Well, well, well. This was a little disappointing.

Set in the world of A Dowry of Blood, what we have here is a quite straightforward sapphic enemies-to-lovers trope with a background of vampirism.

The characters, frankly, felt unremarkable and shallow as the author doesn’t really delve into their psyche. The ever consuming loneliness of the vampirism or the dark mystique associated with it hasn’t been explored.

<i> <b> “But then I got what I wanted, and now I don’t know what to want. I’ve always known what I wanted, Laura, I’m positively made of wanting. It’s strange, to be sure of so little.” </i> </b>

Thought the prose flowed easily, the writing lacked the obsessive/frenetic energy yet being lyrical which I loved in her earlier work.

You could frankly get more or less the same book if you remove the vampirism altogether. Even the romance felt easy- they turn into lovers pretty quickly/suddenly. It didn’t provoke the yearning desire in me to see the characters together.

The subplot came up like an added afterthought, remains in the background for most of the book, the antagonist only showing up to provide an ending for the plot.

The character De Lafontaine could’ve been broken down further. She frankly came off as a jealous teenager masquerading as a mature adult despite being over 200 years old.

All in all, the trigger warnings in the start are more interesting than whatever happens in this book.

~ ARC received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson is a queer dark academia story.
 
First, I’d like to say that this book is a true dark academy story and I really liked seeing how the characters studied and worked in the college. And the path to knowledge is very twisted and dark and that created such a fantastic atmosphere.
 
The protagonist Laura is new at the Saint Perpetua's College, and she is eager to learn and excel at her stories. She is most fascinated by Professor De Lafontaine poetry seminar, and she quickly gets into a rivalry with her fellow student Carmilla.
 
Carmilla is enigmatic, beautiful and everyone seems to love her and even Professor De Lafontaine shares a special bond with her. She is everything but pleased when the professor invites Laura to their meetings and things get very heated. Their meetings seemed a bit like a secret society or almost a cult and that was truly fascinating.
 
My main issue with this story was how every character was truly interesting, but at the same time I felt like I didn’t really get to know them. They all seemed unreliable and like they would easily stab you in the back if the opportunity presented itself.
 
Overall, An Education in Malice is a dark and twisted academia story and I just wish I could have connected more to the protagonists. 3,5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I had such high hopes for this book, but it sadly did not meet my expectations. I found the storyline lacking true momentum and quite obvious. The relationship between the main characters is beautiful but I felt this was overshadowed by the predictability of the story. There was a spelling error on Loc 3117 on Kindle which is just a pet bug of mine. Overall I unfortunately found it a bit of a struggle to continue to read.

Big thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Despite how much I loved a Dowry of Blood, An Education in Malice was a disappointment.

The plot, whenever I could find it, dragged and dawdled, while the parts of the book I expected to develop slowly and intricately felt rushed. The development between Laura and Carmilla was hurried and the vampirism felt brushed over and mundane, and none of the mystique that is characteristic to vampire novels or dark academia was anywhere to be found.

The characters themselves were also a lackluster aspect of the novel. Laura's and Carmilla's characterization and relationship were rushed, and they weren't interesting or likable enough to forgive that— they mostly just bored me.

The prose, sadly, was an additional downgrade from Dowry. It was simply not good enough to keep my attention when all the other parts failed to, which saddens me since I loved the prose in Dowry so much.

My last gripe with Education is the overabundance of erotica and lust in the novel. This might be a more personal thing, but the constant calling of attention to the lust between the mc's was frankly annoying.

However much I wanted to like this book, it let me down in each department. I love vampire novels, queer novels and dark academia, so I expected an amalgamation fitting right to my tastes, but I guess I should have kept my expectations lower.

In “An Education in Malice” by S.T. Gibson, the forgotten halls of Saint Perpetua’s College in Massachusetts serve as the atmospheric backdrop for a tale of dark academia and gothic horror. Laura Sheridan, a timid newcomer, finds herself embroiled in a fierce academic rivalry with the mysterious Carmilla. Under the guidance of their enigmatic poetry professor, De Lafontaine, the trio becomes entangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors, and dark magic. As the plot unfolds, the book seamlessly blends elements of romance, rivalry, and the supernatural, offering a sumptuous and addictive narrative.

Gibson’s writing is a delightful mix of dark academia and gothic sensibilities, creating an atmosphere that is both dreary and captivating. The romance between Laura and Carmilla is portrayed with delicious tension, adding depth to the story. The incorporation of kink and sensuality, typical of vampire tales, is handled with finesse, enriching the characters’ complexities. While some readers may find the ending rushed, the overall experience is a compelling exploration of sacrifice, desire, and the pursuit of knowledge in the halls of a peculiar college.

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. I couldn't believe it when I got it!

