Hungerstone

In Hungerstone, Kat Dunn invites us into a richly textured world of gothic dread, creeping desire, and waking rage. I’d say the novel is not quite a retelling Carmilla but it is at least strongly inspired by it. What to expect: a woman starved of autonomy, a mysterious guest who upends everything, and a slow-burn journey toward self-recognition and reckoning.

The good: the atmosphere is mesmerising, Dunn’s prose is sharp, and Lenore’s character arc is a fascinating spiral with a satisfying conclusion.

The bad: the pace bogs down a bit in the middle because the suspense drags on a little bit too long. Even so, I was still pulled forward to the ending!

Hungerstone may not satisfy every appetite (if you expected full-on vampire romance or break-neck horror), but if you want something mysterious, creepy, taut with tension, and grounded in female awakening, it’s a strong choice. I’d recommend it to someone looking for gothic mood over pure shock, atmosphere over constant action.