3.75✨

Baby’s first ARC! Thank you NetGalley 🙏🏽

I absolutely fell in love with A Dowry of Blood and S.T Gibson’s writing, so I was very eager to get my hands on this book.

An Education in Malice follows academic rivals, Laura and Carmilla, as they’re drawn into the vampire world by their alluring poetry professor, De Lafontaine. The novel is full of secrets, blood, obsession and sapphic yearning.

I was equally charmed and frustrated by the main characters, and their choices throughout the book. I loved Laura’s character development almost as much as I loved her bickering with Carmilla. The gothic atmosphere and the rivals to lovers element really drew me in, but I found myself questioning character motivations, and I would’ve loved to delve deeper. Especially into the relationships the main characters shared with other people outside of central romance.

That being said I would love to read more in this universe! And I’m eagerly awaiting S.T. Gibson’s upcoming releases!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up! An Education in Malice is another highly compelling and evocative story by S. T. Gibson who never fails to mesmerize us.

I read A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson in 2022, and it truly captured my full attention while I read it. I was enthralled by the author's seemingly simple but evocative and eloquent storytelling. I decided there and then that I'd read anything by this author, and I requested this title on NetGalley as soon as I saw the author's name on it. (Ofc I follow the author on Instagram, too, so I knew this was coming! hehe 😈)

An Education in Malice follows Laura and Carmilla and their journey to self-discovery. They held me captive while I read the book. Laura, the plus-sized blond whose intelligence blew my mind, and Carmilla, who desperately wants to belong and be loved and hides it under nonchalance and attitude. They're two very different heroines but they do have two similarities: love for poetry and high intelligence.

Laura came from a religious and rather enclosed environment. There weren't many people where she grew up, and yet, she questioned and challenged the religious norms of her community. She discovered her sexual identity but hid it very well and very thoroughly. Not out of shame but because she didn't want to pursue it? I loved Laura because she dared to go out of her comfort zone, dared to test her limits but it was always about her limits. She never danced to another's melody. She saw the world around her, evaluated it, and made a decision.

Carmilla came from a neglected home, of a family that didn't take much care of her, so she grew to take care of herself. Or better said, she grew to live her life on her own. She didn't see her professor's manipulations or the wrongness of her relationship with her because all she saw was this facade of a perfect person she wished to become and be close to. But the beauty of character development is when they grow. Towards the end, Carmilla realized how she was manipulated and led to certain situations. She realized that "Nah, this is actually not what I thought it'd be and I don't like it" and I applauded her for it!

The author is a storytelling marvel, and carries an unprecedented writing voice that leaves emotional and thought-provoking marks behind. I know that I'm going to like the author's book and that it will challenge my way of thinking.

The plot was good and little surprising given how the characters and setting was. The focus is however the characters and how they evolve given the circumstances. It's about a journey, not a who does what. And I feel that the author triumphed. Even the professor evolved and grew, made choices she didn't think she'd make. It's about female empowerment and female self-discovery in a world that has always enjoyed saying what women should and can do.

I do like more plot in books, but this was character development perfection. A journey to self-discovery like no other under the guidance of an unforgettable prose that demands attention. I'll never miss a book by this author, and neither should you.

An Education in Malice was all I could have wished for in a book—I'm a sucker for moody vampires, dark academic fiction, and the academic rivals-to-lovers cliche. I was drawn in right away by the mood, which emphasised the story's eerie and alluring aesthetics. Gibson is a brilliant storyteller who creates captivating prose with exquisite, gothic descriptions. As an aside, I read An Education in Malice with Gibson's AEIM Spotify playlist playing, and it was a lot more enjoyable and engrossing! I heartily urge you to look it up! I have to say, though, that generally, I preferred A Dowry of Blood over An Education in Malice. I didn't feel as enthralled with the story as I did with A Dowry of Blood, while enjoying the concept and characters.

I was incredibly excited to dive into AEIM, particularly after how blown away I was by A Dowry in Blood.
Gorgeous prose as we've come to expect from ST Gibson, and a wonderfully decadent gothic dark academia setting - the writing style and themes won't necessarily suit everyone's reading tastes, but it's a wonderful addition to the genre.
Alternate POVs with purposefully challenging characters made for an engaging and compelling read - this was a book to read in one sitting, albeit intense!

In 2023 I read ST Gibsons A Dowry of Blood, this went on to be my top read of 2023. As soon as I saw ST had a new book coming out soon I knew I had to read it. I have been let down in the past reading a much loved authors ‘next book’.. not this time. An Education in Malice is beautiful, enchanting, sapphic, endearing… It gives all the warmness of cosy horror, with the gore and eroticism of body horror. The fantasical elements are not far fetched, the romance story lines are beautiful and realistic. I devoured every single word.

S.T. Gibson has such an evocative and sensual way with her prose, it is easy to get swept up in the minutiae of the world she has crafted, along with her carefully crafted characters. Despite Laura, Carmilla and De Lafontaine’s flaws, there was a lot questioning about what it is to be human, and of course, thoughts about what it is like to transcend the shackles of human order. I got such a kick out of Laura’s dominance and her self-awareness that she was always seeking something different and more nuanced than what her small-town life offered her. I love S.T. Gibson, the power of her voice in her writing and the acceptance of all things.

Wow , what a ravishing and unexpected read . When I requested this book I believed it to be a dark academia book about a selection of girls and a professor with many hidden secrets amongst them ( which I guess was true). However this book took a turn I wasn't expecting . I devoured this book I couldn't get enough of the power play , the I want I will have you , the unrelenquishing desire and the dom/sub relationship was a sexual delight . I hope that there is more to the story as the ending leaves an opening for more to be written. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into dowry of a blood after reading from this author for the first time

A beautifully haunting tale of first love set against dark academia. The prose was elegant and engrossing. I really enjoyed this read, a different twist on some familiar tropes expertly crafted to keep you hooked.

A Dark Academic retelling of the Vampiric classic that is Carmilla.. saaaaay no more.

If you're looking for -
✨️ Dark Academia
🖤 Gothic Vibes
🧛🏻‍♀️ Sapphic Romance
✨️ Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Devotion & Obsession
🧛🏻‍♀️ A Dark Love Story ..

Then look absolutely no further, S.T Gibson has you covered 👏🏼

Also can I just say that the way this book is written is just absolutely stunning and incredibly captivating - I will definitely be reading more from the Author ✨️🖤

Huge thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced EARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤

‘An Education in Malice’ by S T Gibson is a modern retelling of both gothic novella ‘Carmilla’ and Donna Tart’s ‘Secret History.’ Following the formula set by the latter, Laura, an A grade student and outsider, is assigned to the class of an enigmatic lecturer - Ms. De LaFointaine. Rather than a clutch of protégés, Ms D (as she’s often referred to in the novel) has one favourite - Carmilla, with whom she has a relationship that over steps boundaries and social mores. Initially Laura appears to be a rival to Carmilla, but over time their competitive tension changes into something else.

Sometimes books are hard to rate, and this is one. This isn’t a genre I normally read and so I’m unsure if it’s a good representation. Having not read ‘Carmilla’, I’m unsure how closely Gibson sticks to its structure, or whether they cleverly subvert some of the ideas. In the second half of the book there is plenty of vampiric action, alongside sapphic romance and intimacy and therefore if the reader is looking for these things it would rate quite highly (the sex scenes were such I wouldn’t be suggesting this book to close family as I’d be embarrassed to imagine them reading them). However, whilst this book was very readable i didnt find it compelling, the plot was too linear for me and ultimately it lacked depth. Perhaps im being a bit harsh though.

sapphic romance, Vampires, Academic Rivals to Lovers What more could a girl want!
I absolutely love ST Gibson's writing style. it is so beautifully done.

What a beautifully brilliant tale. I was captivated by Laura and Carmella from the very first page. Their story was both uplifting and absolutely earth shattering. ST Gibson is a master of characterisation and I would devour anything they write.

3.5 🌟
Thank you netgalley for this E-Arc, I absolutely love S.T Gibson she has a way with words, the characters whilst they were infuriating at times, I did develop a soft spot and yearning from them. The writing in this novel was so poetic at times, however I did unfortunately have to lower the rating as it did occasionally fall flat for me a times. I loved the Carmilla retelling aspect and the vampiric dark academia setting. The overall plot was also enticing

Rating- 4.5 stars
I would like to say a huge thank you to S.T. Gibson, Little Brown Books and NetGalley for allowing me to have an E-ARC of this book. Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to allow me to review and give my honest opinion of this book.

This book includes:
If you are looking for:
Sapphic romance
Vampires
Academic Rivals to Lovers
Dark Academic
Gothic

Set in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts is Saint Perpetua’s College, a boarding school for girls, where sizzling tension and secrets lie. This story follows two girls- Carmilla and Laura who become intense academic rivals from day one. Both of them become drawn to their academically demanding teacher De Lafontaine who has her dark obsession with Carmilla. But Laura soon learns that the rivalry blossoms into something far more. Laura has to comfort her strange feelings herself.

As someone who has only read a handful of dark academic books, this has to be one of my favourite ones so far. The writing was beautiful and poetic and flowed beautifully that I often lost track of time reading this novel. Both characters- Laura and Carmilla were two characters you could get attached to. The book had dual pov’s which made me super happy as you were able to find out what both girls were thinking or feeling throughout different scenes throughout the book. This book was such a beautifully poetic written academic rivals to lovers with vampires that it makes me want to read this book all over again.

