Ive been getting into the gothic historical / paranormal books lately and after loving “my darling dreadful thing” and “Blood on her tongue” by Johanna Van Veen, I thought the synopsis to “Hungerstone” seemed to have similar vibes, and after seeing the extremely interesting cover photo I knew I had to give it a try!

There’s something about the old english language that is so poetic and lyrical and really adds an edge to historical fiction books that absorbs you into the story telling, it kind of makes me wish people were still well spoken it adds such class to an everyday conversation.

This book delivers what it offers which is a seductive gothic story surrounding vampires, gore, lust, mystery, intrigue, there’s also themes of woman repression as common in this time period.

This is definitely a slow burn book and takes a while to pick up but if you push through the first 20% things do increase in intensity.

Thank you to Zando Publishing and Kat Dunn for the EARC!

Publish date: Feb 18th 2025

This is spectacular! The main character’s arc is breathtaking and believable. The one element I’m thinking through is Carmella’s lack of character development, but it makes sense that the focus is more on Lenore.

It had a slow start, but the language was so poetic and elegant I didn’t mind. I love how Dunn was able to create a dark and seductive atmosphere that pulled me in. She has the most beautiful description, especially when it comes to the house. There were a few gory scenes that caught me off guard due to the picturesque vocabulary and setting. 

Lenore was such an interesting character, and I enjoyed the journey we went through with her. She had an amazing transition in her mindset of being ashamed of needing anything to desperately wanting everything and allowing herself to give in to her desires. Lenore was the perfect vessel to demonstrate the lack of power women have experienced for centuries. 

Carmilla was mysterious, and I often felt she talked in riddles. I had a hard time determining the true meaning of her words. She wasn’t as developed as Lenore; however, that could be because the book was mainly through her eyes.

I adore Carmilla retellings, and this one had Crimson Peak vibes as a bonus. I have been on a vampire kick lately, and this satiated that hunger.

I'm a huge fan of Carmillla and jumped at the chance to read this because they claimed it was a retelling. However I didn't really see that while reading. I got the movie Crimson Peak with some literary elements of Rebecca thrown into the mix. I love them both so I wasn't disappointed but I wanted my Carmilla retelling, because of this I would give it 3.75. I would recommend it but I would let the reader know it's not a retelling.

Hungerstone is the newest take on Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic vampire story, Carmilla, with plenty of gothic imagery, feminine rage, and some sapphic romance. If you love reading gothic and historical fiction, I think you will love this book because it is both gothic and historical! I am a big fan of gothic literature and Hungerstone delivered in this area! Set in the English moors, Hungerstone’s setting is atmospheric with many gothic elements that make you feel like you’re there with Lenore. The dilapidated mansion, house, or estate is a staple in gothic literature and Nethershaw fills that role so well and almost acts as another character. Throughout the novel, Lenore attempts to get the estate into proper shape for her husband Henry’s upcoming hunting party, but it’s as if Nethershaw has other ideas and is thwarting Lenore’s attempts.
My favorite aspect of Hungerstone is how steeped in feminism and feminine rage it is. Lenore as a main character is very relatable, especially to any woman who has felt at war with her own body and life. I really enjoyed following Lenore as her rage and frustration builds throughout the novel. At times, I wanted to reach through the screen of my e-reader and shake Lenore to implore her to stand up for herself and stop being so hard on herself. Thankfully, that isn’t necessary because thanks to the mysterious Carmilla, we get to witness Lenore’s character development as she goes from submissive, dutiful wife to a force to be reckoned with. Carmilla is there stoking the fires of Lenore’s emotions, awakening feelings that Lenore tries to bury deep. Honestly, I think this book could have used more of Carmilla as a character and the horror that often accompanies her. There’s plenty of fantastic gothic horror in Hungerstone, but I would have loved to see Dunn lean into that gothic horror mixed with feminine rage a bit more.
One thing I appreciate Kat Dunn for is her attention to detail and care for accuracy in the geographical and historical aspects of Hungerstone. Featured in the back of the book is an author’s note that goes into the research she did when writing this book on the location and customs of the time period and it’s clear that she cared very much about the details being accurate. On the topic of the historical themes of this book, that was one reason why this book isn’t a favorite for me. But, full disclosure, historical fiction is a genre that I tend to have difficulty getting into so it’s very possible that if you enjoy reading historical fiction, you may love this book! Personally, I think that Hungerstone was too long. For one, the book it’s retelling, Carmilla, is a very short book. Dunn created her own twists on the story and plot of Carmilla (which I enjoyed), but I think Hungerstone could have been a much shorter novel like its source material. The plot of Hungerstone is so intriguing, but unfortunately, I feel that it suffers from some repetitive passages and slight excess detail (again, if you love historical fiction, this may not be an issue for you).
Hungerstone overall was a solid three stars for me. While I enjoyed Dunn’s beautiful writing, the gothic setting, and feminist elements of the book, I just don’t think it was for me. I really wanted to love this book more. However, I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves reading historical fiction because I think that was what made it a miss for me. Hungerstone is perfect for fans of historical, gothic, and feminist fiction!

