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willow_the_wisp's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Blood, and Lesbophobia
riverofhorton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved 95% of this book, and will be coming back to it in the future.
One of the things I especially liked was that the lesbian relationship was incredibly obvious, but none of the characters seemed to have much a problem with it, despite the cultural attitudes of the time this book was published.
I only wish it were longer and gave more detail on the time they spent together, though I do understand this is intended to be read as a letter to the reader.
The only bit I don't like is the implications around the "vision" that starts the book.Laura, the narrator, is 6 at the time this vision happens, which involves the (by that point) 150+ year old Carmilla being very intimate with her. Carmilla does later say that for her side of the vision, she saw Laura as an 18 year old not a 6 year old, but it still weirded me out to think about it.
One of the things I especially liked was that the lesbian relationship was incredibly obvious, but none of the characters seemed to have much a problem with it, despite the cultural attitudes of the time this book was published.
I only wish it were longer and gave more detail on the time they spent together, though I do understand this is intended to be read as a letter to the reader.
The only bit I don't like is the implications around the "vision" that starts the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
hellokatya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
i really enjoyed the guide and introduction. it felt like a friend giving u inside information and really helped my understanding of the book.
i do wish it had focused more on the relationship, more intimately, than it did. it felt very glossed over and not the focal point of the story. definitely should’ve been a longer and more thorough story.
overall, i did it enjoy it, but it was a bit hard to comprehend at points - had to reread numerous times - but i think that’s also a skill issue as i’m not used to this particular style.
would recommend
i do wish it had focused more on the relationship, more intimately, than it did. it felt very glossed over and not the focal point of the story. definitely should’ve been a longer and more thorough story.
overall, i did it enjoy it, but it was a bit hard to comprehend at points - had to reread numerous times - but i think that’s also a skill issue as i’m not used to this particular style.
would recommend
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment
carly_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
4.75
First of all, if you choose to read this (and I think you should), I must insist you read the version edited by Carmen Maria Machado. And don’t skip the introduction! It provides the necessary insight to understand the significance of the text. I found this to be a very accessible classic. It’s eerie, mysterious, and gothic and if you like literary vampires at all, it’s a must read. This story wasn't quite Le Fanu’s own, and In the words of CMM: “Once Veronika’s excised letters are restored to the record, the dimensions of the story become clearer; a young woman’s sexual awakening; the senseless slaughter of her supposed defiler. The ecclesiastics and doctors and fathers and uncles and barons and vampire hunters look less like well-intentioned protectors against a supernatural evil; their own accounts become highly suspect.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
thesvnthsense's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
takarakei's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I highly recommend this version of Carmilla edited by Carmen Maria Machado who provides much needed historical context in the introduction and with footnotes throughout. It's also a beautiful edition with a few illustrations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Racism and Sexual content
saintxkathryn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
sympatheticdroid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Sometimes its absurdity made it absolutely hilarious, but I think overall it's more about the dark romantic undertones than the funnies. The dark romantic undertones are between this weirdo Carmilla and this really sad girl Laura, both who you can interpret in a billion different ways. There's a lot of speculating to be done while reading, and even more to be done after you're finished. The length is short, it's in the public domain and the pacing is lightning quick so there's really not much reason to avoid reading it if you're at all interested in vampires, lesbians, lesbian vampires, historical queer fiction and/or historical fiction featuring women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death and Racism
Racism is minor the same way your seemingly okay acquaintance one day walking up to you, slapping you in the face and never referencing or repeating the offense would be a minor assault. To be explicit, a handful of unnamed brown characters show up as the servants of mysterious white women characters. The description in the book and commentary of other white characters paints these brown characters as being ugly and evil, and that is all the characterization they are given. It seems to reflect the views of the author. Once that scene ends you only ever see similar characters one more time as background characters in a flashback and there's no more overt racism anywhere in the book. I honestly highly recommend this novel, but I don't want anyone to not expect the racism. Every other warning is just standard vampire stuff.mousecat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Blood, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Death of parent