I received this book as an e-arc, courtesy of NetGalley & Zando -- thank you so much for the opportunity to read this gothic historical fiction retelling of Carmilla. It's absolutely gorgeous!

I first wanted to read this when I saw it described as a Carmilla retelling. I read Carmilla in university for my BA, and I was so excited to see how it would be interpreted. Kat did an amazing job of telling a new story, and conveying allll the female rage, which of course, I'm always here for. The book reminded me of "mad woman" and "The Albatross" by Taylor Swift, and it was also giving some Lady Macbeth vibes. Obsessed with all of these things!

I love Kat Dunn's prose. She uses such gorgeous language to tell Lenore's story. The gothic atmosphere is developed so well, and there's so much anticipation, tension and uncertainty. Kat uses so many different elements to make this story so interesting and enthralling: the backdrop of the industrial revolution, the high-stakes maintenance of both Lenore's house and her husband, the odd dreams that Lenore has, the role of Cora... it all works so well!

As the story progressed, I thought a couple of times about A Dowry of Blood, which I recently read and loved. I think that if you loved Dowry, you'll probably love Hungerstone!

"To be a woman is a horror I can little comprehend."

"It is only the past. No more than many have endured."
"And yet so much more than you deserved."
3,75☆|5

Well, this was certainly a ride! We are here going for a gothic setting, lesbian vampire, revenge, and female rage in what I believe is a retelling of Carmilla (I haven't read that one yet, but it's on my TBR :) ) and what an intriguing premise.

It took me quite a long time to enter this one, as the pacing was slower than I was expecting. But when I had entered it? Oh, what a wonder. The author's style is very beautiful, and she masters the gothic setting nearly perfectly, making the atmosphere really peculiar and fascinating to enter and read.

This retelling is centred around Leonore, and even though it took me some time, she grew on me at some point. We follow her and the realization that she has lost her identity, her agency; we follow her anger, her rage, her hunger. We follow her as she tries to understand Carmilla, who played a minimal role in this book, all things considered.

In the end, I enjoyed this book, but maybe not as much as I expected. It was a bit too slow and long for my taste, but it's still definitely worth reading if gothic literature is something you enjoy! Thank you to Netgalley and Zando for the e-ARC; it'll be released on February 18th.

On nearly every page of this book were *the most* breathtaking lines I’ve ever read. We follow the story of Lenore, a lady of the upper class in Victorian England who’s task is to make hospitable a ruined manor in the moors. I felt each of Lenore’s tragedies as if they were my own, and Dunn’s worldbuilding positions you so well in the scene you can feel the heather brush against your feet and taste the creeping rot of the manor all around you. A divine feast & perfect addition to the gothic genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zando for an ARC!

I thought this was a wonderful Gothic novel slashed with the paranormal. To view female anger through a lens of hunger and in all ways this comes isn’t a new concept, but I think the author made it their own. She made it feral and hopeless and a little sexy, which I think is everything women need to explode into who they were meant to be.

"Pain takes me into its arms and makes a home in my body."

This was gorgeous, it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Out of all the Carmilla Retellings I have read this is by far the best, not only does it do the original justice but it also feels so fresh and modern.

I loved how the author created such an atmospheric reading experience so necessary for any book in the gothic genre. It had tension and the slow build of impending doom shown in the characters but also the setting.

All the characters had me gripped, the ones you were supposed to hate you did and those you were supposed to empathise with you also did.

The story was so enchanting and I couldn't help myself from turning every page, the twists I didn't see coming and the pacing was perfect.

I think what I also loved was how although it is set in the 1800s and the problems women had back then slightly differ to todays issues it was still so deeply relevant today and had so much female rage brimming throughout.

I will say, if you are picking this up because of vampires. Don't because it is such a minor part of the story and honestly this book is so much more than that.

I do think my only critique was how Lenore and Carmilla perhaps lacked chemistry ever so slightly for me. I wanted more from them. Out of all the characters Carmilla seemed the most one dimensional.

If you love books about female rage, you need to add this one to your tbr

sapphic vampires x female rage, yeah this book was good. the first 30% dragged a bit and i struggled to get into it, and i wish we had more Carmilla scenes! overall, glad i read it!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

“What is a monster but a creature of agency?”
Oh she ate with this one.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for access to the e-arc of this novel!

This was everything I have been looking for in the “unhinged/feral/angry woman” sub genre of books that have seemed to become increasingly popular recently. Of the many books that have promised me a subversion of the “crazy woman” stereotype, Hungerstone did it best.

I have to confess that I have not read Carmilla and probably will not be able too now because my image of the property is formed entirely around Hungerstone now.

