While this book had beautiful writing nothing much happens. I loved Dowry of Blood and this is definitely not that but I still enjoyed the characters but this book could be a bit slow at times. I still look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Here’s the thing:

There are too many books and not enough time in the world. My ADD is outrageous, and if you can’t grip me in 2 chapters, I will lose the plot I fear. Now here we are still waiting for a review. Well, here is what I have right now. Even if I were to “choose not to review” it counts that ratio so let’s chat about it.

This was sadly a DNF for me. I could never get into the story. I’ve read others in the series but this one just lost my interest and couldn’t get back into it.

Is it too high fantasy? No. Did I dare dream of how book 1 was? Possibly. If I return I will provide additional updates and thoughts.

In this modern Carmilla retelling, Lauren Sheridan finds herself in an intense rivalry with fellow student, Carmilla. As they vie for their professor’s attention- and affections- they find themselves drawn into danger.

I wanted to love this book so much. My expectations for Gibson’s writing (set by A Dowry of Blood) were so high and this just didn’t meet it. I was shocked on at the lack of critique and commentary on the relationships in this book. We know that Gibson isn’t shy about criticizing power imbalances and abusive relationships. This book is rife with opportunities for that classic Gibson style, yet they never show up for it.

The characters were charming but a bit flat. I had trouble differentiating them at times. The only thing I can say is that I wish this book had given just a little more.

"And what do you know of the atrocities I've committed for love? Love is sacrifice. Whether it's you on the butcher's table or not, someone always bleeds."

From the moment Laura Sheridan sets eyes on Carmilla Karnstein on her first day at St. Perpetua's College, she is drawn to the other girl. What begins as an academic rivalry soon becomes a far bloodier affair, as Laura is drawn into the world of creatures from myths with Carmilla and their mysterious professor.

"What horror wouldn't I tolerate, if it was meted out by the hand of my beloved?"

This is one of those books I was so desperate to read when I didn't have it, only to get distracted by others before I could really settle in to read it. I have to admit, An Education in Malice has a very slow start, which did not help me stick with it for very long. Once the pace picked up a little about a third in, I found it a much easier read.

I was immediately interested in the premise of a Carmilla retelling. Sexy female vampires are one of my favorite supernatural tropes, and I just continue to fall for it every time. I am especially weak to Carmilla and all the associated retellings after watching the YouTube series so many times. The point is, I came in with high hopes and expectations which were only buoyed when I started reading A Dowry in Blood along with this. I have to admit that this book, while interesting and something I'm glad to have read, it was a bit of a letdown and not what I expected.

First, the things I enjoyed about this. I really liked this flavor of dark academia. Often, it seems like dark academia books these days are just reinventing the Secret History wheel. This managed to be very distinct from others, despite taking place in New England in the seventies, only a few years apart from the setting of The Secret History. I also enjoyed the look into the relationship between Professor and student, mentor and mentee, and the blurred lines it can create. Finally, An Education in Malice delivered some beautiful prose fitting for a vampire novel. It had a stunning atmosphere, all blood-drenched and decadent.

The problem is this felt like a lot of aesthetics and atmosphere with little substance. Both Laura and Carmilla suffer from a lack of showing rather than telling. There seems to be no need to develop their personalities because they tell us who they are from the moment their chapter begins. Laura is studious and religious, but this is shown only in one church scene. Laura, of course, says she goes to confession multiple times, but this doesn't happen on the page. Carmilla is distilled down into arrogance and bratty submissiveness fairly quickly--the reader sees little of her academic brilliance and poetic ability. Speaking of poetry, I would have loved to see more poetry from Laura and Carmilla. For two characters described as constantly presenting, preforming, studying, and writing poetry, there is very little to show for it.

I also took issue with the relationship between Carmilla and De Lafontaine. Much of the plot of this novel, and the major theme of it, is critiquing the power professors have over their students. This fell a bit short. This is meant to be about love and power and obsession, and De Lafontaine just starts reading like an overprotective parent rather than a controlling abuser about halfway through. The resolution of this was also lackluster, considering how much her power over Carmilla had been built up throughout the story. Of course, their relationship was definitely inappropriate, but considering (view spoiler) any critique of their power imbalance seems ineffectual. The larger themes this seemed poised to explore, including the above but also religion v. sexuality/sensuality, love v. obsession, informed consent, more power dynamics, all of those were just glanced by.

I was left wanting more from this at every turn. The murder mystery was given little time, Laura's and Carmilla's relationship was rushed, and the dark academia critique was toothless. This was a fine enough vampire novel, but I had expected so much more than just fine.

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review

This was my first S.T. Gibson novel, and oooooh it was a good one. Dark academia, sapphic, vampires, mystery and betrayal and all that lovely ooey gooey stuff that makes me feral for a book. I also listened to this, and the narrator’s use of different accents for each character sucked me in even further to the novel.

My biggest issue with the book I think mostly stemmed from the fact that I found the hatred between Laura and Carmilla so convincing in the beginning of the novel that I almost didn’t think they should have been together. The start of their relationship felt so toxic and tumultuous, I was sitting there thinking “oh babes maybe y’all could use some space???” However, they seemed to find the best in each other, or at the very least, their messiness complemented one another’s, and I was rooting for them by the end. Overall, I give this 4⭐; I’m eager now to read more Gibson in the future!

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Oh my GOD!!!!! I love S.T. Gibson so much and was soo soo excited to get this book! She is an auto buy author for me so I was very grateful to get this. I actually have a special edition of this book and even listened to it on audiobook!

I really loved S.T. Gibson’s previous novels, but this one was a bit of a miss for me. The plot seemed to not move very fast. The character’s motivations were confusing.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC .

I do not read a lot of dark academia, but I have never read anything like this before. S.T Gibson's writing was captivating and I was on the edge of my seat constantly, not knowing where this book was going. I usually really good at guessing stuff like that or at least having a few theories. The rivals aspect between Laura and Carmilla was done very well.

My struggles with this book was how slow the plot was. I noticed a huge focus on the characters that became frustrating for the simple fact that I was unable to connect with them even though they were the main focus (If that makes any sense). I also noticed the power imbalance between the am in characters that made it hard to accept their relationship. Overall I just couldn't stay focus through most of this book, the pacing made that incredibly hard. I was also not a fan of the constant change of POV's, I would have loved to just have Laura's. That would have gave it a more mysterious and haunting vibe.

I would still recommend this to someone who enjoys dark academia and a gothic romance.

This book was so beautifully written. The relationship dynamics were absolutely breathtaking and the character development was just perfect. I seriously need a sequel to this book ASAP.

3.5 this one was not my favorite. The world was well described and had beautiful, lush, gothic vibes. The story however felt lackluster. I wish there would have been a little more blood and violence, and a little more suspense. I didn’t really feel like our characters were in much danger. I love S.T. Gibson and will read more of her books in the future.

S.T. Gibson has quickly become a must read author for me. An Education in Malice is a masterwork example of gothic dark academia. A sapphic retelling of Camilla that embraces the same dark vibes as a Dowry of Blood. This is a sapphic enemies to lovers, anddd vampires. What more could you want from a book?! There are a few trigger warnings in this book, but the topics were handled tastefully. Definitely recommend this for fans of her other works, or for fans of dark academias.

S.T. Gibson does not miss when it comes to creating atmosphere in her books. I felt transported into its depths from page one. However, that said, the characters in An Education in Malice didn't hold my attention. The duel POV was a bit jarring, when a duel POV is usually something that I enjoy. In this specific book, it felt a little jumbled and didn't add to my understanding of each character. Because of this, the relationship felt underdeveloped and turned from hate to love a little too quickly.

All that said, this was still enjoyable, just not my favorite from the author.

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gothic and intoxicating. A solid follow-up to A Dowry of Blood. I would highly recommend this to fans of classic vampire lore, yes, but most especially to lovers of the dark academia subgenre. Really hope we get to check in with these characters in the next installment of the series.

Love dark academia and this was right up my alley! Add lesbian love and vampires, sign me up. Loved every moment of this!

Utterly enthralled with this book! S.T. Gibson had me in a chokehold and left me wanting more and more the deeper I got into the book. Absolutely phenomenal!

I really enjoy this writer’s style and voice she gives to the characters. This was gripping and I really enjoyed it!

I was on the fence about whether to rate this 3 or 4 stars so I decided to round up purely for the atmosphere. There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book; I loved the writing style, the setting, and the overall dark academia vibe. And as someone who attended a women’s college, it felt true to experience and made me pretty nostalgic.

Sometimes, though, the pacing felt strange, which threw me off. For the most part, the plot moved slowly, which I enjoyed for this book, but at times it seemed that important plot points were all but forgotten, and then the author rushed to include and conclude them all in the final chapters. For that reason, the second half of this book was pretty underwhelming. I also think some of the mystery I love about dark academia books was missing because of the dual POVs. I wonder if it might have been stronger if told solely from Laura’s point of view.

Overall, though, I did enjoy this book, but maybe not quite as much as the author’s other book A Dowry of Blood.

"An Education in Malice" by S.T. Gibson is a dark and enthralling tale that masterfully blends gothic elements with psychological depth. Gibson's writing is both lyrical and haunting, pulling readers into a world of secrets, ambition, and moral ambiguity. The protagonist's journey through a sinister academic setting is richly detailed, exploring themes of power, identity, and the lengths one will go to achieve their desires. The characters are complex and morally gray, each hiding their own secrets and motivations that unravel with tantalizing suspense. The atmospheric prose and intricate plot twists keep readers on the edge of their seats, making "An Education in Malice" a compelling and unforgettable read for fans of dark academia and gothic fiction.

It was fine? I guess? I honestly found myself more confused during this book than not, and am not particularly fond of the ‘forbidden relationship’ thing. Even if they are queer.

This was SUPER dark and I was immediately sucked into the story. While its not my favorite by this author, I really did enjoy reading it and immersing myself in these girls lives and how they are changing.