Carmilla, Deluxe Edition

I love Carmilla, and it was a pleasure getting to read this deluxe edition of the classic. I first read the book as an audiobook, so it was a different experience reading it as text and I definitely struggled a bit with the language. But that's part of reading classics for me, and I still enjoyed this original lesbian fiction and the paths it paved in the vampire genre of sapphic stories.

I’ve had this one recommended to me and never got around to reading it until now. It was wonderful and I could go on forever about all sexy and the lore. Instead I’ll just say this classic won’t bore you.

Spooky season is around the corner and this would be a great gift for your Dracula loving friends. This is the inspiration of Dracula, Anne Rice and pretty much every piece of vampire literature that followed.
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I love old gothic tales and this one published in 1872 is the perfect precursor to vampire stories that I love so much.

Thank you #NetGalley and #PushkinPress for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
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This book comes out September 7th

Carmilla is the original vampire story, steeped in the sexual tension between two young women and gothic romance. Cute retelling of our one and only Dracula.

carmilla is an eerie little vampire novella in which a bunch of stuffy old men take issue with a lesbian vampire just doing her thing. (personally, i think you give up the right to be surprised if you move to a remote castle in the woods and a pretty vampire proceeds to seduce/murder your daughter. what did you expect to happen?)

i just found carmilla delightful. laura and her widowed father are living a rather isolated existence when a carriage accident near their castle introduces them to the lovely carmilla. laura and her new companion bond quickly and fiercely even as word spreads of a mysterious illness killing other young women—until laura herself falls ill.

this novella had all the spooky, romantic vibes i could ask for from a gothic horror story, and a surprisingly ambiguous portrayal of homosexuality for the time period. rather than being othered, carmilla is viewed as a suitable companion for laura and becomes a beloved member of the household, which i found so intriguing. i subtracted a star because i wanted le fanu to explore that theme further in the book’s final chapters. what does it mean to kill the monster you’ve invited into your home?

I loved this gothic, sapphic vampire story, and I'm really interested in the ways it influenced vampire fiction. I can definitely tell that Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, and other writers in the genre gained inspiration from this work. Overall, this was an amazing read. I took off a star because the formatting of the e-arc was kind of flawed. It lacked proper spacing, so it was difficult to read.

CW- death, blood, murder
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Carmilla is the classic vampire story that inspired Dracula and was also revolutionary for sapphic fiction.
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I was interested in Carmilla because of the premise of “sapphic vampires” and the fact that it was a short classic that many enjoyed, and thankfully I am part of that group.
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Although it took me a little while to get the hang of the writing style, it is relatively tame compared to other classics. It’s length also helped with that.
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Once I got into the story, however, I couldn’t put it down! I loved reading this story about all that was transpiring, and it was just wonderful.
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In terms of the deluxe edition of this book, the chapter headers were very nice and I love the cover!
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

How fascinating is it, let’s take a moment to appreciate, that this female-centric vampire story actually predates Dracula. The fact that it is a novella will really work for modern readers keen to get into classic literature or (specifically) vampire literature. It’s much more digestible than “Dracula” and remains plotty and intriguing throughout.

One of the things I loved and didn’t expect was that it was focused on intimacy between the female characters high surely would have been out of place in the time. Camilla is terrifying, and enthralling to the reader, much as she is to the girl falling victim to her.

I really loved the way this story was told. The only negative I can even say is that it ended abruptly, leaving the conclusion to be a bit dissatisfying. Overall, though, it is a worthwhile and groundbreaking addition to the canon and highly recommend to anyone interested in vampire classics and further recommend it as a starting point to the genre. The fact that you always know what’s happening and who Camilla is doesn’t spoil the read, at all.

This edition is beautiful. It embodies the gothic nature of the tale and allure of the vampire, Camilla, herself.

Another vampire story??! Well not really! It was a nice surprise to find out Carmilla is not a typical Dracula tale.
Published first as a serial in The Dark Blue magazine during 1871-1872, the author, Sheridan La Fanu, has certainly made history by introducing the first lesbian vampire! As it can be expected from the era, there isn’t much exploration in physical relationship of the characters, but the sexual preference of the blood thirsty Carmilla is made obvious throughout the book as she confess her love to Laura in multiple cases.
“You are mine, you shall be mine, and you and I are one for ever.”
Narrated by Laura, a witness to a series of unusual events, the story covers different periods of her life.
The story is fast paced and exciting and though short it has enough elements of mystery and goth to absorb the reader’s attention.
With so many cliche vampire related materials out there these days, I believe many of us readers would find this story a refreshing change in the genre.

A female vampire written 25 years before Dracula who happened to enjoy women? Sign me up! The writing was spectacular. The atmosphere, the plot line, the ‘Oh my god, I can’t put this book down’ — it was all there. Highly, highly recommend.

Very cool to read the OG vampire story and even cooler to have it be about lesbian vampires. I would love to see a modern retelling of this.
All opinions are my own, thank you to Netgalley for this arc ebook.

This book was a fascinating and engrossing vampire read, especially when considering that it inspired Dracula. The tension between Laura and Carmilla, the depiction of the slow ensnarement, and the suspenseful recounting of an illuminating tale all combined to make for a fast, easy, and fun read. The atmosphere of fear and suspicion starts slowly and then builds. I would recommend this for anyone interested in Victorian vampire literature, or anyone looking for a fast, thrilling read. Fans of Dracula would likely also enjoy.

What a great. deluxe re-publishing of a great sapphic story of vampires, blood, lust... and more. This is every bit romantic and dark, full of scenes that will sink their teeth into your neck and never let go... thank you for the e-arc!

Le Fanu missed a golden (or should I say "blood red") opportunity. He could have written at least four more Carmilla books if he'd only left her head on. I'd read Lilarcam, or Racallim, or Cimallar, or Aracmill. You see, Carmilla kept getting away with her dastardly deeds by appearing under new names at each castle, all anagrams of Mircalla. She was Carmilla and Millarca (which sounds like malarkey) so why not Cimallar? If Le Fanu won't come back from the dead to write sequels, I guess I will. Write sequels, not come back from the dead, although I won't eliminate that as an option.

Carmilla actually was kind of a relaxing read. Carmilla, herself, was the epitome of of lazy, though she's called "languid" because that's a more high-brow way of saying lazy. Nobody saw her doing anything but lying around and occasionally strolling at dawn. The story does leave an unanswered question. Who are those people who keep dumping Carmilla at different homes and never come back for her? "Here, keep my daughter whom you've never met and keep her for a few months. I'll be back for her. Heh, heh, heh.

If you want a quick read that is also a historic read (as the stepping stone to Stoker's Dracula) take a look at Carmilla, the Deluxe edition. I'm reading it a second time so I can learn how to live with rich people while they feed me (feed me, Yikes!) and I basically lay around all day and get waited on. If a 150-year-old woman can do that, I should be able to also. Meanwhile, I'll be writing the sequel to Carmilla...Aracmill.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for letting me read the upcoming Deluxe edition of Carmilla. I'd thank Le Fanu but he's dead...unless he keeps coming back like Carmilla.

*may* contain spoilers.

Written in 1871 and 1872 (serialized in a publication of the time), this novella predates Dracula. There is some beautiful writing, with several passages begging to be reread. At the same time, the author uses the word "languid" so many times, it made me wonder if he was trying to invent the drinking game.

It's a creepy story, and like (all) most vampire stories, there are gay/lesbian characters. I love that the "evil" character is beautiful, rather unlike so many stories. I think, reflecting the time period and the publication method, the characters are completely oblivious to the obvious and are also very trusting. Also, thankfully, there's no glitter. But what happened to the oft-disappearing mother? Was there supposed to be a sequel or a spinoff?

This is an amazing story! It's crazy how it predated Dracula and how much it has impacted sapphic and gothic literature. It is truly one of the blueprints that led to the increasing popularity of vampires in fiction and the publishing of books such as The Vampire Chronicles and Twilight. It's a relatively short, fun, sexy read and is great for fans of gothic literature and/or LGBTQ+ fiction. I recommend it!

I voluntarily received a eARC of Carmilla via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Carmilla is classic Gothic literature. Following the tale of a seductive vampire and a young woman who falls into her web.

This is definitely classic literature and some may find it a big rough to read. However, once you get use to the older writing style it is such a good story. Carmilla has inspired the modern Vampire in so many ways and it is such a treat to see how it affected later stories.

Oh and its sapphic. So its and extra amazing classic novel!

Published serially between 1871-72, Carmilla predates the more famous classic vampire novel, Dracula, by about 25 years and deserves all of the hype that the later gets.

This was atmospheric and beautifully written, though there were some needlessly repeated words (*cough* languid). And it's sapphic! I particularly loved that the vampire was not "othered" and forced to live on the fringes of society but rather was welcomed into homes happily.

This story is perfect for spooky season and for anyone interested in the origins of vampire mythology in fiction, and it's novella length.

A deluxe gift edition of the cult classic that predated and greatly influenced Dracula and much vampire literature that followed, including Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.

In an isolated castle deep in the Austrian forest, teenaged Laura leads a solitary life with only her father, attendant and tutor for company. Until one moonlit night, a horse-drawn carriage crashes into view, carrying an unexpected guest -- the beautiful Carmilla.

So begins a feverish friendship between Laura and her entrancing new companion, one defined by mysterious happenings and infused with an implicit but undeniable eroticism. As Carmilla becomes increasingly strange and volatile, prone to eerie nocturnal wanderings, Laura finds herself tormented by nightmares and growing weaker by the day...
To say that reading this book became addictive is a huge understatement. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, wow and wow again.
This book has it all, Vampire classic, Gothic lit, romance and lgbtqia+ fiction. I knew this book would be great but I didn’t expect so much from it! A classic indeed, written many many years ago but still enjoyed in today’s world!
I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick read even though it includes all of the above. I definitely need to invest in a copy of this for my bookshelf!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! Carmilla is a classic for a reason! The OG vampire story! It doesn't get any better!

I should probably be a little ashamed that I haven't read this vampire novella, written by the son of a Church of Ireland clergyman, a lot sooner. Published in 1872, Carmilla predates Dracula by over 20 years. It's a very readable story and, in some senses, it's a very familiar story. A young, attractive woman comes to stay with Laura, our narrator, and her father in a remote castle in Austria and strange things begin to happen. Laura has visions, or nightmares, and begins to feel unwell, while all the while a strange plague seems to be affecting female villagers.

I've read enough vampire novels and watched enough vampire movies and TV shows to know exactly how this novella was going to go. While any twenty-first century reader knows how a story like this will unfold, as well as what Carmilla really is, there's still a delightful sense of foreboding and dread throughout, particularly as we learn more about a tragedy that befell another young woman, in the recent past..

What's also striking about this book, of course, is that it's a romance and, while it may have been written in the late nineteenth century, it's not particularly subtle. Carmilla is mysterious and seductive, and Laura is attracted to her, even as she's completely unnerved by her. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone else who, like me, has missed out on reading it, or for anyone who fancies a little gothic lesbian vampire romp, without resorting to Lesbian Vampire Killers.

Rating: 5 stars (it's the grandmother of vampire novels, after all).
TL;DR: Gothic horror lives up to queer vampire reputation.

This book is a classic for vampire lovers. Carmilla is the original sapphic vampire story that is absolutely excellent. I really enjoyed the deluxe edition and it was a pleasure to read it again.

Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla, now released in a deluxe edition, is the story that is said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula
In an isolated Austrian forest, teenager Laura lives with her father, but both of their lives are changed forever with the mysterious appearance of the beautiful and mysterious Carmilla.
What begins as friendship almost falls into a secretive affair as Laura begins to question her mysterious and magnetic visitor.
Given this book was written in the 1800s, it was frighteningly ahead of its time, with its theme of gothic horror and romance. While the vampire motif only really comes into to play during the final third of the book, it is still a hypnotic and riveting read.
For fans of gothic horror and classic vampire tales, Carmilla is a must read.

Thank you so much to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.

I am very happy to have finally read the predecessor of Dracula. It was very interesting to see all the vampire traits and lore that we still know and love today. Carmilla is the definition of beauty, and uses that completely to her advantage.

One thing I found interesting is how romantic and sexy this book is described, but I really didn't feel that. The "romance" is quite one-sided as Carmilla uses her charms to cast a sort of spell over her victims, but the MC, Laura, is quite bothered by the words Carmilla says.

As this is gothic horror, don't expect too much action. It is mainly Laura recounting her experience 10 years later, so a majority of the story is conversations. The climax of the story is also only about two paragraphs, so we reach a conclusion very quickly and directly. I feel like the story is less about Carmilla, and more the emotional manipulation that Laura experienced.

If you're looking to get into classics I think this is a good one to start with. The language is a little uncommon, but not difficult, and it is such a quick read. Definitely worth it !

It has been years since I first read Carmilla and I really enjoyed revisiting this atmospheric, story about a female vampire. Highly recommended.

I already kinda knew Carmilla because of the famous web series, but I loved knowing the actual story, especially because it was the original vampire story. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the story, but I liked it overall.

Isolated in a remote mansion in a central European forest, Laura longs for companionship - until a carriage accident brings another young woman into her life: the secretive and sometimes erratic Carmilla. As Carmilla's actions become more puzzling and volatile, Laura develops bizarre symptoms, and as her health goes into decline, Laura and her father discover something monstrous.

As a fan of gothic fiction I was surprised when I came across this and didn’t realise it existed, but now it will forever remain in my list of favourite books.

I enjoyed every page of this novella which is a vampire tale that predates and possibly influenced Stoker’s Dracula, one of my favourite novels.

Carmilla is the perfect villain and Laura our unsuspecting protagonist (who’s perspective the story is told from) reminds me Mina from Stoker’s later tale, a female protagonist I have always admired.

It was refreshing to see the story unfold from a female perspective and explore the relationships between women during this time. An enthralling read that I will definitely return to again and again.

#bookreviewsbymrsc #carmilla #sheridanlefanu

Lesbian vampire novels from the 1800s is a genre I didn’t know I needed until now.

Laura is devastated when her summer companion dies before making it to her household. When the bewitching and beautiful Carmilla shows up shortly after, it seems like a stroke of good fortune. But with a strange illness sweeping through the town and increasingly odd events surrounding Carmilla, everything may not be as it seems.

So full disclosure, I haven’t read Dracula, but I know this book is supposedly its inspiration. And when I found out it was the sapphic inspiration, I was even more intrigued (although slightly disappointed when I found out it was written by a man, but I guess we can’t have everything).

My biggest fear/issue with the classics is the cumbersome language, so I was surprised to find that this book moved pretty fast. It wasn’t too much work to wade through, and felt more entertaining than analytical. The fact that it was only 160 pages probably helped. I know some other people wished it were longer, but honestly I thought the story worked pretty well with the small page number.

Carmilla was an interesting character, and I really wish we got to see more of her. I almost think the story would have been more interesting from her point of view, but at the same time the mystery surrounding who she was and where she came from was a big draw of the story. The romance was more subtle than in modern books, but definitely more explicit than I would expect from a book of this time period.

The plot seemed pretty standard, but I wasn’t really disappointed about its predictability. It felt like a familiar kind of story that I didn’t mind slipping into again. Almost like revisiting a comfort read. However, I will say that the ending, combined with the fact that it was written by a man, makes me question the message. I won’t spoil anything, but as another reviewer alluded to, it seems to paint sapphic relationships in quite a sinister light.

Overall I’d say this was a solid book. It wasn’t earth shattering for me, so I don’t think there’s actually too much more for me to say. But I can also appreciate how revolutionary it probably was for when it was written, despite the questionable message. If you’re a fan of sapphics, vampires, atmospheric writing, or classic literature you’ll probably enjoy this book.

Happy reading!

Rating: 3.5/5
Intended audience: adult
Pacing: medium
Content warnings: death of a loved one, murder

I absolutely LOVE the story of Carmilla. It’s a wonderful gothic tale that captivates you, and I enjoy how it really is the original vampire story. The characters are so interesting and the new cover for the book is gorgeous. I do think it was a bit slow at parts but overall a worthy read. It definitely is an important piece of literature to read, especially for wlw fans of horror and gothic storytelling.

I really enjoyed Carmilla! I found it surprisingly easy to get into the rhythm and the writing style of the story despite the different language. I especially enjoyed the first half of the story, it was very atmospheric and suspenseful. However, I took off a star because the second half slowed down remarkably and the ending wrapped up very quickly. Despite my criticism, I would recommend this classic to everyone, readers who are just getting into classic literature and readers who have read a fair amount of classics!

Carmilla is a foundational novella for vampire narratives, ghost stories, the gothic genre, and is regarded as the first occurrence of the occult detective trope. The suspense is a gorgeous slow burn characteristic of the gothics, and truly brings the reader along for Laura’s fear when Carmilla visits in her vampiric state, and anxiety as she tries to rationalize what she’s seen.

The influence this novella has on horror, thriller, and vampire narratives makes it an essential read for all fans of these genres.

I'm going to start by saying Dracula is my all time favourite classic.
When I found out that Carmilla was the inspiration for Bram Stoker to write Dracula I added it to my TBR and kind of forgot about it until Netgalley had this edition up for review.

Aside from the writing style of the time you can quite clearly see the similarities between the two works, aside from the fact Carmilla is sapphic vampire gothic novel and the story line is much simpler.

I really enjoyed it, and would recommend fans of any kind of Vampire Fiction check this out to see where it all began.

I'm so glad I read this book because it's so important historically! I'm not sure why this book was ever on NetGalley, because it's been published 200 years ago and this edition itself has been out for 2 years at least. But, nevertheless, I was very happy to receive this "ARC" and the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !

I didn't know this story, and I liked it.

The story was interesting and the way it was written was very enjoyable to read.
I was a little afraid of how the story between Carmilla and Laura would be treated, but in the end it was amazing. The tension between these two women was palpable throughout.

I read this book so quickly, I recommend it. It's short and interesting, you get into it quickly and you don't get bored! On the contrary, we just want to keep reading to know what will happen next.

CW: blood, death

I've always been enamored with the tale of Carmilla. This edition is enchanting, the writing vividly captures the fever dream that the protagonist went through. I particularly adore the cover very much!

i saw this as a 'read now' title and gothic sapphic vampire novel that's the origin of vampire novels? hello. there's just something about the inherent homoeroticism of vampires and gothic novels and CARMILLA ticks all the boxes.

the only thing i know about anne rice is her vendetta against fanfiction but i can definitely see how bram stoker and many other writers of vampire novels were influenced by fanu's work. CARMILLA has clearly laid down the roots of what we love about the genre and why vampires and the gothic are still so popular.

the e-arc has formatting issues that made it a bit difficult to read on kindle/the kindle app since it's a converted pdf, but this is a great gothic classic, perfect for the spooky season just around the corner.

Thoughts
💭Let me just start off by saying that reading this novella was a great way to prepare for spooky season! “Carmilla” is such an atmospheric, mysterious read. It has the gothic vibes that I didn’t know I was needing. Plus, it has VAMPIRES!

💭The sapphic rep is something that I was honestly not expecting to find in this novel, as it was published in the 1870s. The attraction between two characters (not going to say who. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone.) is quite clear from the start, and the romance… I was expecting it to be portrayed in a more platonic, subtle way (again, because of when it was written), which it wasn’t. As Pushkin Press puts it, the relationship between these two *mysterious* characters is “infused with an implicit but undeniable eroticism.”

💭Also, isn’t the cover for this Deluxe Edition sooo pretty?!?!?!


Thank you to @netgalley , @pushkin_press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I read this back in 2017 for a university course on Gothic fiction. By that time I had already been wanting to read it for a while—ever since I first found out about it—and it did not disappoint. This is your typical vampire story, Dracula before Dracula, only it’s sapphic.

Carmilla is a compelling character to read about, and the more we learn about her, the more engrossed in her story we are—much like our protagonist, Laura. Carmilla is equal parts possessive and sweet, and it’s this dichotomy that makes her character so interesting.