This was a beautiful rewriting full of heart, emotion, and most of all, hunger.
Asking the age old question of “is it wrong to be hungry? Or is it in our nature.”

“How much better to make them all regret knowing me.” A study in petty yet absolutely justified bitchery, truly.

3.5 stars. "hungerstone" by kat dunn offers a compelling reworking of the sapphic classic, "carmilla" with a narrative that explores themes of hunger—hunger for power, for agency, and for emotional fulfillment. set against the backdrop of the moors during the industrial era, it follows lenore, the wife of a steel magnate, who is preparing to host her husband's hunting party. in the midst of her preparations, a carriage accident near their remote home brings the mysterious carmilla into her life.

"what is a monster but a creature of agency?"

i loved the book, but what truly intrigued me was the heavy emphasis on the sapphic aspect (or lack thereof). carmilla's character is reimagined not just as a figure of queer desire but as a force of feminism, planting "impossible, maddening thoughts" in lenore's mind that challenged 'convention'. while the book contains elements of sapphic love, this particular retelling emphasizes the invocation of female rage, which I absolutely loved. don't get me wrong; it just wasn't what i was exactly expecting.

additionally, i found myself trying to find the purpose of certain flashbacks. they left me confused and, honestly, at times just feeling uninterested. overall though "hungerstone" is an engaging and interesting read. it may take some time to fully get engrossed in story, but once you do, the journey is rewarding!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A darkly decadent retelling of a centuries old classic. A delicious tribute to the inherent horrors of womanhood and the unravelling that occurs when you’ve been silenced all your life.

A desperate and exquisite tale of vulgarity and desire that will not be for the faint of heart.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐙𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐧

This reimagining of the vampire classic Carmilla shifts focus from supernatural horror to themes of female rage, gender roles, patriarchy, and class struggles, with surprisingly few vampires. If the original left you wanting more explicit sapphic tension, this book delivers.

At its core, it’s a slow-burn revenge story set in a haunting Victorian world. While the atmospheric beginning is captivating, the slow pacing causes the middle to drag before an explosive conclusion.

Carmilla’s presence awakens a sensual darkness in Lenore, but she ultimately feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character. Her relationship with Lenore could have been explored more deeply, making her role in the story feel more substantial.

Despite these shortcomings, the novel offers a fresh, feminist take on the classic tale with a dark, brooding atmosphere and a compelling look at power and desire.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Zando for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

kat dunn i love you so much

this writing? fantastic. the atmosphere? haunting. immaculate. the vibes? eerie. the tension? mwah. the characters were so well written, particularly lenore, and she's bestie. that's my girl. sometimes you just gotta kiss a vamp or two to break out of your boredom.

the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, with some parts dragging a bit for me, but that's a minor thing.

I mistakenly did this to myself last year by reading a Frankenstein retelling - and wishing I had just read Frankenstein. I feel the same way now - I wish I had just read Carmilla instead.

That said, there are good ideas here and tackling women's autonomy in a gothic setting with sapphic hints seems like you should have all you need to get to dive into some great feminism commentary. But Lenore's husband (and even her "friend" Cora) are such villains, there's no real nuance to this story. It's a slow, slow build to get to the good stuff.

The end is a wild fun ride though. Might be worth the slow burn in the beginning.

A bit disappointed with this one - wanted waaaay more.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC for this book!

With more storylines and a greater emphasis on female wrath, this book is a reinterpretation of the vampire classic Carmilla. Hungerstone satiated my hunger for a good sapphic vampire book, so to speak. I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. A slow-burning tale of retribution set against a moody and eerie Victorian backdrop, Hungerstone shows that you cannot dictate the life of a woman who knows what she deserves and what she wants.

Lenore strives to be the perfect wife and is in the middle of planning a hunting party for societies finest when unfortunate events force her to accommodate the mysterious Carmilla, who is followed by absurd events.

Female rage is all the rage, and I am a sucker for any Carmilla retelling so I had very high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I did not feel it lived up to my high expectations.

I loved what this had to say about feminism, desire, appetite and even found myself interested in the industrial revolution. However, I was missing more of the vampire aspect of what I thought this would be. Maybe because this is marketed as a reworking of Carmilla, I expected more vampirism, whereas this story focused on the specific hunger of vampirism rather than other parts.

The atmosphere of this book is unmatched though, and I could not get enough of the gothic setting of the industrial revolution.

I’d recommend this story for lovers of female rage, and those who enjoy the rather unusual horror stories. But keep in mind that there is not as much vampirism as one would think!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Zando and the author Kat Dunn for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this story.

Lenore—wife of powerful steel magnate Henry—has left London for the English countryside, where she’s been tasked with preparing their new manor to host a hunting party. After ten years of marriage, things with Henry have started to sour, and Lenore finds herself desperately trying to hold on to his affection. But when a carriage accident brings a mysterious woman into their home, everything changes. Carmilla awakens something deep and unexpected in Lenore—a hunger she never knew existed. As strange occurrences begin in the nearby village, Lenore begins to uncover secrets about herself and her desires, unravelling the life she thought she knew.

Hungerstone is a sapphic, feminist reimagining of Carmilla, the classic vampire tale that inspired Dracula. Set in Victorian England, it’s beautifully crafted, blending gothic horror with elements of vampirism and female rage. While bloodlust plays a central role, Lenore’s true hunger is for freedom—respect, power, and the right to break free from expectations. This is a powerful story about a woman reclaiming her life, no longer content to be what others demand of her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. My only was with the pacing. The first half, though rich in gothic atmosphere, felt sluggish. I found myself waiting for the story to pick up, and by the halfway point I was underwhelmed by its direction. However, the latter half more than made up for it. The momentum, the feminist themes, and Lenore’s transformation were absolutely worth the wait—I just wish the pacing had been more consistent throughout.

If you’re a fan of S.T. Gibson’s A Dowry of Blood, sapphic vampire tales—or really, stories about female rage and empowerment in general—you’ll definitely find something to appreciate here. It’s worth the read.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the eARC of Hungerstone in exchange for an honest review.

A woman trapped in a passive marriage finds her appetites awakened when a new house guest arrives... and now she hungers for more... and what a beautiful retelling of Carmilla this is. Lenore is content with her life... or at least she tells herself she is. She's ten years into a loveless marriage with a man who wants her to be nothing but his puppet. Lenore only goes more frustrated when her husband Henry's ambition for more takes them out from London and into the countryside Nethershaw manor where he plans to host a hunt. Yet when a carriage accident happens near there home and Lenore welcomes the beautiful injured woman into her life... something is awakened. Said woman is named Carmilla, she is odd and Henry takes an instant dislike to her.... yet she awakens something in Lenore. Torn between the controlled passive life Lenore has created for herself and the wild freedom that Carmilla offers... Lenore begins to unravel herself and discover the dark secrets in her own home as she considers which of her appetites she will give into. I love the classic story of Carmilla and I am a huge fan of female rage stories, and this one was such a fun twist. It's a historical sapphic story with touches of magic and touches of romance, but overall we get to see Lenore finally take the reigns in on her own life and reclaim herself from everything that has been tempered down and hidden. I loved the way the story ended and would absolutely recommend this! It's a novel that will have you frustrated for Lenore but cheering for her as she deals with doubt, pain, and most of all, finding the courage within herself to free herself.

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Zando for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

40/100 or 2.0 stars

I wanted to like this so bad, and I kept reading in hopes that I would like the ending, but it still did not work for me. The entire story didn't hold my interest or make me care about what was happening. I would try to read something else from Dunn in the future, since the writing itself was fine. I was disappointed in this, since I thought I was going to love this.

Hungry. So hungry.

What a luxurious book. Only my second foray into the female vampire trope and not one I will soon forget. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the advanced copy in exchange for this review! Now I am not familiar with Carmilla (the 19th century vampire novel this takes inspiration from), but I am looking forward to adding that to my reading list. Dunn takes you on an adventure in the Highlands speaking on societal issues of the late 1800s including the industrial complex and the status of women in society.

The hunger spoken of by so many women in the novel brought me to think about not just physical hunger, but the desires of women of all kinds from sex to power to other wants. What I love was that Hungerstone looks at female desire and hunger as both a blessing and a curse of the time. I found myself wondering how much of that hunger was a desire for equality and how much of it was villainous. And the murky layers in between.

A bit slow at the start, I DEVOURED the back half of this book. 4.5/5.

Female revenge and rage entwined within a sapphic vampire tale? Count me in.

I soaked up Hungerstone within a couple of sittings because it’s so devourable. The tale follows Lenore who has fallen into a loveless and lustless 10 year marriage with her husband Henry. Their lives are thrown upside down when they welcome the alluring Carmilla into their home after rescuing her from a carriage accident. As Lenore cannot help her fascination with Carmilla, Henry becomes more irritated with her presence and strange bloodthirsty behaviours begin to emerge from the women in town.

Hungerstone is a retelling of the vampire classic, Carmilla, which I haven’t yet read but I now absolutely will thanks to Hungerstone!