Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a dark academic story filled with hatred, obsession, and lust. If you like consumption as a metaphor for love, this one’s for you.

⇢➤ Plot: Laura is a small-town Southern girl thrown into an upper-class Connecticut university. There, she runs into Camilla, the shining pupil of the university’s poetry teacher, Professor De Lafontaine. Laura’s poetry catches De Lafontaine’s eye, leading to an intense rivalry between Camilla and Laura. The two can’t decide if they want to kill each other or consume each other.

As the duel-POV novel progresses, the reader learns that De Lafontaine is more than she appears to be. How far are the two willing to go for their favorite teacher? What is the line between love and violence? And what does it mean to be consumed in a world where blood and flesh are currency?

⇢➤ Pros: Gibson’s writing is beautiful. The prose, the descriptors, the metaphors are all well-written. It captures the air of youth and a Northeastern university in autumn. Where the flowery writing may come across as pretentious in other novels, having the two main characters be poets was a sound choice. It makes their POVs believable. Laura, a lesbian bound by Southern manners and politics, obsesses over restraint, hunger, and religion. Meanwhile, Camilla, an affluent, beautiful woman used to getting her way, obsesses over relinquishing control and bending to a higher power. This is conveyed not only in their poems, but in the way they see the world.

Also, a Sapphic Carmilla retelling will always hit. I’m so happy to see more queer stories in mainstream publishing.

⇢➤ Cons: The book heavily features the three characters above… and essentially no one else. While the cult-like obsession for De Lafontaine’s poetry class is reminiscent of Tartt’s “The Secret History,” Gibson opts out of full world-building in favor of specific relationship-building. This slowed down the plot quite a bit. Many of the side characters felt like cardboard cutouts, especially in the classroom.

On the same topic, while I love a giant vampire woman and morally gray characters, the power dynamic in this novel made me dislike De Lafontaine from the jump. If I was part of this poetry class and felt the rampant sexual tension between the middle-age professor, a bisexual student, and a lesbian student… I would be going to the dean. I don’t think De Lafontaine even knows she has other students. It’s like she girlbossed her way into a teaching position 20 years ago and hasn’t graded a paper since.

⇢➤ Recommended for fans of: Donna Tartt, Rory Power, and Naomi Novik

S. T. Gibson does it again. What a great follow up to A Dowry of Blood. Like usual, Gibson’s prose and storytelling were absolutely captivating. I loved the focus of the book on obsession- and the relationships were so interesting. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say that I think there were a lot of anti-hero vibes from the relationship. It was captivating and intense.

Full disclosure, I haven't read the original Carmilla, but from what I can gather, beyond the names and general themes of vampirism and sapphics, this bears very little resemblance to the original novella. I was just overjoyed to get my hands on S.T. Gibson's latest, simply because I adored their previous work in this world about Dracula's wives/lovers. This is only loosely related to that story in that one of the main characters briefly appears as an established safe space figures in the world of vampires.
Just like Dowry of Blood, this delves masterfully into the intricacies of power dynamics with added element of an academic relationship between professor and proteges. This was sweetly dark as two young and brilliant women, squarely thriving in the second wave feminism era academia in New England, from wildly different backgrounds learn to navigate the seductive and sapphic dance of intellectual equality. And their professor is not only a literal vampire but also THAT metaphorical one who is queer awakening older icon, being obsessed with whom makes you overlook all the borderline problematic ways they leech off of your potential and adoration. It's fucked up but real and restrained enough that it makes for a great story that doesn't lose itself to indulgence over those dynamics. It reads like a Donna Tartt or Sally Rooney work, rather than a Gothic novella. Dark yet sentimental with real empathy. Might re-read if there's an audiobook upon release.

I didn’t love the story or the characters as much as i was expecting to, but i do find the author’s writing to be beautifully compelling.

"An Education in Malice" by S.T. Gibson takes readers on a haunting journey into the dark and mysterious world of Saint Perpetua’s College, where secrets lurk in the shadows and ambition reigns supreme.

Set in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts, the novel introduces us to Laura Sheridan, a newcomer to the isolated and ancient college. From the moment she steps foot on campus, Laura is thrust into a world of intense academic rivalry, strange ceremonies, and enigmatic professors. At the center of it all is Carmilla, a beautiful and mysterious student who captivates Laura with her allure and secrets.

As Laura and Carmilla's rivalry escalates, they find themselves entangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors, and dark magic. Alongside their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, they navigate a treacherous landscape where knowledge comes at a steep price.

Gibson's writing is atmospheric and immersive, drawing readers into the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of Saint Perpetua’s College. The author expertly weaves together elements of mystery, romance, and the supernatural, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the plot unfolds.

The characters in "An Education in Malice" are complex and intriguing, each harboring their own secrets and desires. Laura and Carmilla's dynamic relationship is at the heart of the story, filled with tension, passion, and a sense of forbidden allure. As they delve deeper into the mysteries of the college, they must confront their own inner demons and make difficult choices about the lengths they are willing to go to in pursuit of knowledge.

Overall, "An Education in Malice" is a gripping and atmospheric read that will appeal to fans of dark academia and supernatural fiction. With its richly drawn setting, complex characters, and suspenseful plot, it offers a captivating glimpse into a world where knowledge comes with a deadly price.

It was alright, not my sup of tea. But I think if this is a genre and troupe you like, then this book is for you . It was wonderfully written!

An Education in Malice is a great Carmilla retelling set during the late 60's in a women's college, uniting my love of paranormal tales with dark acadamia. Laura is our naive engenue who is thrust into a world of passion, intrigue and jealousy when she meets the enigmatic Carmilla, a senior in her poetry program that quickly becomes her rival for their professor's affection.
Watching these two go head to head in class and explore their growing feelings for one another was a delight, and once the book ramped up to its exciting conclusion I found it hard to put down. The prose is delicious and makes for a great read.
A Dowry of Blood has been on my radar and after reading this book, I look forward to reading it next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook Books for giving me an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC—same review posted on Goodreads!

4 STARS 💕

A sapphic retelling of Carmilla!! The first chapter was a bit dull to be honest and I'm so glad it picked up the pace!

I know a lot of people prefer the suspense of "oh no, whoddunnit?" and try to figure it out themselves, but I think there's also some magic to the knowledge and not being able to do anything about it--just standing there, watching, helpless... it's poetic. (See what I did there lol)

Reading through the other reviews, I see what people say about the main characters' feelings for one another, but I also find it a lot realistic. Carmilla herself has already said that she loves being chased and gets impatient to the point that she has to do the chasing and Laura's basically starved for affection or crumbs of them from Carmilla. Also, I don't know if everyone knows this, but if you have a bite while you're starving/famished, you feel even more hungry.

Anyway, I love all the dynamics and tropes on here. I felt that their professor was just the right blend of "hate this person/smash" imo.

It's definitely a great read you won't regret!

I’m a sucker for an academia setting in books. The first half of the book, I was LIVING.
•Beautiful, private college in western MA in the fall? Yep!
•Academic rivals in a rigorous writing course? Yep!
•Vampires? Oh. Again?

Hear me out, I loved Dowry of Blood — the vampirism happens in the first few pages and is integral to everything that proceeds. But in An Education in Malice, once the vampire plot kicks off, I was like, “Can we go back to this being a college academic rival enemies to lovers with no supernatural elements please?”

The first half was easily a 4.5 and the second half turned more into 3.5 territory. Though the ending was good, so I’m averaging out those scores to a solid 4-star read.

Absolutely adored this book.
This might be my favorite sapphic read ever. It is so well written and a perfect balance of both chracter development and plot.

I absolutely loved this book! Gibson's storytelling comes with its own built in aesthetic. The prose was phenomenal as always and I loved the Camilla retelling elements. The sapphic/dark academia themes made this a perfect cozy read.
Thanks so much for the opportunity!

I truly wanted to love this book, but it left a lot to be desired. The first half of the book started off beautifully. It had dark academia vibes, the two main characters were academic rivals, there was a lot of tension, they were both fighting over attention/praise from a harsh professor. And then around the middle of the book there was an event that caused the entire narrative and vibes of the book to change. The tension disappeared, one of the main characters completely changed their personality, the plot kind of fell apart. It felt like the first half of the book was professionally written and the second half was a fanfiction. It wasn't even that the plot of the second half was bad, just that it felt like nothing really happened and the characters became inconsistent. I feel like this book could have been really good if the second half had been edited more thoroughly. If the characters remained consistent and had more depth, if the relationships between characters was explored more, if there was a deeper plot. But with the current book, I just don't recommend it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It had the potential and set up to be a much better book than it was.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While there were some interesting concepts in this book, overall, I was unable to become invested in the characters. Maybe it was a mix of personalities and poetry, but this book was not for me.

4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️

Full disclosure, I have never read anything by ST Gibson before, so I cannot compare to A Dowry of Blood.
(I promptly did buy it after finishing this audio though.)💕

An Education in Malice is a poetic Carmilla retelling, focusing on two academic rivals, Laura and Carmilla. The two girls are infatuated not only with each other, but with their poetry professor, vying for De Lafontaine's attention and praise.

