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softgalaxy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a long time and it was finally in my local library!!!
It has such an eerie atmosphere from the start. I struggled to put it down. The strangeness of Carmilla was compelling to read. The way Laura describes her shows the depth of Carmilla’s alluring ways.
As a modern reader and someone who watched a lot of vampire media, it’s interesting to read the tells of Carmilla’s vampirism. Carmilla’s burning hatred for religion was hilarious to read, but I guess for the readers at the time, it would be quite shocking.
I can see how it shaped future stories of the dreaded vampire…
It has such an eerie atmosphere from the start. I struggled to put it down. The strangeness of Carmilla was compelling to read. The way Laura describes her shows the depth of Carmilla’s alluring ways.
As a modern reader and someone who watched a lot of vampire media, it’s interesting to read the tells of Carmilla’s vampirism. Carmilla’s burning hatred for religion was hilarious to read, but I guess for the readers at the time, it would be quite shocking.
I can see how it shaped future stories of the dreaded vampire…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, and Classism
v_____'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Auf ein Blatt Papier, welches dem folgenden Bericht beigegeben war, hat Dr. Hesselius eine ziemlich ausführliche Anmerkung geschrieben und ihr einen Hinweis auf seine Abhandlung über das merkwürdige Problem, das im Manuskript beleuchtet wird, hinzugefügt...
Yes, this was good!
Ich bin tatsächlich während des Lesens in die deutsche Fassung gewechselt, da für mich einfach zu viele unkannte Wörter drinnen war und ich zu faul war diese nachzuschlagen 😃
Zu sagen das Buch war vorhersehbar ist nicht fair, da die Geschichte einfach so bekannt ist, dass man nicht mehr überrascht wird. 🤷♀️
Es war trotzdem ein wirklich spannendes Buch und super geschrieben.
Ich hätte gerne noch mehr über Carmillas Story erfahren, über ihre 'Mutter', wie sie ein Vampir wurde etc, aber es es aus Sicht von Laura geschrieben war ist dies natürlich nicht vorgekommen.
Ein bisschen ist die Familie auch selbst Schuld, denn welche Mutter verlässt ihre verletzte Tochter direkt von der Unfallstelle weg, um sie komplett Fremden aufs Auge zu drücken? Das stinkt von vornherein zum Himmel 😃 Nothing could be that important!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rainbowrocky's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book must've blown minds in 19th century Ireland. I can see why it's a literary classic. I loved it a lot even if the characters are a bit one dimensional. It's more about the atmosphere, the looming threat of death. We know what's happening to Laura, but she hasn't the faintest idea since she's so innocent. Spoilers: Carmilla's death was a bit of a let down. I thought we were building to something more shocking but her death was over so quickly and unceremoniously.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Violence and Classism
pandemonicbaby'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I recognize the importance of this book for being one of the first vampire stories to ever be published in the english language (and also, for strengthening the trope of the Lesbian Vampire™), but I do think it was a tiny bit underwhelming. The beginning was solid, and the gothic atmosphere was there, but as it went on, it felt like the author wasn't the best at developing characters or telling stories at all. The climax of the story felt very underwhelming, as if we were just being told a series of facts while reading a wikipedia page instead of living the scenes with the characters.
Also, the mystery aspect was not the best developed? While I know that being able to tell what was going on from a mile away was probably intentional, that wasn't really done in a way that makes it more interesting. I feel like, maybe, if the author gave us more specific scenes with the characters, scenes that had us observe them more closely and notice their intimacy, it would feel all the more vibrant and real, and the mystery aspect would make us feel more. But then again, it is a short story.
I feel like this is the kind of book that you could make a great adaptation out of (book, film, tv show), but as a standalone, it's just kind of okay.
I do really like it that they were lesbians tho. Laura was sooo in denial like Carmilla was like "I'm in love with you" and Laura was like "wow... so she's either a man in desguise and that's why she's in love with me, or she's in love with a guy somewhere and that's why she's acting so lovey-dovey around me. Because she likes someone else." Like GIRL!!!! SHE WANTS TO EAT YOU OUT!!!! DUMMY
Just feel like the lesbianism could've been a little more juicy as well!!!
