This book was a whole lot of vibes with only a little plot. I’m glad I knew that going in, or I may have been disappointed with the lack of action. But it worked for this book. The writing was incredibly atmospheric and sensual, and it really set a perfect scene for this sapphic vampire story filled to the brim with yearning.

ARC Review. 4.5 stars! I greatly enjoyed my experience reading An Education in Malice. If dark academia, sapphic, vampire romance intrigues you, I highly recommend you pick this up. S.T. Gibson's writing is intoxicating, dark, and delicious. I know A Dowry of Blood is a crowd favorite, but An Education in Malice topped it for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Laura comes to Saint Perpetua’s College deep in Massachusetts. There Laura begins an academic rivalry with Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla.

This book is a dark academia tale of blood, secrets and insatiable hungers. This book puts out everything it should but lacks in details on the whole dark academia. I think the author focused more on the three main characters and not enough on the rest. I do not feel like this book portrays dark academia. This focuses more on power dynamics and a gothic atmosphere.

The first half of the book is very bland. There is a huge mid story reveal and the ending wasn't too shabby. I can't put my hands on what else it was missing but it wasn't anything like it's counterpart A Dowry of Blood

Unfortunately, this was a bit of a miss for me. However, Gibson's writing style is always delicious!

my third s.t. gibson novel overall, and second in such a short span of time — i feel like i'm getting spoiled with content! thank you to orbit books (& netgalley) for giving me access to an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

right from the beginning, i found myself really excited by the premise of this novel — the fact that it was a retelling (or perhaps, more accurately, a reimagining) of carmilla was already enough to pique my interest. upon reading it, i found myself enamored with the characters (as i often find myself to be when reading gibson's work) and really invested in the complicated web of relationships between laura, carmilla, and professor de lafontaine. it was one of those books (especially in the beginning) where i found myself thinking about it constantly when i wasn't reading it — so eager to see what ways laura and carmilla would push each other next, as well as the ways in which both girls' complex relationship with de lafontaine would both bring them closer together, as well as push them further apart. i love a good slowburn and the buildup between laura and carmilla was really working for me for most of the novel. for me, where the book really shone was through its characters and their compelling, complicated relationships to each other. i also really enjoyed the atmospheric setting that s.t. gibson created throughout the novel — you can tell that she is a lover of the 'dark academia' subgenre & aesthetic and i couldn't help but think about what a gorgeous cinematic experience this novel would be on the big screen.

however, there were a few things i wish were done a bit better. firstly, and i feel like this is a common gripe of mine (to the point where i wonder if maybe i'm just too picky), is that i wish the development of laura and carmilla's relationship was a bit smoother and more gradual. i loved the tension and rivalry that the two shared and i loved the way that they were grappling with their contrasting feelings of both hate and attraction for the other. similarly, i also loved when laura and carmilla were more romantic and openly fond of one another. i just wish that it didn't feel like a bit of a sudden pivot when the two became more official. secondly, i wish that more time was given to really flesh out the main antagonist and its surrounding plotline. though i would've been content with more of just a character-driven story that revolved around laura and carmilla figuring out their relationships, gibson decides to bring in an intriguing plotline regarding de lafontaine and her secret motivations. it was a pretty interesting idea and would've been a great way to build suspense and horror if done differently. however, i felt that this plotline was a bit underbaked (though it served as a neat contrast to laura and carmilla's relationship as well as a sort of parallel of carmilla's dynamic with de lafontaine — you'll know what i mean if you read the book). both the antagonist and the ending overall were also dealt with way too neatly for my personal preference (especially considering some of the otherwise morally grey tone), which makes me wonder if it was entirely necessary to include it at all. thirdly, and this isn't a huge demerit or anything, but i wish we got more of some of the other side-characters! the novel is, understandably, predominantly focused on our main trio who have so much going on that it's hard to incorporate others but it would've been nice if we could've seen a bit more of some of them. i felt like some of the characters were introduced and were given interesting starting points for further development, but then were just dropped later on in the story. for example, it would've been fun to see the ways in which laura drew away from the few friends/acquaintances she did manage to have as she grew to become more preoccupied in her insular bubble with carmilla and de lafontaine and the consequences that this isolation would have on her life. i guess i just would've liked more outsider reactions to both laura's changing worldview as well as to the actions of our main antagonist.

critiques aside, this was definitely a fun read and i'm very glad i was able to get my hands on a copy of this before its official release! s.t. gibson is a wonderful writer and undeniably talented and will continue to remain an author i keep at the forefront of my radar for future releases ❤️

also! firstly, i randomly wanted to mention how much i LOVED that this version of laura is a repressed, kinky dom while carmilla, despite her bite (literally and figuratively), is a big ol' sub. this book showed me that a big thing i've been missing in my life are more needy, submissive vampires who won't demand your blood, they'll beg for it. top-notch content there and i tip my hat to s.t. gibson for doing irreversible damage to my brain with that concept. secondly, there's a really fun cameo for the fans of a dowry of blood out there like myself that made me wanna go back and reread s.t. gibson's stunning debut and relive that magic all over again! an education in malice is definitely worth a look for that, at least — though it does not require prior knowledge of any other books in order to be enjoyed

An education in Malice has been one of my favourite books of 2024 and is most definitely a favourite vampire story of mine. Laura and Carmilla had an exciting academic rivalry and storyline, the exploration of kink amidst the vampire social life was really cool to see, and sapphic vampire obsessions were a driving force to behold! I loved the dark academia vibes and absolutely stayed for the story. The characters were easy to love and the world of Laura and Carmilla felt easy to sink my teeth into :)

A dark academia sapphic story with a touch of Carmilla and vampires? I am all in. Saint Perpetua's College is an isolated and old college deep in the hills of Massachusetts and in this school there is a prestigious poetry program lead by a famous writer. Laura Sheridan is a new student who has just been accepted into the poetry program at Saint Perpetua and there she meets the stunning and mysterious Carmilla, a talented poet who has a strangely intimate relationship with their professor, De Lafontaine. Laura and Carmilla become academic rivals yet there is an obsession that is growing between them... and Laura begins to notice the dark obsession between Carmilla and De Lafontaine. The relationship between Carmilla and De Lafontaine is steeped in secrets, blood, and power dynamics. Laura also begins to find herself equally as obsessed with Carmilla as she's drawn into the strange relationship between her and their professor. De Lafontaine has her own secrets and agenda for the girls, but between the three of them, who what will come of their relationship and the obsessions that grow between them. This was a really fun dark academia sapphic story that gave A Lesson in Vengeance vibes (one of my favorite books) and I had a really fun time with this one because I also absolutely adore the Carmilla classic story. This was a fun mix of sapphic relationship, vampires, and dark academia! I would definitely recommend it for fans of the mentioned genres!

*Thanks Netgalley and Redhook Books, Redhook for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒄! 🖤


I really wanted to love this book, but it was just okay.

I did enjoy the story, for the most part, but the relationships were rushed and not very believable. Laura and Carmilla went from enemies to lovers WAY too fast, and they lacked chemistry. De Lafontaine’s relationship with Carmilla was confusing (they come off as lovers and then toward the end she’s “the closest thing she has to a daughter”… like what??), and she’s way too possessive, it’s annoying. Her character is just insufferable. I wanted to like her, but there were just no redeeming qualities except for maybe at the very end, but what she did wasn’t exactly admirable.

Personally, this would’ve been more enjoyable and probably a 4 star if the character building was better, but I just felt that it was severely lacking. The ending was also unsatisfying and felt rushed :(

An Education in Malice was an absolutely perfection. S. T. Gibson writing is very dark and beautiful. Carmilla and Laura were very complex characters competing to become the best writers/poets and seek the attention and approval of their professor. Both Carmilla and Laura were very deliciously dark and secretly desired each other. This was such an engrossing piece of dark academia. This has to be one of the best dark academia settings I have read. Gibson's writing style is alluring, captivating, and poetic. I can’t wait to own a physical copy. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

Thank you to Netgalley & Orbit for an eARC of An Education in Malice.

....I feel so conflicted in so many ways. I was intrigued enough throughout to continue picking up the book and reading. But, I don't know if I can say I particularly enjoyed it. I do want to preface, I am not a classical girly in the slightest...I had not heard of the original story of Carmilla, let alone known the plot, before jumping into this retelling.

To start, I thought the tone and atmosphere was beautifully written. I had full scenes of muted color and mists in mind the entire time I was reading. There was a sense of eeriness from the get go that I really appreciated. However, I also struggled with the language throughout the book. There is a delicate balance between using superfluous language to enhance, and overdoing it. Unfortunately, I did feel that it was mostly the latter in this case. Too often I was pulled out of the story because the language used just felt forced.

Focusing on our two main FMC's Carmilla and Laura...I thought they were both extremely stagnant, depthless, and, honestly, boring. Character development/growth is my absolute favorite part of any story, and just felt it was lacking on all fronts in this one. We get small glimpses of each character at infrequent moments throughout the story, none of which gives a true look into either character. Every time I thought I might be getting a handle on who the character truly was, we would get new insight that undid what I had piecemealed together.

The subplot/villain arc storyline really felt like an after thought. It felt so random, and honestly did not add anything to the storyline for me. The "villain" (which I have a hard time actually calling a villain) only appears on page in 3 scenes. I also felt the inappropriate student/professor relationship NOT being villainized was a lost opportunity. There was so much tension and animosity there...the direction this all ended up going just didn't work for me.

Bottom Line: I didn't not like it, but also didn't truly enjoy it. I think the book and premise had so much promise, but it was just lacking, and page-time was given to plot points that added nothing to the end game (ie.: Laura's outside friendship and fall break trip). I would have liked to have seen more of this spent on character and overall plot development. Basically, I do think this comes down to me and this book just aren't meant for each other - but it is definitely meant for others!

This is a must-read fantasy novel for 2024, especially for historical fantasy and/or sapphic/ queer romance lovers. Gibson weaves an alluring tale of love, secrets, power, and dark obsessions. Laura Sheridan is an aspiring and talented poet, who moves from Mississippi in the 1960s to remote Massachusetts to attend St. Perpetua’s women’s college and study under the tutelage of the mystery and enigmatic Evelyn De Lafontaine. She quickly learns that being a rising star is not all she imagined it to be, and uncovers more secrets than she is prepared to keep. With a dedication that speaks to those who (like me) barely survived the ivory tower, this novel understands what it’s like to both adore and loathe your idol. Throw in a touch of vampire sadism, and you’ve got yourself a dark, steamy, and poignant novel that is sure to impress.

This was such a vibey story. This book was like sipping red wine and smoking a cigarette while looking out into a foggy night and getting a back massage from a gorgeous woman. It was a sexy, sapphic Carmilla retelling with a gorgeous writing style and an entrancing gothic academia aspect. I felt that Gibson wrote her characters with such grace and complexity that they lept off the page and no one can beat her atmosphere. I loved the yearning. I loved the aesthetic. I loved it all.

Mannnnn I love me a good sapphic, dark academia story that has vampires. This one definitely hit the spot for me.

This book was beautifully written and had me hooked from the very first page. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting of the story. The enemies to lovers romance was chef’s kiss as well!

If you looking for a fast paced gothic story to keep you entertained then highly recommend picking this one up!

This beauty releases on February 13th. Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for the e-arc!

Thank you very much to S.T. Gibson for AN EDUCATION IN MALICE (2/13/24), and thank you to Redhook Books, Orbit, and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy.

Oh the brilliance! *Faints* (dramatically).

“But in the end, I stayed. I had the awful, yawning feeling inside myself that for her, I would always stay. It felt like standing on the edge of an abyss, looking down at the velvety darkness below and feeling held by it.”

And this, dear readers, is what it feels like to discover a new favorite book—one that you will be rereading over and over again, even when the spine gives out and the pages wear in your fingers. (If you’re reading on an electronic device, you get the gist.)

S.T. Gibson’s An Education in Malice (2/13/24) is a bruising, lush reimagining of Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla. Set in the fictional all-girls school, Saint Perpetua’s College, in Massachusetts, Gibson's story follows the bright Laura Sheridan as she descends into the tangled, poetic world of her rival, Carmilla, and Professor De Lafontaine.

“She kissed me with a martyr’s agonized desperation, like I was the only sword she ever wanted to fall on. I kissed her right back like the cutting edge of a blade, trying to inflict as much damage as possible.”

Dark and beguiling, S.T. Gibson’s sapphic retelling is not for the faint of heart. I fell recklessly into An Education in Malice. Truly, S.T. Gibson makes such fascinating choices in this book—ones that I found myself annotating and committing to memory. My only critique has to do with its pacing, or perhaps length; I wanted to really sit in certain scenes, even chapters, letting everything flesh out and intensify, for pages and pages if they must! The writing in AN Education in Malice is simply THAT extraordinary. I wanted more.

To end my review, I’ll leave behind a favorite, if not a bit foreshadowing, quote from Laura:

“I learned how to guard my heart against the sweeping, heady sensation of a crush. I learned how to survive in the cutthroat world of girlhood, where all strangeness was unrooted as ruthlessly as weeds from a garden.

I domesticated my own wildness, starved the odd appetites inside me. I remade myself into Laura the saint, Laura who never causes any trouble, Laura who is reliable and dependable, if a little boring.”

While I may not be one of De Lafontaine’s girls, I do have a flair for the dramatics. Thank you for reading my review!

An Education in Malice is a story about obsession, love and desire in all its forms— told through the carnal nature of vampires. Carmilla and Laura are academic rivals who fall into an obsession with besting each other in hopes of gaining the approval of their professor (De Lafonatine). Although this book didn’t work for me personally, I still think the author’s writing style is beautiful and I’m sure so many people will enjoy this book. I couldn’t personally connect to the characters or the story itself, but I wouldn’t say this is a bad book by any means.

This was an enjoyable book. Vampires, poetry at a women’s college, and a rivalry turned romance. Laura is a slightly naive freshman but has some darkness in her. Carmilla is the bold, European that has her own secrets. And then of course professor de Lafontaine. There is a bit of a murder mystery and secret society. A little dark, but fascinating read of rivals to lovers. My only quibble is that I didn’t really like the end. I just wanted more I think.

Thank you to Redhook Books and Netgalley for this ARC for in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second S.T. Gibson book I read and I have to say they just keep getting better and better. This latest Gibson book follows Laura Sheridan, a freshman, at Saint Perpetua's College in the late 1960's. It focuses on her relationships with her fellow students, one in particular, and her poetry teacher. But like any S.T. Gibson there is a more then meets the eye at this college and she is quickly draw into a darker world of magic and vampires.

This is a Sapphic retelling of Carmilla. I very much enjoyed the passing of this book and loved the ending.

An Education in Malice is a beautifully written book. This is my first time reading S.T. Gibson and the world, scenery, and spaces she creates captivated me from the first chapter. The details felt like a gilded thread that spanned through the writing in poetic form. I loved the metaphors and seamless descriptions. I was ready for this book to charm me both by writing and plot.

Unfortunately, I felt the plot, characters, and story were lacking. Even at the very end, I really didn’t feel attached to the characters or their journey. I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for or if I cared if any of the star characters didn’t make it. I found myself often confused between characters’ actions and motives. I really wanted to love this book so I kept going, but sadly at the end I was left unsatisfied.

3.5/5 Stars
Sapphic? Vampires? I was immediately sold when I read the synopsis for An Education in Malice. S.T. Gibson writes atmosphere unlike any other. Just like in A Dowry of Blood, S.T. Gibson's debut and one of my favorite books of last year, I was immediately swept away in the lush world of An Education in Malice. We follow Laura, a new student at Saint Perpetua's College in Massachusetts, as she's thrown into an academic rivalry with the intense and mysterious Carmilla. I was entranced by Laura and Carmilla's rivalry. I finished An Education in Malice in a day because I couldn't get enough of their relationship. That being said, the rivalry and impending romance is what kept me hooked throughout the book. I found myself bored when the book focused on Laura and Carmilla's relationship with their professor, De Lefontaine. I wish instead that An Education in Malice dove deeper into the characters of Laura and Carmilla and the themes of power imbalance, consent, and obsession. That being said, if you are looking for dark academia vibes, sapphic vampires, and gorgeous writing, I do recommend picking this up! I can't wait to pick up the next book that S.T. Gibson writes because I will never get enough of their writing. Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

For a dark academia rivals-to-lovers vampiric erotic novel (with a subplot that should be terrifying), there is little to no tension here.

I also think S.T. Gibson’s writing style is better suited to <i>A Dowry of Blood</i>’s eras than the sixties, because it felt very out of place and inconsistent here. Especially when you compare Laura and Carmilla’s inner monologues and dialogue with Elenore’s dialogue……….not going to say something here but somebody certainly could.

I think the author is great at what she does, it’s just not for me. Thank you to the author, Redhook Books, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. 2.5/3