Its length is also part of its charm. This is a rather short novella, and as such the story is condensed and extremely fast to get through.

All in all, I really enjoyed this homoerotic vampire tale. Both the Gothic atmosphere and the fact that it’s such a short read make this definitely worth your time.

I must admit that it's not my first time reading "Carmilla", and it certainly won't be my last. I absolutely adore this book and truly believe that it deserves the same admiration as (if not more than) Bram Stoker's "Dracula". One of my favorite classics of all time and a must-read for anyone who's enchanted by vampires and the legends surrounding them.

“You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever.”

This is the story of a teenager called Laura, that lives with her father in an isolated castle in Austria. She finds out that her cousin died because of a mysterious illness, and so are other young women. One night there in an accident outside the castle and Laura's father offers a bed to the woman involved. But this is not the first time Laura is meeting that beautiful woman, she remembers her from a dream. The two become very close but strange things start to happen...

Before Bram Stoker's Dracula and Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, there was Carmilla: the original vampire story, written in 1872, steeped in the sexual tension between two young women and gothic romance.
Being an old novella, and with all the vampire literature that followed it, there are no particular twists that a modern reader wouldn't immediately catch. But the beauty of this story is its delicate and dark prose, the gothic atmosphere of the isolated castle, the tension felt by the characters. And the unexpected sadness of a young woman / vampire, doomed to hurt and kill the people she loves.

The language is not always the easiest to read, but just like many other classics it's worth the effort. I'm glad I finally read this story and I would definitely recommend it to all horror and classics lovers!
4 stars.

* I'd like to thank Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of "Carmilla: Deluxe Edition" in exchange for my honest review.

18th century gothic lesbian vampire? YES PLEASE.
This edition, of one of the most exciting gothic stories EVER, is beautiful. It's a story that twists suspicions and secrets with a growing female-fondness... The grandeur of a gothic castle sets a beautiful backdrop for the compelling relationship between sultry Carmilla and Laura's naive narration. It's beautiful, complex, and fantastically imaginative!

A more to the point precursor of Dracula, with women in the main roles. You know from the start what’s going on and kind of how it ends, but still a fun gothic book

I was enticed by the blurb, promising a lesbian version of Dracula. While the queer overtones are there, don’t expect anything overly explicit or gorey. Still due to it’s length Carmilla for me was definitely more enjoyable read than its famous “brother”.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the classic gothic horror, the sapphic-ness, and the narration. I wish the ending wasn’t so quick, which is why it’s a four star and not a five star read.

This book was a short and a nice classic!! I loved the fact that it showed a Sapphic romance :) Thank you for the arc, NetGallery! I liked reading it a lot.

This book is an absolute treasure and a delight.

When I first heard that there existed a lesbian vampire novel that was written before Dracula, I was intrigued to say the least. This story is so engaging and you can't help but dive back in again and again. If you love regency / Victorian era romances, this book will positively delight you. The lost conveying between Carmilla and our protag will have you swooning.

The original vampire book, full of the tension, romanticism, and eroticism of the genre. I always love reading this story, and love this special edition.

This book is absolutely writing in classic gothic culture and sapphic eroticism. It is such a fun little read and something I recommend to everyone getting into reading old English due to the Novella's fast flow and beautiful descriptions. I wish Carmilla was as popular as Dracula.

Carmilla has been one of those books that I've meant to get around to reading for a long time, so I was very excited to read the ARC through NetGalley. It didn't disappoint. Knowing that it's a classic gothic story, which would be written in an older style of language, I was a little apprehensive about the ease of readability. However, it was surprisingly easy to pick up the style of writing and fall straight into the story. Personally, I found the story to be the absolute perfect level of spooky, sensual and darkly humorous. I was aware of the influence this story has had on the vampiric genre and also sapphic literature, and I'm glad to have finally read it and be able to appreciate first hand what an important text it is. A short read, but very enjoyable and definitely one I will go back to. This edition has a really striking cover and is one I would consider purchasing.

Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla has taken the world by storm as a classic and this Deluxe Edition has proven again exactly why.

A lesbian vampire novel written 25 years before even Dracula? Yes, please! Actually, I had read Carmilla a number of years ago, but what an enjoyable little novella. You would think a book this far ahead of it's time would get more traction in vampire lore than even Dracula, but I guess people just weren't ready for it. Glad to see it back out there.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to revisit this novella."

Lesbian Gothic vampires! ! I loved loved loved the tension between Carmilla and Laura. It gives off The Picture of Dorian Gray vibes, the Gothic element is fantastic, the writing style easy to follow and it's overall interesting and fun to read, but I have to admit that the last chapters are kinda boring, but it's definitely worth reading!!

Ps; Carmilla is the love of my life, where is MY hot vampire girlfriend?

I personally love gothic stories and if it is queer that is cherry on top. It is a good retelling of classic Dracula story. I enjoyed it.

