3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I was really excited to start reading being a lover of everything dark academia. An Education in Malice is a retelling (with a dark academia twist) of classic sapphic vampire novel Carmilla. First of all, the setting of this book is gothic, moody, and perfectly eerie. I was thoroughly entertained by the college setting and I effortlessly followed the rhythm of intellectual poetry seminars during the day and silly frat parties and blood sucking at night. In addition, the romance(s) in this book are full of pining, power dynamics, and jealously, which accompanies the gothic setting perfectly. Despite all this, something didn't really stick with this book. I found that the double POV, with chapters alternating between Carmilla and Laura, wasn't super effective as I had to remind myself whose POV I was reading since I felt that the POVs were written too similarly to tell them apart. Overall, I think if you're looking for an entertaining and sensual gothic / sapphic novel, then 100% give this book a go, as I did have a lot of fun while reading! But I wouldn't expect it to be a good choice of book for literary fiction or horror fans.

Overall I was a bit disappointed with his book as despite a really strong set up the second half didn't deliver. I enjoyed the writing which had some beautiful passages, especially in the first half. However, the world-building felt lacking. I didn't feel like it was firmly situated in 1968 - with some very minor changes it could be set in current times. The first half of the book was really atmospheric, delivering on the dark academia vibes. We took our time, we read and discussed poetry and stole glances at the pretty girl who is also our academic rival. The second half however, completely abandoned the academic ponderings and turned into a much flatter and monotone series of 'I like this girl but the professor is possessive so I've not seen her in a while'. I also feel like my grasp on what it means to be a vampire in this world is tenuous. I appreciate this is kind of a sequel (to a book I have read but a while ago) but everything about the book feels like it's a standalone so I think the worldbuilding should've been a bit more robust.

Something I did love was how sapphic the book was - feels appropriate for it to be about poetry. I really liked the main relationship, Laura and Carmilla had a lot of chemistry and seeing their relationship bloom was great. If you want some great sapphic steamy scenes, this book is for you.

SPOILERS
I expected the main theme of the book to be about grooming, inappropriate relationships and abuse. Which it definitely was set up to examine - but in the end somehow let the abuser off really easily with an 'oh well, she's just lonely that's why she seduced, messed with the head of and turned this young girl'. I feel like the conversation would be very different if it was a male teacher and hoped that would be a part of the point being made. The climax of the book fell very flat - what do you mean it took like a page to entrap and kill the villain. Like was she ever really a threat?
I also felt frustrated how underdeveloped the world outside of the three main characters was. Like why build up Eleanor for her to not even get a line at the end sharing her fate? Why keep mentioning Laura's mother if she doesn't matter either.
I was also frustrated by the lack of consistency in Laura's character. She starts the book by saying she wants to become a Pastor and then not even a thought of that passes when she discovers vampires exist? Wouldn't they be agents of the devil? Then randomly chapters later she remembers she's meant to be religious so goes to confess her sins and then promptly forgets about it for the remainder of the books.

I really wanted to love this book...

I didn't really connect with the plot, if there even was one. It felt like nothing really happened and then when it did the book was finished.

And being a romance, I was hoping I'd connect with the characters but I felt they lacked depth - there was potential, but there wasn't enough time for any sort of growth. What started as rivalry quickly turned into romance (a little too quickly) and missed out on the extra drama and tension I wanted.

The writing was gorgeous however; everything was so poetic and artfully written. There was a beauty in the words, which I totally appreciated.

Vampires are back and they are everything! I loved this book, it’s addictive and draws you in instantly. I was swept up into the tangled web S. T. Gibson wove so beautifully with her prose. The book is so quotable with lush details and pure vibes throughout. There’s secrets, blood, yearning, poetry and murder! The actual plot didn’t even matter to me as it was so easy to read and become intoxicated by. If you enjoyed the original Carmilla then this book is definitely for you, a great retelling. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

3.5*. I thought this was a nice read to pass the time - the writing was pleasing to read and had the perfect dark academia atmosphere I was looking for. The characters were interesting enough, though at times I struggled to identify whose POV I was reading from. I feel that I don't have too much to say about this book, would recommend to fans of dark academia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for providing this book for review. All opinions are my own.

(review to be published to Goodreads on 1 February 2024)

3.5 / 5

Just want to say a huge thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the e-arc!

I'm in love with this cover and once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to sign up and once I got approved I basically finished my current read and instant dove into this. And for the most part it did give the dark academia, forbidden romance, religious undertones like suggested. And I wish I could rate it higher but I just spent most of this book confused.

