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riverofhorton 's review for:
Carmilla
by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved 95% of this book, and will be coming back to it in the future.
One of the things I especially liked was that the lesbian relationship was incredibly obvious, but none of the characters seemed to have much a problem with it, despite the cultural attitudes of the time this book was published.
I only wish it were longer and gave more detail on the time they spent together, though I do understand this is intended to be read as a letter to the reader.
The only bit I don't like is the implications around the "vision" that starts the book.Laura, the narrator, is 6 at the time this vision happens, which involves the (by that point) 150+ year old Carmilla being very intimate with her. Carmilla does later say that for her side of the vision, she saw Laura as an 18 year old not a 6 year old, but it still weirded me out to think about it.
One of the things I especially liked was that the lesbian relationship was incredibly obvious, but none of the characters seemed to have much a problem with it, despite the cultural attitudes of the time this book was published.
I only wish it were longer and gave more detail on the time they spent together, though I do understand this is intended to be read as a letter to the reader.
The only bit I don't like is the implications around the "vision" that starts the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic