For the moment I started this book I was hooked. I went in blind but this was an ARC. And I am so happy I got to read this. I also pre ordered this just before I got the ARC. A Camilla retelling I am 100% here for. Fantastic story line and well written. Loving the sapphic romance between Camilla and Laura, then we get poetry and of course Vampires. It's nice and fast paced. A perfect Dark Academia

At Saint Perpetua's College, Laura Sheridan begins her studies under poetry professor De Lafontaine. She finds a burning rivalry with Carmilla, a fellow student. The pair are drawn deeper into De Lafontaine's dark secrets as each are forced to confront their own desires.

Gibson's prose is gorgeous. It feels less purple than in A Dowry of Blood but just as lyrical. There was a real vintage vibe to the writing as well, which effectively ties the story to its 1960s academia setting.

Laura and Carmilla's relationship from burning rivals to something more hooked me from the start. The chapters flip between their POVs and each had distinct voices. De Lafontaine was a surprise character for me, developing from manipulative mentor to a much more empathetic character.

The pacing was great for the majority of the book, but near the end it felt like there was a decline. I wasn't feeling the tension as we moved towards the climax.

This is a great read if you're a fan of dark academia or vampires, and a must read for anyone craving more in the world of A Dowry of Blood.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC!

S.T. Gibson's writing will always impress me, her prose is so beautiful she could literally write a grocery list and I'd be impressed.

This story is a companion novel taking place in the same world as A Dowery of Blood as we follow two girls obsession with their teacher then turning into an obsession with each other. It's a dark, sultry, gothic, sapphic horror/romance that takes place in an academic setting, following themes of dangerous devotion, enemies to lovers, and power play dripping in blood.

Overall I loved this, not as much as Dowery, but close!!

A spiritual successor to A Dowry of Blood, Malice is essentially a rivals to lovers story set at a university campus. Having loved Dowry, I was quietly hopeful for this one but alas the pacing was off.

Starting slow, heading into a climax mid-book then petering off from there, this one wasn't as punchy as its predecessor. There were 2 scenes where I thought maybe it would pick up the pace but unfortunately it fell a little flat.

Representation of curvy girls was a welcome surprise and I give Gibson props for not sticking to the stereotypical gorgeous woman becoming ethereal after turning.

Neither punchy vampire novel, nor dark academia, I feel this firmly sits in the gothic romance category, just don't expect steam above foreplay and a lowkey bondage kink

Flew through this one in a few days, certainly a page turner! A very unique story with a huge range of vocabulary that made an interesting writing style.

Read if you like:
- horror romance with vampires
- ff romance with some spicy scenes
- dark academia / boarding school college age

Ughhh it's always so sad when anticipated reads let you down.

This wasn't bad I guess, but really missed the mark for me. While I loved a Dowry of Blood, I wasn't expecting this to be like that, and although I had good expectations, I wouldn't say they were astronomical. Unfortunately, it didn't meet them!

My biggest issue was with the characters. After a while, Laura and Carmilla's chapters began sounding the same, and I would constantly forget who's perspective I was reading from. Everyone came across as quite flat, making the relationships with each other feel kind of shallow even though we were dealing with kind of complex dynamics.

This book is well written, but it took itself a little too seriously for me, bordering on pretentious (derogatory). Dark academia is pretentious, however I think an important distinction is that it's pretentious as a way to critique academia, not just for the ~aesthetic~. I didn't get that from this.

I also found the side plot of the murders and the mystery really thrown on the backburner, and the climax of the novel was over SO fast. I get that it's about the complex and toxic dynamics between the three main characters, but because they felt so flat for me, it just felt like a whole soup of pretty words and nothing else.

This book is very readable (I finished it quickly) and I think some will love it, but it just didn't hit the spot for me.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - An Education in Malice - S.T Gibson (out 13/02/2024)

When I was reading this book, Lacy by Olivia Rodrigo came on shuffle and my jaw DROPPED - so I want to start this review by saying that Lacy completely encapsulates the high strung, poetic, obsessional undertones of An Education in Malice.

An Education in Malice is a dark academia New England set retelling of Le Fanu’s gothic vampire novel from the 1800s. Tackling the same themes of infatuation, student/teacher power imbalances, and the woes of eternal life.

It is, at it’s core, a story of academic rivals falling desperately in love. Laura and Carmilla are two poetry students, studying under the esteemed De Lafontaine, whose prose is quickly pitted against each other.

The way Gibson has written their first person narratives in such distinctive voices, makes the idea of Laura and Carmilla being academic rivals feel intensely plausible. For me, the distinct voices of the characters is what drew me in from the beginning. I felt like I learnt so much from what Laura and Carmilla deemed important enough to share within their chapters. This is a book I will read again and no doubt keep finding more things to love about it.

Swipe right through the pics to see my favourite quotes from the book!

If you listen to my recs ONCE this year please make it with this book - it’s insanely good and you won’t regret it, I swear!!

✨Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a ARC copy in exchange for my honest review ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC to review.

There is something so enthralling about gothic literature and the dark academia branch, which this book definitely touches upon, that makes for strong retellings. Having no experience with Carmilla before, I didn’t know what to expect when going into this book, but I knew that I enjoyed the author’s style from reading A Dowry of Blood last year.

I enjoyed the dual POV going between Laura and Carmilla, getting both insights into their budding feelings for one another and how their rivalry dissolves over the course of the book. Their relationship was steamy but also sweet at moments, allowing vulnerability. I would have loved to see this be explored further, maybe looking at their backgrounds more deeply to see how it affects them as they adjust to their relationship and new found independence.

My main criticism is that the confrontation at the climax of the book felt very rushed, I would have loved the threat of danger to last a little bit longer because almost as soon as you understand what is going on it is already resolving. I understand the book is quite short so any disruption to the equilibrium is fast approaching and quick to deescalate but I still feel it could have been a little more extended.

Many thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The rating it’s more 2.5 than 3.

I don’t want to say it was a bad book, but I can’t say I liked it enough to call it “good”. Usually, when I skim through a book without caring enough for the action or the characters, I know that book wasn’t for me. It was the same with “An Education in Malice”. Everything bored me and I couldn’t care about the characters or the plot.

The book started with Laura, who arrives at this girls school (or something like that) and a few chapters in, she meets Carmilla, this beautiful and smart woman (girl). After more chapters, we meet De lafontaine, who is a poetry teacher. These are our characters. Unfortunately, for me, they felt very flat and boring. All I felt for Laura was pity and Carmilla annoyed me from the first page until the last. I found Delafointaine very mean and I felt like she took advantage of these two girls, she was abusive and toxic. The author made sure we know that the professor is hot at every 5 pages. Then she acts like a jealous teenager, then she looses control, then she says she’s sorry, but she’s still mean. She’s very manipulative.

So yes, I couldn’t care less about them. They are just your stereotypical/predictable characters, the beautiful-mean-smart-lonely girl and the shy-smart-virgin girl. And they are both very good at poetry. Maybe the author wanted a rivals to lovers story, but I wasn’t invested at all.

Also, there’s no plot. I don’t know what was supposed to happen or if something was supposed to happen. It was the relationship between these two girls? It was the professor? The secrets? What was the plot?

That’s all I’m going to say about this book, there are a lot of reviews about why this book wasn’t as good as everyone said. Oh well.

‘An Education in Malice’ is a modern retelling of the classic ‘Carmilla’, filled with dark academia and a gothic setting. The story consists of a sapphic romance, academic rivals, student x professor relationship and uneven power dynamics. Along with a poetic prose and a beautiful yet chilling atmosphere.

From the beginning I was pulled into this world that S.T. Gibson has woven together so beautifully. It was a slow start where the first 50% felt like it dragged at times but once it hit the more exciting side of the story I didn’t want to step away from it.

At the base of it all it is a story of intense student-teacher obsession, the pursuit for knowledge, art, and love. Carmilla and Laura’s relationship has an uneven power imbalance with the added fact from De Lafontaine. There is manipulation all around, however, at the forefront it’s just about two young girls trying to figure out themselves and their feelings for one another—in a world where they are not accept as they are. Along side a very toxic environment where they are constantly being pitted against each other at every turn.

Carmilla is such a charming and confident character that at times I often felt jealous of her myself. Her character is one who portrays that sense of young naivety. She was desperate for attention—mostly from De Lafontaine—and unwilling to share the spotlight. At the start she was threaten by Laura, not because of how intelligent she was but due to the fact she was scared Laura might have stolen the professions affections away from her. But under all her jealousy, at heart she is just a young girl yearning my to be loved and seek validation—this is also what allows Carmilla to be easily manipulated and controlled by De Lafontaine.

Laura, I found to be quite of an interesting character too. She comes across as this sweet, well-mannered good-girl seeking knowledge of education who is also easily manipulated by her professor in her search for approval and validation—similar to Carmilla. But underneath I was surprised to find that she is in fact a dom in the bedroom. I absolutely loved the power exchange between her and Carmilla. Laura was able to take control in this instance which was a nice switch up.