Having never read Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, the homage paid by Kat Dunn is lost on me. However, Hungerstone stands on its own as a hyper-feminist rage anthem for anyone who has suppressed themselves to meet another's needs. Lady Lenore is a picture-perfect noble wife, but never allows any of her own needs or desires to be met, and never questions her husbands demands. When she finds herself the circumstantial warden of Carmilla Kernstein after discovering her carriage wreckage on the way to their new estate...that changes. The pacing is undeniably slow, even, in my opinion, for a gothic novel, but it picks up in the back half and quickly makes its way to a satisfying conclusion.

There are a lot of ways I can describe Hungerstone. Haunting, Sensual, romantic even to a degree. The writing in this is incredible and I look forward to recommending it to several people.

Thank you Zando and NetGalley for my e-arc of Hungerstone.

This is a perfect read for anybody seeking gothic literature. feminine rage, fans of Carmilla, or sapphic vampire tales in general.

Hungerstone follows the tale of Lenore, the childless wife of a wealthy steel industrialist Henry, tasked with raising a decrepit country estate in the lead up to her husband's planned hunting party. On their journey, they encounter Carmilla stranded and take her in. However they soon find their worlds unimaginably changed.

While Hungerstone is loosely a re-imagining of Camilla - Dunn instead focuses on Lenore's perspective - her loss of identity and agency within society and marriage, and her relationship with Henry. It brings a new spin to the story, and a new sense of dread and horror as everything unfolds.

"You see the river now, though. This stone is long drowned The water is free and powerful and raging"

Anyone seeking something new, who has found themselves at a loss after Nosferatu, but is still awaiting the release of the new Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein films - Hungerstone may just feed that hunger.

*2.5 stars*
First, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Now, this is objectively a well-written book. The author did so much research and that really shines through! The mood is so very gothic, so Victorian, that I felt that I could be reading a story from that time.

Unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to delve any further than the surface of the story. I wasn’t as intrigued by the characters or the action as I wanted to be. I felt as though I was just skimming the surface and my attention just wasn’t grabbed.

Loved that this was inspired by Carmilla. I still have not read it but I plan to. This book came at a perfect time with Nosferatu's release at the tail end of 2024 and the upcoming releases of Frankenstein (del Toro) and Wuthering Heights (Fennel) this year in theaters. It is the time for gothic literature, and Hungerstone fits into the genre perfectly. Also love that similar to Carmilla, there are LGBTQ/Lesbian themes within this book. This book arrived at the right time and will be loved by readers!

2.5 stars for me.

This was a disappointing read for me. I had high hopes because it sounded good and I’m all here for it for a sapphic story. But this book basically gave us nothing. The plot wasn’t really existent and the characters are all made to seem unlikeable in my personal opinion. Though the writing itself is quite good and you can tell that the author does have talent. I would have wished for some more sapphic parts. It just felt more focused on the character just having marriage issues to say lightly to not spoil anything.

When I first heard the premise of this book, it being an homage to Carmilla, I was ecstatic. And even more so to receive the e-arc! Unfortunately, it wasn't what I was expecting. The story was extremely repetitive and felt like it was dragging on. However, Dunn's writing makes up for most of it and she's able to create a claustrophobic, Gothic feel that I really enjoyed reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

This book was really good. I feel like it was a really good gothic book. It hit all of the points of a good gothic: dark atmosphere, isolated, old house, often in the moors, mysterious guest. I loved it! I also loved the sapphic story in the book.

I really enjoyed this sapphic, bloody romp in the moors! The writing was great, and I love reading about women who come into their own power and say fuck the patriarchy. Would also love a follow up to this one, Katt 👀 Definitely recommend picking this one up if you love Carmilla, vampires, historical fiction, and/or A Dowry of Blood.

