Carmilla

Laura is a freshman journalism student at Silas University, and she is nervous about getting good grades and pleasing her demanding father. Her new roommate, Betty, is a party animal, but they get along well. When Betty mysteriously disappears, Laura changes her term vlog project into a quest to find Betty as well as the reasons behind the other disappearances of other girls this year. After much investigation, Laura believes that her new roommate, Carmilla, may be the key to finding Betty. Laura also discovers a shocking secret that permeates the entire history of Silas University.

Carmilla is an action-packed story that combines a vampire story, mystery, and a budding romance. Laura and her group of friends work together to try to solve the mystery of the disappearing girls. Laura breaks free of the strict life her father has imposed on her as she tries to save Betty and the other missing girls. While on this mission, Laura finds herself falling in love with Carmilla, someone Laura initially thinks to be the antithesis of what she is looking for in a girlfriend.

Carmilla will appeal to readers who enjoy a mystery that has many twists and turns. Further, readers who identify as genderqueer will be able to identify with many of the characters in the novel as two characters are lesbians and one identifies as non-binary. LGBTQ2+ readers will find the characters believable and, for the most part, likeable. The sexuality of the characters is not the focus of the story, however; it is used to develop more fleshed out characters. At its heart, Carmilla remains an enjoyable mystery novel.

I recommend Carmilla to readers who enjoy vampire stories as well as fans of popular geek culture, such as Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and Monty Python. This novel is based on the web series Carmilla by Kim Turrisi.