Hungerstone by Kat Dunn is an exhilarating, emotionally charged story that effortlessly blends sharp feminist themes, high-stakes narrative. The novel follows a fierce, complex protagonist who refuses to bow to the oppressive systems around her. The narrator was fantastic and engaging. Would highly recommend!

Thanks Netgally for the arc

4.75 stars -- Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Zando for the audiobook arc! This did not affect my review in any way.

Upon hearing the very first sentence, I was HOOKED. The tone, cadence, and inflection that the narrator, Perdita Weeks, presented for this audiobook was simply stunning. I truly felt the emotions of Lenore in this gothic, fever-dream retelling of the classic (lesbian) vampire story, Carmilla. The narration was equal parts seductive, worrisome, and engrossing. A perfect combination for the plot and themes that Dunn explored here.

We follow Lenore, a childless wife of 10 years to steel magnate Henry. When an eccentric woman is found after a carriage crash, Lenore and Henry take her in. Carmilla's presence starts to show the burgeoning cracks in Lenore's marriage and asks the question: What is Lenore hungry for?

Because we follow Lenore's POV, we don't get as much Carmilla in this story but it suits Lenore's journey. Lenore has to unravel with Carmilla's help but once she understands the trajectory her life is now taking, Carmilla's character retreats so that Lenore can enact her revenge. And, reader, the female rage in this is gut-wrenchingly understandable and justified. The relationship of Lenore and Carmilla is sensual and revelatory. I thoroughly enjoyed this and thought the ending sentence struck the perfect tone.

All in all, as someone who has read Carmilla, this was a fresh take on the original story that adds more to the classic but in the lens of our modern understanding. Vampires are very much still in, it seems.

For my audiobook fans -- pick this one up for sensational narration, female rage, lesbian vampires, and a gothic setting! Oh, and.... GOOD FOR HER! 👀

This book is being highlighter as a sapphic Carmilla retelling, but it is so much more. While Carmilla (a female vampire written before Dracula) is an integral part of this tale, the main character, Lenore is the one who faces the difficult decisions and actions that would lead her out of a life as someone who doesn't make her own dreams come true. Lenore is married and seems to be ok with her life until, while traveling to her husband to his home at Nethershaw manor, they come upon a carriage wreck. A woman is still alive and they take her in and care for her. That woman is Carmilla. As the story continues, Carmilla hints at problems in Lenore's life that make Lenore frustrated. Unfortunately, the problems are real and Lenore has to decide if she wants to be comfortable and happy or take risks to be her own woman. This book really resonated with me (maybe not needing to kill anyone). If you feel stuck in a situation, you need to trust that you can come up with a better solution. It will be difficult, and you may have to do things that are scary, but it will be worth it.

💬“I understand. It is too much to look at suffering directly. We can only survive if we close our eyes; reality is not a thing to be experienced raw.💬

Hungerstone is an absolute masterpiece, it’s gothic, atmospheric, and utterly immersive. 🖤 A Carmilla retelling infused with lyrical prose and seething with feminine rage, this novel delivers everything I crave in a gothic horror. 🩸✨

Lenore, the fmc, is that girl and a true mastermind whose every move kept me captivated. 👑 The way Dunn weaves her story is nothing short of brilliant, creating a world that feels both haunting and intoxicating. 🌙 The themes of power, suffering, and desire are woven so intricately that they linger long after the final page.

If you’re a fan of S.T. Gibson’s work, this is an absolute must-read. 📖 The gothic horror elements, the lush prose, and the sheer depth of emotion make Hungerstone feel like a rare gem. 💎 Books with these vibes are few and far between, which made this one feel like a true treat. 🍷🩸

I also highly recommend immersive reading with the audiobook. 🎧 The narrator’s performance enhances the eerie, dreamlike quality of the story, making the experience even richer.🥀🥀

I loved this book so much, it’s easily a new favorite, and I can’t wait to revisit its dark, mesmerizing world again. 🖤🔥

*Thank you Zando for the arc📖and Dreamscape Select for the alc🎧*

ahh, carmilla has needed a great retelling for a while. i was always a fan of the concept of the original - lesbian vampires? come on - but i felt like the original work by le fanu was a slog. this? no. in fact, i'd go so far as to say this book was compulsively readable.

this is exactly the kind of female rage book that i wanted to exist in the literary world. (though, let's be real, i will never have too many female rage books.)

hungerstone gives us lenore, a woman who has spent her life struggling to make out a world for herself. she has the social standing but she's penniless - she makes an arrangement to marry for money, her husband for status. with the expectations that she must act like a Good Wife (gross), her husband quickly decides once they pick an ailing carmilla up off the road that he's had enough.

but lenore is so drawn to carmila that it's palpable and honestly, pretty hot. carmilla constantly challenges the rigid rules that lenore has ascribed to herself and have been ascribed to her by the confines of a patriarchal society. carmilla clocks her husband's infidelity, suggests that maybe he isn't the perfect match he seems, especially when he keeps plying lenore to eat sweets covered in a substance that definitely isn't powdered sugar.

i loved the evolution of lenore's rage. i love that she errs on the side of what is polite in society until so much is thrust upon her that she explodes - she explodes at her husband, at the woman she believes him to be cheating with. and from there, she learns out to cleverly navigate the world for her own gain instead of her own survival.