Kat Dunn falls into the R. F. Kuang trap of being a capable writer who doesn’t believe that her readership is equally capable of understanding the text without unsubtle handholding throughout. Lots of repetition and telling not showing employed in Hungerstone; we are repeatedly hit over the head with all the factors behind Lenore’s psychology and repression, and Henry is a one note antagonist who isn’t really afforded any depth beyond ooooh nasty evil man boooooo Victorian gender roles and class conventions suck ewwwwww. I promise we can read between the lines! Some subtlety is ok!

Carmilla’s character also falls flat for me. She doesn’t read as charming and strange and irresistible as the text tries to tell us she is - again, telling instead of showing. Her presence in the story is also inconsistent, which I don’t have a huge problem with given that Lenore’s arc is the heart of the narrative, but it does feel strange that a Carmilla retelling is so light on the Carmilla aspect of the source material.

Dunn does a great job of crafting a dark, oppressive atmosphere and she shines best when writing about appetite, desire and Lenore’s journey to accepting and giving in to her hunger. The rest of the writing just wasn’t up to par and often sacrifices quality for quotability (looking at you, “what is a monster if not a creature with agency” lol). Also sorry, but I don’t buy that a man written as stolidly unimaginative as Henry would drop a line like, “You are out of your depth, Lenore—do not go any further or you may drown.” I can tell you now for FREE that my guy doesn’t deal in anything as frivolous as METAPHORS!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel!

As someone who is a fan of gothic literature and has taught it, I was incredibly drawn in by the synopsis of this book. And, it does deliver on a gothic atmosphere and characterization. It's clear that Dunn is well versed in novels like Carmilla, Dracula, and those by Dickens. She also depicts the Victorian era well, especially the smell and sound of industrialization. Her prose is evocative and lush and a pleasure to read (though, occasionally, overwrought). I think this is a novel that many will enjoy, and I did like my time with it in parts.

However, this novels feels so long because it is incredibly repetitive. The story never builds its characterization from the traits we learn of Lenore, Henry, and others surrounding them in the first 50 or so pages. Though we are often brought back to aspects of Lenore's childhood, we don't learn anything new -- just the same points made over and over and over again. There's only so many times I can read about someone being hungry before I wonder if there is anything more to be said about this character. Lenore is a dreadfully boring person. Her main qualities are insecurity, anxiety, and hunger over a life she never got to have -- because patriarchy and class, etc etc. I've read this story before, many times. I don't necessarily feel like Dunn is adding anything new to the "female rage" subgenre.

And, ultimately, this fails as an homage to Carmilla. It's just not as interesting or unique or groundbreaking as Carmilla was at the time of its publication. Carmilla manages to say many of the same things as Hungerstone in way fewer pages. And it's more queer. I never really bought into Carmilla as a character in this novel or her relationship to Lenore. Does Lenore want Carmilla or is Carmilla just a vehicle to freedom for Lenore?

I think this novel is going to work for someone who is interested in this time period and vibey, vampire-esque novels that are less about the monster and more about the 'hunger' for me. I think for those of us who are perhaps more well versed in the conventions of this genre --- this is just your run of the movie modern gothic novel, so your milage may vary.

A hot sapphic vampire novel that to its core, I felt was a pretty good Carmilla retelling. The writing is lush and the story is extremely fast paced! I thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

Wowwowowowow.......wow. Historical sapphic vampire novel about an abusive marriage and overcoming the trap of it and finding love and strength within yourself during this transformation. YESSS! I am absolutely obsessed with this book, the descriptive details were so delectable, I devoured this book so slowly because I did not want to finish it. I have not come across a book I felt this way about.

Right from the beginning I was hooked and I was in it, I love Kat Dunn's writing style, and I loved this time piece novel!

I really liked the concept and story for sure. That being said I felt like there was some extra stuff that wasn’t super relevant. Like we could’ve done without ALL the flashbacks to aunt Daphne in my opinion. But this was a fun read. Love a good lesbian vampire.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zando Projects for sending me this ARC.

'It starts with blood'
Hungerstone hooked me from the start. Kat Dunn paints pictures with her words and her prose is perfection.

Carmillas' influence on the women around her was fascinating to see, and I loved how she brought out their hunger and how (unsurprisingly) they took it out on the males in their lives. I think it hit harder because of the time period and how oppressed women were.

I do wish that Lenore's breakdown/revenge had happened sooner in the book, but that is because I am greedy and wanted to see more of her and Carmillas interactions and what I can only assume will be their life together.