***4.0 Stars***

Overall,
I really enjoyed this book, a Sapphic coming of age with a Vampiric twist. I liked both main characters and the story was pretty straight forward. I will say that there was a bit of depth missing in some parts but I love the authors style of writing. Laura is a southern young woman who comes to an all women's college in the 1960's and is obsessed with writing poetry and is there mainly for one specific teacher. As the story goes on Laura is sucked into a darker and darker world full of blood, lust, and danger.

Recommendation,
If you enjoyed S.T. Gibson's A Dowry of Blood I would say this one is worth checking out. While not as unique, it does capture a similar feeling.

ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A two hundred year old vampire manipulates a twenty one year old girl to give her blood to her ex (that has been dead for decades), just to ignore her ex while she goes on a crazy rampage killing girls in a private school in New England. Yeah, that's it.

The exploration of power dynamics, loneliness, love and devotion didn't meet the standard of what A Dowry of Blood delivered. The structure of the An Education in Malice suffered tremendously when it hits the 50% mark when the story was suppose to amp up. Inserting moments of pleasure for the two young girls (Carmilla and Laura) to be "normal" and enjoy "college life" when there is a wild vampire on the loose is ridiculous. And the pay off for those scenes is to kill off this one minor character that the two main girls spent a whole night with. The plot, in my eyes, seems to be stuck between wanting to be mature and dark but at the same time maintain that girlhood-teenage dream kind of vibe, which led to its whole structure to suffer huge consequences that disengaged me from actually enjoying the story.

There are plenty of inconsistent moments throughout the story that made me eye roll. The characterization of every character can be described as a mood board on Pinterest, they are mere pictures collaged together without glue hoping it would stick and become something more than what it is, bits and pieces of ideas, under developed and bland. Clear motivations and character arcs throw that out the window because we are not getting any of that pay off. Vibes? Sure, but I can't finish a book with vibes that are repeated with every cigarette a character smokes, every bite on white skin, every drop of blood dribbling on a girl's chin, every sway of a coquette-coded outfit. No, it will get old and it did.

Ms. D, the main antagonist, did serve the toxicity of a skilled sociopath manipulator but at the same time her relationship Carmilla creeps me out. The ending didn't help either when she says with her whole chest that Carmilla is like a daughter to her, when she gets jealous and territorial towards her whenever Laura is in the picture. I am not uncomfortable about these topics because A Dowry of Blood also explored the same themes but the inconsistencies (plot, characterization, motivation) made it hard to understand what it is trying to be accomplished here.

To wrap up, A Dowry of Blood did vampires better. An Education in Malice promised us a dark academia version of Carmilla and it delivered a story that was purely aesthetic with absolutely nothing else to back it up.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc, for my honest opinion. An Education in Malice is a dark academia sapphic story, and I wanted to like the story more, but fell flat to me. At times I wasn’t sure what the plot point was.

Dark academia and gothic romance - what more can I ask for?

An Education in Malice is a beautifully written, dual POV, rivals to lovers that I ate right up. You really get to know Laura and Carmilla, to a point where, sometimes I forgot about the actual plot of this book. I think I would loved this book if it had a quicker pace but all of the vibes are there!

I loved the confusion of hatred and desire in the beginning of the book. I think that is what made me want to keep reading rather than the infatuation with a professor which is usually what I gravitate toward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an ARC of this book.

I just don't think S.T. Gibson is the author for me, primarily just for the writing style. This book especially felt very "A Secret History," which is my second most hated book I've ever read. This definitely had that writing style and vibe to it with the overly pretentious writing. It just absolutely doesn't work for me and the whole vampire storyline was just fine. I didn't think it was wholly necessary. Sadly I think this is the last book I'll read by ST Gibson, but I'm happy for people who like the writing style.

Super solid 4.5, leaning oh so close to a five. This book had me on a leash the entire time I was reading it. I was hooked from the first chapter and tore through the pages as quickly as I could. I always wanted to be reading, always had these characters on my mind.

There's so much in this book that Gibson does well that I hardly know where to start. The dark academia vibes are perfection. The character work is some of the best I've read in a long time. The way the relationships are portrayed in this book... somehow Gibson manages to capture all these subtle, delicate little details that really make everything feel realistic and relatable, even when it's not. There's this careful balance between the comfortable and the uncomfortable and it's handled in a way that's almost playful. It works so well in a book that centers yearning that becomes obsession and idolatry that borders on unhinged. Add in all the trademark moments of college girl life - discovering an independent self, exploring sexuality, deciding where you fit (or don't fit) within the norms and expectations you carry... I could ramble forever about all the ways I found this book relatable in all the best and worst ways.

As for the more horror-ish elements, those were more in the forefront than I expected them to be, but not in a bad way. I do wish certain aspects of that plotline were better fleshed out (not a pun...?) but I found them rewarding regardless. I also have complicated feelings about the ending, but I'll leave it at that to avoid spoilers. Eager to see what other readers think about it.

I'm basically going to scream about this book for a really long time. So grateful to Redhook for an ARC in exchange for review.

While I loved Dowry of Blood, this Carmilla retelling felt lackluster. Maybe my expectations were set too high, but An Education In Malice just felt a bit try-hard and heavy. The plot felt rote, and the prose felt obnoxious, both nearly to the point of being campy but not enough to actually be fun. I think that maybe we have progressed far enough that making a retelling (more) queer isn’t enough anymore; the author also has to do the legwork to make it fresh.
The alternating points of view ultimately ruined it for me. Petra’s sections, in particular, stripped away any semblance of mystery or tension Laura’s chapters attempted to cultivate. Moreover, the prose style, while appropriate for undergrad poetry students, failed to establish a distinct voice, resulting in a muddy, purple, and unpleasant reading experience.

I loved A dowry of blood so I expected to love this one as well and of course I did! This book had me stunned and questioning reality. It got me to read more dark academia! I cant wait to read more from this author! Thank you for this arc!

3.5-3.75/5

First thing to be said is this didn't have the same captivating magic as A Dowry of Blood, but I did enjoy it. I found the start of the story to be so slow that I kept getting distracted and putting this book down for anything else that I felt was more captivating. After I got about 1/3 way into the book, the story picked up and I was excited to get through to the end.

"An Education in Malice" by S. T. Gibson is a spellbinding and atmospheric novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, fantasy, and romance. Set in a lush and vividly imagined world, Gibson's sophomore novel captivates readers with its richly drawn characters, intricate plot, and lyrical prose.

The story follows protagonist Mirabelle Winter, a young woman with a gift for detecting lies who finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue when she is hired to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at an elite academy. As Mirabelle delves deeper into the secrets of the academy and its enigmatic inhabitants, she discovers dark forces at work and must confront her own past traumas in order to uncover the truth.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is Gibson's masterful world-building. The academy itself is a character in its own right, a sprawling and enigmatic institution shrouded in secrets and steeped in tradition. Gibson's evocative descriptions bring the academy to life, from its shadowy corridors to its hidden passageways, creating a sense of atmosphere that is both enchanting and menacing.

The characters in "An Education in Malice" are equally compelling, each with their own hidden agendas and motivations. Mirabelle is a fiercely independent and resourceful protagonist, grappling with her own insecurities and vulnerabilities even as she navigates the dangers of the academy. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, from the enigmatic headmistress to the charming yet mysterious students who populate the academy's halls.

At its core, "An Education in Malice" is a story about the power of knowledge and the dangers of unchecked ambition. Gibson deftly explores themes of truth, manipulation, and the corrupting influence of power, crafting a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. The novel also delves into the complexities of love and desire, with romantic entanglements that add an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

Overall, "An Education in Malice" is a stunning achievement that showcases S. T. Gibson's talent as a storyteller. With its immersive world-building, compelling characters, and gripping plot, this novel is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end. Fans of fantasy, mystery, and romance alike will find much to love in this captivating tale of secrets, lies, and the quest for truth.

3.5 stars
This is a gothic, dark academia sapphic retelling of Carmilla. While I have not yet read Carmilla (but I do plan to), the premise of this book intrigued me. I love dark academia and anything gothic. I did enjoy the writing, the prose flowed well and the writing is beautiful. I just found it hard to connect with the characters and found them to be frustrating at times. This book is very character driven with alternating POVs, but I think I would have liked this better with just one POV. The pacing is also pretty slow.
I do still want to read A Dowry of Blood by the author though!

After sinking my teeth into A Dowry of Blood early last year, I was ecstatic to learn we were going to get more queer, gothic vampires from S.T. Gibson. Once again we are thrown into a sumptuous tale of power, secrets, and blood, this time set within the halls of an all-female college, Saint Perpetua’s.

Like with A Dowry of Blood, An Education in Malice is a pastiche to a landmark vampire novel, this time Sheriden Le Fanu’s Carmilla. One thing I have enjoyed about Gibson’s work is how she implements these original characters into her own spellbinding world, and this novel is no different, with the sweet Laura and enigmatic Carmilla taking place as our main protagonists.

Arriving from a small, southern town, Laura is a budding poetry student who’s come to Saint Perpetua’s to attend the highly revered poetry class headed by Miss De Lafontaine—where she meets Carmilla, an equally bright but rather callous student who is a quintessential teacher’s pet. An academic rivalry ensues, as the girls vie for De Lafontaine’s praise and approval.

Gibson once again explores power dynamics as the girls each grow closer to each other and their mysterious and alluring professor, but with a more sapphic-focused lens in comparison to A Dowry of Blood. There are themes of obsession and manipulation, but unlike Gibson’s sophomore novel, there was an all the more empathetic undertone that skewed the perspective to question the morality and judgement of each character.

We explore sex and yearning vividly through Laura’s own voice as she grapples with her sexuality, desire, and guilt. Gibson’s writing is gorgeously evocative as they pursue the depths of Laura’s attraction through intimate scenes as well as the narration throughout. One thing I love in Gibson’s novels is the inclusion of sex-positive, unashamed queerness, which makes for both a refreshing and highly enjoyable read.

An Education in Malice is filled with lush imagery and language that construct a sumptuous gothic story, amplified by the dark academic setting. Gibson’s focus on niche experiences within the context of a sapphic relationship allow for a narrative that is both overtly and complexly queer, featuring both lesbian and bisexual identifying characters, a splash of horror, and a mystery.

The only thing that left me wanting more was the plot itself, which didn’t quite live up to the excitement of A Dowry of Blood. We remain within the grounds of St. Perpetua’s for most of the narrative, which restricts the focus to the sub-plot mystery that I found lacking in intrigue.

Overall, if you enjoyed A Dowry of Blood, I would urge you to pick up An Education in Malice, as Gibson delivers another bloody, beautiful tale of queer, vampiric love.

Content Warnings: Uneven power dynamics, violence, murder, blood, consensual sexual content, substance use, homophobia (mentioned).

I enjoy S.T. Gibson’s writing and this book was really well written. I do think this is a really great book to dip your toes into sapphic romance. I absolutely loved the dark academia, gothic vibes that this gave me! I do feel as if the story was very low stakes and got a little muddled in the middle. Overall, really enjoyed!

This book spectacularly missed the mark for me. I LOVED Dowry of Blood and went in with high expectations. The main characters were incredibly flat with only a paragraph of backstory, it was as if they only became people for the sake of the story and thus didn’t have that real feel to them. I didn’t see the point of having this set in 1968 and think that time period expectation actually took away from the story instead of enhancing it. The plot itself was incredibly boring, and I wish I had DNFd. The vampire lore was not explained in any real detail which again felt very surface level. I had many other issues around lack of Character Voice and unbelievably elements about Laura’s religious views but I think it’s clear at this point I didnt like the book without needing to carry on more.

Thank you for the ARC of this much anticipated Dark Academia novel!

As a sucker for anything that falls in the general genre of dark academia, enemies to lovers, and sapphic rival romance…I knew this book would likely be an easy sell for me. It delivered on many front but the element of being set in early 1970s, post Woodstock era with vampires grooming poetry students really did it for me.

Also loved the curvy girl representation in our heroine MC.

As far as the plot goes, I thought the nod to Faust was done in a unique, modern way that was innovative enough that the story was still surprising and unique. I feel like fans of Sarah Paulson characters in American Horror Story will vibe with the character of De LaFontaine. I like the “choose your ending” cliffhanger that this book ended on. It left it open to rest as a standalone novel with room for the reader to infer their own closure to the characters future, or to potentially write a follow up down the road. Either way it would work well.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

My only negative critique would be that the way Laura and Carmilla went from enemies to lovers felt much too sudden and out of nowhere. After their first kiss it was like they were immediately in love and professing it for each other without much to bond or solidify that relationship except having witnessed carmilla die and become a vampire.

Rating: 4 stars

*An Education in Malice* was one of my highly anticipated releases of this year. Dark academia with vampires? Sounds great! I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. This was a dark but cozy Sapphic romance. The prose was well written and the characters were lovable, even when they were making poor decisions. The story itself was very compelling, and I was eager to see how it all wrapped up. However, it wasn’t perfect. I think that the main antagonist was underdeveloped and could have benefitted from a bit more exploration into her past and motives. I also didn’t love the time setting, but that may just be personal preference. In all, I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a dark academia setting, a vampire story, or a Sapphic romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

S.T. Gibson is a stunning writer. The only similarities between An Education in Malice and Carmilla seems to be the characters names and the sometimes toxic love Carmilla and Laura share. I would love for this world to continue & see what path Laura chose for herself.

By now, I think YA titles are not my thing, but this one was enjoyable. It feels goods to read something just for pleasure without thinking so much about the storyline or the writing.

This was meh. I'll be honest, I did not expect vampires. That being said, I could've maybe been okay with the vampire situation had the various relationships been more fleshed out. I felt like the book screeched to a halt just when Laura and Carmilla were beginning to admit some things about their feelings, then BAM, vampires. LOL! This book felt like someone picked up an all-girls-school-competitive-but-I-love-you scenario, smashed it violently into some Interview-with-a-vampire sh*t, then flipped a table and went all 50-Shades. I have whiplash from whatever this was.

I requested this book through NetGalley after loving A Dowry of Blood and Gibson’s poetic prose certainly continues weaving through this narrative. I had never heard of the story of Carmilla before, so the turn the novella took was unexpected for me, but for anyone familiar with Carmilla, I think you’ll find this a fun retelling! I enjoyed the atmospheric, split narrative, and the uncertainty of De LaFontaine’s motivations and intentions!