Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

17 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Body horror, and Blood

Moderate: Antisemitism, Gore, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Misogyny

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide, 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Death, 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! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gaslighting, Blood, and Death

Minor: Bullying, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Misogyny

fernnoweh's review

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!!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Blood and Death

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Chronic illness, Medical content, Murder, Blood, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Grief, Ableism, Racism, and Body horror

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

essiie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Body horror

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

erinoco's review against another edition

dark medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i really enjoyed this! the concept and plot were amazing, the characters were so interesting, and the writing was accessible. i wish the the characters were more flushed out and the plot was explored in more length. overall, it was a fun sapphic vampire story which was the precursor to Dracula!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Stalking, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief

vigil's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

4.0

there wasn't any portion of this book that disliked reading, though i have mild hang up about the ending. the pacing of this book is consistent, though depending on the angle you view it from, could be seen as slow, medium, or fast, depending on what you count as plot progression. The language is very accessible considering it's a classic, but not simplistic or dull. i think the dialogue, especially between carmilla and laura, is the standout. 

the plot began to trail off upon the introduction of the general, though the answers to the mysteries throughout the book were fully delivered (a bit too fully, you could say) in a very sussinct manner that, once finished, quickly pushed you towards the climax.

the ending was, in my opinion somewhat anti-climatic, but i understand that was the style of the time. i do think that in making carmilla more of a vague outline of a monster, rather than something present, both added and detracted from the climax, which really need more of her actually in it. 

i really found carmen maria machado's introduction to be informative as well as her footnotes, though they often leaned towards comedy.

Spoiler

she's totally right on one front however. there's no way that wasn't an orgasm.

 

i had a fun time with this book though i think if it were longer, it would've made the book much better. especially the climax.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Child death, and Death

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia