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A review by josiesprobablyreading
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Supposedly the first vampire novel, this short gothic book has bags of atmosphere and tension. Carmilla is by turns charming, cloying and creepy, and Laura finds herself both attracted and repulsed by her.
The tension really grows through the story as the reader (a modern reader at least) can tell that Laura’s failing health is down to Carmilla. I wonder if first readers picked up on that, or was the reveal towards the end of the book a total surprise?
This doesn’t read like a classic novel - it is easy to read quickly, and the sapphic undertones, Carmilla’s appetite for Laura’s affection as well as her blood, make it feel more modern.
The tension really grows through the story as the reader (a modern reader at least) can tell that Laura’s failing health is down to Carmilla. I wonder if first readers picked up on that, or was the reveal towards the end of the book a total surprise?
This doesn’t read like a classic novel - it is easy to read quickly, and the sapphic undertones, Carmilla’s appetite for Laura’s affection as well as her blood, make it feel more modern.