Although I did really enjoy Laura's pov at times, I also just felt like I got lost. I feel this could 100% just not be my cup of tea despite how much I wanted it to be. The prose though did create a very atmospheric and dark vibe throughout the book.

tropes
🩸 academic rivals to lovers
🏛️ plus-size heroine
📜 power imbalance/age gap
🗡️ sapphic

thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Little Brown Book Group for the e-arc!

final review: ★★★★☆

very minor spoilers ahead

what can i say, i am deeply attracted to the cover. i first even looked at this book after seeing the gorgeous cover on fairyloot and after looking at the synopsis, decided to just go for it. after all, it was giving dark academia and some forbidden sapphic love with religious undertones?? sign up up please!

Laura Sheridan was not the deepest character by far. she's your classic countey girl chasing big dreams of being a (insert quirky creative career, in this case a writer) in a big prestigious school. she seemed to be pretty deeply religious from the start, and i believe it's the contrast between what she lets others perceive her to be (a little good girl) vs what she is (a raging sapphic with dominating proclivities) that she has to hide which is what makes her such a compelling character.

and i love myself a good ol' academic rivals to i-hate-you-but-i-am-attracted-to-you to lovers. and Laura's romance with Camilla was exactly what i thought it was going to be, but written in Gibson's poetic yet strangely erotic prose ['Dangerously preoccupied with you. Bereft of any sense of pride that might keep me away from you.'], it makes the electricity between them so fascinating to read that i absolutely could not tear my eyes away until the very end.

speaking of which (don't think this is a spoiler any more at this point), the vampiric plot twist! we've seen all the vampire x vampire stories, but a vampire with human AND not having that difference be the whole crux and breaking point of their relationship? solid. though, i'd like to think Laura takes the goblet at the end, just to satisfy my need for their forever after.

De Lafontaine, though... what pains me about her character is the fact that her backstory is so beautifully crafted. with Laura and Camilla's love story being such an acute reflection of that of her and Isis, it gives her so much more depth beyond the words on the page. what is she thinking? how does she feel seeing her protege, her favourites, living her story? is she wishing for their success despite her jealousy? or is she secretly hoping that their tale is doomed to end like hers did? my perception of this shifts throughout the story, and i'm really glad it falls to the latter (as expected).

yeah, the only thing stopping me from giving this book 5☆ is the fact that it ended totally as i predicted and felt a little too rushed coming up at the end, despite the amazing build up towards it.

but still, an awesome read nonetheless.

(cross posted on goodreads)

After reading Dowry of Blood I was very confident that I'd love An Education in Malice and would you believe it? I do. I love it MORE.

I loved Laura and Carmilla and the fact that they're total polar opposites and are not portrayed in the typical typeset personalities. Laura, a plus-size girl, is the one you'd expect to be timid, which she is, but she also has a darkness within her and a need to take control. Carmilla is seen as the bold and brash girl who has a secret desire to be owned and claimed, she initially has her sights set on her professor, De Lafontaine, but quickly sets her sights on Laura.

The thing is, De Lafontaine is extrememly jealous of the girls growing feelings for one another and it sparks a chain reaction of things that really do go bump in the night. She is a formiddable woman who despises being slighted.

All in all this was a fantastic read.

3,5
This was a very atmospheric and dark retelling of Carmilla with a dark academia twist. Overall I think this worked well - Carmilla really fits the dark academia setting. I also really enjoyed the exploration of toxic and codependent relationships, which was underlined by the fact that it was also a teacher-student relationship. The chemistry between Laura and Carmilla was also good, but it never reached the height that I hoped it would.. I kinda felt like their relationship developed too suddenly, and thus lacked the passion I experienced in the first book. There wasn't enough weird longing, in my opinion!
It's a very character focused story, which sadly took away from the mystery of the novel. Sadly this also made the ending very rushed, and I experienced some whiplash from that ending.

Still, I think many will love these books. Especially those that love sapphic love stories, complicated relationships and dark academia.

An Education in Malice is a sensual, sapphic dark academia book inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu's gothic novella Carmilla and filled with angst, drama, obsession and VAMPIRES. Dripping with blood and lust, everything about this book, from the poetry class and academic rivalry to the debauched vampires and their erotic, exhibitionist house parties were simultaneously toxic and intoxicating.

This book is set in the same world as A Dowry of Blood and S T Gibson creates a eerie gothic atmosphere for the setting of this book, a New England women's college in the 1960's, but more specifically a coveted poetry class led by the hedonistic, manipulative and vicious Professor De Lafontaine. This is mirrored by the lush and lyrical prose which is often poetic in nature, and while this fits well narratively because of the characters affinity for poetry, the advanced age of vampires and the fact that this takes inspiration from a classic novella that was written at a time when writing was more 'flowery' this sometimes felt a little bit too much for me.

This book has to be read in order to appreciate just how seductive and erotic it is- it's very much an adult book and has some content that won't be for everyone but it was an enjoyable read that was addictive and thriller like in places.

There is:
🩸Plus Sized Heroine
🩸Academic Rivals to Lovers
🩸Power inbalance/age gap
🩸Queer Desire
🩸A F/F/F Love triangle filled with jealousy and obsession
🩸Bloodplay/Gore
🩸On page spice, exhibitionism and kink
🩸Morally Grey/toxic characters
🩸Toxic Relationships

A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy and it also had an unforgettable ending.

Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua's College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold.
On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla.

I was obsessed when I read A dowry of blood last year from this author so of course I jumped at the chance to read this Sapphic academic rivals vampires??? Say less. Following Laura and Camilla was a ride they are both strong minded, competitive and out for blood. Camilla the favourite in De Lafontaine's poetry class gets a shock when Laura shows up a freshman in the most elite class on campus, unheard of. She is fiercely protects of her teacher and her spot as the bright start but Laura comes in and gets under her skin like no one has before.
I like the vampire aspect of this book it was subtle but definitely there, I like that it wasn't what ruled the story. What ruled the story was the dynamics of these characters and their relationship. I had to keep reminding myself that Lafontaine was a teacher and abusing her power. I think this is what I like about Gibson's work I've read so far they take a fantastic story and insert real emotions and situations making something like a vampire story have mundane issues is a nice and refreshing take on a genre that normally means you have to suspend you beliefs. With the right mix of magical and reality they do such a good job of sweeping you up the narrative.
I really wanted to give this a book five stars but there was a plot line that I just wish went further, I think it was in there and it was interesting but it could have went the distance. I wanted to see the people outside this trio reacting to them and the situations arising in this books more. It would have gave more of urgency if we got more panic in the story but then part of me feels like it was a choice to lower the impact because this trio is so wrapped in each other that it's not until the danger is right at their doorstep they feel the need to act.
I loved the ending of this book and I can see it splitting peoples opinions but felt it worked so well with the story and the character. I loved seeing Magdalena return from meeting her in dowry it was nice to see her again. (I'm 99.9% sure it's the same character)

If you're looking for a sapphic story, with two strong woman and a vampire. This ones for you!

An Education in Malice is rich in description of the academic landscape. The relationship between Carmilla and Laura was the strength of the plot for me as the part I found most engaging. When you add in a controlling Professor in De Lafontaine you have a pseudo love triangle. I say pseudo because De Lafontaine reiterates a couple of times the boundaries with Carmilla, boundaries you're never quite certain if they're nearing being crossed.

I would have liked to have seen more discussion around the controlling elements as it seemed as if Carmilla wished to break free at numerous points before De Lafontaine did the 'noble' thing and left. I use the inverted commas because she had turned the girls lives upside down before making this decision.

That brings me to Isis, Isis whom should have felt like a villain but fell empty to me. The lack of sinister taunting (other than the bodies) and the last 8% death scene fell flat for me. Where vampires are the point of discussion I would've liked a tad more horror.

Overall I enjoyed but am glad i've read early via Netgalley as I won't be purchasing the Fairyloot edition

I really enjoyed this book and it was a pretty quick read for me. I absolutely loved Dowry of Blood from this author, so I was excited when I got approved for this one and it did not disappoint.
I love a good Dark Academia book and this one really hit the spot. Set in the mysterious Saint Perpetua's College which follows a rival between Camilla and Laura after Laura joins Professor De Lafontaine poetry class.
It doesn’t take long for the rivalry to start between the two. Camilla isn’t happy that she has lost some of the attention she gets from the Professor too.
I really enjoyed the dual POV’s in this book, as you get a little more insight between our two main characters.
I really enjoyed the authors writing style and found the book really held my focus throughout reading it. I found it hard to stop when I needed too.
The plot was set at a good pace and I found the characters to be well written. I do wish the ending had a little more to it.
I’d definitely recommend reading this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really appreciate being sent an early copy of this book, however after DNF'ing Dowry of Blood (totally didn't realise it was the same author).. I probably should have realised I wouldn't be totally blown away by this book sadly.

I don't mind a first person POV, however the scenes seemed to jump around quite quickly without really fleshing anything out, which just left me feeling quite frustrated. I thought the setting was good, the plot was interesting even if a bit predictable but the chemistry between characters totally needed a bit more development with a bit more to the worldbuilding side of the book.

It was a short book so it was easy enough to fly through, but I think the book was perhaps a little too juvenile for myself. I can see why this will be a popular book though!

