Scan barcode
errie's review against another edition
dark
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual content, and Abandonment
maddiereadswords's review against another edition
5.0
If I'm being completely honest, this book should probably have been in the 4ish star range for me thinking about the pacing and all of that, but something about it has bewitched me, body and soul, and giving it anything less than a 5 feels sacrilege. I don't even normally consider myself a dark academia girly, but sapphic vampires at a creepy old women's college in rural New England?? Say less.
I loved quite literally everything about this book. The writing is poetic and beautiful, I enjoyed both Laura and Carmilla as characters, and frankly I too would risk it all for a hot older vampire with too much of her own shit going on. The atmosphere was simply incredible, and even though it took me longer to read than I expected, I found myself savoring every second of the experience. There were some minor details that I could nit pick, and I do wish that this book was like a hundred pages longer so that the actual plot portion of the third act could have been a little more fleshed out, but my enjoyment and love for it as a whole won out. I'm literally never going to stop thinking about this book, and I know I'll be revisiting it time and again in the future.
I loved quite literally everything about this book. The writing is poetic and beautiful, I enjoyed both Laura and Carmilla as characters, and frankly I too would risk it all for a hot older vampire with too much of her own shit going on. The atmosphere was simply incredible, and even though it took me longer to read than I expected, I found myself savoring every second of the experience. There were some minor details that I could nit pick, and I do wish that this book was like a hundred pages longer so that the actual plot portion of the third act could have been a little more fleshed out, but my enjoyment and love for it as a whole won out. I'm literally never going to stop thinking about this book, and I know I'll be revisiting it time and again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Alcohol
caseyreadslol's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I want to make a double entendre about the irony of a majority of this novel being so rushed given the care to crafting some intricately erotic moments but nothing's coming to mind
[the toxic relationship tw is not in reference to the main coupling]
[the toxic relationship tw is not in reference to the main coupling]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
livpaige93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Lesbophobia
skypotion's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ST Gibson showed back up with this. It's no Dowry of Blood, but it's a great novel on its own. The writing is again gorgeous, the intrigue is great, and I love Laura & Carmilla's characterizations, as well as what Gibson is doing here with the power dynamics. Does not let down.
Also, if you're worried about homophobia, don't be. It's in the background, as this is set in the 60's, but neither girl is put in a situation where they have to experience it for themselves.
If you have any concerns about the Toxic Relationship TW:It is not between Carmilla & Laura, although there are BDSM/power/dom/sub undertones to some of their interactions. These are all consensual, though, & I do believe they're codependent in a fun way (lmao)
If you're curious about any potential Dowry crossovers:Magdalena appears for a bit! She references the activities in book one, but nothing specifically. It's just wonderful getting to see her again, I love Magdalena
Also, if you're worried about homophobia, don't be. It's in the background, as this is set in the 60's, but neither girl is put in a situation where they have to experience it for themselves.
If you have any concerns about the Toxic Relationship TW:
If you're curious about any potential Dowry crossovers:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Abandonment
charleyyyyy's review against another edition
3.0
🦇This book was a bit of a disappointment for me because of how much I loved Gibsons previous book. This one didn't live up to my expectations unfortunately.
🌹I love the concept of this book, but the execution leaves something to be desired. The themes seemed underdeveloped,
I didn't love the charicters, and there was barely any plot to even be interested in. The scraps of plot that we did get felt underdeveloped and rushed. It had so much potential but none of it was used to its full extent.
đź–¤I did like the dynamic of their relationships.
I liked how Carmilla and Laura work as a couple, and especially how the kinkyer aspects of their interests come together. Although, that was also something I wanted more of, I did enjoy how their feelings towards dom/sub dynamics were explored on an individual level,
🌹I love the concept of this book, but the execution leaves something to be desired. The themes seemed underdeveloped,
I didn't love the charicters, and there was barely any plot to even be interested in. The scraps of plot that we did get felt underdeveloped and rushed. It had so much potential but none of it was used to its full extent.
đź–¤I did like the dynamic of their relationships.
I liked how Carmilla and Laura work as a couple, and especially how the kinkyer aspects of their interests come together. Although, that was also something I wanted more of, I did enjoy how their feelings towards dom/sub dynamics were explored on an individual level,
"I was, I knew full well, a creature composed of strange desires. They'd always been with me, these hungers."
"Love and pain grew in a thorny Grove inside me, impossible to disentangle from one another."
But I wanted to see more how they worked with these feelings during sex together.
🥀The toxic relationship between Carmilla and De Lafontaine was written well, and I enjoyed the way that theme was explored. Along with Laura coming into that toxic mix as well.
