I was a little intimidated about picking up this classic, but honestly, it was quite pleasant and easy to follow. I also listened to an audio narration, and what a beautiful voice! I think it paired perfectly to this story.

The classic that inspired Dracula
- a sapphic classic I. Such a beautiful and stunning edition perfect for any fans of vampires or classics or just collectors of beautiful books.

Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla is a cornerstone of gothic literature and an early, influential work in the vampire genre. Originally published in 1872 as part of the collection In a Glass Darkly, this novella predates Bram Stoker’s Dracula by 25 years, establishing many of the conventions that would later define vampire fiction. Le Fanu’s masterful storytelling, atmospheric prose, and exploration of forbidden desires make Carmilla a compelling and enduring classic.

Set in a remote Austrian castle, the story follows Laura, a young woman who lives a quiet, sheltered life with her father. Laura’s existence is disrupted by the arrival of Carmilla, a mysterious and alluring guest who becomes her close companion. As their relationship deepens, strange and unsettling events begin to unfold. Laura’s health declines, and she experiences vivid, haunting dreams. The truth about Carmilla's identity and her intentions slowly emerges, leading to a chilling and dramatic conclusion.

One of the novella’s greatest strengths is its atmospheric setting. Le Fanu’s descriptions of the isolated castle, the dense forests, and the eerie, dream-like quality of the landscape create a sense of claustrophobia and unease. The gothic elements are expertly employed to build tension and suspense, enveloping readers in a world that is both beautiful and terrifying.

Carmilla herself is a fascinating and complex character. She embodies the seductive and predatory nature of the vampire, yet she is also portrayed with a degree of sympathy and vulnerability. Her relationship with Laura is central to the narrative, marked by an intense and ambiguous intimacy that hints at both friendship and something more sinister. Le Fanu’s depiction of this relationship is daring for its time, exploring themes of repressed desire and the supernatural bond between predator and prey.

Laura, as the story’s narrator, provides a compelling and relatable perspective. Her innocence and curiosity make her both a sympathetic victim and a keen observer of the strange events around her. Through Laura’s eyes, readers experience the gradual unraveling of Carmilla’s true nature, heightening the sense of dread and mystery.

Le Fanu’s prose is elegant and evocative, capturing the gothic atmosphere and the psychological complexity of his characters. His ability to blend horror with beauty is particularly effective, creating a narrative that is as haunting as it is captivating. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually as the full extent of Carmilla’s influence is revealed.

Carmilla is notable not only for its contributions to vampire lore but also for its exploration of gender and sexuality. The novella’s depiction of a powerful, independent female vampire who preys on young women was groundbreaking for its time and continues to resonate with modern readers. Le Fanu’s subtle treatment of these themes adds depth and intrigue to the story, making it a rich subject for analysis and interpretation.

In conclusion, Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu is a seminal work that has left a lasting impact on the vampire genre and gothic literature. Its atmospheric setting, complex characters, and exploration of taboo themes make it a compelling and thought-provoking read. Whether you are a fan of classic horror, gothic fiction, or vampire tales, Carmilla is a must-read that continues to captivate and haunt readers more than a century after its publication. Le Fanu’s novella is a timeless masterpiece that deftly combines horror, beauty, and psychological depth, securing its place as a cornerstone of gothic fiction.

I cannot explain fully how much I loved this title. I think often books like this get lost in the tradition. heterosexual canon of works. Carmilla showcases literature that highlights human experiences outside of the norm. It portrays queer, sapphic desire at its finest. I was astonished at Le Fanu's ability to describe the longing, desire, and ache often associated with the first sapphic experience. I have carried in the store now for around a year and it sits directly in my staff picks. I have hand sold around 10 copies and I will continue to do so!

I enjoyed reading Carmilla and found it a very unique classic and intriguing take on the vampire tropes which have obviously arisen from this very early novel. I liked the characters and plot and thought it was very interesting to read in view of the time period and the implications about the romance, never mind the vampireness of it all.

Carmilla is a fantastic story that should be read by anybody interested in the gothic horror genre or horror fans in general.

CARMILLA is remarkably Sapphic, in my opinion, for a book whose initial serialization occurred in 1861-1872, in the midst of the mostly repressive Victorian Era. [The also sensual DRACULA by Bram Stoker was published in 1897, a full quarter-century later.] Amazingly after many decades of Horror, I had not until now read CARMILLA. If I had as a child, surely I would have missed the sensuality and the obviousness of Carmilla's seduction of Laura, and her recent seduction of the General's niece, his ward. I noticed that her beauty is apparent to and acknowledged by these older men (one a father, one an uncle/guardian) but (thankfully) her beauty does not incite their lust, but only a sort of distant fondness and protectiveness, as a considerate shepherd might for his sheep. Also, CARMILLA is primarily a female-character story: Carmilla and Laura, Carmilla's earlier "incarnations" and her female victims, the older woman (chaperone) who purports (in every one of Carmilla's manifestations) to be the "young girl's" mother. Even the "secondary" victims (peasants and villagers) are primarily women. And of course, for whom is the story named? The deadly, unforgettable, CARMILLA.

Remarkable, I think, for a published mid-19th century story by a Western European (Irish) male author. For who holds the Power in this tale? WOMEN!!!