I was hooked from the very beginning of this book, I couldn't put it down! I finished it in a day and that is not something I regularly do.
The characters were extremely well developed, it felt as if I knew each of the main characters personally. Each of them had flaws which made it easy to relate to them. An Education in Malice is very much character driven rather than plot which is something I haven't enjoyed in the past but this time around I loved it.
I am new to the world of dark academia and I found this book was easily accessible. The writing was beautiful and poetic but also easy to understand. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to start reading dark academia.
S.T. Gibson wrote an absolutely beautiful book and I can't wait to read the rest of her work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this. I devoured this in two sittings and it's become my first five star read of the year. S.T Gibson's writing style is addictive, I couldn't put this book down. The academic rivalry and passion between Laura and Carmilla was delicious. The power imbalance between De LaFontaine and the girls made me uncomfortable (rightly so) but I couldn't stop reading? The whole thing was just so beautifully written, perfectly encapsulating that toxic dynamic that has you wishing better choices from the girls. I loved this and will definitely be reading S.T. Gibson's other works now!

4.5 ⭐

(minimal spoilers ahead, not enough to mark as spoilers)

I kindly received an ARC for this book and, even though it took me ages to actually start it, I'm so happy about having had the chance to read this before it come sout next month!

To be honest, I was enthralled by the way the story went! It was my first Vampire read in a while (we're talking various years) so I didn't know what to expect really but what I got was amazing.
From the small rivalry between Laura and Carmilla, to the deep love Carmilla felt for De Lafontaine, it was everything you'd want from a school story.
The poetry was so subtle even though it was a major part of the story itself and it just felt amazingly placed.

I did feel like De Lafontaine was a bit childish on some parts but after being alive for so long, loosing the person you love and then going through everything that happened later on in the book, I kind of understand why she reacted to certain things the way she did.
The devotion she had to Carmilla did make my heart melt on some parts, even if it was sometimes a little overprotective.

Carmilla and Laura's relationship was a full on swoon for me. I usually don't read much lighthearted romance but this was a lovely break between the dark books.
From rivalry, to something like friends to ending up making out in their teachers bed? I had no idea what I signed up for when I applied for this ARC but let me tell ya, it was one hell of a ride!
It was also my first lesbian book and while the smut wasn't really there (there were like 2 or 3 scenes which were mostly described after they happened) I thoroughly enjoyed it!

If you get a chance to read the book, I'd highly recommend it 🥰

"I wasn't obsessed, I was just curious"

Sapphic academic rivals vampires??? say no more.

"bloodstained love letter to ambitious girls, allconsuming desires, and the agonies and ecstasies of academia" This description fits "An Education in Malice" perfectly.

I literally flew through this audiobook, the narrators were amazing and the story was so captivating, I was literally sitting on my a$$ and listening to the whole thing in one go. The characters were so complex and well written. Perfect dark academia read for rainy evenings.

I loved "A Dowry of Blood" so much, I did a reread the next day, cus I wanted to annotate my physical copy, but I think I like "An Education in Malice" even better🤭

"Your best is not good enough Carmilla, not in a world of art. You must excell or else fade into obscurity"

~"I'm still a believer, but I don't know why, I've never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try"~

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

An Education in Malice" by S.T. Gibson unfolds in the mysterious and ancient setting of Saint Perpetua's College in Massachusetts, a place not meant for the faint-hearted. The narrative explores the profound theme that love involves sacrifice, and in this dark academia tale, someone is destined to bleed for the other. The story follows Laura Sheridan, a newcomer to the intense academic atmosphere of Saint Perpetua's College. Almost immediately, she finds herself entangled in a fierce rivalry with the captivating Carmilla. Their academic pursuits lead them into the inner circle of the poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who harbors a dark obsession with Carmilla. As the rivalry between Laura and Carmilla transforms into something more alluring, the narrative delves into their complex desires and the ominous undercurrents of politics, bloodthirsty professors, and dark magic within the college. In this sinister game, the characters must grapple with the extent of their sacrifices in the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

The author's writing style in this book is characterised by its lyrical and lush qualities, creating a captivating atmosphere that is characteristic of gothic literature, whilst the narrative itself is brimming with desire, academic rivalry, and an immersive Gothic ambiance that compels readers deeper into the world created by ST Gibson. Moreover, I really enjoyed spending time with the characters and I really liked how a notable aspect of the story is the transformation of the protagonist, Laura, from a soft-spoken and shy character to someone unafraid to embrace her true self, with the exploration of her desires and the realisation that they are neither unusual nor sinful challenging societal norms. It was super interesting to see her contrasted with Carmilla, who is portrayed as decadent, obsessive, and assertive, unapologetically claiming her space in the world. I also feel that
the author's attention to secondary characters really adds depth to the narrative, giving them individuality rather than relegating them to mere plot devices and it’s one of my favourite aspects of this book.

Overall, I think that this book offers a rich and beautiful retelling of Carmilla, albeit with a loose interpretation, which is actually quite refreshing in the sense that it avoids the heaviness and difficulty often associated with most Dark Academia books. Personally, I found that S.T. Gibson weaves a sumptuous and addictive tale in this dark academia narrative that promises a captivating blend of blood, secrets, and insatiable hungers to readers who love the genre.