🥀The toxic relationship between Carmilla and De Lafontaine was written well, and I enjoyed the way that theme was explored. Along with Laura coming into that toxic mix as well.
" 'Don't you think it's wrong though? What she does to her students?'
'Right and wrong don't exist, Laura. They're fairy tales made up by priests and parents. There is only art and ugliness, and I'm willing to suffer and indignity for the sake of art. Even at the hands of Mrs D.' "
⚰️The theme of religion and how that mixes with BDSM and vampirism could have been realy interesting, but that also didn't get the level of development I wanted it to. It was just kind of a background thing, which is odd seeing as how big of a role religion is supposed to play in Laura's life.
🍷I wouldn't normally read a retelling of a classic I love, but I needn't have worried because this book barely has anything in common with Carmilla. The only similarities are the charicters names and the presence of vampires. Its a retelling of Carmilla in the same way The Love Hypothesis is a retelling of Star Wars: it felt like fanfic.
So what was the point of writing a retelling of a book when you aren't going to add anything or say anything or have anything in common with the original??
ALSO MAGDELENAIS HERE OMG!!!! I loved seeing her in this story and inteacting with this cast of charicters!!
🍷I wouldn't normally read a retelling of a classic I love, but I needn't have worried because this book barely has anything in common with Carmilla. The only similarities are the charicters names and the presence of vampires. Its a retelling of Carmilla in the same way The Love Hypothesis is a retelling of Star Wars: it felt like fanfic.
So what was the point of writing a retelling of a book when you aren't going to add anything or say anything or have anything in common with the original??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death
m_a_j's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Alcohol
noshinbean's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyably decadent in the most delicious of ways, S.T. Gibson’s gothic, Dark Academia retelling of Carmilla was an intoxicatingly lush and immersive read that Vampire lovers definitely don’t want to miss.
It’s set in 1960s Massachusetts, at St Perpetua’s Women’s College and sees freshman Laura lured into a world of sensual rivalries, secrets and deadly obsession that had me utterly gripped. I’m not all that familiar with the story of Carmilla (besides knowing that it’s a sapphic vampire novel) but the gothic atmosphere and dark academia aesthetic were absolutely spot on.
If you’ve read Gibson’s previous novel (A Dowry of Blood) you’ll know that her prose is gorgeously lyrical and haunting in the best way, so it should come as no surprise that her follow up (and companion novel to A Dowry of Blood) is just as captivating.
I loved both protagonists (and POV characters) Laura and Carmilla, who balanced each other out rather well (Carmilla’s confidence emboldening naive Laura into a more dominant role was quite interesting to watch unfold.)
The heady cocktail of jealousy, obsession and competitiveness they exhibit (for the attention of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine) was also really intriguing and made for a rather intense (but utterly gripping) first half. Though, I do feel that De Lafontaine as a character wasn’t as detailed as I would’ve liked. And had hoped to explore her conflicted thoughts and actions (particularly when it came to her maker) in more depth.
Overall, a beautifully written story that Dark Academia fans are sure to enjoy!
Also a huge thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.
It’s set in 1960s Massachusetts, at St Perpetua’s Women’s College and sees freshman Laura lured into a world of sensual rivalries, secrets and deadly obsession that had me utterly gripped. I’m not all that familiar with the story of Carmilla (besides knowing that it’s a sapphic vampire novel) but the gothic atmosphere and dark academia aesthetic were absolutely spot on.
If you’ve read Gibson’s previous novel (A Dowry of Blood) you’ll know that her prose is gorgeously lyrical and haunting in the best way, so it should come as no surprise that her follow up (and companion novel to A Dowry of Blood) is just as captivating.
I loved both protagonists (and POV characters) Laura and Carmilla, who balanced each other out rather well (Carmilla’s confidence emboldening naive Laura into a more dominant role was quite interesting to watch unfold.)
The heady cocktail of jealousy, obsession and competitiveness they exhibit (for the attention of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine) was also really intriguing and made for a rather intense (but utterly gripping) first half. Though, I do feel that De Lafontaine as a character wasn’t as detailed as I would’ve liked. And had hoped to explore her conflicted thoughts and actions (particularly when it came to her maker) in more depth.
Overall, a beautifully written story that Dark Academia fans are sure to enjoy!
Also a huge thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Murder and Alcohol
mercurysflame's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i was really drawn in by the characters and the story. my main issue was heavy handed characterizions where the characters would voice their own traits in a really distracting way. the main climax was slightly predicable and i was most interested in what the characters were doing after the story ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood