“She said my name like she was wrapping her finger around the trigger of a gun, somehow pronouncing the soft syllables like a warning shot.”

My first book by ST Gibson and her writing is delicious. Gothic, sensual and dark it was exactly what you’d hope for in a Carmilla retelling - sapphic academic rivals to lovers. The imagery she conjures is the perfect balance of erotic and grotesque.

I think the thing that was missing for me was the lack of ‘light’ in this book. It would have been great to see Laura’s friendships with other characters blossom. As this would have made the dark world she and Carmilla finds themselves in even more daunting and dangerous.

It does of course deal with some hard themes around control, isolation, death and family trauma to list a few but Gibson deals with these in a setting where they aren’t just deployed to push the narrative but instead feel genuine.

100% will be recomending to anyone in the market for a gothic vampire read!

Thanks to Little Brown Books UK, Orbit and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

S. T Gibson once again has produced an intriguing retelling that immediately drew me in, mostly for the writing- that gothic and sensual lyricism that I love. I think I was more excited to continue reading for that rather that the overall plot. Compared to A Dowry of Blood that that I read in one sitting, it took me some time to complete this one. That is not to say i didn't enjoy the plot. I did, but not fully.

I did like that it 1st person dual pov so you got an insight into Laura and Carmilla. De Lafontaine’s character surprised me and made me feel somewhat uncomfortable especially with her interactions with Carmilla. And I think Gibson does a good job in that sense, showcasing this unequal power dynamic between teacher and student as well as how far someone would go because of obsession and jealousy.

With that being said, I still felt that is was lacking. The reasonings and actions of the 3 main characters seemed surface level but not only that, the dark academia aspect seemed to be this back drop with no great influence into the plot.

Rating: 3.75 stars

Two of my favourite worlds from last year have collided into one book and it was everything I wanted. Last year I finally read (well listened) to Carmilla and I buddy read A Dowry of Blood with the other Lauren. Lauren and I and were both so excited when we learnt S.T. Gibson had another book coming out. This is one of my anticipated reads of the year even though I technically read it last year.
I can’t wait to get my hands on my physical copy and reread it.

An Education in Malice is a delightfully Gothic Carmilla retelling that takes place in the backdrop of an all-girls college in the 1960's. Saint Perpetua's College in Massachusetts is the perfect dark academia setting for this story as it is a desolate and ancient estate. Laura Sheridan has been sent to study poetry and Carmilla is forming an unhealthy bond with her poetry professor. It’s not long till Laura and Carmilla are thrown into a passionate academic rivalry.

Having read Dowry I kind of knew what I was getting into with this retelling but S.T. Gibson one of the few authors who can write about dangerous love and the seduction of death and make want to be part of its world. But not only that S.T. Gibson has you giggling one second and then sitting at the edge of your seat the next. I’m not ashamed to say I still love vampire books and S.T. Gibson's vampires are high up on my list of my favourite fictional vampire’s.

One thing I will mention that just like a Dowry, S T Gibson has used vampirism as a tool to discuss abusive aspects of relationships. Just like Dowry we can see how cruel obsession and how cruel a power imbalance can be. The story also shows how cycles of abuse can continue in relationships.

S.T. Gibson has once again created, a lush and atmospheric, haunted, and tragically romantic page turner that lives up to its dark academia label. I was completely hooked on the story and couldn’t read the book quick enough. The world building and setting were the perfect level of cosy and frightening and I know as soon as I get my hands on the book, I will reread it, but I really can’t wait to back to back read dowery and this in autumn. Can it be spooky season yet?

An Education In Malice has a compelling premise but the execution unfortunately under - delivered. I was really excited for this but it fell flat as a dark academia story. I enjoyed the beginning chapters and Laura as a character but the mystery didn't really intrigue me. I was bored most of the time and the romance didn't make up for this. The student - teacher storyline overshadowed what could have been an interesting take on dark academia as a genre. The sacrifices and college atmosphere was the only positive thing I can think of that I liked but this wasn't enough to carry the plot and storyline.

A sensual and thrilling Dark Academia plot with a enemies to lovers twist with vampires in a Carmilla retelling. A good read with a intriguing plot. Only let done for me was the love interests Laura and Carmilla felt a little forced at times, though they have had great chemistry, some sparks just didn't work for me. Loved the flowy, descriptive prose which made this a rich, lyrical and atmospheric read full of period details and a devastating romance.

Rounded up the rating to 4 stars from 3.5 stars.

In the elite, isolated Saint Perpetua’s College, Laura Sheridan starts her education, hoping to develop her writing. She soon joins the exclusive poetry class, becoming obsessed with the subject and her academic rival Carmilla...

An Education in Malice is a fascinating, dark academia position, which I unfortunately found disappointing. I believe my expectations for dark academia are very high, and the recent positions only partially fulfil them. The setting of this novel is academic; the characters take part in an exclusive course, and they are obsessed with the subject and compete for the attention of the demanding professor— the perfect background for this genre. Very soon, the narrative shifted to the romantic plot, which I think was a bit rushed and almost entirely physical, without emotional depth. Also, the supernatural and crime themes weren’t developed and didn’t bring much to the plot. It felt like the author wanted to tell a passionate romance story and used vampirism and dark academia setting to lure the readers. There were also scenes designed to shock the reader, as they did not push the narrative forward. I would enjoy this book more if the supernatural was developed or removed entirely.

"I decided right away that I hated her, hated her stupid bouncy curls and her soft-edged southern drawl and the little red notebook che kept scribbling in like a pastor's pet during a sermon."

Let's talk about an Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson. But, what is about this book?
Pages: 352
Genre: fantasy dark academia
- fantasy dark academia in a collage
- rivals to lovers
- poetry lessons
- vampires
- polyamorous and sapphic relationship
- cameo from A Dowry of Blood

My rating: 4 stars, a must read!

Well, here we are to talk about this new reading!
First of all I wanted to thank Netgalley and the Little Brown Book group publishing house for giving me the opportunity to read this book many weeks before its release!

Let's start from the assumption that I saw this book on netgalley, I knew it was coming out soon and I started reading it because in November I read A Dowry of Blood, also by the same author.
Well, her first book was a shock for me, something that I had been looking for a long time to read, but that I didn't know I needed, both on a narrative level and in terms of style, completely vampire-like in the soul, dark, romantic and sensual. So, let's say, I jumped on this reading hoping it was at the same level as the first book, or even simply to rediscover what I had previously discovered.

This book is about our protagonist, Laura upon her arrival at Saint Perpetua's College, a purely and uniquely female collage that she specifically chose for Professor De Lafontaine's poetry course, which she incredibly managed to get into. One of the first people Laura meets is Carmilla. With her she establishes a rivalry relationship based precisely on this poetry course, a rivalry that will become much more over the course of the narrative.
Love for poetry, rivalry, romance, classics and lessons are what I found in this fantastic narrative with dark but never excessive tones, which remain in line with the places and themes addressed.

Personally, this time too like the first, I really appreciated the author's narration, how she decided to set up the story (this time I really appreciated the double POV of both protagonists which highlights their differences very well, but above all very useful for the study of vampirism and relationships), especially because the theme, that of vampirism, is the same as the other book, but here it is approached in a totally different way. So style is definitely something I promote but in the most absolute way!
I must say that the narrative here is a little more focused on the feelings of the protagonists than on the story, not that I minded it, but we certainly see fewer vampires than in the author's first book. This is not a problem because the romance is structured very well, in the right timing and with desire that grows little by little, until it blossoms into the description of a wonderfully written sapphic relationship.
I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I loved this book and it's a great read that you can relax with but also devour in one sitting!

Better than A Dowry of Blood, then? No, but it's equally beautiful, even if for me that, evidently, will not be surpassed yet!

Sumptuous and addictive are the right adjectives for this book. And I could leave it at that because really, you don’t need to know more. But there is more so let’s see what I can say about this book.
This was my first book by this author, I haven’t read the first one because, even if I read a lot of amazing reviews for that one, I always thought that it would not have been the best fit for me. And I think I was right in my guess, but An Education In Malice is a sort of retelling of Carmilla, and since I enjoyed Carmilla more than Dracula (mind me, I enjoyed Dracula but, to be completely honest, I enjoy more the retellings and all the different rehashes of it than the original Bram Stoker’s book) I was way more curious. And in the end, it is always curiosity that gets me, so here we are.

This book is a thing of beauty. The writing, the vibes, and the characters are so well intertwined and developed, so deliberate in their making, that the end result is something that is luscious, dark, and beautiful. And also strangely addictive. I have to admit that, in the beginning, I wasn’t 100% into it. I had some doubts and, even if I was appreciating it, I wasn’t really into it.
And I think that one of the things that caused me problems was the time in which the story is set. First thing first, this is a highly personal issue, and I want to stress this part out. It is not that the author does something strange with the timeline or it is badly portrayed or something like that, not at all. But this story is set in the past (I can’t really remember when, because it is not clearly said, but some things clue you in quite precisely, so it is not that it is confusing, it is pretty clear) but it is not the far past, at a guess I’d say it is around the 1960s or something like that, and I tend to have problems with books set in this period because it is the past but it is not so far and, especially with fiction (or some kind of fiction, in which the timeline is not so relevant to the story), I tend to get confused, at some point, I start to read like it is the present and then some details remember me that we are, instead, in the past, and this usually get me out of the story. It broke the mood, as to say, and I need to immerse myself again.
Anyway, when I started it I had some doubts it would be the right book for me, but as I kept reading the book slowly began to enchant me and captivate me. It was like I was a prisoner in a magical spell, and I couldn’t put down the book. I was drawn in by the beautiful words on the pages, the dark vibes of the story, and the compelling characters.

I think that the writing and the general atmosphere are the best parts of this book, and it is worth your time just for those two things, but we have also some great characters. We have female characters who hunger for more, and they have no qualms to follow their hunger. It may be that 2024 would be, for me, the year of hungry female characters, and I am here for it. I have already read and loved Blood Over Bright Haven, and one of the best features of this book is that Sciona, the MC, is so hungry. Her hunger is an imperative, it is so strong that defines her, and it is epic. And here, in An Education In Malice, it may be less imperative, it is less epic, but it is there, and it is the main motor of the characters. And I am here for it!
Carmilla and Laura are two creatures of desire, this book is hedonistic (and luscious, and sensual) and the characters are, mainly, moved by their hunger and desires. But this is not to say that the characters are not complex individuals, they are real and complex, and their relationships are even more deep and complex. They all are ensnared in a web that won’t let them go.

And it’s not only Carmilla and Laura, but also Professor De LaFontaine. Truth be told, we have some secondary characters around, and some of them have so much potential, but they pale in the comparison of this “trinity”, and I think that this is another thing that bummed me a bit, because they feel bidimensional, but it is obvious that the author can create complex characters so… it was a bit of a shame. And I think that the book could have gained from more characters. Mind me, it is quite an obsessive story, and it became, in moments, almost claustrophobic, and it made sense that the center is a restricted set of characters (and their dynamic is one of the best parts of the book, even if it deserves some trigger-warning, because we have an uneven power-based relationship, and we have some really twisted way of seeing relationship, either, so be mindful here), so I am not really complaining, but still…

Anyway, this is a beautiful reading, and even if I may not want to read something like that over and over, times and again, I am happy to have read it. I was fascinated, I was completely ensnared by it, and I couldn’t put it down.

Well Miss Gibson does it again.

With the flowery poetic writing style and a gripping plot we as readers are thoroughly gripped from the first page.

Laura and Carmilla are some fantastic characters and they were written fantastically, however their relationship a felt a bit forced as one second they hated each other then next they were soul mates with very little relationship building.
The ending was a little lacklustre as their was very little build up to it it had potential to be a great ending but was let down from the Mentor.

Overall a great book with more plus points than low

Last year I read Dowry of Blood which was the first book I read by S.T. Gibson and I absolutely fell in love with her writing and immediately after I went to see if she had any more books out. When I discovered this and saved it to my tbr wait for the day I could finally get my hand on it. I have no idea how she does but I swear that S.T. Gibson has a way of writing a retelling, cause I have never quite enjoyed them but if she writing it I’ll read it.

