This dark academia vampire was a pleasant surprise to me as it were both the first dark academia and the first vampire romance I've read. I will admit I wasn't sure I'd enjoy listening to this book but I did end up having a great time.
I will say at times I wasn't completely into the vampire stuff but I did really enjoy reading about the main character Laura and I also thought the writing style was beautiful!

I'm very grateful that NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read and review this as an audio-arc.

4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️

Full disclosure, I have never read anything by ST Gibson before, so I cannot compare to A Dowry of Blood.
(I promptly did buy it after finishing this audio though.)💕

An Education in Malice is a poetic Carmilla retelling, focusing on two academic rivals, Laura and Carmilla. The two girls are infatuated not only with each other, but with their poetry professor, vying for De Lafontaine's attention and praise.

This is a sapphic romance of want, obsession and longing tucked into a dark academia shell. Laura and Carmilla start as rivals, both seeking the validation of their poetry professor, De Lafontaine. Carmilla is confident and brash, while Laura is insecure and trying to find herself in this new environment. The two girls navigating their burgeoning feelings during the first half of the book was poetic and beautiful.

As they are brought more into the fold of De Lafontaine's vampiric world, Laura and Carmilla are pushed deeper into their obsessions with each other, fueling the jealousy and strife between them and De Lafontaine. I was drawn so far into their relationships that I wanted to know more. Keep in mind, this book was more character driven rather than plot. The plot takes a back-seat to the characters and their growth during the story. I was here for it though.💕

The audiobook was truly the main reason I adored this book. I am obsessed with the narrator and the raw emotion felt in the performance. I felt Laura's insecurity and fear. I felt Carmilla's yearning and confusion. It was a beautiful audiobook and I don't think I would've rated as high if I had just read it.

•content warnings: taboo relationship between teacher/student, blood&gore, dead body•

Gothic Dark academia
Dual POVs
Academic Rivals to Lovers
Poetic Sapphic romance
Relationship between teacher & student
Carmilla Retelling

As an avid reader of sapphic books, it is slightly embarrassing to say this is my first book that involved vampires and romance. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had the privilege of getting to listen to the audiobook edition which I would highly recommend, the narrator did a fantastic job and just made me sit so still at times so I could hear every word that came next. Of course, part of that was the writing itself, which S.T Gibson wrote a delicious story with Laura and Carmilla. I think both characters were fleshed out well before the story's first arc happened, but I did think their romance was so quick to go from hating to head over heels gave me a little bit of whiplash. Not to worry though, the rest of the story enticed me and I found that the vampire world in all this to be really intriguing and perhaps will read more of Gibson's work to fall more in love with the lesbian vampire genre.

*I received an audiobook ARC via Netgalley, thank you very much*

My rating is not entirely about the audiobook because I could not finish it due to Netgalley just deleting the audiobook from the Netgalley Shelf app without any warning. This is something that should really be changed...for books I get dates but not for audiobooks? Weird.

Anyhow, this is a 60s lesbian, dark academia loose "Carmilla" retelling with quite the kinky, explicit content. While I found all the main characters to be pretty unconvincing and shallow, their animosity forced and boring. The enigmatic and beautiful teacher too, was no surprise. But the Gothic-ness of it all made it somewhat enjoyable because it used all the tropes and was so over the top, it was hilarious in parts.

As I could not finish the story, I cannot say anything about it. I'm not buying the audiobook now to finish the last 3 hours just because Netgalley didn't give me any warning. Sorry...

I loved A Dowry of Blood but unfortunately this book did not work as well for me. I found the writing a bit more young adult / new adult than I was expecting. The characters read very young, naive and without much agency. I think this hinders the plot as well because the characters do not do anything until a forced conclusion. I’m okay with a book not being very plot driven but then well rounded deep characters are needed.

Thank you Hachette Audio for providing me with a complementary audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I enjoyed AN EDUCATION IN MALICE but in my opinion, it does not hold a candle to the masterpiece that was Gibson’s A DOWRY OF BLOOD. AEIM is a dark academic reimagining of CARMILLA that tackles themes of uneven power dynamics and obsession in romantic relationships.

I finished this book in a day so I’m happy to say this story was addictive and an easy listen to via audiobook. Gibson is known for rich and floral prose and while there were some beautifully written moments that made me gasp aloud, I felt like writing in this book was missing the WOW factor that A DOWRY OF BLOOD had. The writing felt surface level to me. Maybe that was a purposeful choice but personally I wanted more from this book.

I liked the pacing of this book. Gibson was able to jump from scene to scene in a flawless manner. It’s one of the reasons I was able to finish this book in one day! But again, I wanted more. I wished this book was longer. I wanted to spend more time reading about the transition of Laura and Carmilla going from rivals to lovers. I wanted a slower burn of the toxic relationship the girls had with Professor De LaFontaine.