An Education in Malice is a marvellous combination of dark academia and gothic horror, aka, a marvellous combination for me. The atmosphere in this book is palpable, both dreary and comforting but always impossible to resist, much like its three main characters. The romance, especially towards the beginning, was delicious, full of rivalry, tension, and admiration, although it fizzled in the final pages. Plus, it's refreshing to read a book so unabashedly kinky in a way that doesn't come across as smutty or shocking; kink and sensuality simply exist as intricate parts of our characters, which is fitting, considering this is a vampire story.

I will say I wish the book was longer, as certain parts felt a bit rushed and the ending came all too quickly. More time with the characters and, to be honest, a bit more twisted moments of moral greyness would've elevated An Education in Malice to a new favourite. But what I got instead was still pretty damn good.

The dark academia take on the gothic fiction story Carmilla is thrilling and clever. I enjoy that S.T. Gibson writes vampires as the blood lusting, seductive, menacing creatures they are. The queer representation is exactly what modern fiction should strive for.

So so so good! I wish i could read this book again for the first time. S.T Gibson is quickly becoming an instant buy author

Review will go live around 7th Feb on my linked GoodReads and Instagram accounts ahead of the launch date. Thank you for the chance to read in advance.




I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 21% or around page 70 - 2🌟

Gothic, dark, academic romance with magic undertones

It's well written and an easy read, but it's in essence an erotica novel dressed up in a fantasy coat. I was expecting some romance and as a gay man, wanted to support the LGBT romance aspect. Yet, I still found it all quite off putting that every other page early on, was filled with erotica laced into the characters motivations and actions. and I was only 13% through, with no real sign of a plot or magic etc yet, other than the odd hint.

I managed to continue to 21% and the only real plot reveal was that their teacher is a vampire and in effect grooming the 2 young academic rivals.

The other major aspect of the story is continual discussion about poetry which I don't enjoy or have an affinity with, or expected to quite such a degree.

So personally this isn't a book that I can enjoy or continue with, but for others who are interested in more erotic romance this would be a good read.

This book captivated me with its subtle fantasy elements and rich gothic atmosphere, set in an all-girls school during the 1960’s. I'm typically a high fantasy fan, diving into completely new worlds, but this book's 60s setting really worked for me. It's a bit different from what I usually go for, but the author did a great job. However, the dialogue between the girls at the school sometimes felt dated and I could picture the conversation coming straight from an 80’s rom-com film.

This book had 2 POV’s and I really enjoyed both and loved seeing through the minds of both characters.I found that the book focuses more on character development and mood rather than a plot-driven narrative. While I did enjoy this I found that it left the plot somewhat aimless and some parts of the story near the end felt underwhelming.

Overall I enjoyed the book a lot and will now have to go read ‘A Dowry of Blood’ that is sitting on my shelf!

Not my usual read, this is a vampire tryst dark academia story. Reads like a YA book, but the complex relationships are too deep, control coercive & violence.

Thanks to @netgalley for the pre publication arc.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of “an Education in Malice” in exchange for an honest review.

3,5 ⭐️
1🌶️

I haven’t read the first book in series but as I understand this one is standalone and may be read separately.

To me that felt like almost a classic vampire story but dark academia.

We follow Laura who has joined an elite girls school. She’s a sweet girl who follows the rules and who studies hard. Also we have Carmilla who studies there as well and is a bit mysterious, always stylish and a loner. They both like poetry and that makes them rivals in their attempt to impress a poetry teacher Ms Delafontaine, who is also not that easy to get to know.

As we follow their journey of learning poetry, bonding with teacher, and developing the girls' relationships.

I gave this 4⭐️ because I couldn’t deeply connect with the characters, though the story is quite classy in most ways.

I think this novel will be loved by those who like classic vampire stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit UK for approving me of an ARC of An Education in Malice!

I enjoyed S.T Gibson's writing immensely in A Dowry of Blood and I'm relieved to know I enjoyed this one as well (although it took me until the end to realize they're connected to each other, I'm so sorry). I went into this book thinking this is dark academia because of the blurb but in my opinion it's not really dark academia... it's more of a gothic vampire-esque than academia but despite that, I did really enjoy this book.

I loved S.T Gibson's writing here - the prose isn't as flowery as A Dowry of Blood which I think is appropriate for the time period this is set in. I also loved the characters - Laura and Carmilla. Also I am just soo obsessed with their characterization and the romance and tension that they have. I'm a sucker for these types of rivals to lovers kind of story and especially since it's sapphic which we really don't get that much off (the romance also reminds me of Casey McQuiston's I Kissed Shara Wheeler in which the main character confuses love/crush for hatred. I'm obsessed with this trope). I loved the intense yearning and the little angst too (which I'm not surprised because S.T Gibson also wrote this sooo well in A Dowry of Blood that my jaw kind of dropped a few times while reading).