An Education of Malice is a dark academic, gothic and, sapphic retelling of the classic novel Carmilla, that takes place in 1968 at Saint Perpetua's College. Where Laura is fascinated by the intense and highly respected poetry class taught by the captivating De Lafontaine. Laura unintentionally finds herself caught in a rivalry with the gifted Carmilla in her effort for the approval of De Lafontaine at any cost. This book shows so much desire and angst between Laura and Carmilla not to forget the longing and passion they also have for one another. I enjoy the poetry that flows throughout the book and the way it connects to Carmilla and Laura's characters alongside how it shapes their relationship with De Lafontaine. I liked how there was a dual point of view as we were able to get insight and understanding of the characters and see how their relationship evolves, along with the various dynamics between them. But I do feel that this book was more concentrated on the aesthetic and character-driven than the plot at times. Overall I thought this book had an amazing dark atmosphere to it and did a really good job of portraying the dark academia vibes and was a really entertaining read. I also think it is important to check out the content warning before reading this book, as there are a few slightly heavy themes that can be seen throughout.

Thank you so much to Netgalley UK, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Orbit for this advanced review copy of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out on February 13th so make sure to go and find yourself a copy.

Set in 1968, the story follows Laura, a student from Mississippi who relocates to Massachusetts to pursue her studies in poetry, just as women are beginning to be admitted into the clergy. Upon her arrival, Laura encounters Carmilla, a captivating and seductive young woman with a deep connection to their poetry teacher. As the school year progresses, mysterious occurrences hint at supernatural forces at play, weaving a tale of intrigue and intrigue intertwined with the world of poetry and academia.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up. Set in 1968, we follow Laura a student from Mississipi who moves to Massachuesetts to study poetry before entering the church as women are newly allowed into the clergy. Upon arrival she meets Carmilla, a beautiful, seductive young woman who has a very close relationship with their poetry teacher. Over the course of a school year we see a lot of vampire business happening. I'm torn about this book as it was a quick and easy read but even half way through the book the characters didn't feel very well fleshed out - like I would have described Laura as a southern belle who likes poetry and is a lesbian - that's really all we know of her! I've not read Carmilla the book this is based on/a rewrite of and I don't think I'll be seeking it out. This was a fun way to pass an afternoon but ended up as a forgettable fluff piece to me at least.

I loved 'A Dowry of Blood' so jumped at the chance to read 'An Education in Malice' ahead of release. What beautiful writing! Having recently read the inspiration 'Carmilla', this retelling was so well done. It kept the original themes whilst adding a new spin. I loved how Laura wasn't a passive, meek, woman like in the original, but an active participant in her and Carmilla's relationship, and even the dominant partner. I felt the ending was a little rushed/abrupt with the antagonist but overall it was a fantastic book touching on obsession, lust, love, and toxicity! I loved the nod to 'A Dowry of Blood' and I hope we see more books set in this world!! 4.5 stars

Laura takes a place at a prestigious all girls school to further her education with a focus on writing, and is quickly drawn into a fierce rivalry with a follow student, Carmilla

Carmilla has been the star of De Lafontaines demanding class and she doesn't quite appreciate someone else stealing the spot light

The two girls are quite different, but quickly become enthralled in a dark and bloody world they couldn't have fathomed.

You get a clear sense of how this affects them both from their own POVs in this story, and I just loved how their relationship changes and evolves throughout

Amazing story, had me hooked from the get go! Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the review copy... out next week so go grab this one now! You won't regret it

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Let me start off by saying I did enjoy S.T. Gibsons writing very much, but I went into this novel a bit too blind (just going off from the trigger warnings) and didn't expect it to turn out this way. I didn't connect to any of the characters or the story, and had to drag myself through the second part of the book. The enemies part in enemies to lovers passed by too quickly for my liking as well.

I however *would* recommend this book if you like academic settings, rivalry to lovers, sapphic romance and a touch of vampirism.

I have given this book a rating of 3.5 stars, which I have rounded up to 4. However, I was quite disappointed with it, especially after how much I enjoyed reading A Dowry of Blood.

