina can’t help but feel the truth in his statement. Yet everyone around her makes her question whether or not she can trust him. Mina must decide whether she can follow her heart or listen to her head, whether she is willing to risk it all for love or if she has to be parted from the one person who understands her. There is also the question of who hired them for the job to unleash said vampire and if said vampire is evil or not. This was a fun retelling, I’m a huge fan of the dracula x mina ship ( yes I also adore the classic novel but I can enjoy this ship too haha). This definitely was right up my alley and Vincent was just such a sweetheart for Mina. It was an interesting modern retelling featuring treasure hunters, vampires, and a an interesting new take on the other characters. Overall, a fun read!

A Delicious Descent

(Part of the Monsters & Mayhem collab)

By Amanda Meuwissen

Happy Halloween, my Spidears! And release day!

Dracula retold, with Jonathan as the object of the legendary vampire's obsession.

Engaged to his dear friend Mina, Jonathan Harker jumps at the chance to delay their wedding by accepting an assignment in far-off Transylvania. Jonathan loves Mina but not in the way a man should love a wife, for his true passion lies with the company of men, an illicit craving he can never indulge.

Upon arriving in Transylvania to help the elusive Count Dracula purchase an estate in London, Jonathan makes some surprising if tantalizing discoveries. It seems his mysterious client has similar proclivities and encourages his male servants to explore their forbidden desires, all the while tempting Jonathan to partake.

Carnal pleasure is not the only surprise awaiting him, however, as Dracula’s secrets are far deadlier than Jonathan ever imagined, and as alluring as his new master’s touch.

Won't you join Jonathan in his descent?

A Delicious Descent is an MM horror retelling of Dracula, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist. Contains MM with sharing, MMM, and brief FF.

Buy Here:

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Scribbles Saturday#3

Hello gentlepersons!

Every Saturday, I post an excerpt of one of my WIP (work in progress)

Below is an excerpt for Dare Not Confess (Draft#1)

They contained stories. Superstitious nonsense, I know. Did people actually believed in blood sucking fiends? Uncle would have chided me.

More things in Heaven and Earth, Jon.

Uncle... I wished to speak to him. There is so much to say. Yet... If given the chance, would I falter?

Tag List (please ask to be added or removed): @bardic-tales @houndmouthed @writinginslowmotion @diemohnblume

REVIEW: Black Rose by Karina Halle

*Contains Spoilers*

3.75/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

At first, I was ready to give BLACK ROSE a five-star rating, but the ending left me disappointed. In contrast, BLOOD ORANGE had a gripping plot that had me on the edge of my seat and ended on an incredible cliffhanger.

Unfortunately, BLACK ROSE fell short in some areas. The plot was shallow and lacked clear explanations. For example, what happened to Sarah, who was an antagonist in the first book? Also, Bellamy's death felt rushed, similar to Arya Stark killing the White Walker King. Leif's character arc also felt incomplete as he left with Amethyst, Wolf, and Van Helsing without putting up a fight, despite only knowing Bellamy, Atlas, and Celinda as family. It felt like there was a rush to wrap things up without making the book too long.

Despite these flaws, I still enjoyed the dynamic between Valtu and the female protagonists Rose/Dhalia/Lucy/Mina. IT WAS HOT AND SPICY & action-packed.

I do hope that Karina Halle continues to write in this universe, possibly tying up Van Helsing and Leif's storylines, as she mentioned in her acknowledgments.

✍️Befriend me on Goodreads: ⭐HERE⭐

Book 37 of 2022!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

On the eve of her divining, the day she’ll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from the traveller community. Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn’t understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts. The girls may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate.

Content Warning: slavery, death, racism, death of parent, murder, confinement, sexual assault, rape, sexual violence

What Did I Think?

I had no idea this was a Dracula retelling until midway through the book when there were references to it. The second half of the book felt a lot more like a Dracula reference than the first half, and he also didn’t turn up until near the end - which didn’t bother me too much, as I like that the focus is on the faceless women of the original Dracula, however the second half of the book was far more interesting to me than the first. It had a lot more fascinating things happening.

It was okay on its own but, as a Dracula retelling, it fell a little flat for me and there was a lot that could have been explored that wasn’t, and I just didn’t end up enjoying this as much as I hoped I would.

Saying that, I loved the queer element and the twists and the atmosphere, as well as the main characters.

Prompts

Popsugar {bonus} - “A Book That Features Two Languages”

52 Book Club - “Award Winning Book From Your Country”

Scribbles Saturday

Hello gentlepersons!

Every Saturday, I post an excerpt from one of my WIP (Work In Progress)

Below is an excerpt from Dare Not Confess (Draft#1)

26th of May 1893

Jonathan Harker’s Journal

8 A.M.

Today is a devilish frenzy. To make sense of it all, I must jot everything down. Not to mention, it allows one to reflect. To think that it was not long ago that I was a solicitor’s clerk. Now a solicitor.

Imagine that. I am forever grateful for Mina’s and Father’s unwavering support. Speaking of Father, I wonder how he fares. No doubt the news concerning Mr. Renfield weigh heavily on his mind. I know that he tries not to let on.

Taglist (please ask to be added or removed):

A shitty hook for my book

Cinderella: Oh how I just wanted to go to the ball Prince Charming: What if I helped you break into the ball? Cinderella: My, this must be love! Prince Charming: So, marry me? Cinderella: I do! . . . *several days later at a castle* Cinderella: ... What's with all the bodies Prince Charming, nomming on one of said bodies: Dinner? Cinderella, looking around a morbid, gothic castle full of brides and monsters and realizing "Prince Charming" is more like Dracula: ...Fuck.

Cuz you can’t really see the whole thing on Webtoon, here’s the covers I’ve made for the series I have up + the cover for the redraw of “The Soldier and the Solicitor” I’m working on

(There's also The Bridal Procession up but I just used a page from the comic for that)

Links if you want to check them out!

Rosemary is for Remembrance

Sunlight and Snowdrops

The Bridal Procession

And I'll add the link to The Solider and the Solicitor once I've got the first chapter up

Thank You Everyone!

My story A Delicious Descent is #1

I appreciate all of your support, it means so much!

Get Your Copy Here!

Hello Tumblr!

Heads up: I WILL be writing a series of Paramedic/Rockstar Steddie ficlets following my one shot inspired by @piratefishmama BUT it will not happen tonight because I listened to Francesca by Hozier and all I can think about is an angsty Dracula AU insteadddddd

With Dracula Daily starting again soon, I fully plan to repost and finish Dracula Modern. See y'all again soon!