A review by howlinglibraries
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

5.0

 
“You will think me cruel, very selfish, but love is always selfish; the more ardent the more selfish. How jealous I am you cannot know. You must come with me, loving me, to death; or else hate me, and still come with me, and hating me through death and after. There is no such word as indifference in my apathetic nature.”

First things first: when people told me this was one of the most queer classics, I expected subtext, but what I got was full-on dark sapphic romance that enraptured me more thoroughly than most of the sapphic passions I've read from this century. This is just as much a gothic romance as it is a horror classic, and I was in awe from cover to cover.

“Nevertheless, life and death are mysterious states, and we know little of the resources of either.”

Carmilla also amazed me in the fact that, despite having spent my entire life being more fascinated by vampires than afraid of them (in fact, I don't believe any vampire tale has ever unsettled me until now), there were scenes in this book that had me literally peeking over my shoulder while listening to the audiobook at night. Carmilla is a force to be reckoned with and I adored the terrifying manifestation of her in those darkest moments.

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

Whether you are a horror fan, a gothic romance lover, or simply enjoy a good vampire tale, I'll echo the many voices who have claimed Carmilla as a must-read. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jodie Harris and thought the narrative was simply perfect — 5 stars all the way around.

✨ Representation: sapphic romance