This book is described as a dark romance, but in my opinion, it doesn't fit that genre too closely. Although there is a romance in it, I wouldn't call it dark in any way. Instead, I would describe it as more of a dark academia story.

Let me start with the positive aspects of the book. Compared to A Dowry of Blood, I enjoyed learning more about the vampire world and how it worked. Although the story is mostly set in one place, the world feels a lot more open.

I also found the two main characters to be interesting and appreciated the dual POV nature of the story. I liked how one of the main characters was 'larger', which is quite rare for a dark academic story. The spice level was also good, not too cringe-worthy, which is often the case for me. However, at times, the characters were a bit too similar for my liking. They both had quite similar backgrounds in terms of family relationships, and it would have been good to have a bit of variety there.

Now onto the negatives. I felt that the relationship between the two main characters developed a bit too quickly for my liking. Although there was chemistry between them, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a more slow-burn type of relationship.

I didn't mind the writing style of this book. However, I felt that it lacked the beautiful and descriptive nature of the first book, which was one of my favourite things about it. Of course, that one is told from the first-person perspective of a character who is not featured in this book, but I would have liked to have seen a similar writing style in this story.

I felt that the plot was too predictable, and the story was resolved too quickly at the end. It felt like the story got to 90%, and it still hadn't been resolved, and then a couple of pages later, the characters had a solution and fixed the problem!

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this story. I was not drawn to pick it up, and I was expecting it to be a little bit closer in style to "A Dowry of Blood".

It is Laura’s first year at Saint Perpetua's College, and she has been admitted to the very closed circle of Ms De Lafontaine’s poetry class. There, in addition to the heady blend of poetry she has to absorb and create, she faces the immediate hatred of one student, Carmilla, the teacher’s favourite. A web of secrets links the prodigy student and the professor, one that hints at something not entirely proper. Soon, Laura finds herself drawn into the tight knot of their relationship.
This dark academia novel / romance has all the vibes. It feels gothic, rather sexy, dangerous and morally very gray. The relationship dynamics are probably the highlight of this book as it explores the trope of rivals to lovers as well as power abuse in academic settings. I felt these were well executed, introducing a lot of tension from the former and a lot of “ugh please no” from the latter. I was thoroughly enjoying myself and couldn’t put the book down. When I did, however, I felt a little frustrated. I think I wanted a little more from it, especially because of the novella S.T. Gibson drew from — Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla. That being said, the original piece is very short and suggests more than it takes a deep dive into its themes, so maybe that’s fair for An Education in Malice to do a similar job. The fact that I wanted more from it probably stems from the fact that I was really enjoying myself, and that’s a good thing.
Rep : bisexual MC, lesbian mid-size MC.
Summary of the CW listed at the beginning of the book: power abuse, inappropriate relationships, toxic academic environment, blood, gore, murder, consensual sexual content (very spicy), alcohol and drug use, smoking.

I always enjoy an ST Gibson book - her ideas, characters and writing is so much fun I find myself really lost in the plot and the story. I didn’t know much about this one before going into it besides that it was a dark academia, but I absolutely loved it and the books descent into horror. The dark academia elements were actually done really well. That phrase is thrown around a lot on booktok at the moment when it shouldn’t be used but there was a real academic feel to this book coupled with a lusciously dark atmosphere. The characters were great too, however my only qualm was that the two POVs seemed sometimes to blur together and I had trouble telling which one was talking mid-chapter. I really liked this though and would recommend for fans of dark, horror fiction and vampires, or if you just like dark academia and want something with a fantasy twist.

Heady and sensual, AN EDUCATION IN MALICE is an all-female Secret History with a snaking sexual energy. I could not put it down. This is bound to be a new favourite of Dark Academia lovers, especially if you've always wanted a bit more danger and a bit more romance in dark academia.

Originally loved the character of Laura, but as time went on, she became so annoying. Her poor dad was just being brushed aside. I enjoyed the lavish parties at magdalena House, another side of that world. But the dead girls, I felt it dropped off a bit and just went and got lost under the carpet like it never happened. The ending was a bit anticlimactic but is allowing room for another book.