as someone who really enjoyed a dowry of blood, i was really excited for this one. while overall this book was good, i wouldn’t say it was great. it felt like the plot moved too quickly in some areas, and not quickly enough in other areas. it was hard to relate to each character’s motivations, and i ultimately found myself just wanting more. with that being said, the prose was gorgeous (as always), and the inclusivity of this book was awesome. 3/5 stars — thank you netgalley!

At first, An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson wasn’t the easiest book for me to engage with. The dense atmosphere and the intricate, somewhat opaque storytelling style made it a challenge to settle into the narrative. However, I’m so glad I stuck with it because as I read further, I found myself completely drawn in.

The characters, initially enigmatic, began to reveal their depths in ways that felt both surprising and satisfying. Their complexity made them feel authentic, and I grew invested in their journeys. The plot, which unfolds with deliberate precision, became more gripping as the layers of intrigue, power, and manipulation were peeled back.

Gibson’s prose is haunting and lyrical, perfectly complementing the dark academia setting and themes of desire and ambition. Though the pacing demanded patience, the payoff was worth it. By the end, I felt fully immersed in the story and emotionally connected to the characters.

If you’re willing to give this book the time it deserves, An Education in Malice offers a rewarding reading experience. It’s a story that lingers in your mind, rich with atmosphere, complexity, and thought-provoking themes. For those who enjoy dark academia with a touch of the gothic, this is well worth the read.

Gibson masterfully creates an eerie and immersive atmosphere. The ancient and isolated Saint Perpetua’s College serves as the perfect setting for the dark and sinister events that unfold. The descriptive writing effectively transports readers into this gothic world, where every shadow seems to hide a secret. Gibson's writing is lyrical, dark, and engaging. The prose is rich with gothic undertones, enhancing the overall tone of the novel. The author's ability to evoke vivid imagery and build suspense keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
"An Education in Malice" resonated deeply with me, in a sort of disgustingly depraved sort of way. The novel’s exploration of dark academia and its well-crafted characters left a lasting impression. The themes of power and desire, set against a backdrop of gothic intrigue, make it a memorable read. What stood out most was Gibson's ability to blend atmospheric writing with a compelling plot, creating a book that is both intellectually and emotionally engaging.

my first book by S.T. Gibson! I'd heard of the others and had been meaning to, but An Education in Malice was my first and I'm so happy it was. I fell in love with this book and the atmospheric setting. I was immediately drawn in with the dark academia world and the lore that we get. The world building was seamless and the romance was spectacular. Laura and Carmilla had such an easy chemistry from the moment they meet. Even though they're rivals at first, it was a fun rivalry and their back and forth was so good. The pacing of this was also perfect to me and I was enthralled the whole time. Love love loved!

I was very excited to pick this book up, but was disappointed in the end. Let me explain, I dove into this book and finished it within 2 days. It was that engrossing but fell flat when it came to the romantic chemistry between the two main leading characters. The book was still good and professor De Lafontaine was exceptional, she could woo anyone with her charisma. If you like vampires who yearn to hold onto their humanity, this book is for you.

The PERFECT book to hand a reluctant reader with interest in dark academia. Laura and Carmilla bring together the best of biting rivalries against a stunning backdrop. Filled with poetry, angst, and longing, this sapphic Carmilla retelling could fit on ever so many bookshelves.

"An Education in Malice" is an exceptional and captivating read that expertly blends suspense, intrigue, and complex characters. The novel delves into themes of power, manipulation, and morality, offering a dark yet thought-provoking narrative. The protagonist’s journey is filled with twists and emotional depth, making it impossible to put down. The writing is sharp and insightful, with vivid descriptions that immerse the reader in the tense atmosphere. Each chapter builds on the last, maintaining a relentless pace that keeps the tension high. A brilliant exploration of the human psyche, this book is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

this was a very highly anticipated new book by st gibson, after a dowry of blood blew everyone’s minds in the previous years. this story is a carmilla reimagining, where we follow laura, while she attends a very prestigious university in massachusetts, where she wishes to study poetry. yet, she soon meets the carmilla of this story when the poetry professor makes them spend more time than just in class together. and then carmilla slowly introduces laura to an entirely different world, sometimes filled with secrets and monsters.

yes, this book did let me down, too, but I truly do think a lot of people are being a little too hard on this book. i think the expectations for everyone were just so high because of this author’s debut. but there is still a lot of good in this story, besides just paying good homage to the original sapphic story! i think this also has some good discussions, like inappropriate and manipulative power dynamics. the writing is lovely, and i think ts gibson can craft 11/10 settings and atmospheres. again, we love the queer vampire clubs. we love some pan / bi / attraction to multiple genders rep always. and i truly adored the last page of this book, and it has the exact kind of ending i love. i will always root for girls not wanting to be saints, not wanting to be scared, but wanting to become whatever they want to become in that moment, with power they have always deserved to claim and to have.

sadly, i didn’t love this one as much as i hoped, either. the story just never grabbed my attention and the characters never grasped my heart. but i still see the good and i can’t wait to read more from this author, even if this one was not my favorite.

author’s note trigger + content warnings: uneven power dynamics, inappropriate relationships between a professor and students, toxic academic environments, blood, gore, murder, consensual sexual content (including public sex), kink (negotiated and spontaneous), alcohol use, drug use, smoking, racist political policies, homophobia, religious discrimination against women.

additional trigger + content warnings i wrote down while reading: abandonment in past, vomit / bile, one sentence about animal death in past (kitten), mention of loss of mom in past, self harm imagery in poetry.

I was so excited for this book. I loved Dowery of Blood, dark academia hooks me by the nose, and doomed lesbian rivals that use poetry as foreplay are better than useless ones.

But something about this just gave me the ick. There also didn't seem to be much malice? I wanted them to really hate each other and they were just lewk warm petty. I think that the students were supposed to replicate the professor and her maker, but the poetry and symbolism that I've come to expect from Gibson just didn't hit this time.

I'll still read future books by her because the world felt real and there were things I liked.

*An Education in Malice* by S.T. Gibson is a darkly captivating and thought-provoking novel that immerses readers in a twisted world of power, manipulation, and moral ambiguity. The story centers around a complex protagonist navigating a world where loyalty and betrayal blur. Gibson’s writing is sharp, blending suspense and emotional depth while keeping the reader engaged. The plot is cleverly constructed, with unexpected twists and turns that heighten the tension. While the pacing occasionally feels slow, the rich world-building and complex character dynamics make up for it. A compelling, atmospheric read for those who enjoy morally grey characters and intricate storytelling.

Enjoyed this retelling of Carmilla. Honestly I wished it were longer and fleshed out the characters a bit more—not a bad criticism to have, I wanted more!

If you loved A Dowry of Blood, you’ll definitely want to pick up An Education in Malice. This dark academia story is set at the eerie Hallow College, where August, a scholar looking for a fresh start, meets Isabelle, a mysterious and dangerous classmate. Their relationship is full of tension, secrets, and moral gray areas that make it impossible to look away. With its cultish rituals, gothic vibes, and Gibson’s beautifully atmospheric writing, this book is perfect for fans of The Secret History or If We Were Villains. It’s creepy, romantic, and totally gripping.

I have gotten a few chapters in and to be honest it is not grabbing my attention and I am slightly confused at to whether this timeline is more recent years in the early 1900's. I will be DNFing this book and don't really have any plans to pick up again.

Big fan of ST Gibson’s other works, and I enjoyed this as well! Nothing ground breaking but it was fun and enjoyable

This was pretty good. The pace of the book was perfect to me. I did like her other book a little better but this was a great book

An Education in Malice tried to blend dark academia, vampire lore, and complex power dynamics, but it failed for me in nearly every way. The plot felt muddled and inconsistent—what started as a vampire manipulation story quickly devolved into awkward, out-of-place college life scenes that completely undermined the dark stakes. The payoff for these moments was even worse, with a character dying after a night spent on meaningless “normal” interactions.

The setting was historically vague, with a 60s/70s backdrop that was irrelevant and underdeveloped, and the handling of race and cultural differences felt lazy and tokenistic. Sexual themes were awkwardly shoehorned in with no real depth, and the characters’ supposed awakening or power dynamics came off as performative and juvenile.

On that note, character development overall felt flat and lacked depth, reduced to vague mood board versions of what they should be. Carmilla and the main antagonist, Ms. D, had confusing, inconsistent motivations, and their relationship was more unsettling than intriguing. I found no emotional core to their dynamic, and the supposed exploration of power and love fell completely flat.

In the end, the book felt more like a shallow, aesthetic exercise than a meaningful story. It attempted to explore mature themes but never fully committed, leaving me frustrated and disengaged.

I absolutely devoured An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson, and WOW, it’s a total five-star thrill ride! Here’s what you can expect:

😈 Dark academia vibes that'll keep you hooked
📖 A gripping plot full of twists and turns
🎭 Complex characters who will steal your heart
🔍 Mysteries that will have you guessing until the end

I was completely captivated from start to finish. If you’re into mind-bending stories with a touch of dark academia, this is a must-read! The less you know, the better when reading this one!

When you add in all the dark academia vibes and vampires… there’s nothing else my little heart could ask for! The characters are strong and have complicated relationships with one another.

S.T.Gibson does it again with her inclusive, steamy, vampire toxic romance. The setting details were superb. I adored the character, an aspect the narrator absolutely nailed! I listened to this at least three times. If you enjoy vampire stories, this is a must read (or listen). Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity.

There's a small part of me that is kind of mad this book exists, because it means that now I can't write it. Most of me, though, is obviously very glad it exists because it means I can read it. It managed to give me everything I want out of a Carmilla retelling, while also taking a lot of creative liberties to make it its own thing.

What I particularly enjoy is the way it dealt with corruption. The original Carmilla, of course, was meant to represent the threat of foreignness and queerness to the purity of poor, innocent white girls like Laura. Here, Carmilla instead represents freedom, a safe(-ish) space for Laura to explore desires that were always there, always her own.

Tangentially, I also appreciated that while there was still toxicity and obsession (I personally don't go to a Carmilla retelling looking for an entirely wholesome and healthy story), it came from De Lafontaine, rather than Carmilla. And yet Carmilla still felt like the original Carmilla, yet here she was a Carmilla who was written with love, rather than fear. I wouldn't go so far as to say this was a perfect book, but as a retelling, I have no notes.