I enjoyed this book; it had a certain thrill factor and I loved Carmilla's character, with the subtle references to the original novel by Le Fanu. It was dark, atmospheric and rotting. Dunn has a knack for dramatic story telling. However, I thought the sapphic elements of this book were written in for viewer engagement rather than to support the story and characters. If the attraction between the FMC and Carmilla was taken away, the story would still stand on its own (Carmilla as a vessel for female liberation). It took me out of the story somewhat. It may have been better to have their relationship more developed, or alternately be more subtle. Regardless, I would read more by Dunn in the future.

Hungerstone is a retelling of the gothic classic novel Carmilla set in England during the industrial revolution. It’s focused on the character of Lenore, and how the arrival of Carmilla changes her perspectives on her life, including her suffering relationship with her husband, Henry.

It was easy to dive into this book. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I am a huge fan of gothic fiction, so I loved the setting and atmosphere of the novel, along with the supernatural elements. The overall tone is dark and suspenseful, and at times it can be graphic (just a heads up in case that gets to you). All in all, I felt like the story was engaging and kept me hooked the entire time. It felt like a quick read even at 336 pages.

I almost wish I would have read Carmilla before reading this so that I could have an even fuller appreciation for the author’s intentions, but I don’t think it is necessary. I still enjoyed it without any knowledge of the original. I do think most fans of the original will be pleased with this reworking. I would recommend Hungerstone to fans of gothic fiction, retellings of classics, vampire fiction, and horror.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

A bloody gothic where the main character is the mad woman normally kept locked away in the attic. This is a slow-boil of a novel. You're trapped alongside Lenore as she gradually learns how to embrace her own agency and wreak havoc on polite society; the pace and the story heating up as time goes on, until it becomes almost unbearable. The pay off for this one is FERAL, and oh so worth the wait!

This is female rage at its best. This is women reclaiming their voices.
A haunting and seductive retelling of Carmilla, Hungerstone tells the story of Lenore, a woman suffocating under her husband’s control and betrayals, until she finally dares to fight back. She is starving for more than survival, for freedom, for desire, for herself. And she is finally ready to feed that hunger.

The atmosphere is dark, heavy, and gothic to the core. You feel the weight of Lenore’s pain, her yearning, her fury. Then, Carmilla, mysterious and magnetic, enters, offering Lenore the keys to her freedom.
A fierce and emotional sapphic tale. If you love gothic horror, female empowerment, and dark retellings steeped in longing and rage, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC.

Delightfully creepy and gothic historical fiction about an Industrial Revolution era woman who finds herself unappreciated and resented by her husband when she cannot have children. Murder plots, workplace cover-ups, lesbians, vampires, new money, and titled gentry make this a fun, dark, trope-y reimagining of Carmella.

I enjoyed the dark atmosphere and the tension in this book. It was slow at times but not in a bad way. I wasn’t expecting the sapphic romance so it’s a plus for me! I want more of Lenore and Carmilla.

this was such a fun retelling!! i had no idea what to expect, but it was perfect. feminine rage at its finest, with a dash of women getting whatever the fuck they want. hell yeah!

i love the vampire, queer vibes and almost liked this one more than carmilla. it was so different from the og that helped me enjoy this one as a stand-alone because it diverted and had it's own storyline. i was so glad it didn't follow carmilla or dracula too closely because that would've bummed me out.

i definitely recommend this one. it was a fun read & i finished it in one sitting!

Hungerstone was a super interesting read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I'd read more from the author.

Hungerstone has a unique premise and an intriguing atmosphere, but it didn’t fully capture my attention. While the characters are interesting, the plot felt slow at times, and I had a hard time connecting with the story. Some twists were unexpected, but they didn’t quite have the impact I was hoping for. It’s a decent read, but it left me wanting a bit more in terms of pacing and emotional depth. Still, it might appeal to readers who enjoy a darker, more somber tone.

