Woman of Sorrow & Blood
by Dianna GunnWhen 18-year-old Alma is invited to live with Nightfather and pursue the Pleasures of Power, she’s determined to win his affection and ultimate gift: eternal life.
Yet life in the House of Night is not what she expected. Nightfather spends all of his time alone with Nightmother, leaving his second wife to rule with an iron fist. The servants brought from Alma’s home are hollowed out versions of their former selves. Others—including Alma’s own mentor—have disappeared entirely.
Alma buries her suspicions and throws herself into attending to the Daughter of Night, an extraordinary woman who requires special care.
When Nightfather calls upon Alma at last, she begins to see that his eternity is not a reward but a trap—and that it is not him, but the woman he calls his daughter, that her heart longs for. But tragedy lurks in every corner, and sometimes the only escape is death.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Dianna’s work, but when she sent me a copy of Woman of Sorrow & Blood, I was blown away.
As a long-time lover of fantasy and science fiction, I was never a huge fan of vampire stories. I’d read a few, but most still felt too much like the original Bela Lugosi film and didn’t quite capture my attention. So I harbored a bit of trepidation as I cracked open the first page, ready to see what magic Dianna had whipped up this time.
Blown away feels like an understatement. From the first line, the first paragraph even, I was absolutely immersed in Alma’s utterly gorgeous world. I couldn’t put the book down – I think I read it in one night!
There’s something mysterious and beautiful about Alma’s world, a cult of sexuality, bloodlust, obsession and faith.
BOOK DETAILS
Content Warnings: This book contains graphic depictions of alcohol use and addiction, violence, verbal abuse, sex, BDSM (including dubious consent), blood, vomiting (including self induced vomiting), arson, fire-related injuries, and major character death.