Carmilla
This supernatural creature is the reason Laura grows weaker throughout the novella.
What is a vampire?
The narrator embarks on her “rest” with the help of this extremely incompetent psychiatrist.
Who is Dr. Tuttle?
The novel centers around contestants inspired by this reality TV show.
What is The Bachelor?
Miri’s wife, Leah, works in this field, which brings her on the doomed expedition.
What is marine biology?
This holiday is twisted into something sexy and chaotic in the book.
What is Christmas?
Carmilla is eventually revealed to be this long-dead noblewoman.
Who is Mircalla Karnstein?
The narrator uses this New York cultural institution as both workplace and symbol of her alienation.
What is the art gallery/Guggenheim?
The island where the contestants stay is home to this creature—who happens to be the titular Patricia.
What is a Sasquatch/Bigfoot?
Leah’s submarine becomes trapped here, the event that begins her transformation.
What is the deep ocean/the trench?
The story parodies this classic Tim Burton stop-motion film in its title.
What is The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Carmilla frequently uses this emotion-heavy tactic to get close to Laura.
What is flattery?
This best friend is the narrator’s only real connection to the outside world, despite a deeply toxic dynamic.
Who is Reva?
Otter Island is the lesbian-counterpart to this island along the eastern coast of New York.
What is Fire Island?
Leah is employed by this mysterious organization that ultimately sends her on her tragic deep-sea mission.
What is The Centre?
Who is Iris, the Easter Princess?
Carmilla attacks Laura at night in this form, a hint at her true nature.
What is a large black cat?
The narrator discovers she’s been participating in activities she doesn’t remember during blackout periods caused by this drug-heavy technique.
What is self-imposed hibernation?
Renee represents this feminine archetype based in horror movies and books.
What is a final girl?
Miri’s chapters reveal her grief over losing this important family member to illness, mirroring Leah’s slow disappearance.
Who is her mother?
Santa engages in this form of abuse of power and commodification to boost the power of Christmas.
What is political corruption?
Carmilla’s vampirism is detected by Baron Vordenburg using this method of identifying the undead.
What is opening the tomb and checking the body?
The novel concludes with the narrator watching footage of this major historical event, which she interprets with disturbing serenity.
What is 9/11?
The show’s producers prove their commitment to authenticity by doing this classic reality-TV move.
What is emotional manipulation?
After becoming consumed by voices that only she can hear, Jelka escapes the submarine through this method?
What is the hatch?
The protagonist defines himself as this identity, driving the central romantic plot behind this holiday romance.
What is bisexual?