Note: I gave CARMILLA a 4 star 🌟 rating when I finished it, but a day later while pondering my review, I elevated it to 5 🌟. See my concluding paragraph!

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. Carmilla is a retelling of Dracula with a more interesting story and characters. The original story is very slow paced and boring. Carmilla has a lot more to it, and it not as boring or slow paced. Sometimes it is a little slow paced, but overall I enjoyed the read. There is sapphic longing and an intriguing storyline.

I have no there words than run to read this book!! might of been my favorite book from last year highly recommend checking this one out if you like vampires, you will definitely like Carmilla!

As a fan of Dracula I'm quite disappointed of myself that I haven't read this earlier, because it was originally published long before Stoker's famous novel.
As with all vampire stories it has a sexual undertone, in this case you could say, a lesbian one. If you ignore the unpleasant male gaze at young women, you are in for a good horror story, which brings you back to the point when all the vampire hype started.

Sheridan Le Fanu's 'Carmilla' is a staple of the vampire mythos, an early influence on Stoker's Dracula, but also formative in horror as a vehicle for exploring queer - in this case lesbian - relationships.

The reveal is predictable, especially if you are wrapped up in the genre (or happen to read the blurb), but where 'Carmilla' continues to be culturally relevant is in its nuanced depiction of queerness and horror. While there are issues in the way Le Fanu picked and prodded at the original influence for the text, erasing some queer context and the fact the apparently 'real' inspiration behind the story was always a consensual, loving relationship between two women, the love between Carmilla and Laura is still visceral. The strong bond between Carmilla and Laura carries the true emotional weight of the text, with Carmilla's confliction of having to feed to live but unhappy in her hurting of Laura mixing with Laura's first experience of desire and lust over Carmilla, even when she knows she is dangerous. Its depiction of male control of sexuality through violence is also fascinating when read through a contemporary lens, and certainly provides an interesting influence on Stoker's own decision to adopt the figure of a fierce, scholarly vampire hunter.

A must-read horror classic, especially for fans of queer horror and vampires.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

I tried so hard to like this book. There were times, especially when Carmilla and Laura were together, where I was engrossed and I enjoyed it but a lot of the time it felt like a slog to get through. There was SO MUCH dialgoue where it felt like I was being talked to and I just didn't like it.

I can't speak much of the edition itself as I got an eARC and it didn't show any formatting or illustrations that may have been in the physical copy.

I love Carmilla, a great book which really plays on the idea of vampires. Written well before Dracula, can we consider it one of the first real vampire books? Oh yes!

A fabulous novella about a lonely girl Laura, who desperately wants a friend while she and her father live in a small castle in a remote town. Unfortunately she gets what she wishes for after a young girl is involved in a carriage accident right outside their "house" but as she's nursed back to health Laura begins to feel unwell. The new arrival couldn't be connected to the weakness in Laura, can she?
Although the book is almost 150 years old, it didn't take me too long to adapt to the writing style and only found the speeches terribly long winded and old fashioned. But I adored it, and I know it will be a book that I want to read again

I was looking forward to reading this. But quickly remembered just how much reading work is needed to wade through the laborious sentence structure which is so prevalent in literature from this time. This style, to the modern reader (well, me, definitely) can sometimes feel like wading through treacle and I always feel I might be missing out whilst I’m trying to find my way through the labyrinth of those long, long, long and fractured sentences.
But that aside, I loved this book!
Apparently, Carmilla pre-dates Dracula by 26 years and is considered one of the original vampire story. Good for me then, that this is the first Vampire story I’ve read.
From the setting, deep in the remote Austrian forest; to a stately brooding Schloss; a young woman with just her elderly father and two female servants and the dramatic entrance of the beautiful and mysterious Carmilla herself - this has all the foundations of a classic fairy tale. And like some of the best fairy tales, Carmilla is deliciously dark and twisty, with a heavy dollop of Sapphic obsession.
A book to really sink your teeth into. (Sorry, I had to say it!)

Carmilla is the story of a female vampire who tricks unsuspecting young women into befriending her and then turning them into a vampire as well. Written before Brahms Stoker's Dracula, Carmilla is one of the first vampire novelizations which sets up much of the vampire lore we still hold to be "canon" today, as well as one of the earliest examples of mainstream queer fiction. This novel is where the stereotype of female vampires being lesbians and highly sexual creatures originates from.

The cover and edition of this is beautiful. The story itself was good but I was a little underwhelmed. I am sad that I've gone my entire life without knowing Carmilla existed before this and want to consume more of it. I'm totally rereading this is a different format. I think I might get more out of it that way. Which sounds a little contradictory but reading is complex sometimes and sometimes your brain needs things set up in other ways in order to appreciate them better.

Yes, this is the classic story of Carmilla. Do you NEED another copy? Not only is the story truly interesting, but have you seen the cover? Do yourself a favor and add this edition to your collection. It also happens to be a gorgeous vampiric red on black.

This was very interesting considering how long ago it was written. Had a whole exposition speech but that was very common for books back then so I can't really blame it. Also, lesbians from the 1800s, how cool is that.

An all time queer classic, with a lovely new cover. You can't really improve on the original, can you!