When I heard of a Carmilla retelling, I was absolutely ravenous, but I truly felt a bit depleted after listening to that audiobook, because I feel the buildup to meeting our esteemed vampiric succubus was way too drawn out, and the peak of our main character’s plotting point took too long to acquire, all for it to end so abruptly.

I am still really thankful to Zando Pub, Dreamscape Select, Kat Dunn, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access before this baby hits shelves on February 18, 2025.

I held so much hype for this one, but in the end wanted for way more sapphic lust, vampirism, and female empowerment.

This entire book just felt like indulgence. It’s dark and inviting with great pacing. The narrator has this very sweet, feminine voice, which pairs perfectly with the vulgarity of the story.

This is a sapphic laced vampire story that becomes more as you go. The hunger and thirst manifest indifferent ways, meaning something different than just a bloodlust. This book is a representation of female desire and hunger, of wanting something and taking it. And I loved it.

I was unfamiliar with the story of Carmilla prior to reading this book, but it prompted me to do a little digging for background. It's fascinating!

In this story Lenore has hitched her carriage to Henry, a business man in steelworks, to set the course for her life. Unfortunately this wasn't the best bet as Henry is less than a good partner.

As the duo are on their way to their country estate to set up home for an impending hunt, they come across a carriage crash and an injured young woman, Carmilla. Having been the lone survivor in a carriage crash with her parents as a child, Lenore, is sympathetic and is eager to care for Carmilla.

However soon after, strange things begin to happen around and within Lenore.

TLDR this is a sapphic vampire story based on a novella that predates and possibly inspired Dracula.

This was a vibes book for me. I'm a sucker for a gothic vampire tale - throw in some (one-sided) sapphic romance and I should have been a goner 🥵

It's a fun and fast listen - the narrators accent was perfect for the atmosphere and time period. Technically a Carmella (Dracula) retelling but pretty loosely. I wanted more out of Carmella's character because she was the best part. The beginning and end were pretty strong. You'll love to be annoyed by Lenore - she's slightly vengeful, mildly pathetic, and you can tell she's just waiting for her opportunity to do something big.

There's a lot of barging weirdly? I think that plot point went over my head.

Listen for the vibes. It's a slow burn. I might re read with my eyeballs because I have a feeling I missed a lot of the hidden meanings. Was expecting more blood I think 🩸

The authors note at the end was 👩‍🍳💋

ARC REVIEW (2/18/25): hungerstone by kat dunn 🧛🏻 a decadent reworking of a centuries-old classic, carmilla. centered on a woman's unraveling at the hands of a ravenous houseguest, this one is not for the faint of heart.

a dark, sensuous, gothic story of female appetite, ravenous desire and insatiable rage. I was rooting for our fmc to start living for herself and was satisfied with the ending! I wish our fmc had some more unhinged rendezvous with carmilla instead of the flashbacks we got but that’s just the horror lover in me talking!

there are no explicit vampires in hungerstone, but a lot of very strange appetites for flesh and blood. there are some gruesome scenes but due to the lack of explanation of vampires, it’s unpredictable in the best way 🩸

thank you dreamscape select for the early audio copy 🎧 the audio was a lyrical and immersive experience that threw me into the uncontrolled appetite of the industrial revolution!

for what do you hunger? 🍴4 stars!

4 stars

There was no chance I was missing a _Carmilla_ reenvisioning. It's a delight, though I wonder if the read will be as powerful for those without some of the earlier literary connections.

Lenore has FEELINGS, so many feelings, and like all women, she has an extraordinary right to them and to expressing them however she likes. Her expressions, though? They're a little unorthodox at times. This makes her an absolutely compelling character, particularly when her story is told through the gripping narration present in the audiobook.

I'm about one more contemporary headline away from living like Lenore myself, so at this stage, I'm feeling like this is working its way into compulsory reading. We have to know how to respond in these trying times, and I'm going to say these two may be on to something.

Hunger Stone is slow-paced, and normally, I’m not a fan of books that take their time unfolding. But in this case, the dreary, oppressive atmosphere suited the story perfectly. The author does a fantastic job setting the scene, making every moment feel heavy with unease. I do wish the story had leaned further into its brutality—though that’s probably just the horror lover in me craving something darker. One thing the book absolutely nails is making you feel strong emotions toward its characters. Cora? Absolutely insufferable (gag). And while I liked Carmilla, I wanted her to have a more intense, commanding presence. Still, despite these minor gripes, I enjoyed the experience overall!

