I picked this work up on a whim, mostly because it was included with my Audible subscription. The publisher describes this work as, “A masterpiece of erotic Gothic horror,” but does it live up to the hype? After completing the work in a single sitting (thanks to a particularly long drive), here are my thoughts.
Pros:
- While I don’t have the context to call this work foundational, it bills itself as one of the earliest, “vampire thrillers.” I can certainly see evidence of the various tropes and trappings that would be common-place in future vampire-focused literature (blood sucking, biting the neck, sleeping during the day, etc).
- It may be my more modern interpretation of an older work, but the relationship between Laura (one of the POV characters) and Carmilla certainly seems to have a lesbian tinge to it. The voice acting also seemed to lean into this interpretation (even if the work never got steamier than passionate kissing).
- The work is short (clocking in at around 2 hours), and can be sped through in a single sitting.
Cons:
- The initial framing device (of the doctor sharing his notes) falls away after the first chapter. At the time it may have served to add a sense of verisimilitude to the work; to my present-day sensibilities, it seems like an underdeveloped plot device. Also, I was mildly annoyed at how word-for-word accurate Laura’s recollection seems to be.
- The mixing seemed a bit dodgy at times, with some of the voice actors occasionally much lower in the mix (quieter) at seemingly random times.
- The reading may include a star-studded cast, but to be honest, I didn’t realize any of them were attached to the project until after I finished reading and looked at the Goodreads page. This may say more about my ears / hearing than the work, however.
- Though the flowery prose may have been the style for the time, it does make the work a bit more difficult to enjoy casually.
- While the work may have explored a, “forbidden lust,” at the time (ie 19th century Ireland), same-sex relationships have been normalized in the following century and a half. As such, the publisher using that kind of language in the modern description is a bit gross.
Conclusion:
As a “free” (with subscription) Audible product, this was fine for what it was. It was also fascinating to see where some of the tropes around vampires may have come from. With that being said, the work has some issues that keep it from rising to a “favorite” in my collection. Also, compared to some of the more modern fiction I’ve read, this could hardly be called transgressive and only sits on the edge of erotic. Ultimately, if you can get the work for a good price it’s probably worth a read. Unless you are really into the premise, though, you likely don’t need to seek this one out.
Check it out here.
You may also enjoy…
- “Through The Woods,” by Emily Carroll (more spooky and less erotic)
- “When I Arrived At the Castle,” by Emily Carroll (out of print, but touches on similar topics)
- “Fly By Night,” by Tara O’Connor (more supernatural and less erotic)
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