The premise was intriguing but it fell short… might try this again in the future but setting it down for now.

this was very cool in terms of vibes, but it didn't have a lot going on when you dug deeper. there was no commentary on any of its themes, like obsession and codependent relationships and power imbalance; the characterisation fell flat; it was all tell and no show, basically. i expected a lot more from this, but i was let down.

An Education in Malice is more of an education in how to take a YA book, add one scene that makes it ‘naughty’ and then market it as a gothic romance, only to make your readers feel ripped off. Let me tell you do I feel cheated. I expected a sapphic, steamy, vindictive, gothic story; instead I got a mildly sapphic, boring, single scene of voyeurism, vampires with no sexiness or gothic tones snippet. To even call this a story is reaching as the plot is so thin and obvious that it’s hard to say it furthers the story. Additionally the characters are so one dimensional and boring. Literally all of them could have been eaten or killed and I’d have cared less; in fact, in the case of the leading gal I might have been pleased I wouldn’t have to hear her be boring anymore.

Elements of this story and the characters are lost so many times. Our two leading girls are set-up as certain types of people to start, and then become completely different people, engage in a sort of vampire orgy/viewing party, only to somehow remind us they are the same girls from before. It doesn’t tie together well and ultimately falls apart by the end. I’m very surprised by the love for An Education in Malice as I thought the only well written part was our girl on girl voyeur chapter; which is not near enough for me to say a book is good.

I’d like to see less of this ‘scratch the surface’ plot and character development that is sacrificed because of one hot scene. A book can be both complex, character and/or plot drive., as well as sexy! Ask Laurel K. Hamilton for tips. Plus, if you are going to market your book as gothic it needs gothic elements! Vampires on their own are not gothic, it should have a focus on death, life, and a slight obsession with the macabre. Make it dark, thoughtful, and full of gothic imagery. Mary Shelley would have been embarrassed for this to be called gothic. Let’s do her proud and write actually subversive stories that get people thinking and talking. Your gothic romance cannot have just one erotica scene that the rest of the book is written around.

Disappointing is an understatement on this one.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I was excited to read An Education in Malice because I love A Dowry of Blood (by the same author) so much but this book just didn't do anything for me. I didn't really care about these characters so I wasn't very invested in their story. I did, however, love S.T. Gibson's writing and will continue to read her work in the future. This book just wasn't for me and my tastes.

*As always I want to thank the author and publisher for the chance to have an advanced copy of this work.*

I wanted to scream, cry, laugh, and just all of the above at this book!!!! OMGGGGGG this book has everything and when it came out I immediately added it to my physical shelf. The amount of times I wanted to not only scream at their characters but also be in their shoes was ridiculous. The gothic themes within the pages draw you in and it is such an interesting take on the classic Carmilla. S. T. Gibson I am now making my way through your back list!

I had high hopes for this one, but it didn't work for me. I'm sure many people would love it though.

I am stuck on the fact that a book set in the US in 1968 has a white girl from Mississippi instantly making friends with a Black girl, with zero acknowledgment of the Civil Rights Movement. I couldn't even finish the book. There is no reason at all for it to be set in 1968, other than for the fashions. I also kept having to check the chapter heading to see which character's POV we were in, because Laura and Carmilla were interchangeable.

ST Gibson writes the most beautiful prose and I will forever read anything they release without a second thought.

An Education in Malice is equal parts sapphic vampires, toxic obsession, and academic rivalry. Think you know where this is going when senior Camilla and Professor De LaFontaine start their codependent dance of mutual obsession? Enter freshman Laura, our gifted writer who turns their duet into a dangerous trio. Suddenly it's less "Dead Poets Society" and more "Mean Girls" meets "Interview with the Vampire."

The brilliance here isn't in the fangs (though they certainly make it more alluring as I love the way Gibson writes vampires), but in how three fascinating characters spiral into an obsessive academic fever dream that I couldn't pull away from. I loved being back in the A Dowry of Blood world and seeing characters that I longed for more of, and of course Gibson's gorgeous writing made it all the better.

"On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla. But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge." I wanted to read this book because of the cover, and because it is a horror fantasy with vampires and lesbian romance. The atmosphere is stunning, and I liked S.T. Gibson's writing style.

The main characters are interesting, though I wanted to learn more about them. I also wanted more from the plot. There needed to be more suspense and character time. The romance could have been stretched out a little more too.

I was sent this and I thought this was an amazing read despite not having read the source it originated from 4.5/5

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I am obsessed with stories that have themes of academic rivalry, dark magic, and culty story twists. I was especially excited to see the representation of queer characters in a dark academia setting! Overall, loved the voice, the setting, and the premise! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I've never been much of a dark academia person, but my god am I glad I jumped in here. The book is moody, atmospheric, intriguing, a little spooky...all the great buzzwords that wrap into a really solid piece that sent me running for the author's back catalogue!

I have just finished an education in malice by S T Gibson I was given a free copy of this manuscript by net gallery for review. All thoughts and opinions written here are my own. I received no compensation whatsoever for this review.
I'm not really sure what to say about an education in malice by S T Gibson normally I enjoy this sort of story, In this one, however, I can't help but feel like without the vampire part of it, it would have been really beautiful. A capturing of human emotions, human wants and feelings. I'm not sure if this book whatever series. If so, maybe things would have made more sense. I wish she would have gone more into the backstory of The vampire characters. As it is, I feel like they were added in, like they don't have as much depth as they could have. Maybe that was intentional. I'm not sure. In any case, I wish her the best of luck. I hope to have the opportunity to read more of her work rather than just this one to get a better idea of her writing style. As it is, I didn't enjoy this as much as I had hoped to in all honesty

I didn't dislike it but did find that it fell short of my expectations. I found myself a little underwhelmed and think this would have been better (for me) if it was a short story. I lost interest in the characters and the story pretty quickly and found it to be repetitive after the 25% mark.

Read 4/9/24

I have this book 5 stars strictly for the writing. I didn't wholly love the story or the plot but the writing was gorgeous and I loved the setting.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson is one of those books that lingers in your mind, pulling you back into its hauntingly beautiful world long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s dark academia at its finest—an intoxicating mix of forbidden love, manipulation, and the allure of power.

The story takes place at a university steeped in occultism, where the characters feel both mysterious and devastatingly human. The writing is lush and poetic, dripping with atmosphere and tension, and the way it explores themes of morality, desire, and ambition is just chef’s kiss. Every twist had me questioning what was real and what was imagined, which only made the reading experience even more immersive.

If you love stories that delve into the seductive dangers of knowledge and obsession, wrapped in gorgeous prose and an unsettling ambiance, An Education in Malice is for you. It’s beautifully twisted, unapologetically dark, and I couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed this, it was a bit dark for me, but it was really well written and definitely pulls you in to the world.

A very interesting retelling of Carmilla. I enjoyed the writing style and storytelling. The pacing was great but I did feel myself get a little bored at times. The professor fell a little flat for me, I feel like she was supposed to be a bigger character as she is Carmillas creator. Overall enjoyable!

An Education in Malice* feels like the ultimate dark academia fantasy, blending eerie allure with undeniable passion. It’s the kind of book you imagine on the shelf of a queer professor who loves decadent art, gothic intrigue, and a touch of danger. Picture a hauntingly beautiful night in a European castle, sipping red wine while Chopin plays softly in the distance. It’s lush, it’s moody, and it’s an intoxicating read.

S.T. Gibson’s atmosphere is undeniable—she creates a world that’s as mesmerizing as it is unsettling. The tension between the characters, especially the teacher-student obsession between De Lafontaine and Carmilla, is gripping. Laura’s role in this dynamic is complex and makes for some of the book’s most compelling moments. Gibson’s writing is sharp and immersive, pulling you into the story even when you’re feeling under the weather (as I was when I read it). It’s clear her prose elevates the entire experience. If another author had written this, I’m not sure it would have had the same impact.

However, despite the book’s mesmerizing atmosphere, there’s a sense that the plot could’ve gone deeper. The murder mystery didn’t have the kind of tension I was hoping for, especially since the murderer is revealed fairly early. The ending, too, feels surprisingly conventional for a book that’s so audacious in its premise. Additionally, the relationship between the two main characters felt a bit rushed; the transition from rivalry to romance lacked the slow burn I’d hoped for, and the emotional build-up felt uneven.

That said, I still found this to be an enjoyable read, especially if you’re looking for a dark, sensual, and atmospheric experience rather than a tightly-plotted thriller. It’s perfect for anyone who loves gothic romance with a side of academia, but if you’re after a suspenseful mystery, this might not be your cup of tea.

3.5 stars.

I loved "A Dowry of Blood" and will continue to read whatever this author releases, but this book did not work for me. It felt like an unnecessary sequel, and I fear that's exactly what it was.