I shouldn't have read this book so quickly after reading the one it's based of (Carmilla)! Although there were many new interesting aspects of the story, there were many overlaps (no surprise here duh). I may be revisiting this after Carmilla is a bit gone from my memory 😀

Hungerstone was a really moody read which I find to be rare with WLW books, I feel like a lot of lesbian fiction tries to hard to sell womanhood by making them without flaw. This was a great slow burn between women. Love!

Hungerstone was a really moody read in the best way. I loved the slow build between Lenore and Carmilla, it was intense and kind of unsettling, but in a way that totally worked. The setting felt vivid, like you could almost smell the old stone. Some parts dragged a little in the middle, but the atmosphere and the tension kept me going. If you're into gothic stories with a queer twist, it's definitely worth checking out. Solid 4 stars from me.

This was a great retelling of the classic Carmilla story. A dark feminist gothic horror/romance where Lenore battles between her loyalty to her husband and the appeal of Carmilla. It is a little bit slow moving but that worked for this book for me.

Could this be.... a 5 star ARC?? I think so! I think I need to re-read Carmilla now. I read that a couple of years ago and loved it. This story, centered on Lenore, is also fantastic. It reminded me of Dowry of Blood as well. The concept of hunger is explored in a very interesting way that I hadn't expected. And there's a specific trope that I really enjoy in books like this-- the "men are going to underestimate me anyway so I might as well use that to my advantage" trope. I almost read the entire thing in a day but had to take a break bc I was feeling sick and this is NOT a comfort read. (Not a bad thing, every book has its purpose.) Anyway, I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy now that I know how amazing this is. Sorry this is barely even a review, I just really love unhinged sapphic vampires.

I don’t want fluffy drivel in my gay books. So this is great. AND GOOD FOR HER! (But this isn’t really my type of prose or time period I care for, unless I’m reading some subpar fanfiction to lull me to sleep)

HUNGERSTONE by Kat Dunn absolutely sank its teeth into me, and I didn’t want it to let go. Dunn gives us everything: gothic atmosphere, layered worldbuilding, complex characters, and VAMPIRES. Like, real vampires. Blood, hunger, yearning. Yes please.

The writing is rich and immersive, pulling you into a world that feels ancient and alive at the same time. There’s mystery, power, romance, and that delicious tension only good vampire fiction knows how to deliver. Every chapter felt like a slow descent into something darker, and I loved every second of it.

If you’re like me and will never stop being obsessed with vampires done right, this is a must-read. I’m already craving more. Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dripping with loneliness, this Carmilla retelling lives up the social media hype. We love to see it.

Hauntingly beautiful but creepy retelling of Carmilla. Claustrophobic, slow burn, addictive. Absolutely wonderful read.

4.75⭐️
For what do you hunger?

Kat Dunn’s Hungerstone is a Carmilla retelling. Carmilla is the book said to inspire Bram Stoker’s Dracula. And this is a story about the unraveling of women, before our very eyes.

I had extremely high expectations for this book and I was not disappointed. I absolutely devoured it. The writing was just delicious, it was sapphic and vampiric and full of ravenous rage and desire and had a real thirst for revenge. We had some really strong commentary on women’s autonomy, agency and sexuality.

In the story, we follow Lenore who is an old-money woman in her thirties and her new-money husband, Henry, and their slightly soured relationship. The story is set in nineteenth century Northern England and we see Lenore and Henry moving into their new country estate. However, on the journey there they come across a carriage accident wreckage. Among which, is a woman, of course, they offer their hospitality to this woman. Her name is Carmilla, and wherever she goes, strangeness seems to follow.

This is definitely going to be one of my top reads of the year! It was so close to perfection for me, so much so that I not only preordered the special edition but also attended an event to have it signed too! I would highly recommend this book.

I didn't love the first set up but it really payed off. Gothic, creepy, unhinged. I loved the voice of the main character. The slightly heavy handed political commentary - but it will be allowed because it is so camp. Loved this.