This was such an interesting read. We get a beautiful but completely mysterious setting which for was the highlight of the book, a very dark gloomy tower with a lonely girl. And then we have carmilla another mystery that we slowly learn more about through out the book. I did very much enjoy the book even though I was a bit underwhelmed at the ending, I wish we had seen more of carmilla and her sinister powers. However overall it was really mesmerising and I think one of the most interesting classics I've read, this coming from someone who doesn't read classics much is a lot.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

I was entranced by this book. The notion of a female vampire whose tale was written before Dracula's!! Some may find the story hard to follow. If you can keep up it's worth it.

The highs and lows of love, mystery and suspense will keep you on your toes. I would love to see an on screen adaptation of this. Carmilla was ahead of time.

Before Dracula there was Carmilla, one of the earliest vampires stories, that helped set the standard for everything that came after and built the foundations for modern vampire stories as we know them today. It was originally serialised in The Dark Blue from 1871-1872, and then released as part of Sheridan Le Fanu’s short story collection In a Glass Darkly, later in 1872.

For the 150th anniversary Pushkin Press have released a gorgeous hardcover edition of the novella, with a tag-line that highlights the influence the novella had on Bram Stoker’s classic. There are a lot of similarities between the two and the influence is undeniable. Anne Rice has also claimed it as inspiration for Interview with the Vampire.

Carmilla is within its own right a classic of Gothic literature. I first read this when I was studying the Gothic in University as part of my Literature course and really loved it. I’ve always had a love of vampire stories and have long held Dracula as one of my favourite books. Carmilla is definitely up there as well and revisiting it now has been exciting. Not reading it for a course, meant I could take more time with it and not rush it with deadlines.

The story is told from Laura’s perspective, who is writing the story ten years after the events happened. Laura lives with her father in a picturesque castle and has an isolated life. A visit from another teenage girl is something she had been looking forward to for a long time, before hearing about the girl’s untimely death. A carriage accident outside the castle, means that another young girl, Carmilla, is invited to stay with Laura. Carmilla is not quite what she seems, and Laura’s health starts to deteriorate.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s dark and twisted and has some surprisingly detailed gory moments. It builds up an atmosphere filled with suspense and is a book I really escaped into.

The story is a must for any vampire fan. It’s a classic for a reason. We are still talking about it, with new editions coming out, a century and a half later. The cover for the new edition is beautiful and if you haven’t already read this tale, then it’s worth reading. It’s haunting and chilling and really has stood the test of time. Don’t be put of by its age the language at points does feel old-fashioned but it’s easy enough to read and once you get into it, you don’t even notice.

I was very excited to pick up this book and I was not disappointed by it! This is a Gothic classic that had such a strong influence on the gender and so many well known writers that I feel like it needs to be read if you are a fan of vampire stories. It is beautifully written and easy to read.

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I do not feel like there is a lot to say about this book content wise. This book has been around for many years. It is the inspiration for Dracula by Brom Stoker. I think what this book gives that Dracula does not is a more intriguing look into Vampirism lore. I greatly enjoyed the story, more so than Dracula. I feel this story has been overshadowed by Dracula for far too long. It discusses Vampirism and sexuality in an intriguing way. I find the story to be long enough to keep your attention but short enough to not drag the story on unnecessarily.

From what I can tell of this edition wise, seeing as I was sent this as an eARC, it looks like a nice edition to a shelf. The text is pretty and easy to read which I find is hard to do.

Loved this book! It's definitely an underrated classic with vampires. Very gripping story, that is perfect for the upcoming October days. The picture doesn't do justice to the cover, it's very beautiful in person. I highly recommend this book if you liked Dracula.

As always a big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for a review.

If you are like me and an avid reader of classic horror and classic vampire tales Carmilla is a must-read! This Deluxe edition is great and the cover alone makes me want to get a physical copy when I can because it's beautiful and would like nice to display. Plus it's a creepy little tale that helps inspire a large part of vampire stories and lore even up to stories coming out in the modern-day.

Like most stories that are over a hundred years old, some parts can be and should be looked through a critical lens. But it in a way make the story even more interesting to read if not to just see how view and ideas of changed over the passing of time.

If you were planning on picking up a copy of Carmilla for your collection why not go for a nice copy like this one!

I learned something new today? I honestly did not know that this book pre dates Dracula by 26 years. But Why? this was better.

Ok so it was like watching a black and white movie and the horror wasn't at the modern day levels.

But considering when this was written female vampire and a lesbian must have been very shocking.

I enjoyed at face value. It is definitely worth a read especially if you love vampires.

Enjoy!

It's a classic. Yes, it has aged and parts that were terrifying in the past, are utterly predictable and obvious, but it still has a certain charm. Every fan of vampire stories should read it!

Carmilla was out here doing it before Dracula was a glint in Stoker's eye! So glad I finally decided to tuck into this for Halloween season, and I recommend fans of the gothic novel do the same. I genuinely thought it was a page-turner.

Rating: 4
This was my first reading this classic and I'm so
glad that I decided to give it a try , it was dark and spook like I was hoping it would be and it certainly had that gothic felling to it that i wanted it to have.While I did enjoy and liked it and its definitely a book I could and will re read over again it'll never take the place in my heart that Dracula has because that was my first vampire book as well as one of the first classic I ever read.

