The OG Vampire, Carmilla - J. Sheridan Le Fanu

I like gothic tales, I love classics so, Carmilla was the best book to start the fall with.

Carmilla is the original vampire. The stories we now read are all based on her, including Dracula. And although this book is not known by everyone, it’s one of those books that I believe is a must-read.

The plot of the book is perfect. It’s the typical beautiful vampire enters into the life of a normal human, Laura. They have a kinda relationship (keep in mind that this book was published in 1872 so having a lesbian couple is quite surprising!), although it’s obvious that the vampire, Carmilla, doesn’t have the best interest in mind. We get glimpses into Laura’s past, how she once saw Carmilla in a “vision”, we also see how something mysterious is attacking girls in town. And finally we get the undeniable beauty and perfection of Carmilla’s beauty.

Although the plot is not too intricate nor is it long, it’s the perfect length. It’s a short, quick introduction into gothic classics. It has dark and disturbing scenes that really take your breath away. Furthermore, it has perturbing monologues by Carmilla that really shake you to your core. Obsessive, mysterious and grasping words that take the vibes of the story further and further into horror territory.

Again, this is not a story that is difficult, long and deep. It’s a fun short novel to get those Halloween vibes going.