sheridan le fanu – Cannonball Read 17

Not Enough Bite

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

June 23, 2025 by Tracy Leave a Comment

I wanted, probably even expected, to like this more than I did. I was so excited about a sapphic vampire story that predated Dracula but that isn’t really talked about—I certainly hadn’t heard of it until some time within the past year. The book is narrated by Laura, who lives with her father in an isolated castle. They take Carmilla in when she is injured in an accident just outside of their home, and the two young women become close. Meanwhile, other girls and women […]

It’s hard to resist a book described as “The Dark Sapphic Romance that Inspired Dracula”

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

June 21, 2025 by ElCicco 3 Comments

Originally serialized in the magazine The Dark Blue from 1871-72, Carmilla is the first vampire story. Not only did it serve as the inspiration for for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it was written by a woman. The novel is just over 150 pages long and is presented as a scientific account of events in the life of a young woman named Laura. The novel opens with an unknown intellectual explaining that he is including Laura’s case in volume 1 of a Dr. Hesselius’ collected papers. So […]

You will think me cruel, very selfish, but love is always selfish; the more ardent the more selfish.

Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu

October 25, 2019 by vel veeter Leave a Comment

Ah yes, the original vampire lesbian destroying a young girl’s virtue myth made real here. Carmilla is the story of Laura, a young woman whose father takes in a young woman. She and the daughter become the best of friends and through her allure, their connection, and maybe some amount of glamoring, there’s a clear indication that the daughter has fallen in love with the young woman. Great! An early lesbian romance novel. Oh yeah, Carmilla is definitely a vampire and is slowly preying upon […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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