Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua’s College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold.
On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla.
But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.
CW: Blood, sexual content, toxic relationship, murder, alcohol, death
Rating
Review
Truth be told, I bought this book because I liked the cover. I didn’t have any expectations because I hadn’t read the synopsis, and even though I saw it on social media, I didn’t want to spoil myself or anything, so I didn’t check anything. So, it was a good surprise for me, as I usually don’t like books on social media, but this book was so compelling. Some elements aren’t the best or well-written, but it’s a good read, and you have a great time.
The three main characters were three different women who had a certain respect for each other. Their relationship is complicated, especially for Laura and Carmilla initially, as they are enemies. De Lafontaine is the only one who you feel knows everything; she uses her power as a teacher and more to put them where she wants them to be. You feel that something is not right; every time she is there, it feels like a heavy atmosphere, and some unspoken elements make me strange even after finishing the book. Their role in the relationship and the story involves a lot of toxicity.
The period and the story’s predictability were the two main things that were slightly off. First, the time period: the action is set in the 1970s, but when I was reading, it felt more like it was in the fifties. The material elements feel like the 70s, with the clothes and the music, but the rest is read like the 50s, especially from Laura’s POV. The only moment where I “lived” in the 70s was in the second part of the book. Now, the predictability started at the beginning with the introduction of Madame De Lafontaine and Carmilla. You feel that there will be problems with both of them and I was sure about the nature of the issues.
Overall, the main point of the book is their relationship. However, there is a little mystery that doesn’t stick with you or in your brain, as you only have elements about it from time to time. It’s not constant, and the ending is a little too disappointing to be relevant.
Little side note: why, when you have a villain, especially with a toxic relationship, it’s a French one?
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