Challenge Corner discussion

Hungerstone is a thrillingly seductive sapphic romance for fans of S.T. Gibson’s A Dowry of Blood and Emilia Hart’s Weyward.

For what do you hunger, Lenore?

Lenore is the wife of steel magnate Henry, but ten years into their marriage, the relationship has soured and no child has arrived to fill the distance growing between them. Henry's ambitions take them out of London and to the imposing Nethershaw manor in the countryside, where Henry aims to host a hunt with society’s finest. Lenore keeps a terrible secret from the last time her husband hunted, and though they never speak of it, it haunts their marriage to this day.

The preparations for the event take a turn when a carriage accident near their remote home brings the mysterious Carmilla into Lenore's life. Carmilla who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night; Carmilla who stirs up a hunger deep within Lenore. Soon girls from local villages begin to fall sick before being consumed by a bloody hunger.

Torn between regaining her husband's affection and Carmilla's ever-growing presence, Lenore begins to unravel her past and in doing so, uncovers a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk . . .

Set against the violent wilderness of the moors and the uncontrolled appetite of the industrial revolution, Hungerstone is a compulsive feminist reworking of Carmilla, the book that inspired Dracula: a captivating story of appetite and desire.

Started today 💜

me too!!

7 chapters

(view spoiler)[
wow, her marriage sounds terrible. and for him to be such a jerk AND have a mistress?!?!
I hate that he dropped Cora off after being such a petulant child!! lol

I looooove Carmilla!! I love how sassy she's being
but. . .is she a vampire? has she been feeding from her?

and why is Lenore so sick all of a sudden. Is this something more from Carmilla being there? or has she always been. . .unwell? Does this go back to her parent's deaths?

hmmmm (hide spoiler)]

loving this one so far!

Through Part 1 / 14 chapters

(view spoiler)[
wow, so if not Cora, than who? or is she lying? I don't understand where the diamonds went. . .
and WOW! he's poisoning her! I never never thought that was what was going on!! Henry is such a jerk - he put so much on her and then treats her like she's stupid

I'm so glad Carmilla is helping her wake up. Lenore has so much power and she doesn't even use it. hopefully she will now (hide spoiler)]

19 chapters

(view spoiler)[ oooh man, for a moment there, I thought she was going to let Henry win and she was just going to roll over

I want her to get revenge! (hide spoiler)]

and done!

That was so good!
(view spoiler)[
omg she bit him! I love that she got the best of him
I honestly thought she'd chase him out to the shooting and he'd be shot but wow, to blame the unruly dogs. love it! god, he was terrible man

shocking that he really didn't cheat with Cora. I really thought he did (hide spoiler)]

Chap 1 -6

I'm liking it too! (view spoiler)[ I really can't stand Henry. He pisses me off, he's so nasty to Lenore - even for the standards in those times I feel like & I also feel like he's definitely having an affair with Cora. I hope the necklace isn't for her 😢

Also, what's up with the pastilles? I had to look up what they were after Carmilla called them disgusting, and they're like throat lozenges, so I'm confused lol it seems like she's addicted to them. Sugar cravings? There is a theme of hunger throughout the book, so I feel like it has something to do with satiety, but I'm not sure what. (hide spoiler)]

I honestly thought (view spoiler)[ the little mints had a pick me up of some sort! lol It seemed like so many things then were laced with illicit drugs or metals we can't/don't take today! lol (hide spoiler)]

Chap 6 -7

Just some more thoughts I'm having. I really love the psychological themes. I've been analyzing it the whole time 😂
(view spoiler)[ I really like how the book explains Lenore’s sense of self and how, from her childhood, she learned that her needs are not important and how she is too much, and therefore, learned to suppress herself. There’s a deadness to her spirit, like a lack of life force. & it makes sense bc she learned that aliveness = danger with her Aunt and has been reinforced by her husband. I think this is something that many women, especially in that era, felt & many who can still resonate with it today.

It’s also interesting cause she does actually say that she died after her parents did & the author does a good job capturing this “deadness” in her. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "I honestly thought [spoilers removed]"

same lmao

I didn't expect this book to have as much depth as it does, tbh. I'm pleasantly surprised!

right? it's so good!! I think that deadness inside (view spoiler)[ can also be sneaky - in SAHM who don't quite realize they are losing who they are and what they like and want - putting other's needs over theirs.

I love the lines about being Hungry. it's so accurate (hide spoiler)]

Chap 7-11

(view spoiler)[ it seems like Carmilla is the everything Lenore has suppressed in human form lol like she speaks her unconscious mind.

I think the choice of using a Vampire was symbolic, too. Having to hide during the day… insatiability.

I wonder about the sickness, she feels. Like, is she actually sick, or is it psychosomatic? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "right? it's so good!! I think that deadness inside can also be sneaky - in SAHM who don't quite realize they are losing who they are and what they like and want - putting other's needs over theirs..."

yes. that is so true 😔

Trisha wrote: "Through Part 1 / 14 chapters


wow, so if not Cora, than who? or is she lying? I don't understand where the diamonds went. . .
and WOW! he's poisoning her! I never never thought that was what was g..."

11-14
(view spoiler)[ my thoughts were literally the same as yours lol all of them. I dont know if I believe Cora 100% it still seems a little strange

& yes, wtf, I don't get why he's poisoning her?? Unless he is having an affair with Cora or someone else. I figured there was something wrong with those candies but didn't expect that

and LITERALLY! when she explained the murder he committed, I was like what she has so much power over him. She could probably get to him to do anything she wanted.. but now I'm thinking is that why he's poisioning her? He doesn't like her holding so much power over him?

Also, what is up with people eating people and animals. I know it has something to do with Carmilla but I have no theories as to what's happening lol (hide spoiler)]

Through about 7-(view spoiler)[Yes her husband is an absolute ass. I am not convinced he actually having an affair with Cora though, just something about it. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Chap 1 -6

I wondered /(view spoiler)[ if they were some kind of drug to help anxieties or just give a high (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "I honestly thought [spoilers removed]"

It’s exactly what(view spoiler)[ I was thinking. Something for either a little pick me up or a little chill. (hide spoiler)]

Finished/ actually enjoyed this one and loved how (view spoiler)[ she got her revenge at the end but hated she blamed on the dogs but guess it was to her advantage to not be the killer (hide spoiler)]