The audiobook narrator, Stephanie Cannon did a great performance. She narrates both Laura’s and Carmilla’s perspectives. I liked how both narrations of both POVs were distinct and rich in characterization.

Overall, I liked this but upon further reflection I wanted more out of this. 3.5/5

I started this book, and then tried again, but after getting through 80% of it, I let it go.

The idea itself was something that I thought would be right up my alley. Dark academia, forbidden romance, vampires, but I just couldn't get into it. None of the characters were relatable, and all of them were unlikable. I just couldn't connect, which is everything for me. There is no denying that Gibson has strong writing and descriptive skills, I just couldn't get past the people I was reading about.

This was not for me, I DNF this one, and I'm okay with it!

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love the dual POV of Carmilla and Laura, two exceptionally talented writers attending an all-girls college under the tutelage of their professor, Miss De Lafontaine. But all is not as it seems at St. Perpetua's and Miss D has some dark secrets. An enemies to lovers story, with deadly creatures hiding in plain sight. I thought the tensions between our two lovers was well done. This novel would fall under the NewAdult category a bit more than YA, I think and there are trigger warnings that came with this novel.

I loved the cover and the title was an immediate "add to tbr". The narration was really good, I think the narrator did a great job distinguishing between Carmilla and Laura's voices. The story had me on the edge of my seat, for about half the story. I wanted a smidge more horror, but overall I found the story to suck me in and hold me emotionally hostage until the very end.

🩶

🌟 A R C R E V I E W 🌟
🩸 An Education in Malice by @S.T. Gibson 🩸

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

🌟 You may like this book if you're into:

🔺Beautiful, poetic writing
🔺Poetry
🔺Vampires
🔺Academic rivals to lovers
🔺Mystery
🔺Sapphic romance
🔺Age gap and toxic relationships

It's a tale revolving around two academic rivals, Carmilla and Laura, and their somewhat toxic ties with their professor, De Lafontaine.

This book has immense potential to be extraordinary, but for me, it missed the mark. I had high hopes and really wanted to love it, but it fell flat. Perhaps if I had read "Carmilla" and "A Dowry of Blood," I waould have appreciated it more? I'm not entirely sure. It could just be me, but I didn't feel a strong connection with the characters, and the story felt monotonous. The chemistry between the characters didn't resonate with me, and there were moments where I found myself annoyed, particularly with Lafontaine.

The audiobook narration was skillfully executed, featuring distinct accents that facilitated easy comprehension and engagement for the listeners.

I would still recommend this as an introduction to the world of dark academia, particularly for those who are intrigued by themes of age gap or toxic relationships. While it didn't quite hit the mark for me personally, I believe others might still find enjoyment in it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Orbit and S.T. Gibson for the ALC + physical copy in exchange for an honest review.

#bookreview #darkacademia #academicrivals #vampires #blood #arcread #netgalley #orbit #sapphicromance #fantasyromance #fantasy #fiction #lgbtq #romance #standalone

I love a good vampire book, but lately have found most of them to be disappointing or underwhelming. I LOVED this book, though. The writing is great and the characters were well developed. This is the first book I've read by S.T. Gibson, but Dowry of Blood has been on my TBR for a long time. Definitely bumping that one up on the list and recommending An Education in Malice to everyone I know.

Thank you to NetGalley and S.T. Gibson for this audioarc.

First I would like to say that the narrator, Stephanie Cannon, did an excellent job. I love the way she not only had distinct character voices for dialogue but also changed up the inner monologue voices depending on whether Laura or Carmila was narrating. This is one of my favorite audiobook performances to date.

A sapphic, vampire, dark academia, what's not to love? I was intrigued from the start. Horrified and yet drawn by the teacher-student dynamics (check the trigger warnings at the start of the book!). The story was engaging and well-paced. The chemistry between Laura and Carmila was perfect and each brought unique perspectives and well defined character to the story.

So why three stars and not four?
1. They're poetry students and apparently very talented, and yet we saw very little of their work in the book. This seemed like a good opportunity to show not tell.
2. De Lafontaine's arc was too neat and too tidy, leaving me feeling unsatisfied at the end.
3. I would have liked more from Laura's friendships with other students, especially at the beginning so that we could really see a change as her desire for Carmila grew.

Overall, this was a rewarding read and I recommend it to anyone looking for more than just romance in their gothic fiction.

4/5 stars.

I enjoyed this way more than Gibson’s A Dowry in Blood. While that book was told by a singular figure, An Education in Malice follows your more traditional narrative with two alternating points of view. You do not need to have ready A Dowry of Blood before this one, but there are some connections. I listened to the audiobook and throughly enjoyed the narrator and their voices for each character. The book is a mix of dark academia and the supernatural and extremely engaging.

**4.5**

I loved A Dowry Of Blood, so I was so excited for this book, and it did not disappoint. Didn't love this one quite as much but still a beautifully written joy to read. This book has everything i live in: a gothic atmosphere, sapphic romance, vampires, and some very spicy spice.

