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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
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
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
fast-paced
I admit I've never heard of this novella before, but I was googling classic horror characters and found Carmilla. Naturally I wanted to know more about her, and here we are! Predecessor to the much more famous Dracula, this little gem definitely deserves a more prominent place in classic horror.
This book, although short, is very clever in its structure and delivery. The reveal and climax felt a bit rushed to me, but the build-up was done very well and the sense of unease throughout the novella was also very good. In my opinion, horror doesn't have to be gruesome and bloody, nor does it even have to scare you all the time. This novella depends more on dread, unsettling the reader with the events while still keeping them in the dark on Carmilla's true nature.
I'm not going to pretend this novella doesn't have problems. There was never any real explanation to Carmilla's "mother" and that man in black the general observed-- or if there was, I completely missed it. And as I mentioned, the reveal and climax happened far too quickly after all that slow build-up. But for what it is, it's very good.
This book, although short, is very clever in its structure and delivery. The reveal and climax felt a bit rushed to me, but the build-up was done very well and the sense of unease throughout the novella was also very good. In my opinion, horror doesn't have to be gruesome and bloody, nor does it even have to scare you all the time. This novella depends more on dread, unsettling the reader with the events while still keeping them in the dark on Carmilla's true nature.
I'm not going to pretend this novella doesn't have problems. There was never any real explanation to Carmilla's "mother" and that man in black the general observed-- or if there was, I completely missed it. And as I mentioned, the reveal and climax happened far too quickly after all that slow build-up. But for what it is, it's very good.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
I found the imagery so captivating and beautiful. The prose was enjoyable and I enjoyed the relationships. The ending felt rushed.
I really liked it but I could read the end bcz I had grown to like Carmilla to much