There were few things that perplexed people more in the 1800s than a powerful, unattended, young woman. Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu explores this concept with [b:Carmilla|48037|Carmilla|J. Sheridan Le Fanu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386923594l/48037._SY75_.jpg|47015]. Following a carriage accident near their home, young Laura and her father first meet Carmilla, whose mother is in a hurry and leaves her in this family’s care. Carmilla is beautiful, charismatic, and Laura is super excited to have a companion her own age. That is, until Carmilla starts exhibiting some strange behavior that transforms her from mysterious to horrifying.

“You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever.”

What is so great about this story, is that Carmilla’s infatuation with Laura (and vice versa) is never in and of itself demonized. Carmilla brutally murdering young girls, consuming their blood, and generally being an undead being is what everyone takes issue with. Carmilla’s attraction to Laura is just one symptom of her growing sense of possessive need for the girl, which for the 1800s is surprisingly progressive. This need for vampiric control and domination, masked in charisma and mystery, would later be echoed in Bram Stoker’s [b:Dracula|17245|Dracula|Bram Stoker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387151694l/17245._SY75_.jpg|3165724]. But let the record show, Carmilla did it first, and I dare say, Carmilla did it better.

Rating: 3.5 stars