A re-telling of Le Fanu’s Carmilla
by SD Simper
Available on Kindle Unlimited
I was planning to re-read the original Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, but ended up greatly enjoying this retelling. Still set in 19th century Styria, Carmilla and Laura expands on the backstory/sideplots for both characters and re-imagines the ending for a modern audience. It’s a long novella, around 25% longer than the original (40k or 160pp), retaining Laura’s first person pov and a framing device. While the language is much more accessible and enjoyable, it retains the spirit of the original.
I had opened myself to her in ways too wicked and divine to speak of.
CW: canon-consistent homophobia (challenged in-text) and violence, brief references to [mild spoilers, highlight to read]
past rape, past miscarriage, past forced marriage, past suicide attempt.
It keeps much of the gothic aspects of the original, the creeping horror and duality of desire and revulsion. Carmilla by Le Fanu was pretty sensual for the time but this version ratchets it up a notch; Carmilla and Laura bang as much as you’d expect from two horny teenagers living in a house where they have to keep their relationship secret from everyone else, which is to say, a lot (although Carmilla is not strictly a teen, being still several hundred years old). These scenes are always handled well with a light and practised touch (although never in a flowery way), with a view to Laura’s delicate sensibilities and internalised homophobia.
I loved the re-imagined ending, although I’m fond of the original as well. I don’t think you need to have read Le Fanu’s version to enjoy this, although if you have any interest at all in classic vampire lit you probably should.
Carmilla did not believe in God, but she believed in me.
5/5 would bang the creepy chick with the white nightdress and bloodied face.
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