Carmilla: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Phoebe Fox, Rose Leslie, David Tennant, David Horovitch, James Wilby, Susan Wooldridge, Hannah Genesius (Narration) • Audible Studios (Publisher)
Reviewed By A.S. MacKenzie
If there is one constant in this world it is this: David Tennant will forever be my favorite.
I admittedly purchased this audiobook simply based on the fact that he was attached to it. I knew nothing of the story and decided to do it anyway. And let me say, I am so thankful I did.
This is a horror story of classic levels and can best be described as gothic. Bloody, violent, lust-filled, and suspenseful are other appropriate adjectives.
A wealthy widower finds Carmilla after a carriage accident involving her enigmatic and mysterious mother. She states she is a severe hurry of life-and-death importance but that her daughter may not make the trip. He then agrees that Carmilla should stay in the care of his daughter, Laura, who has taken an immediate liking to the young woman Her mother says she will return in around three months’ time for her. It is quickly discovered, however, that something strange is afoot when Laura realizes that Carmilla is the exact image of the woman from her dream as a child twelve years earlier. When she mentions this to her, Carmilla confesses that she, too, had a dream at the same time of someone who looks like Laura does now.
Over the course of the next few months while Carmilla’s mother is away, strange things keep happening in their home. Laura is plagued with visions of a ghostly woman in her room and a painful piercing near her neck. Carmilla is often found outside of her room in places unknown while reports of a woman walking the grounds are reported from the staff.
On this goes, growing more mysterious, with more reports of nearby deaths, and an ever-increasingly forward outpouring of lustful proclamations of love from Carmilla to Laura. When the first words of ‘vampire’ strike the people there, they dismiss it as folklore, but with the confessions of a neighbor who says he hunts the ones who killed his niece and a doctor who seems to know too much, the evidence that a supernatural occurrence is taking place becomes too much. Ultimately, everyone does find out if there are truths to the rumors and no one escapes from that truth.
Set in an era tailor-made for this exact type of vampire mythos, the dialogue is picture-perfect to create the mood and tension needed. Atmospheric effects and the cast of voices bring the story to life in a way that the written word may have trouble conveying. Not only is David Tennant amazing (duh), but he is met with equally on par actors and actresses so well that there is not one single star to focus on in the production.
If you are looking for an epic gothic vampire story you would do well to try this one.
Carmilla
Audible Originals brings you a brand new audiobook adaptation of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic gothic novella, Carmilla – starring Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey), David Tennant (Doctor Who and Broadchurch) and Phoebe Fox (Life in Squares and The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death).
One of the very first vampire thrillers, this audio adaptation follows 18-year-old Laura as she recounts the story of her mysterious, intriguing and beautiful house guest Carmilla, who is stranded in the forest after a carriage accident and taken in by Laura’s widowed father. The girls develop a friendship which turns into a passionate meeting of souls. A relationship of vampire and prey, the story is told through Laura’s eyes as she is drawn further into Carmilla’s terrifying world of pleasure and pain.
A masterpiece of erotic Gothic horror, Carmilla encompasses mystery, suspense, forbidden lust, violence…and lots of blood….
Carmilla has been dramatised by Robin Brooks, an actor, dramatist and author who has been working as a playwright for over 25 years. Carmilla was directed by Fiona McAlpine of Allegra Productions for Audible Originals.
You can buy Carmilla from Audible
A. S. MacKenzie
A. S. MacKenzie is an Atlanta based author who loves all things books, movies, games, and comics. He lives with his wife, spoiled dogs, and an unhealthy obsession with building things. He can be found building worlds in books, building plastic models, or building with wood. Check out his website at asmackenzie.com for ways to join his newsletter and read free stories. Also, he’s been known to frequent Twitter (@a_s_mackenzie) to say something vaguely interesting and Instagram (a.s.mackenzie) for food, travel, and random pics.
Hit Then Run
It was a store robbery gone wrong when the criminal got away but the victim was hit by a car.
Then it happened again.
And Again.
For newly hired detective, Phil Ford, this was beyond coincidence. Told not to investigate further, he couldn’t let it go. When he falls into a much larger conspiracy involving death-for-hire, organized crime, and corruption in the Sanford Sheriff’s Department; it will cost him more than he knows to get to the truth.
You can download Hit Then Run from www.asmackenzie.com
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