This was a spooky, sapphic treat of a read - it's short but the language is quite of it's time so take your time with it. But it's an iconic vampire story that paved the way for so much of the fantasy genre. Big recommend to horror fans, especially if you like your monsters with teeth and a lil bit sexy.

I enjoyed reading Carmilla i found it a fun short read with a great plot and great characters that i loved reading about and highly recommend to anyone wanting to read this its so worth it.

The og vampire story, Carmilla is dark and luxurious, and perfect for Halloween season. I've been meaning to read Carmilla for the longest time, and I'm so glad I was able to read the deluxe version.

A classic, sapphic vampire novel that had a mammoth impact on gothic fiction. I enjoyed the deluxe version, would recommend it!

Carmilla is a gothic novella and an early example of the vampire in fiction.

It took me a little while to adjust to the writing but once I did I found the story fast paced and compelling. While a modern reader is probably more familiar with the vampiric elements which were novel when it was written, I still found this book intriguing. It was interesting to consider how Carmilla influenced future vampire stories, such as Dracula, and how far the genre has come since then.

Carmilla isn’t scary or a horror by modern standards but it is incredibly gothic and atmospheric. There are also strong sapphic undertones which feel very ahead of it’s time and setting.

The cover for this deluxe edition is beautiful and I’m definitely hoping to own the physical copy one day!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a classic, and deserves a place next too, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and of course Dracula by Bram Stoker.
This story is a little predictable, but it has a poetic writing style, and it flowed very nicely for an older book.

If you like classic horror, then this is a must read.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*

Carmilla was an eerie vampire book, predating Dracula. I found it looking for a vampire book, but when it was first written you'd assume it was more of a mystery. Carmilla creates a relationship with Laura. It was a great read. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in a dark romance.

I love vampire stories and wanted to read a spooky story for the Halloween season. I have read a bit of Dracula and enjoyed it, but I liked this story more. It's more fast paced and it's shorter so I finished it in a day. I had to take some time to get used to the language and word choice in the book so I definitely couldn't skim it, but it made me appreciate and understand the story better. I liked the backstory of how vampires are created and who Carmilla was. This book gives off a gothic and spooky vibe that's perfect for Halloween. I will definitely be re-reading this in the future!

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house for the opportunity to re-read one of the first gothic novels I have ever read.

I jumped at the opportunity to read this book. I remember being 16 and hiding this book from my mother and reading it late at night, it was my first adult gothic novel and I loved it. It set the course of my reading for quite some time.

I love it now just as much as I did then. A classic story that is way better than dracula in my opinion. It is dark and brooding, intriguing and sexy, a great storyline. It is hard to believe that this novel was written in 1872. Wonderful story, a must read.

This was such a fun vampire story! I actually didn't know that it was written in the 1800s, but that honestly made it so much better. We get to learn what Carmilla lived through years later. I thought this was done very well. Overall, a great classic that more people need to read!

This was an interesting book. it's difficult to think what it would be like to read this at the time without knowing anything about vampires.

I really enjoyed the voice of the narrator. The 'you'll think it's crazy but it really happened' tone of the book.

It's a quick read, that must have been so groundbreaking when published.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Carmilla is a short early vampire novel written about a quarter century before Bram Stoker's Dracula full of lust. fear, and confusion. The main character Laura lives with her father in a large house and is lonely due to the isolated nature of their estate. She is expecting a visit from a neighbor but instead receives a letter saying that said neighbor's daughter has passed on. The father seems to be mad with grief - he doesn't write clearly and so neither Laura nor her father have any suspicions of what could have happened. No one in the story is expecting another beautiful young woman to quite literally crash into their lives and attempt to sweep Laura off of her feet.
The book might seem preposterous at times for a modern audience - the family taking in a stranger's daughter for an unspecified amount of time while being expected to ask her no questions about who she is, where she's coming from, where she's going, or even her family name - but the plot has enough intrigue to carry you through the whole story without feeling like I did at times while reading Dracula (namely that the thing was dragging on and on into infinity). Le Fanu did a lot of heavy lifting for the vampire genre with this one story as well. He reinforced the sensual rich vampire trope we got in Polidori's The Vampyre, he acknowledged sexuality of women in the 19th century (even if it's not how we would acknowledge it today), he relied heavily on psychological horror and suspense instead of gore, and he created a story that is incredibly atmospheric. It's also readable in an afternoon, which is saying a lot considering the time period it came out of. I loved the cover art of the Pushkin Press deluxe edition.

A million times better than Dracula. Great to see newer edition if this books making it out into the world! If you're into vampires and powerful women, you'll love this.

I love all things vampires and Carmilla is a classic, so of course I had to read it. Was not dissapointed! Inspired by Dracula, Carmilla is the tale of - well- Carmilla, the beautiful female vampire and her friendship with Laura. There are some subtle romantic/sexual undertones (for the time) as the two go about their time together. But weird things keep happening and as each day (and night) progresses, Laura seems to be getting weeker as Carmilla becomes stronger and more beautiful.

Highly recomend for fans of Dracula or fans of Vampire paranormal fiction in general. It's cool to see how vampires have grown and changed throughout pop culture and the few things that have remained the same over time.

