Carmilla
J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars
3.80
· Steam/Spice level: 2 of 5
Behind closed doors [?]
· 112 ratings · 81 pages · Published: 1872

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s compelling tale of a young woman’s seduction by a female vampire was a source of influence for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which it predates by over a quarter century. Carmilla was originally serialized from 1871 to 1872 and went on to inspire adaptations in film, opera, and beyond, including the cult classic web series by the same name.
Carmilla kicks Dracula’s ass. Alluring, macabre, oneiric—the novella unfolds in endlessly strange directions every time I revisit it. And at its core, a pair of indelible female characters, whose attraction to each other is so undeniable that the text itself seems unable to contain them. I can’t think of a better guide through this ethereal, infuriating book than Carmen Machado—whose Borgesian imagination unearths for us the possibilities buried in its pages.
—Jordan Hall, co-creator & writer of Carmilla: The Series
Tagged as:
- vampires 25
- fantasy 25
- paranormal 24
- lesbian romance 20
- historical 17
- victorian 16
- mystery 16
- dark romance 16
- suspense 11
- contemporary 10
- urban fantasy 9
- queer romance 8
- monsters 5
- young adult 3
- horror 3
- short king 1
- angst 1
- new adult 1
- childfree 1
- age gap 1
- secret relationship 1
- class difference 1
- grumpy & sunshine 1
- small town 1
- viking hero 1
- sleuth heroine 1
- Add topics
- content warnings
- death / grief 7
- dubious consent 1
- abuse 1
- Format
- Audiobook
- first person pov 1
romance tags

Report duplicate books, missing or wrong information
Check out thebooknaut.com for more fantasy books and comics that might match your interests or browse new fantasy releases
- Queer fantasy books with gay, lesbian, non-binary and trans protagonists
- Find more exciting action-adventure fantasy books featuring epic journeys, quests and missions and fights for survival
- Follow badass main characters, anti-heroes, loners & outcasts and scoundrels and rogues on their epic adventures