De Lafontaine and Carmilla had an interesting dynamic of such, and the part Laura played in said dynamic was just as compelling and entertaining to read. De Lafontaine at times comes across with malicious intentions. One minute she is caring of Carmilla and Laura and other times you question her true motives. You can tell she loves Carmilla, her obession at times borders on dangerous, but you never quite know if she’s displaying the love of a mentor, friend, parental figure or even lover. She definitely kept me on my toes, uncertain of what her next actions would be. But I’m the end I loved how she came to be a lot more tender towards Carmilla and Laura, even referring to Carmilla as the closest thing to a daughter she has.

Now, while the Carmilla and Laura’s relationship was one of rivals-to-lovers, the romance is slow-burn. Their attraction is instant and filled with tension. You see that even though they try to deny themselves of their attraction—by insulting one another and numerous obstacles—they can’t seem to stay away for long. The transition from rivals to lovers for me was a rather abrupt; I would have preferred that their relationship be more explored, especially when compared to the depth that De Lafontaine and Carmilla shared.

Admittedly, I did find the book to be more aesthetic than anything else. At times the plot fell short but the atmosphere of the story never seemed to dip. I actually enjoyed the murder plot line of it—but once again this fell short due to the fact that, the perpetrator already being revealed to the readers beforehand, making it anticlimactic. Also, the ending was somewhat conventional for this book, it didn’t quite seem to fit with the overall narrative.

Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable read, and would recommend ‘An Education in Malice’ to anyone looking for a intoxicating sapphic and gothic academic romance filled with a picturesque setting and desires that go beyond obsession and lust.

Finally, thank you to Netgalley, Orbit and the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

—————

Tropes:
- dark academia
- sapphic vampire romance
- academic rivals
- jealous classmate
- student x professor
- uneven power dynamics
- skinny dipping (i know it’s not a trope but it really should be)

Content warning:
- racist political polices
- homophobia
- religious discrimination against women
- toxic academic atmosphere

—————

Quotes:
- [ ] “Love turns some people into birds or beggars, but you make me into architecture,”
- [ ] “Gazing up at Carmilla with her perfectly arched brows drawn together, I wondered if this wasn’t the start for t something distinctly loved-shaped.”
- [ ] “I found Carmilla Karnstein watching me, her eyes burning .”
- [ ] “If I couldn’t touch her, I would settle for making her squirm.”
- [ ] “But if I couldn’t have the real Carmilla, I would settle for an illusion of my own design.”

- [ ] "Erotica was one of the only places I could find Frank discussions of my own proclivities, rendered in fantastical prose that both titillated the body and delighted the mind. Reading those books felt like slipping on a beribboned mask and surrendering myself to the whirl of a hedonistic masquerade, plunging into a world where I was at once at home and a stranger in a strange land."

- [ ] “Unless keeping us starved for her approval, fighting over scraps of her love like neglected puppies, had always been her aim.”
- [ ] “In De Lafonetaine’s eyes, I was a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and in Carmilla’s eyes, I was a worthy opponent. I had never been any of those things to anyone before.”
- [ ] “She missed me with a martyr’s agonized desperation, like I was the only sword she ever wanted to fall on. I kissed her right back like the cutting edge of a blade, trying to inflict as much damage as possible.”
- [ ] “I wanted her to want me so badly it hurt.”
- [ ] “She was the professor’s pet, boing to her body and soul by a dark, ancient rite i still couldn’t quite wrap my head around. I wasn’t sure what I had to offer her that could compete with something like that.”
- [ ] “I felt like I was bleeding out alongside her, like something in me would expire for good if I had to watch her die.”
- [ ] “But I decided on the spot that if I was going to be a monster, I was going to be an elegant one, like my beloved De Lafontaine.”
- [ ] “Whether or not you infuriate me is beside the point. You’re always on my mind, Laura, playing over and over again like a record.”
- [ ] “Death, that great leering chaperone who had separated us in a way to profound u don’t think either of us truly grasped it, death which lingered in the air between us like a sour perfume.”
- [ ] “You and I are two sides of the same coin, Sheridan. I’m not sure how we were ever going to end up anywhere but here. Yes, we’re an item.”
- [ ] “I felt like the burning sun at the heart if the universe, the white-hot centre of gravity; and Carmilla was the very orbiting star.”
- [ ] “How had I ever been able to survive without it her?”
- [ ] “I almost lost you once. I couldn’t live through it agin.”
- [ ] “After all, what horror wouldn’t I tolerate, if it was meted out by the hand of my beloved.”
- [ ] “This was my whole world, wrapped up in one awful, wonderful girl.”
- [ ] “I was Laura the night creature now, regardless of what path I chose to take.”