Beautifully written and narrated splendidly! I have not read Carmilla so I cannot bring a comparison. This novel was hauntingly sad and hopeful. Lenore is a tragic example of every historical woman bound by tradition but struck with a longing for something more. Henry is an outward prize who hides his evil behind closed doors. Cora has the same fated future but with child-like acceptance. And Carmilla! She is the fierce and powerful wisewoman that each of us wishes to tease out of ourselves. This story will stay with me.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

4.5 stars

before i jump into my review, i want to note that the fortmatting of the arc was not the best and made my reading experience a bit frustrating.

female rage is so back, this time with sapphic yearning and vampires🤞🏼 i had a blast reading hungerstone, and despite never enjoying dracula/reading carmilla, i’ve always loved retellings — ESPECIALLY queer ones.

i do wish there were more creepy, gothic vibes in hungerstone to add to the mystery/thriller aspect, but the vibes were immaculate nonetheless.

i enjoyed the character growth of our fmc lenore, and how she goes from an orphan trying to carve a place in the world through an advantageous marriage, to a woman with desires and identity freed from that very same marriage she once thought would save her.

i do also wish we had more scenes with lenore and carmilla together, instead of lenore’s confusion about yearning for carmilla, but well who doesn’t love sapphic yearning??

as for the narrator, she was utterly perfect -- absolutely the perfect voice for a gothic sapphic novel.

overall this was a bloody (pun intended) fantastic read and i will be sure to check out kat dunn’s backlist!

This is one of those books that is just vibes. I have no idea how to explain it besides that. If you know, you know, I guess.

I just don't think this was my type of book. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, I just couldn't get attached. I can see so many people loving this, I just prefer a little more oomph.

We follow Lenore who is pretty much bored with her life and kind of sick of her husband, but then the mysterious Carmilla comes to town and the two women form a...friendship. (I do believe this is inspired by the classic vampire tale of Carmilla, but it's definitely a looser-feeling interpretation to me. It didn't have all the symbolism that you expect from that sort of novel.)

A very flowery writing style that works so well with this sort of gothic atmosphere, but I didn't find the climax of this book to be all that climactic. When I read a story about revenge, I want a story about drama!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I wish all books were like this one! From the eerie, decaying home to the morally complex characters, this story kept me engaged from beginning to end. The slow and deliberate unraveling of secrets had me on the edge of my seat, and I enjoyed every moment of the confusion, the suspense, and the hidden truths that were revealed bit by bit. Hungerstone is a masterclass in atmosphere and tension. This is exactly the kind of book I love, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Perida Weeks was the perfect performer for the audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I devoured this audiobook in one sitting. There was something mesmerizing about it.

Leonore had a childhood of feeling too much and too loud, and as an adult she agrees to a 'business marriage'. Trying to meet society's expectations, she becomes but a shadow. That is until mysterious Carmilla comes into her life.

This book is so much vibes. It's feminist, it's sapphic, it's secrets unraveling. The suspense is creeping up on you, and at the core it's all about Leonore's journey to her true self.

The narrator has a mesmerizing voice that suits the story very well. From quiet desperation to somewhat well-calculated rage, she brings this tale to life. And at the end of the audiobook the author tells us about how she came to write this story. I love that they included this.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for the eARC!

#Hungerstone #Netgalley #Bookstagram

The audiobook for Hungerstone by Kat Dunn is a gothic remining of the classic vampire tale "Carmilla". It was a fantastic audiobook and definitely enjoyed my time listening to it. The writing felt very lyrical and immersive. I enjoyed the themes of desire, repression and the societal constraints placed upon women during this time. Dunn did a fantastic job of creating a feeling of dread with an atmosphere that felt claustrophobic. Overall, a very enjoyable listening experience.

Ive been getting into the gothic historical / paranormal books lately and after loving “my darling dreadful thing” and “Blood on her tongue” by Johanna Van Veen, I thought the synopsis to “Hungerstone” seemed to have similar vibes, and after seeing the extremely interesting cover photo I knew I had to give it a try!

There’s something about the old english language that is so poetic and lyrical and really adds an edge to historical fiction books that absorbs you into the story telling, it kind of makes me wish people were still well spoken it adds such class to an everyday conversation.

This book delivers what it offers which is a seductive gothic story surrounding vampires, gore, lust, mystery, intrigue, there’s also themes of woman repression as common in this time period.

This is definitely a slow burn book and takes a while to pick up but if you push through the first 20% things do increase in intensity.

In terms of narrator I love audio books narrated by Perdita she has such a soothing voice to listen to!

Thank you to Dreamscape Select and Kat Dunn for the gifted audiobook

Publish date: Feb 18th 2025