When I Arrived at the Castle

Well that was...uh, interesting.

Holy shit. That was weird as f#ck and I mean it like WHAT THE HELL it's way darker than Through the woods. I didn't know what I was REALLY getting into ☠️

Would definitely read more of Emily Carroll's other horror graphic novels.

Beautiful and unsettling art - of course! - with a creepy mishmash of fairy tales.

Excellent layering of story, loved the art, and fantastic set of tone and mood.

I think this would be a great (and short) book club type book to chat about. The plot is mysterious/fantastical enough that I think people could have a couple different takes on it. The scenes in here are scary (there is a keyhole scene, in particular) and I would also say it captures a lesbian sensual horror element as well...so recommended to mature (YA and up) readers. Emily Carroll wrote/illustrated one of my favorites [b:Through the Woods 20431052 Through the Woods Emily Carroll https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415696955l/20431052.SX50.jpg 26477611] and the illustrations in this story are also super great! (although, I like Through the Woods much better)

3.5

3.75 stars Creepy af.

Loved. A well crafted story accentuated by lovely artistry.

There once was a girl that lived in a deep and damp and dark celler...

Caroll has crafted another beautifully atmospheric and decadent novel that skirts the line of horror and the gothic. A curious and courageous cat-eared girl braves the castle of a vampiric countess with plans to destroy her. Plans change and go pear-shaped when the strange catgirl instead finds that the countess is waiting for her. Soon, the girl is sent into a maze of tragic fairy tales and stories that she must claw her way through holding as best she can on to her purpose and sanity. The tales trapped behind red doors, the house, countess, and her; all is not what it seems.

This story is a rich work that you need to read a few times to get all the meanings. It is beautifully executed, much is conveyed in the simple palette of three colors; bone white, black, and blood red. It is gothic; ornate when it needs to be and simple when it doesn't. The backgrounds are simple with repeating patterns, but still very useful. It is a hauntingly scary work for a short graphic novella much in the style of her other novels (Out of Skin, Through The Woods) and shouldn't be missed.

Emily Carroll's illustrations feel alive and intimidating in a way that perfectly suits her strange and beautiful stories.