LOVED IT! Another 5 star book from this author that I know I’ll be re-reading in the future!

It has everything I love in a novel: a gothic academic setting, all-consuming, obsessive relationships and just the perfect amount of sensuality between the main characters.

If you enjoyed A Dowry of Blood then you absolutely HAVE TO read An Education in Malice!

sapphic rivals-to-lovers with a touch of vampires? yes please!

this is one of those books that put me in a trance the whole way through. i truly enjoyed reading this, so i’m turning off my critical brain to rate this 4 stars.

— writing:
s.t. gibson’s writing breathes life into the pages of this book. i adored her use of imagery, and her prose truly evokes a sense of dark mystique.

the pacing was great, ebbing and flowing at the right times. although the writing is quite introspective (which usually slows down the pace), i never felt bored!

— setting:
the gothic campus, st. perpetua’s college for women, provides an excellent backdrop for the story. it helped create such a lush, immersive atmosphere.

i will say, the story doesn’t really focus on the workings of the school much. the dark academia aspect is more on the backburner, and the setting is merely used as a prop.

— characters:
the weakest point of this story is the characters and their motivations. they were not well fleshed out. we know nothing about their needs, goals, fears… etc. carmilla comes off a little one-dimensional, while laura is a character of reaction rather than action. i think this is why the story felt passive at times. they both needed better individual backstories and more well-developed character arcs to add depth to the story. i also thought we’d know more about de lofontaine.

despite the above, i still loved reading about these characters. the obsession, the gaslighting, the predatory and toxic power dynamics - it all made for such a compelling read.

— plot:
this is not a plot forward book, so do not expect that. the plot is secondary to the atmosphere, and the plot progression is wobbly at best. still, i was so charmed by the atmosphere that i didn’t mind!

— romance:
the romance was a focal point and extremely well done. carmilla and laura’s chemistry was undeniable, and the tension between them palpable from the first meeting. it’s so easy to root for them to be together. the slow burn was exquisite and their relationship was so sensual. i couldn’t get enough!

all in all, your enjoyment of this book will depend on what you’re looking to get out of it. if you prioritise vibes, you’re sure to enjoy this. i went into this blindly, not having read a dowry of blood or carmilla, and i had a blast! s.t. gibson’s writing lends itself to a sumptuous story, brimming with intrigue and sensuality.

⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5
🌶️ - Lots of Tension

*ARC Review*

An Education in Malice - ST Gibson
1st Person - Dual POV

An education in Malice is a dark academia sapphic romance.

I loved Laura and Camilla, their character and relationship growth was amazing and I couldn't get enough. The tension was so expertly delivered!

The writing style was so phenomenal and really pushed that dark gothic atmosphere that leaves you feeling uneasy but in the best possible way.

My only negative is that I wanted a little bit more from the ending.

Highly recommend this book!

Wow.

I don’t know how to feel after finishing An Education in Malice, I’ve just been sat here for almost thirty minutes contemplating what I’ve read - in a good way.

A modern, gothic, dark academia retelling of Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, An Education in Malice is a lyrical, imagery laden haven. There’s something in Gibson’s writing where you just feel like you’re being taught what beautiful prose reads like.

We start with two main characters, Laura and Carmilla. Laura is a transfer student to St Perpetua’s College - an all girls school, almost instantaneously she becomes infatuated with Carmilla, the protege of their poetry teach De Lafontaine. Gibson cover’s several tropes in An Education in Malice, student-teach power dynamics, obsession, grief, academic rivals to lover, slow-burn, vampire, murder and at the heart of it a sapphic romance.

Whilst I’m not normally one for alternating POV’s I couldn’t wait to read what both of the girls were thinking and feeling both so distinctly written. Carmilla’s standout qualities were her academic drive, her confidence and her strong emotions, Laura conversely, was warmer, a sweet southern girl, who wanted to learn. Both however, were tied by their need to for acceptance, approve and need to belong, to be loved and to be accepted by each other but also by their teach De Lafontaine.

The power dynamics between Carmilla and De Lafontaine were so interesting to watch play out. One minute Carmilla stood up for herself but in the next second De Lafontaine had managed to wrangle her back under a spell. It was so uncomfortable not being able to figure out where exactly I - as a reader stood with De Lafontaine, what she was doing was wrong, her obsession and treatment of Carmilla was wrong and yet in some scenes she truly cared for Carmilla. Gibson wrote the dynamic so wonderfully, so I’m glad the ending was what it was.

