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cosmicsapphic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
surdiablo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
Ah yes, the OG vampire story that predated Dracula but wasn't equally popular. As someone who was exposed to a lot of horror movies and not so easily disturbed by anything, this book was rather unnerving to read at times, which was a delightful surprise if you ask me. Yes, the story is predictable and you already know what you are signing up for, but the writing is exceptionally immersive and sublime. I personally think it still holds up as a classic eerie horror novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
calimie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A classic Gothic horror with all its best elements: an isolated castle, an endangered young woman, an incomprehensible horror. The mystery of Carmilla is by far the best part of the book: how alluring she is and how atracted to Laura she becomes, and Laura to her.
Quite short, I recommend it to anyone interested in classic horror.
Quite short, I recommend it to anyone interested in classic horror.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
Minor: Death and Death of parent
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
5.0
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: Racism, Violence, and Death
Minor: Suicide
foxclcves'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? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Medical content, Lesbophobia, and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, and Child death
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.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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Child death, and Death
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia