This is a wonderful work of historical literary fiction that explores so many fascinating themes; the setting was magically moody and the characters were really interesting. It's not the easiest read but it's a brilliant book and touches on madness, relationships and solitude really well.

It's been a couple of years since I read Carmilla so I went into this book mostly blind and I was hooked from the first page. This book was atmospheric and gothic and so well written. All the characters were three-dimensional and fully fleshed out which I haven't read from a book in a while. There were twists and turns some I expected and some I didn't. The only thing I wished there was more of were scenes of Carmilla, while she was a fantastic character I don't think we saw enough of her especially towards the end of the book.

I think I’m going to love anything Kat Dunn writes, she’s an amazing author. I loved that the book is a reworking of Camilla. I loved the characters and development of the story. Kat Dunn is quickly becoming an author I will read any books by, no questions asked.

The build up in this novel was really satisfying, and many boxes were ticked in the list of things I like about period novels. Firstly, I was really into how Kat showed us the details of the class system at the time through Lenore and her household. She was totally fixated on presenting the perfect impression, obsessing about minor details in order to keep her (and more importantly her husbands) elevated status in society. The obsession with clothes and fashions of all kinds, from what to eat, to the carriage types and hat styles, who is allowed to sit next to who at dinner and so on . Lenore's daily life is running a large household, and by her own admission running it well. But she doesn't know anything about any of her staff, and doesn't care to either, she is totally isolated. The isolation is even more stark as we gradually learn about the state of her marriage, her family history and her facade of a friendship with Cora.

The second thing I loved, were the impeccable gothic vibes. The grand, rotting stately home in the moors. The moors themselves, which are haunting and vast and creepy. The mysterious dreams and ofc, Carmilla herself! I loved every interaction between Carmilla and Lenore, though it took me a while to realise that Carmilla was a mirror for Lenore's true feelings about her life.

The build up between both Lenore and Carmilla and Lenore and her life was gradual but excellent, the tension built up and exploded in a really satisfying manner in the last 30% or so of the book. I just wish overall, there had been more vampire extra curricular activities, especially when Carmilla took Lenore out for her little night -trip.

The secondary characters were a little hollow and flat, but because I liked Lenore so much I found myself hating Cora too. <spoiler> I still think she slept with him though , really who gives diamonds out casually like that</spoiler>

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier books UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I jumped at the chance to read this — a reimagining of the sapphic vampire classic Carmilla, set in Victorian England about a woman unhappily married to a steel magnate. And it did not disappoint! This succeeds in maintaining the gothic tension of the original story while fleshing it out beautifully and creating an original plot. It’s such an atmospheric book, creating a wonderfully evocative setting. The sense of dread, the repulsion and the attraction between the main character Lenore and Carmilla is so well-drawn. I loved this.

I was initially hesitant about how well I would receive a Carmilla reimagining but Dunn took the fiery Carmilla and made her much more than a vampire, transforming the affliction into a fiery and inexplicable sense of internal and domestic revolution. Set against the Industrial Revolution with the aristocracy in the end of its prevalence to make way for new money, Lenore, an orphaned and penniless aristocrat marries Henry a money hungry capitalist. Carmilla becomes an enigma to self discovery, independence, and female rage. I love what Dunn did with this reimagining.

I was blown away. My previous exposure to Carmilla was limited to the YouTube series from the 2010s and let me tell you… this was as far removed from that as possible. What an atmospheric, entrancing read! To write hunger and vampires in this way, so beautifully connected with the gruesome horrors and limitations of womanhood (in the late 1800s or today you choose!)… I am at a loss for words! Incredible.

Hungerstone is a seductive, gothic retelling of Carmilla set during the industrial revolution. The book centres on Lenore, a suffocated society wife and, following a carriage accident, Carmilla, the mysterious, enticing stranger she takes under her wing. The story begins when Lenore is given the task by her husband of renovating their crumbling family manor in the countryside, and preparing for an upcoming hunting party. However, strange occurrences in and about the house begin to make Lenore question if she is truly satisfied with her life, and if she will every satisfy her hunger for more. The book gives focus to the mundanity of the life of a woman who only serves to make herself small in the role that’s been assigned to her. This contrasts to the vivid moments of goriness as hunger prevails. The author succeeds in fully embracing the gothic, both in atmosphere and prose, and creating a story that explores themes of female oppression, the insatiable nature of rage, and what it means to finally give into desire. Hungerstone is a book you can sink your teeth into. I devoured it and my appetite was satisfied. Truly a book for hungry girls.

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review*

I had high hopes for this book, especially given its intriguing premise, but ultimately this didn’t quite deliver. While the historical setting and atmosphere are well done, I found it hard to connect with the story. Lenore’s motivations often felt unclear, and the pacing felt slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. The plot had potential but subsequently missed the mark for me and I was left wanting more surrounding Carmilla and her mysterious ways.

In the end, Hungerstone has some interesting moments and rich descriptions but the ending felt rushed and didn’t fully come together in a satisfying way.

As a result, I don’t think this book was for me but I would recommend it to those looking for a well researched, historically set novel with a melcancolic atmosphere.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I thought this was a really interesting spin on a "vampire" retelling - it's been a long time since I read Carmilla so I don't recall how explicit the vampirism was in it but this book really intrigued me in how much it felt less paranormal and more psychological in the development of the protagonist and the story. Leonore's character development in the book is its focal point, and in many ways this book felt closer to Maggie O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait than Dracula - it's primarily about a woman stifled by her position all her life finding autonomy. That being said, I really enjoyed it - I thought it worked and was very invested in Leonore's journey. I found the plot satisfying without becoming too predictable. I would have liked more of Carmilla - there's very little of who she is in this book and it made her feel a bit two-dimensional which made me less invested in the relationship between her and Leonore. Some lovely prose and the pacing worked for me too. A very solid 4 and a bit stars.

"Perhaps I am not the ghost I thought myself. Perhaps I have always had substance. If, then, I am allowed a story, perhaps I can become the author of it."

This is a Carmilla retelling with its own pulse.

We follow Lenore and Henry as they travel from London to The Peak District to host a hunting party in Henry's countryside estate- Nethershaw. While travelling they come across an overturned carriage, here we meet Carmilla whom Lenore and Henry bring back to Nethershaw to recover from her injuries.

Lenore spends her time preparing the house for the shooting party, while Henry is busy working at his steel factory. Over time we see how Carmilla's presence influences Lenore and she begins to question the sincerity of those around her, and her own thoughts and beliefs.

Everything in this book is perfectly crafted to create a hungry, gnarly, Sapphic retelling which will keep you hooked from start to finish. The characters are beautifully real and flawed, the surroundings are gothic and dark, and the storyline regenerates the story of Carmilla with its own generous sprinkle of female rage, revenge and cunning.

I absolutely adored this book, an easy 5 star, I did not want to put it down. Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and author for the e-ARC of this book.

“I am a woman woken from thirty years slumber, and I would eat the world should it satisfy this empty, keening void where my heart should be.”

Hungerstone was a fabulous way to end October! I absolutely loved this book and was barely able to put it down. Lenore Crowther is an absolutely fascinating character who you both admire and feel quite unnerved by. The backdrop of the Victorian period was truly perfect, alongside Dunn’s vivid descriptions— I appreciated the scene that made the title of this novel make perfect sense. I would have loved to have seen more of a vampire aspect to the novel, as it was a retelling of Carmilla, but I understand that the vampirism is merely a catalyst to the realisations Lenore has in the patriarchal nineteenth-century. If you enjoy feminist retelling that involves sapphics, blood and murder then you will enjoy this novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for an arc of Hungerstone in exchange for a review!

‘I do not need to contain my appetites. What is a monster but a creature of agency?’

There’s a lot to like with Hungerstone, I loved the direct parallels to Carmilla, as well as the older (30s) protagonist reckoning with how her life turned out. There’s an incredibly strong message throughout about embracing your desires and taking up space, unlearning the voices that tell you you’re not worthy of what you need and what you want.

It fell a bit flat for me because this messaging often felt way too on the nose. The voice of Carmilla came across like an affirmations podcast for people raised by narcissists. Like I can just picture her wriggling out from under the sofa, saying ‘you accept the love you think you deserve’ and then vanishing into the shadows lmao.

Lenore’s internal monologue is also super self-aware of why she behaves how she does and how her upbringing makes her put everyone else's needs before her own. Again it’s a super therapised narration. Like I don’t think people in that position actively think thoughts like ‘I deserve this because I am a bad person’, I imagine it’s a lot more subconscious? Again, it’s just too on the nose.

I appreciated how Lenore wasn’t a flawless character, we get to see her make some questionable decisions as she comes into herself which make the narrative less black and white.

I was also intrigued by the ‘hunger’ element, though I don’t feel like I fully understood it.

Unfortunately, this is also another ‘feminist’ retelling where the protagonist has less agency than the original character. Laura was fully a victim in Carmilla, but she had a doting father who cared about her wellbeing and she was able to ask for what she wanted/needed. I appreciate this is a different story, but I’m just a bit fed up with feminist retelling's main message being ‘look how hard it was to be a woman bc of misogyny, look at all this woman has suffered and overcome’ like it just doesn’t feel that compelling to me anymore, especially when the original stories are often already interesting and complex.

I do think this will appeal to a lot of people so I recommend it if it sounds compelling to you, but unfortunately just fell a bit flat to me.

4.5 ⭐ rounded up

I liked the imaginative verve with which the author, Kat Dunn, wove together paranormal elements and gothic Grand Guignol with the grittiness of the Industrial Revolution in the North of England. The writing is visceral and propulsive. I also thought the ending was great - it felt just right for the story. If I have a minor criticism, it's that I would have liked to have felt more emotionally invested - the story itself was emotional, but sometimes I felt on the outside looking in, if that makes sense.

The author's note was interesting, especially the list of classic novels which informed and inspired Hungerstone. I have to admit that I haven't read all of these - fans of 19th century literature will appreciate layers and references which passed me by. The book is a gripping read though, either way.

Both the covers are fabulous. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

This is a story mostly about mental health abuse and trauma 

The beginning of the book is slow, and it took me a bit to get into it. And even though I was engaged enough to continue reading and not DNF it, I wasn't especially excited to come back to it every day. 


There is no chemistry between our two main characters. The romance comes from nothing, and the sex scenes seem random and have no meaning 

The story has no resolution. It just ends, and none of the questions get answered. Only the main character is deep and developed. The rest are plain with no depth to them. So despite being interesting to read all about our main character thoughts and the descent (or ascent) of her mental health, the book was mostly meh for me and I don't think I will remember much of it after I finish writing this review.

As it is, and even though I didn't hate it, I also can't really find good things to say about it other than, it is not terrible, and I know many people will enjoy it. I just wasn't one of them 

The themes of this book can be upsetting for many people, so check trigger warnings if you delecide to read it

Hungerstone follows Lenore who is married to Henry. He is a steel magnate and has ambitions which take them from London to the Nethershaw estate. Lenore and Henry don’t have the best relationship as no children have arrived after ten years. The couple end up meeting Carmilla who is pale in the day but vibrant at night. Lenore becomes torn between Henry and Carmilla and she will soon discover a terrible darkness.

This was okay but nothing special in the vampire genre. This was much more about Lenore’s journey discovering who she is away from Henry than anything else. It’s about her discovering she’s more than a wife or potential mother. It was okay but not to my taste.

This book really took me by surprise - I loved it!!! Carmilla is one of my favourite classics and, whilst Dunn takes inspiration from the text, Hungerstone very much stands as its own story.

From the very first pages the first-person narration has an arresting tone, with an erratic stream-of-consciousness account by our 30 year old FMC. Kat Dunn manages to capture this chaotic energy whilst still writing in the most BREATHTAKING prose. Multiple lines/passages made me sigh out loud with how gorgeous they were.

There’s a lot of mystery throughout the book and you’ll have a lot of questions (e.g. why is our FMC like this?) TRUST the process! This book portrays true female rage (not just a disgruntled woman) with horror elements adding to this perfectly.

If you’re a gothic literature fan, you will notice lots of little nods to other gothic greats. If you’re a fan of Rebecca, A Dowry of Blood, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, or Dracula - I think you’ll love this one.

This book felt like a fever dream and I feel like it might lie on the borderline of being categorised as one of those ‘weird, feral girl books’ and I absolutely ate it up. I’d recommend going in as blind as possible because some parts of this book genuinely shocked me (in the best way!) It’s got sapphic romance (whilst not the main focus) and tackles themes of duty, desire, resentment, and what it means to come into your own wants in life.

Please check content warnings if you’re going to pick this up! I will absolutely be picking up the physical copy of this one on release. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Manilla Press for the advance reader’s copy.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

What a phenomenal book this was, believe all the hype! This is a Carmilla retelling set in Yorkshire in the 1800s. It’s dark, gloomy and so intense. The atmosphere of the Yorkshire countryside, the remote manor in need of repairs, the sense of isolation were all so impactful at creating a tense and eerie sensation.

As with so many female-led historical novels written recently, be ready for the rage you will feel reading this! I was so furious at the treatment of Lenore, the main character by so many people, those who just seek to use her with no consideration for her as a human being. The lying and deceit. One part (won’t detail to avoid spoilers) completely changed how I felt about this story and certain characters. This author isn’t afraid to shine a light on hypocrisy and poor behaviours.

I found this completely immersive and a book I just could not put down. The writing was so compelling, intense and yet oddly beautiful. I was utterly swept up in the mystery and intrigue, the atmosphere and my desire to see the main character succeed in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Think Wuthering Heights meets Carmilla with a modern interrogation of a historical period and you’ve got this great book!

Amazing story with classic touches and interesting twists along the way. There were small grammar mistakes but nothing distracting. Characters were very well written, making the story easy to get me in. Great story.

I don’t know if I devoured this book or it devoured me. Either way I ate it up in barely 2 days (would have been 1 if I wasn’t working). Delicious prose and the descriptions of hunger and desire are unmatched.