Hungerstone

By: Kat Dunn

Narrated by: Perdita Weeks

A Rolling Stone 10 Most Anticipated Books of the Year • A Town & Country Must Read Book of the Winter • A Goodreads Readers’ Most Anticipated Horror Novel of the Year • A LitHub Most Anticipated Book of the Year • A Book Riot Most Anticipated Book of the Year • A Them 10 Most Anticipated Books of the Year • A Polygon Most Exciting Fantasy Book of the Year • A Scary Mommy 11 Most Anticipated Books of the Year

A compulsive feminist reworking of Carmilla, the queer novella that inspired Dracula.

“Hungerstone is a delicious tribute to the inherent horrors of womanhood and the desperate and exquisite vulgarity of desire. This is everything I dream of in a novel.” ―Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of  A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth

It’s the height of the industrial revolution and ten years into Lenore’s marriage to steel magnate Henry, their relationship has soured. When Henry’s ambitions take them from London to the remote British moorlands to host a hunting party, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into their lives. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night. Carmilla, who stirs up something deep within Lenore. And before long, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger . . .

As the day of the hunt draws closer, Lenore begins to unravel, questioning the role she has been playing all these years. Torn between regaining her husband’s affection and the cravings Carmilla has awakened, soon Lenore will uncover a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk.

ICONIC & DELICIOUS CARMILLA REVAMP

As a goth girl who grew up reading lots of Victorian gothics and classics, I am always on the hunt for modern fiction that replicates that time period with accuracy and retrospective raw horror appropriate to the time period/world as built in the story instead of a lot of the half-assed anachronistic Victorian/Regency mishmash romance fiction that breaks the historical setting by shoving in poorly implemented modern feminist takes, and this baby did not disappoint!!! This is the kind of book I picture when people say they want to do a modern feminist re-telling of a classic— PURE EXCELLENCE, thank you Dunn 💕💕🥰💕💕 This is a deliciously miserable ride through MC Lenore’s tragic and pain-filled life, which finally begins to take a better turn after meeting Carmilla, although it takes a while to see why anything is getting better as her current life falls to pieces. The suspense, horror, self-actualization, and sapphic sensuality of this book was just what I’ve been craving. And I’ve been so terribly hungry…

Mesmerizing

Wow, this was incredible!!! The story was so vivid and the author really brought all the characters to life. There was so much depth to each person and the story expanded far beyond the horrors of the vampire tale packaged in the center. Really brilliant overall and fantastic narration. I couldn’t put this one down!

Honestly so good.

Overall, I really liked this book! It started out a little slow for me, but it gradually got better. I wish the last two chapters of the book had been drawn out longer and in more detail because I was excited and hooked. I feel like there were a lot of very specific details that could have been taken out and focus more on the last few chapters. I feel like the book just ended And left me needing more.

Quiet, violent, gorgeous and stunning

The language, the writing, the quiet build, the examination of a woman’s life - it’s all amazing. The narrator is excellent.

Control vs. Release

Lenore's inner monologue that depicts her struggle with trying to be the perfect woman and finally being able to release herself from that control and truly be herself was gripping. I really felt that her character was believable and relatable. I appreciated that Carmilla had a minimal part physically but a much more encompassing part throughout the book. I felt like she was just as a main character as Lenore, despite the book being told from Lenore's pov. Great read!