Hungerstone

De: Kat Dunn

Narrado por: Perdita Weeks

A Rolling Stone 10 Most Anticipated Books of the Year • A Town & Country Must Read Book of the Winter • A Goodreads Readers’ Most Anticipated Horror Novel of the Year • A LitHub Most Anticipated Book of the Year • A Book Riot Most Anticipated Book of the Year • A Them 10 Most Anticipated Books of the Year • A Polygon Most Exciting Fantasy Book of the Year • A Scary Mommy 11 Most Anticipated Books of the Year

A compulsive feminist reworking of Carmilla, the queer novella that inspired Dracula.

“Hungerstone is a delicious tribute to the inherent horrors of womanhood and the desperate and exquisite vulgarity of desire. This is everything I dream of in a novel.” Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth

It’s the height of the industrial revolution and ten years into Lenore’s marriage to steel magnate Henry, their relationship has soured. When Henry’s ambitions take them from London to the remote British moorlands to host a hunting party, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into their lives. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night. Carmilla, who stirs up something deep within Lenore. And before long, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger . . .

As the day of the hunt draws closer, Lenore begins to unravel, questioning the role she has been playing all these years. Torn between regaining her husband’s affection and the cravings Carmilla has awakened, soon Lenore will uncover a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk.

©2025 Kat Dunn (P)2025 Zando, LLC

11/10 for both the novel itself and for the narration

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The author researched the history with precision and wrote it with aching beauty. For example the dinners she describes are from actual menu cards and cook books of the time period. She used Victorian tourist guides to describe the town as they walk through it. You feel so very immersed and learning that, I now understand why. But the women she writes in this novel…. You feel them as you read them. She writes female passion and despair with such poignant accuracy. And perdita weeks (I know I messed up the spelling I’m sorry) but this narrator is also my personal favorite of all time. Two home runs here for both the novel itself and the narration.

Luxurious narration of a vivid tale

Great story and fantastic narrator. Her voice was perfect for the time period and high breeding of the main character. The landscape was so beautifully detailed -I felt like I was there. Caution there are some violent and graphic scenes that might stick in your mind longer than you’d like. Worth it though.

Quiet, violent, gorgeous and stunning

The language, the writing, the quiet build, the examination of a woman’s life - it’s all amazing. The narrator is excellent.

Layered story about so much more than vampires.

I loved how this story honed in on the struggles women have to truly express their wants. Bravo. Kat Dunn is an automatic purchase author for me now.

Immediately yes

The performance was amazing. It was incredibly well written and the descriptions are beautiful. It was a sensational listen!! 10/10

Loved it

Great writing, & a good unique story. If you like historical 'horror,' (it's not necessarily scary) with a whisper of magical realism you'll enjoy it

Deeply original

Vampirism as allegory and liberation, the lust for blood as a symbol of all the other desires Women were asked to suppress.
The setting is dark and (literally) gothic, as is fitting .
I deeply enjoyed this book.

Love it

Great change in topics. Appreciate the descriptions of the food and meals. Gothic at its best. Great characters

writing style

this book was a true nod to Carmilla and I absolutely fell in love with the main protagonist

Beautiful

Quite a lovely story of hunger and women. I loved the raw emotion of the narrator.