I enjoyed this read! I had a bunch of friends recommend this author but I hadn't read her previous novel yet. I'd forgotten that the two were set in the same world until I got to a *certain* point (no spoilers!). It didn't feel like fantasy until the fantasy part hit, which I really liked. It felt just like the real world. I also really liked the feel of the setting for this book. Dark Academia is a genre that I feel is not something I would normally be interested in, however, I have mostly enjoyed every Dark Academia that I have ever read. I don't know how to explain it, but I enjoy it in a different way than I do my bright, colorful, fantasy/fairytale stories.

If you are considering reading this book, I would make sure to read the content/trigger warnings first. There are some themes in this book that might be upsetting to some. It is also not necessary to read her other book before this one to enjoy it (since I did not).

I liked the writing style of this book and I would definitely recommend this book to a friend (who enjoys dark academia and or vampires), and I am considering reading Dowry now. I have heard great things about it, and I am very curious to read more from this author.

actual rating: 4.5⭐️

I knew just from the sheer fact that it’s an S.T. Gibson novel that it was going to be spectacular and this book did not disappoint in the slightest.

If you’ve read A Dowry of Blood you know exactly what you’re in for: enchantingly beautiful prose, complex characters, tension and drama that builds steadily throughout the book, and the crescendo at the end that just leaves you in awe. An Education in Malice is a sapphic dark academia novel that draws you in from the first chapter as Gibson builds the setting of the story, a women’s college tucked in a corner of Massachusetts. Laura, a Southern girl with every ounce of that Southern charm, snags a coveted spot in Ms. De Lafontaine’s class to find herself in a rivalry with Carmilla, a senior who isn’t keen on sharing her beloved professor’s praises with Laura. This book did academic rivals to lovers so exceptionally well that I need to give it a standing ovation. The romance between Laura and Carmilla builds steadily as they grow out of that rivals portion of their relationship and move into the love that is slow and sweet.

De Lafontaine’s role in this book is interesting because yes, there’s a student-teacher relationship that is neither entirely romantic but neither platonic, it falls somewhere in the middle. The progression of De Lafontaine’s character of seeing as she falls out of a cycle of abuse that she knowingly inflicted onto Carmilla and once suffered at the hands of her own sire. I could go on and on about De Lafontaine as a character because she truly stood in the foreground alongside Laura and Carmilla for me.

The subtle hints of vampirism in the beginning of the book made me giddy because I knew exactly what path this book would take but I didn’t expect it to be as nuanced as it was. The themes connected to this added element stemming from obsession, control, power, lust, and love. Let’s be very clear here: lust and love are displayed in this book and are two distinct things. The love at display at times can be utterly carnal which is definitely surprised me a bit but when it’s written so beautifully, I can’t help but love it oddly enough.

Also those of us that did read A Dowry of Blood get a very lovely surprise in this book which as a reader is always so rewarding and I would highly recommend reading A Dowry of Blood before reading this book!

Please read the trigger warnings that S.T Gibson outlines in the beginning before picking this up but if you’re in the mood for a gothic, dark academia novel that is filled with romance, tension, and hauntingly beautiful prose; you should definitely pick this book up!

Thank you to Redhook Books & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

dark. sensual. one of my favorites of the year for sure!! I love reading this book so much, I wish there was more for me to read. dark academia, vampires, a Carmilla retelling !! obsessed to say the least. I enjoyed the dual povs, and loved both Laura & Carmilla. I could absolutely feel the dark academia theme throughout which I appreciated.
thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Definitely check for trigger warnings, I didn’t find anything to be too much but that’s just me.

Dark Academia × Sapphic vampires? *chef's kiss*

S.T. Gibson writes beautifully, as always. I was so excited to receive this ARC because I absolutely LOVED A Dowry of Blood by this author. I was even more excited when I learned it was dark academia. I didn't connect with the characters as much in this story, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Anyone who has known me for awhile has probably heard me talk about Carmilla at one point in time or another. So when I read (and loved) A Dowry of Blood, I was maybe the most excited person in the world when I got an ARC of An Education in Malice.

There were several things I enjoyed about this book. I was a huge fan of the 70s setting, and a dark academia take suited this story so well. ST Gibson’s writing is just gorgeous as always. It’s the kind of prose I want to bask in, so I always read her books in several sittings. I loved this take on Laura in particular.

Unfortunately, I didn’t end up loving this story like I really, really wanted to. I landed on 3⭐️s. Pacing was an issue with me on this one. It just felt like the payoff of a slow build didn’t hit the notes I needed it to, or did hit the notes but when timing didn’t feel right, and it felt like there could have been a more cohesive acceleration of the plot. I’m including a TikTok that I think best demonstrates what the last ~40% of this book felt like for me because, as we all know by now, I love a good visual.

Also, this is more miscellaneous, but I felt like the choice to market the “professors behaving badly” aspect of this book as like a fun trope was uhhhhhhh. Bad. But that’s a topic in and of itself.

I’m always so grateful to have the opportunities to review ARCs, thank you so much to @netgalley and @redhookbooks for giving me the chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review! An Education in Malice by ST Gibson comes out February 13th! 🩸🗡️

Unfortunately, this didn't quite work for me. I found the characters incredibly annoying and was very, very bored. I must commend Gibson's writing though. I will always be struck and awed by the beauty of her prose, descriptors, and the way she captures the setting and mood. This book just ended up not being my cup of tea. I'm a bit bummed, especially because I devoured A Dowry of Blood. You can't win 'em all, I suppose!

I still very much plan to check out Gibson's upcoming release though, as it features the cutie pie couple from Odd Spirits. While I'm a lil sad about this, I'm still a very big Gibson fan!

I devoured this in all possible forms, given that I received an e-ARC, had my pre-ordered hardcover, and listened to it on Spotify. Because come on, we all knew I'd love this. Full transparency, I haven't even read the description since I first saw it, so I basically went in blind because I just trust S. T. Gibson implicitly after Dowry of Blood. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, but today's vibe just didn't fit with reading on my kindle. Regardless of the format, this book consumed me.
There are a couple of moments early in the novel where the dark academia is so overdone that it becomes almost comical, like when a character recites Paradise Lost to calm herself, but I found that Gibson quickly hit her stride and left that awkwardness in the dust. The writing is beautiful and even poetic at times. The relationship between Carmilla and Laura was somehow genuinely sweet and romantic despite all the darkness. And honestly, I'd like to have a story all about De Lafontaine, even though I did expect her to be maybe a bit older given the depth of loss that she felt, or for that loss to have been from longer ago than it was. Finally, the ultimate confrontation at the end was a bit underwhelming for me. <spoiler> It seemed pretty clear all of our MCs were in on it, so I didn't feel any tension there or ever believe De Lafontaine was actually making that sacrifice. </spoiler>
While there are some general shared themes between this novel and the original Carmilla, I would not consider this a retelling, but I don't think it's the author or publisher marketing it as one.
Also, not that this is relevant at all to the e-ARC, but why is the font in this hard copy HUGE? I had to double-check that I hadn't accidentally ordered the large-print edition.
All this to say, while I absolutely adored this book, I was unfortunately able to see a few flaws. They're nothing that would deter me from recommending it or loving it, but I just can't quite get myself to do 5 stars. This is a 4.5 or, for those platforms that don't have half stars, a very very strong 4/5.

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

A beautifully written gothic story with the same lyrical prose that made me fall in love with a Dowry of Blood. This is a great sapphic romance that touches on toxic relationships, academic rivals, obsessions, and more. I think anyone who loves sapphic romances, vampires, and dark academia will love this novel. 

At first, I was unsure about having both Laura and Carmilla's points of view, but I found it actually added a lot to the character development for them both. This is a story that is hard to put down; I read it all in one sitting.

I also enjoyed the audio narration, especially Laura's accent.

“After all, what horror wouldn’t I tolerate, if it was meted out by the hand of my beloved?”

Once again, I am not let down by S.T. Gibson. A Dowry of Blood is an incredibly difficult debut novel to follow up with, and Gibson delivered.
The prose flows smoothly and evenly, weaving a more contemporary retelling of Carmilla. The trap with retellings is that we’ve all heard the stories before so it leaves little to the imagination- An Education In Malice presents a new and fresh tale. While I enjoy the classic Carmilla, no one can argue that it is a cautionary tale of queerness. An Education In Malice reclaimed that message and shattered it completely, and among all the bloodshed and other messages, showed us two young women coming into their sexuality.
Engaging characters and story. I could go on and on.

Diving into this book, the premise held such promise—a world of sapphic tension, vampire allure, and dark academia—but as the story unfolded, that promise faded.
While the prose was elegant and the setting atmospheric, something crucial seemed to be missing. The characters, while intriguing at first glance, never quite blossomed into fully realized individuals, leaving me wanting more depth and complexity. At times, I was straight up annoyed with the characters or bored with the character driven storyline.
The romance, too, felt rushed, lacking the slow burn that would have made it truly satisfying. The intimate moments/spice was about the only thing that didn’t feel boring. Which I typically don’t even care for in books.

Despite my hopes, "An Education in Malice" ultimately left me with a feeling of letdown.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up vampires were always my favorite mythical creature and in my grown age that hasn’t changed much. Being able to get an e-arc of An Education in Malice made me so happy. Sapphic and Vampires were speaking to my soul.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. I feel like A Dowry of Blood delivered more on the vampire aspect and the darker elements. This one didn’t feel gothic to me or dark academia at all. It started off as a poetry battle of the wits in the beginning but that plot point left not that far into the book.

There are more things I’m confused about than I understand. All we really learn about everyone are such surface level things. Laura: a rule follower who has a dominance kink, Carmilla: a spoiled talented exchange student, De Lafontaine: a creepy old vampire professor. That’s all I felt like I learned about them. I developed no connection or emotions to any of them. I don’t understand why 90% of the side characters existed they brought nothing to the story. I’m genuinely confused about them and maybe I missed the importance they brought.

Overall, I did get the vampires and sapphics. I just wish the book would’ve been more in depth about what was actually going on. I personally preferred A Dowry of Blood, I felt like it accomplished what it wanted in the length it was. I think the pacing and development of An Education in Malice just got lost a little bit. I hope others enjoy this more than I did.

A historical paranormal with a lesbian love triangle and vampires. This historical Dark Academia mystery set in the late 1960s is a whole vibe! It's The Group by Mary McCartney with sexy vampires. Creepy and atmospheric, it will have you wondering what you are reading.

While it wasn't entirely my thing, I enjoyed it overall and recommend it to fans of vampires, Dark Academia, and dark f/f romances.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Recommend? Heck yes!

A Carmilla retelling? Sapphic? Dark academia vibes?
✨…say less! ✨

This was another stunner from S.T. Gibson!
If you’re looking for a dark academia sapphic story filled with tension, secrets & blood - I highly recommend this one!

I feel as if I utterly devoured this and I could have read it in one or two sittings. Honestly, I would recommend that you pick up A Dowry of Blood first, before this one. (A Dowry… was a fav read of 2023 for me) It’s not 100% necessary, as these are stand-alones but I think it adds to the reading experience as they’re in the same universe.

The academic rivalry between Carmilla & Laura was one of my favourite parts. There was also a big aspect of mystery to this book, which will leave you turning the page, wanting to know more.

S.T. Gibson is an auto-buy author for me, officially. I also highly recommend that this one be read with a glass of wine in hand… 🍷

THANK YOU so much to the publishers & NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review!

This is my second book by S. T. Gibson - my first being a Dowry of Blood.. I really enjoyed a Dowry of Blood but unfortunately An Education in Malice fell a little flat for me. I feel like the relationships were underdeveloped. I also think I may be just no longer in to the vampire thing.

4.5 stars

Is obsession not the same as hunger?
I loved how many versions of obsession were introduced to in this book. It was a perfect play on the title, as we were educated on the different versions of darker love.

This retelling and reimagination of Carmilla was an addictive take on the classic.
S.T. Gibson is a true master of their writing. They always leave me desperate for more.

S. T. Gibson's AN EDUCATION IN MALICE is a dark and intoxicating reimagining of CARMILLA, set in the same world as A DOWRY OF BLOOD.

No matter the setting, I always fall in love with whatever atmosphere Gibson has in store for me, and this was no exception! I love dark academia and I love vampires and I love a romance that's a little bit twisted, and AN EDUCATION IN MALICE was all of those and more! I loved getting to see the events through both Laura's and Carmilla's POVS and seeing how their characters gradually grew over the course of the novel, and I also was obsessed with their romantic and sexual dynamic. The little cameo from A DOWRY OF BLOOD was also a nice treat, and I loved the open ended note the story left on. This just continues to cement S. T. Gibson as an auto read author for me!

Though the book was enjoyable and I would recommend it, I did struggle with the pacing of the story. It felt like too much time was spent on the mundane and then when the action of the story took place, the descriptions were brief and it was resolved or moved on from quickly.

I love dark academia, vampires and sapphic romances but unfortunately I struggled with this one. Maybe it was trying to read it while on vacation but I really struggled to get into the world and connect with the characters. This may not be the case for others and I may come back to it another time!

I feel like S. T. Gibson found the secret to writing really great vampire stories. Between this and A Dowry of Blood I really feel my vampire obsession coming back. The way that she writes is so lovely and the dialog between characters really shines. This one felt so feminine and sensual in a really special way. Will definitely stick to me. Thanks Netgalley for the early review copy.

After absolutely loving A Dowry of Blood, I was simply so excited to get a chance to read this!!

And I think overall, this was... fine.

It was pitched as Dark Academia with vampires and I almost wish the dark academia aspect wasn't included. Or maybe I don't know/like Dark Academia, but I wish there had been more of that in the book.

The beginning was quite slow, and despite being pitched as dark academia with vampires, our protagonist doesn't know about them until maybe halfway through the book. Once that happens it's still slow but at least begins to pick up pace.

And I enjoyed the romance to a degree but I don't know! I felt like hatred to obsession to the love they had was a little off? Even with the slower beginning, I thought the intensity of their relationship was much better than when they were actually together.

Overall, like I said, this was fine. I didn't love it, and I'll check out her other books definitely because the writing was gorgeous.

Thanks so much to Orbit Books and NetGalley for a chance to read and review!