This will be posted on the 6th February 2024 on my Goodreads. Down below is the link for my Goodreads.
Phoebe’s review of An Education in Malice | Goodreads

First of all Thankyou to the publishers Little Brown Book Group UK for this fantastic book .

I just knew this book would grab me and suck me in leaving the real world behind ,and wow my head still in a spine but in the best way , that to me is great writing and story- telling .
I'm the biggest fan of DARK ACADEMIA !!! yep i'm shouting that out load to you all who love it just as much as me .I loved the Gothic atmosohere it oozed out of the edges of the book if you as me that is perfection . and filled with romance we all know i love a love story it will defintely grab your heart .

I loved the characters very well written and very realistic you could relate to them in some ways , they definitely are not back and white which i found refreshing .

i loved the plot twist it changed the feel to the story which gose on to be alot more darker

the author's writing is beautiful and will captivate you.

i will be reading more from S.T.Gibson as im now addicted one of my top books for 2024

im giving this book 5 captivating stars

Take the dark academia of Every Exquisite Thing, the misty vibes of A study in Drowning and the slight smut of Katee Roberts Wicked Villains series.... And you have An Education in Malice.

It takes a while to get into but once in you drift along the vampire enhanced mist that is this sapphic dark story of two girls exploring their lives, loves and academia. The writing takes you in and lulls you on a journey of discovery through pleasure, pain and a poetry of what love truly is.

Warning: toxic and abusive relationships, graphic sexual scenes, violence, blood

So, basically, publishers should keep paying S.T. Gibson to write books.

Since I devoured A Dowry of Blood, I knew when I saw this ARC came up, I needed to read it. And it absolutely did not disappoint. Gibson has a gift for drawing out the nitty gritty human experience, all of the flaws and faults that we have, all of the messy things we like and don't like about ourselves, and that's exactly what I loved about Laura and Carmilla.

This story is intrusive and intimate, in all the good and bad ways. The characters are lush and full with feeling, and the plot is familiar (intensely so) and inventive! There is so much obsession and danger and thrill in this book that it kept me turning the page. A perfectly terrifying read, both in terms of how relatable this story is but also the subject matter and plot.

I finished this book at the beginning of December, and I’ve been struggling to write a review ever since.

Not because this book wasn’t good.

It was excellent.

I just don’t quite know how to put in to words what it was that I loved about it. How to sum up my love for it accurately. How to detail all the wonderful little parts and machinations that I thought made this book brilliant.

And maybe I don’t need to. There are lots of other reviews singing its praises, so I should feel less pressure on my shoulders. But pressure there is, because I want people to see this book how I see it. Alas, the art of reading is a subjective one, and we all come in to these things and leave them differently.

I will start off by saying that I loved the setting of this novel, I think the academic school setting really set the scene. A place that is meant to represent safety, learning, and setting kids off for a bright future soon became a scene from a horror. The very institute of education became the place where learning too much, seeing too much became dangerous. Adults there who are meant to safeguard you, may very well be the predator.

Laura me Camilla were both great protagonists in their own right, and I really enjoyed seeing their perspectives contrasted against each other (and seeing how they saw each other, which often contrasted or explained their actions). I liked how they were different from each other, and that their relationship wasn’t an instant love. It was earned and messy and filled with complicated feelings of hate and jealousy.

Lafontaine was more of an enigma. While we got to learn more about her towards the end of the novel, and to see her character break down slightly, I think the narrative always felt more removed from her and she was never afforded the same complexity as Laura and Camilla. I wasn’t too mad about this, as I do not think the point is to justify or to focus on Lafontaine, but rather Laura and Camilla. However, I do feel as if her ending wasn’t satisfying enough for me — but again, I think the point was to show that sometimes things aren’t neatly ended with everyone getting what they deserve (JAIL).

I think this was a great character study on obsession, and the paths it can lead you down. A fantastic examination on power and power dynamics, and how these are so influential on the decisions a person makes — decisions they might not have ordinarily done. What will one sacrifice for knowledge? For greatness? I liked that we got to see the competitiveness of such institutions, the pressure this can have, and the outcome. Especially with the relationships, we saw how a drive to become the best was used as a way to manipulate and prey upon students.

I loved the link this had to A Dowry of Blood, and hope that in some form we see a mix of these characters again.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book. I felt it could move a bit quick at times, but all in all it was well done. The writing was beautiful.

An Education in Malice is another book by S.T. Absolutely brilliant Gibson.

A dense, poetic, evocative prose accompanies this retelling of Carmilla with Dark Academia tones.
We follow the two points of view of Carmilla and Laura, between rivalry, devotion and obsession.

It's hard not to read it in one go, remaining captivated by this murky and sensual story.
Only T.S. Gibson can write books like this!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

Wasn't overly fond of this one. It wasn't bad but I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters. I didn't really care to know what was going on with them. I think it was because I don't tend to enjoy student/teacher relationship stuff. I find it uncomfortable reading.