An Education in Malice, is an atmospheric, imagery laden, lyrical prose filled novel. One of Gibson’s best works yet, I look forward to reading what’s next - Excelsior.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit and Gibson for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

S.T. Gibson's sapphic dark academia novel, blending "If We Were Villains" and "A Dowry of Blood," reinvents Carmilla's story in New England. Under the tutelage of the fierce Professor De Lefontaine, Laura and Carmilla navigate a world of cutthroat academia and forbidden desires. While the book brims with rich prose and captivating romance, the second half's stakes feel more told than shown, leading to a somewhat abrupt climax. Nevertheless, Gibson's tale is a spellbinding read, offering rare and compelling dynamics amidst intense content. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

"I wanted to fall at her feet and worship her. I wanted to desecrate her in every filthy manner I could imagine. I wanted her, in every way, all at once."

Sapphic dark-academia with a vampire twist? Yes please.

Inexperienced Laura is immediately drawn to the enigmatic Carmilla and her relationship with their poetry professor, De La Fontaine, upon starting her studies at an elite women's university.

The atmosphere in this book is incredible, I love how S.T.Gibson writes, immersing you completely in the setting of the book. It helps with understanding the mindset and motivations of the complicated women the story revolves around, adding extra elements to the sexual tension, yearning and rivals-to-lovers relationship.

There is exploration and discussion of the complicated power imbalances between various characters, spilled blood, poetry and a touch of mystery in this well-written novel. Plus, the sexual tension was 🔥 Laura is a dark horse and I loved it.

i finished the e-arc and immediately pre-ordered a physical copy because i loved this book so much i need to own it

dark academia, lesbians, vampires, obsession … it’s literally perfection

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Unexpectedly dull. I found myself skimming through half of the book. The character development was disappointing. The first 10% of the book was great, but as it went on everything felt rushed and flat. I could not connect with Laura or Carmilla both did not have much depth. Both characters had great distinct characterizations at the beginning but as the book went on they bled into one another and their POV’s read the same.

Although I loved the premise, I wasn't a fan of how it was carried out. The conclusion was incredibly anticlimactic and left me wanting more. While it did capture the essence of dark gothic and academia setting, the characters did not have depth and felt very surface level.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my e-arc.

5 stars.

I absolutely adored this book. It's sapphic and inspired/a retelling of Carmilla and who doesn't love lesbians and vampires? I am wholeheartedly the target audience for this book in all it's dark, obsessive glory. I devoured it within 24 hours and if I wasn't at work, I could have read this in one sitting.

The writing was absolutely athmospheric and enthralled me. I could not put it down and spent far too long on a night reading it. It just got better and better for me as I read it. The plot was okay, and for the main mystery in the second half, we already knew what was happening, but the words used were just utterly mesmerising to me that I'm not really bothered by the slight abscence of substance.

I loved the obsessive threads woven into the overall plot and the writing of the intimacy between the characters (in both the sex scenes, and the non-sexual intimacy scenes).

This is a book that is going to stay in my brain and join the ranks of The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

I found myself rooting for Laura and Carmilla and I loved the rivals to lovers aspect of their relationship.

I know the contents of this book may not be for everyone, so please check the content warnings first. There is a list at the front of the book.

If you're looking for a darker, sapphic read with obsession and vampires and plenty of women, please pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalleyUK, and Little, Brown Book Group, UK, Orbit for an eARC of An Education in Malice in return for an honest review.

An Education in Malice is a dark academia, following student rivals Carmilla and Laura at an old brick US college called Saint Perpetua's College. The two academic rivals both have talent in Poetry and Literature in general. As the story progresses the rivals turn to friends and quickly their friendship blossoms into more. As we see their relationship progress, the World surrounding them at Perpetua's College turns to chaos; with dark twists and turns that the girls must navigate.

This is the first dark academia that I have read; it is a genre that has intrigued me for a while, so this is my debut read. The writing of this book was a masterpiece. Laura and Carmilla are surrounded with their literacy studies, and I felt this echoed through the poetic descriptive writing from S.T.Gibson. I enjoyed the characters of Laura and Carmilla; they are written in depth, leading to me caring for them more as the story progressed. As a book, I can't fault this. I thought the plot was really good, really well planned-out for the most part; but this just wasn't for me, and that's completely on me, not the book. From the go I wasn't comfortable with the academia environment, and the book was DARK (yes I know it's a DARK academia so I really should have expected this). I was grateful for the trigger warnings at the beginning, and I see this is a lesson for me that the genre just isn't for me. I do think that many people will adore this book, and with how much I enjoyed the writing I will definitely be reading another S.T.Gibson that is not a dark academia.