Regarding this specific edition itself: just felt like they were enchendo linguiça, as we Brazilians like to say. Like, c'mon!!! This is supposed to be Carmilla!! It only says "Carmilla" on the cover!! It's fine that they added another old ass english vampire tale too, but then they started adding a shit ton of stuff that is so unnecessary !!! Like, the editor's letter regarding "Vampyre" is so unnecessarily long and fucking mysogynistic, and I know it at least mentions the context of this story (as to why and when it was written), but I got so fucking angry at that stupid fucking mysogynistic editor I didn't even give a damn. And then, after "Vampyre", they also added a nugu's letter about Lord Byron's vacation house in Greece??? Like, WHY???? HE DIDNT EVEN WRITE THE STORY???
The people who brought this edition together probably just wanted to make it longer to like. justify the price or something idfk
Also, the mystery aspect was not the best developed? While I know that being able to tell what was going on from a mile away was probably intentional, that wasn't really done in a way that makes it more interesting. I feel like, maybe, if the author gave us more specific scenes with the characters, scenes that had us observe them more closely and notice their intimacy, it would feel all the more vibrant and real, and the mystery aspect would make us feel more. But then again, it is a short story.
I feel like this is the kind of book that you could make a great adaptation out of (book, film, tv show), but as a standalone, it's just kind of okay.
I do really like it that they were lesbians tho. Laura was sooo in denial like Carmilla was like "I'm in love with you" and Laura was like "wow... so she's either a man in desguise and that's why she's in love with me, or she's in love with a guy somewhere and that's why she's acting so lovey-dovey around me. Because she likes someone else." Like GIRL!!!! SHE WANTS TO EAT YOU OUT!!!! DUMMY
Just feel like the lesbianism could've been a little more juicy as well!!!
Regarding this specific edition itself: just felt like they were enchendo linguiça, as we Brazilians like to say. Like, c'mon!!! This is supposed to be Carmilla!! It only says "Carmilla" on the cover!! It's fine that they added another old ass english vampire tale too, but then they started adding a shit ton of stuff that is so unnecessary !!! Like, the editor's letter regarding "Vampyre" is so unnecessarily long and fucking mysogynistic, and I know it at least mentions the context of this story (as to why and when it was written), but I got so fucking angry at that stupid fucking mysogynistic editor I didn't even give a damn. And then, after "Vampyre", they also added a nugu's letter about Lord Byron's vacation house in Greece??? Like, WHY???? HE DIDNT EVEN WRITE THE STORY???
The people who brought this edition together probably just wanted to make it longer to like. justify the price or something idfk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Gore and Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
tessalexandra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Antisemitism, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Slavery and Suicide
thebiblioboo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
those_moody_readers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Murder
aparker89's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A classic tale, older than time.
We all know Dracula, his real life niece Bathory ,and their reigns of terror. But what if there was someone else waiting in the dark? Camilla is charming, beautiful and witty but something dark is lingering behind her sparkling eyes. Meet Laura, a lonely young woman who wants nothing more than companionship and follow her tale of terror!
We all know Dracula, his real life niece Bathory ,and their reigns of terror. But what if there was someone else waiting in the dark? Camilla is charming, beautiful and witty but something dark is lingering behind her sparkling eyes. Meet Laura, a lonely young woman who wants nothing more than companionship and follow her tale of terror!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Classism
fernnoweh's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Ending is kind of abrupt here. Wish that there was more tension and suspense that leads up to it. I can definitely see why this inspired other vampire novels because it does set up some very interesting lore that can be played around with. I can also see why there are many adaptations of it—there’s so much more you can do with the base story.
Also. For a book that is “steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance” there could’ve been a lot more of both. They just held hands and kissed a bit?? Where’s the DRAMA?? (I know this was published in the 1870s but c’mon man!!)
Also. For a book that is “steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance” there could’ve been a lot more of both. They just held hands and kissed a bit?? Where’s the DRAMA?? (I know this was published in the 1870s but c’mon man!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Body horror
littleflowerfairy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail