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Hungerstone is marketed as a spin on Carmila but is missing much of the sapphic elements and vampirism that made the original book so revolutionary. There's no denying Dunn is a talented writer - the gothic atmosphere is superbly crafted and she uses language to perfectly encapsulate desire and hunger. Unfortunately, a collection of well-written sentences does not constitute a good book.

Hungerstone struggles to find its footing with Lenore's backstory and ultimately never resolves itself. Glimpses into her past are repetitive yet vague, and while she repeatedly expresses the baggage and trauma she carries, the explanation of it is muddled at best. Carmila herself is intended to be an enigmatic and mysterious presence that acts as her catalyst for change, but her presence is glaringly one-dimensional throughout the book. Lenore's story is hardly compelling when everyone around her is a caricaturized villain. Her rebellion doesn't feel like anything more than an inevitability, and it lacks the satisfaction of a slow-burn revenge story. While there is a handful of sapphic moments, it feels more like a story of obsession with hints of vampirism more than I expected.

The climax of the book happens quickly and the drastic changes Lenore undergoes feel so sudden given the unbearably slow build up. Her commentary about revenge and hunger feels devoid of nuance and subtlety. Every commentary the book has to offer is explicitly outlined and repeated, and I think it does a disservice to the possibilities a re-telling could have offered.

I'm critical of any retelling because it takes a lot to keep a classic story fresh and offer a new perspective. While Hungerstone adds in themes of industrialization and the historical use of women as nothing more than child-bearers, it doesn't subvert any expectations. The final third required so much suspension of belief just to end up at a predictable and boring conclusion.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC - sorry I did not enjoy it more!