I think my only issue with this book (aside from this book being blurbed in dark academia) is the ending. It satisfy me enough in terms of Laura and Carmilla but I feel like in terms of the other stuff it could be wrapped a little better? Like I feel after the intenseness of De Lafontaine with these girls, it could've been wrapped a little better because I feel like she got off way too easily after treating and making these girls attached to her. However overall, I really enjoyed this one and will be looking forward for S.T Gibson's other works.

In An Education in Malice, two academic rivals in an all-girls college were taken under the wing of their eccentric but obsessive poetry professor. Laura was a freshman, while Carmilla was a senior who was already the professor’s star pupil for a year. They soon were entangled in a tale of passion, poetry, and unknown horrors.

I actually enjoyed the plot, but I found the writing lacked details. The story was written from Laura’s and Carmilla’s first person PoVs but the narrative was so dry and impersonal, it did not feel like it was a person narrating their own experiences. Overall the story lacked details (setting, character background, character thought) it was hard for me to be fully immersed or fully empathize with the characters. The narrative felt most alive when describing moments of passions but that was it.

eARC provided by NetGalley and Orbit Books UK.

I just finished this book and had to share it straight away - it's dark academia with a sapphic vampire romance and it is fabulous.

Laura and Carmilla are academic rivals. They are competing for the attention of Professor deLafontaine who has a dark obsession with Carmilla. As they are drawn further into her confidence the girls find themselves involved in the bloodthirsty world of vampires and at the centre of a dangerous power play.

It'd be fair to say I didn't particularly like any of the main characters - they are morally grey and thoroughly unpleasant - but I loved their complexity and couldn't get enough of them. Laura and Carmilla's connection is fraught with tension and I enjoyed watching their morbid fascination become obsession as they journeyed from enemies to lovers. I loved the sensuality of the book, the gothic vibes and the love story at its heart.

It is definitely a book to look out for next year. It's dark and seductive and so bloody good! It's the perfect book to settle down with on a cold dark night.

Beautiful, lyrical writing. I went into an Education in Malice not having read A Dowry in Blood and found myself enjoying this atmospheric, dark academia story with a heated romance at its center.

After reading A Dowry of Blood, I had quite high expectations for An Education in Malice as although it's not a direct sequel to Dowry and has different characters, it is set in the same world as the first one. Unfortunately, at least for me, it fell a bit flat for me. This is by no means a bad book, quite opposite actually, as I enjoyed a lot of different parts of it, but for me, it just, in my opinion, was weaker when comparing it to Gibson's other book. I think that Laura was interesting character, who at first seemed like a classical damsel in distress, but as the book progressed, proved herself to be way more than that and came out of her shell. On the other hand, I found Carmilla a bit annoying and at times didn't understand her decisions, but I still think that her and Laura's dynamic was intriguing and different from what I expected it to be. I'm torn about De LaFointaine, since she acts as a sort of a 'mother figure' to the girls, but at the same time, she doesn't have proper boundaries and acts immaturely despite being over 200 years old. The relationship of these three women is bizarre to say the least and it gets even more complicated as it continues, but I think that is one of the most interesting points in this novel. The biggest problem that I had with this book is that the plot was all over the place and while I was invested in the characters and their relations, I cared way less about the plot itself. I think there were too many jumps in the story that made it inconsistent and due to that, harder to follow. However, I really like Gibson's prose, by which I'm constantly impressed. I also enjoyed how the author included a character from A Dowry in Blood, which felt natural and it was nice to encounter someone familiar from the previous novel. I liked the open ending as well and I would love it if the author decided to write another book set in the same world .

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions! As per publisher's request, my full review will be posted on Goodreads on the 1st of February.

An Education in Malice is just gorgeous…..dark and gothic. It’s set in 1968 in all-girls college.The plot is filled with tension and obsession, it’s incredibly captivating!!!!

Well, this was just stunning!

This is a gorgeously written contemporary adaptation of Carmilla in all its Gothic, sapphic glory. With evocative prose and lush imagery, this is dark academia done exactly right. The fleeting nature of youth and collegiate experience especially was juxtaposed just right against the terrifying eternal nature of the vampire.

When I say I want rivals to lovers, this is exactly what I mean! The implacable march from aggressively competitive academic rivals to stolen kisses to fervent vows was just perfect.

I definitely recommend at least attempting to read the original first, it really lends to the experience. The differences, what stays the same across stories, it's all fascinating. You can also definitely read this as a standalone or as a follow up the Dowry of Blood.

S.T. Gibson can do no wrong!!

This was the perfect companion to A Dowry of Blood, and I'm forever obsessed with S.T. Gibsons decadent writing and emotional invocation.

I'll read absolutely anything she releases.