This is a sapphic romance of want, obsession and longing tucked into a dark academia shell. Laura and Carmilla start as rivals, both seeking the validation of their poetry professor, De Lafontaine. Carmilla is confident and brash, while Laura is insecure and trying to find herself in this new environment. The two girls navigating their burgeoning feelings during the first half of the book was poetic and beautiful.

As they are brought more into the fold of De Lafontaine's vampiric world, Laura and Carmilla are pushed deeper into their obsessions with each other, fueling the jealousy and strife between them and De Lafontaine. I was drawn so far into their relationships that I wanted to know more. Keep in mind, this book was more character driven rather than plot. The plot takes a back-seat to the characters and their growth during the story. I was here for it though.💕

The audiobook was truly the main reason I adored this book. I am obsessed with the narrator and the raw emotion felt in the performance. I felt Laura's insecurity and fear. I felt Carmilla's yearning and confusion. It was a beautiful audiobook and I don't think I would've rated as high if I had just read it.

•content warnings: taboo relationship between teacher/student, blood&gore, dead body•

Gothic Dark academia
Dual POVs
Academic Rivals to Lovers
Poetic Sapphic romance
Relationship between teacher & student
Carmilla Retelling

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

A tale of obsession, vampires, and love this dark academia set at St. Perpetua’s was dark and lovely. The prose was beautiful and lush, the setting nostalgic, and the characters fiercely competitive.

Carmilla is the shining star of Ms. De LaFontaine’s poetry writing workshop and Laura is the incoming freshman who challenges this. Fierce rivals turn to darker passions as they seek the approval of the elusive and mysterious De LaFontaine.

What I liked:
Dark Academia
Poetry writing cohort
Author’s writing
Competitive characters
Atmospheric

What I didn’t like:
Loss of the other characters’ development as the story continues
Repetitive scenes
Slower paced
Not much plot

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy dark academia, vampire stories that are character driven and are a sapphic romance.

Holy crap this book was amazing! It hooked me right from the very beginning and kept me glued to my seat the whole time!

When I made the request on NetGalley for this book I held my breath until I saw if I was approved or rejected (I was ready to cry if rejected). To my surprise, I was approved and IMMEDIATELY started this book. Unfortunately, the joy and excitement I felt for the book wore off around 40%. I am unsure if it is the pacing of the story or the storyline itself but I was not as enthralled as I had hoped to be or like I was when I read A Dowry of Blood. I did enjoy both Laura and Camilla in their own ways but I just wanted more. This story had the makings of a masterpiece for me with dark academia, rivals to lovers, vampires, mystery, sapphic romance but it just slightly missed the mark for me. I still think this is a great read and others may truly enjoy. The atmospheric qualities were my favorite of this story. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me an early copy!

An Education in Malice is a captivating vampire novel set in Saint Perpetua's College where Laura Sheridan encounters the enigmatic Carmilla. As they compete for the favor of their demanding professor, De Lefontaine, their lives take a dark turn. Inspired by the classic vampire tale Carmilla, this book offers a sapphic romance with alternating perspectives. While not as gripping as A Dowry of Blood, it still provides a quick and satisfying read, delving into themes of unequal power dynamics and obsession. The author's inclusion of content warnings is convenient, making it a must-read for vampire enthusiasts anticipating the next book.

As a huge fan of A Dowry of Blood, I was so excited for this companion book. If you have read Carmilla before, I would say An Education in Malice is as much of a retelling of that as Dowry is of Dracula (that is to say, not a lot).

This book had a lot to be excited for in terms of the historical setting, the dark academia vibes, and the exploration of power dynamics, but overall it left me a bit disappointed, and I will try to articulate why:
Primarily, the characters fell a bit flat, which is a huge issue in a character driven novel such as this. In the beginning of the book we know our characters’ traits, because they explicitly are told to us. There was so much telling instead of showing throughout, which I think made it really hard to connect with the characters.
On that note, in order to establish that the two main characters were attracted to each other, we kept being given little flashes in the characters’ POVs visualizing what they wanted to do with their love interest. This felt like a really odd way to show attraction and did not help establish chemistry and tension between the two characters.
Additionally, the transition from academic rivals to lovers was so abrupt that I really wish it would have been more of a gradual slow burn.
The exploration of toxic relationships and power dynamics was interesting, however I almost feel like the professor relationship should have been more toxic?

On a stylistic note: having two POVs in first person was a bit confusing to me as I kept forgetting which POV I was currently in.
I also wish the time period had been better established for the *vibes*. I almost felt like this could have been taking place in modern day.

Overall this wasn’t bad, I just wished for a bit more!

St Gibson is a master at obsessive, unhealthy vampiric love. I cannot believe I devoured this in a day. I’ve never read the original Carmilla, but I enjoyed this telling. If you like sapphic vampires, obsession, and character driven stories… this one is for you.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.