This is a truly beautiful rendition of this sapphic vampire classic. I won't hesitate to recommend this edition to my friends and fellow lovers of classic literature.

I didn't think I would enjoy this one that much. I knew that Carmilla is the original vampire story so I was really interested in reading it. The writing is so beautiful and the story super interesting, Definitely enjoyed it more than Dracula!

I'm in love with the cover, is just amazing.

As for the book. Carmilla appeared for the first time between 1871 and 1872 as a series in the publication In a Glass Darkly. It wasn't the only work the author had there and this story is linked to other works by the supernatural detective doctor Martin Hesselius.

This is really important as Carmilla not only precedes Dracula in the vampires but also in the character of Van Helsing.

Is mezmerizing to read about Laura, the protagonists, and Carmilla's relationship. This is a dark tale, full of atractions of every type, solitude and company, fear and pleasure.

Highly recomended for every vampire lover outher.

The original classic vampire story! An amazing new edition of this timeless classic. This has everything you could want out of a vampire story; it’s sapphic, so creepy, with wonderful gothic imagery and an uncanny atmosphere surrounding the entire work. Dracula is often credited as the first vampire story but this book did it first and in some ways better as it is truly the perfect vampire tale.

This is a classic vampire story from 1872. The mysterious Carmella is left by her mother at an isolated castle with the narrator Laura and her father. Then young local peasant women start dying, and Laura herself sickens. A enjoyable quick read.

"But to die as lovers may - to die together, so that they may live together."

Carmilla is one of my favourite classic gothic novels, and this edition is beautiful. Thank you to Pushkin Press for sending me an ARC. This is a lesbian gothic novel classic. Camilla stalking her human prey predates Dracula, and is just as good. Like every good vampire novel, it is sexual while repressed, dramatic as well as ridiculous, horrifying and entertaining. This is the original gothic horror vampire story, and everyone should read it.

"'I have been in love with no one, and never shall,' she whispered, 'unless it should be with you.'
How beautiful she looked in the moonlight!
Shy and strange was the look with which she quickly hid her face in my neck and hair, with tumultuous sighs, that seemed almost to sob, and pressed in mine a hand that trembled.
Her soft cheek was glowing against mine. 'Darling, darling,' she murmured, 'I live in you; and you would die for me, I love you so.'"

Carmilla, an eery vampire gothic written a quarter of a century before Bram Stoker’s Dracula, takes place in the isolated forests of Styria in Austria and makes for a great little novella. The psychological horror our characters endure, paired with the chilling atmosphere Le Fanu creates, makes for quite the unnerving read.

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Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla
by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Read
TW: Suicide, murder, blood, grooming

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:In an isolated castle deep in the Austrian forest, teenaged Laura leads a solitary life with only her father, attendant and tutor for company. Until one moonlit night, a horse-drawn carriage crashes into view, carrying an unexpected guest -- the beautiful Carmilla.So begins a feverish friendship between Laura and her entrancing new companion, one defined by mysterious happenings and infused with an implicit but undeniable eroticism. As Carmilla becomes increasingly strange and volatile, prone to eerie nocturnal wanderings, Laura finds herself tormented by nightmares and growing weaker by the day...
Release Date: 1872
Genre: Horror
Pages: 156
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
• The story sucks you in (see what I did there..)
• The characters are interesting
• You actually get to know about the vampires

What I Didn't Like:
• Could be repetitive at times

Overall Thoughts: I liked this book a lot. Way better than Dracula. I think Dracula is over rated because he's barely even in it.

The characters just make you want to hear about what else is going to happen. I thought it was interesting how Laura and Carmilla somehow knew one another from before. Of course then you question whether she's tricking Laura into believing this or not.

I like that their love is talked about like it's a regular heterosexuál relationship. Some things don't need to be pointed out just let the story flow and take the readers with you. Pointing out how it wouldn't be socially acceptable would have weighed down the story with conversations that were not needed.

Final Thoughts: I adored this book and thought it was a fun, scary, short read.

Great gothic tales, which still hold up, even after all the vampire fiction publish afterwards. Much more interesting than Dracula.

Carmilla is a short tale following Laura, a lonely, isolated girl in a castle who one day meets Carmilla, a girl her age who by an unexpected event leads her to staying with Laura. Strange happenings start to occur within her home and in the surrounding area - and over time Laura uncovers secrets that she can scarcely believe.

I really enjoyed this. I loved the writing style despite it being unfamiliar to me, and I was totally immersed in this haunting, gothic and atmospheric story from the first page. I was eager to find out what happened next and adored the way this story was told.

I can see where the inspiration for Dracula has been derived, fascinating as it is. I especially enjoyed the fact this original tale was of a woman, where Dracula is male. The characters were a little ignorant when events were unfolding, but it also makes sense for the story and how bizarre the revelation was. I’m so glad I read this. It was eerie and entrancing and I loved it.

Spooky, haunting and for the time in which it was written -very progressive, I feel that I will read this book again and again.

A gorgeous edition of Carmilla.

I love the cover design and the chosen fonts. It couldn’t be more gothic if it tried.

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

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.

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.

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!)

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 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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

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.