kalihell_kalihell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Gore, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
a_ira'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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide and Racism
ptitirodactyle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Definitely a better love story than Twilight.
Incredible, especially for its time. Although I would’ve preferred a different ending and found the actual one really abrupt.
I really wish the author had explored more of Laura & Carmilla’s relationship. I understand that this is probably the most you can expect from a novel written in 1872.
I’m planning on reading both Carmen Maria Machado’s annoted version & the re-imagined graphic novel coming out February 28th 2023.
Still rating it high for the beautiful prose, sapphic romance, incredible gothic setting & its influence on pop culture.
Please check trigger warnings if you plan on reading it!!
Incredible, especially for its time. Although I would’ve preferred a different ending and found the actual one really abrupt.
I really wish the author had explored more of Laura & Carmilla’s relationship. I understand that this is probably the most you can expect from a novel written in 1872.
I’m planning on reading both Carmen Maria Machado’s annoted version & the re-imagined graphic novel coming out February 28th 2023.
Still rating it high for the beautiful prose, sapphic romance, incredible gothic setting & its influence on pop culture.
Please check trigger warnings if you plan on reading it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Racism
Minor: Suicide
algaewest145's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Racism
lunam0uth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? N/A
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood and Gore
Minor: Xenophobia, Injury/injury detail, Racism, and Death
jelliestars's review against another edition
dark
fast-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
1.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Death, and Racism
Minor: Child death, Grief, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Suicide, and Violence
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This novella has everything that you could ever want from a 19th century vampire story: an ancient manor house, villagers plagued by mysterious illness, a magnetic vampire woman, beautiful European forest, a thinly veiled description of orgasm, a masquerade ball, a ruined chapel, and more.
If you're looking for a quick, one-sitting horror classic... Well, look no further than Carmilla! Bram Stoker himself was so enchanted by this story that he borrowed many themes from it for his own work, culminating in the unforgettable Dracula.
If you're looking for a quick, one-sitting horror classic... Well, look no further than Carmilla! Bram Stoker himself was so enchanted by this story that he borrowed many themes from it for his own work, culminating in the unforgettable Dracula.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/injury detail, and Blood
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.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Child death, and Death
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
danuu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Racism, and Sexual violence
ambenicole418's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
The way it’s never explained why Carmilla’s mom just abandons her in people’s homes, so she can suck the lives out of their daughters is kinda funny to me. There is definitely an untold story there. Is her mom also a vampire? What is she doing after she abandons Carmilla? What is this journey of life and death she talks about? It also seems kinda reckless to abandon your vampire daughter in the castle right next door to the father of the girl Carmilla killed just a few days ago. How did her mom think that was gonna play out lol???
I have mixed feelings on Carmilla. One one hand I feel for her because she was turned into a vampire against her will and she’s just doing what she needs to do in order to survive. And as much as I wish Laura and Carmilla could live out their lives in a happy, sapphic vampire/human relationship, Carmilla was slowly killing Laura and killed a bunch of other women, so her death was justified and kinda necessary.
I also wish the romance between Laura and Carmilla was developed a little bit more. While I do recognize that Laura does indeed have romantic feelings for Carmilla, there are points in the story where it feels like Carmilla is 10x more in love with Laura, than Laura is with Carmilla. For example, Carmilla tells Laura that she has never been in love before and she will never be in love with anyone besides Laura, but Laura never tells Carmilla that she loves her too or opens up about her feelings for Carmilla at all. I guess this could mostly be attributed to the fact that this a 100 page short story rather than an entire novel though.
I have mixed feelings on Carmilla. One one hand I feel for her because she was turned into a vampire against her will and she’s just doing what she needs to do in order to survive. And as much as I wish Laura and Carmilla could live out their lives in a happy, sapphic vampire/human relationship, Carmilla was slowly killing Laura and killed a bunch of other women, so her death was justified and kinda necessary.
I also wish the romance between Laura and Carmilla was developed a little bit more. While I do recognize that Laura does indeed have romantic feelings for Carmilla, there are points in the story where it feels like Carmilla is 10x more in love with Laura, than Laura is with Carmilla. For example, Carmilla tells Laura that she has never been in love before and she will never be in love with anyone besides Laura, but Laura never tells Carmilla that she loves her too or opens up about her feelings for Carmilla at all. I guess this could mostly be attributed to the fact that this a 100 page short story rather than an entire novel though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence