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A review by starlings
Carmilla and Laura by S.D. Simper
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Carmilla is a tricky story to retell. You need a balance between the horror and the romance, and in the original book, the two are inextricably linked: Carmilla's love is meant to be unnatural and corrupting. Understandably, a modern retelling wants to do away with that link. But doing so excises some of the horror and some of the ambiguity of the character - overall, this leans more empowering than dark. It also adds a very predictable subplot about unwanted suitors, just to make the antagonists easier to dislike, which felt like a bland move.
It also has to be said that at least the first third of the book, before getting into the romance proper, reads a little like you just took the opening of Carmilla and rephrased everything very slightly. I know I criticised Hungerstone for including very little of the original story, but this went too far in the other direction. It even has a similar level of exposition dumps, which were not the shining element of the original. The reworking of the framing device was fun, though, if not especially well-executed.
I don't want to be too harsh on this book - overall, it's fine, probably because it's drawing so heavily from a good book. If you're looking for a dark romance with vampires and you haven't read the original, you might like it! But honestly, I think I might swear off Carmilla retellings from now on.
(Also, pettily. Carmilla's anagram names habit is stated to be because she enjoys it, and not the much funnier original that vampires just have to do that.)
It also has to be said that at least the first third of the book, before getting into the romance proper, reads a little like you just took the opening of Carmilla and rephrased everything very slightly. I know I criticised Hungerstone for including very little of the original story, but this went too far in the other direction. It even has a similar level of exposition dumps, which were not the shining element of the original. The reworking of the framing device was fun, though, if not especially well-executed.
I don't want to be too harsh on this book - overall, it's fine, probably because it's drawing so heavily from a good book. If you're looking for a dark romance with vampires and you haven't read the original, you might like it! But honestly, I think I might swear off Carmilla retellings from now on.
(Also, pettily. Carmilla's anagram names habit is stated to be because she enjoys it, and not the much funnier original that vampires just have to do that.)