The audio book was well read and easy to follow and added to the atmosphere of the story for me. Would recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group. Hathette Audio and S.T Gibson for an advance copy of this book and audio book in exchange for an honest review

Laura is a bit out of her element at Saint Perpetua’s College, and when she meets Camilla her life is forever changed. Between both of them, Professor De Lafontaine will guide the young poets through the college life but also a much darker life as well. A sensual paranormal fantasy, this dark read takes you through the highs and lows of love and blood.
While this read wasn’t exactly my personal cup of tea, it was by no means bad. It was well-written and formed. The plot, while a bit plodding, was able to guide you through the lives of these young girls and feel all they felt. The naivety of the girls almost guides the story and the outcome is exactly eh.at you would think. The narrator was new to me and was pretty good. The slight Austrian accent of Camilla seemed to go in and out a bit. I will probably read more of Gibson. It’s a 3.5 stars for me.

a student professor gothic dark academia romance carmella retelling… that’s a mouthful. this was a very fun and gripping read! i enjoyed the audiobook experience and flew through the read so fast!! i don’t read many books like this do i was skeptical but it lived up to the hype!!

I could not put this down. I loved the sapphic representation and the palpable emotional complications of love, friendships, and mentorship. I had no idea that this was a retelling unfortunately.

I'm not sure this book knows what it wants to be. It starts out a normal awkward girl in new school meets mean girl story. Morphs into love triangle with professor. Mix in some vampire story. Just about at the end, however, we get thrown in the "sire" and her crimes, which to me throws the whole thing off. They just let murders happen? I also had no idea WHEN this story was happening until the very end. Very odd.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC for review.

I loved the narrator, Stephanie Cannon. She was able to switch between accents flawlessly to indicate the different characters and really made this book a great listening experience.

As for the actual story, that was good too! It was set in the 1960s at an all-girls' college in New England. While it is a vampire story, it's more about interpersonal relationships. It's about two students who go from rivals to lovers and each of their relationships with an idolized teacher. I enjoyed the non-monogamous relationships and the complexity it brought to the story.

If you're looking for a book heavy in vampire lore, this one isn't going to be for you, but if you want a complex sapphic love triangle with a power dynamic, read (or better yet, listen to) An Education in Malice.

3.75⭐ rounded up to 4. I found this book and the voice actor captivating, but felt like it didn’t quite live up to its full potential, especially when it comes to character development and consistency.

❤️ Stunning prose and poetry
❤️ Lush Gothic atmosphere with dark academia vibes
❤️ Tension and forbidden romances
❌ Hard-to-like characters
❌ Lack of character consistency
❌ Predictable ending

Plot:
Laura is a timid, religious small-town girl who secretly enjoys erotic literature. Carmilla is a confident and enigmatic European aspiring poet. They meet during a poetry seminar and soon become rivals, competing for the attention and favour of their beautiful and demanding professor, De Lafontaine. All three women have their own dark obsessions, and Laura will soon discover that Carmilla and De Lafontaine are not only tangled up in a toxic, forbidden relationship, but also that they keep dangerous secrets.

Despite this book feeling atmosphere- and aesthetic-driven, the plot was still riveting. There’s a lot of tension, forbidden romance, obsession, love and betrayal, danger, slightly shocking spice, a secret society, and more. I was a little disappointed by how predictable the ending was, however.

Characters:
There isn’t a single character that I could say I liked or felt I could relate to. I didn’t hate them, but I simply couldn’t connect. I also thought that Laura was the only consistent character, whereas Carmilla and De Lafontaine’s characters went through drastic and dubious changes mid-story. I would have liked to see more development and consistency, which would probably have made the rivals-to-lovers trope a little smoother and more believable.

Writing:
This novel was my introduction to Gibson’s writing, and I was impressed. Her prose is elegant and evocative, with smooth dialogues and vivid descriptions. I was never a fan of anything that includes blood drinking, but the writing made it seem so sensual it was almost enticing.

Also, I didn’t find any typos, and that made me happy. In this “fast literature” era, it’s not often that we come across novels when literary rigour was applied. *sighs with relief*

To conclude, here’s another quote I absolutely loved:

“She looked, I realized a little breathlessly, like a holy icon cast in gold. I wanted to fall at her feet and worship her. I wanted to desecrate her in every filthy manner I could imagine. I wanted all of her, in every way all at once.”

2x narration was an easy listening experience. Nice job switching between American and Austrian accents, and even a little French when needed.

Set in the 1960s at an all girls school, Laura is an incoming freshman hoping to find friends and make her mark with her poetry. Soon, she's ingrained with her literature professor and another, older student--even as she continues to try to build relationships with other girls closer to her in age.

The dark academia element touted in the story is lost; the school and the education become forgotten elements. There is folklore around vampires, but it's not well defined and more glossed over rather than adding any significance to the plot.

Instead, the main focus is on the power dynamics in the relationships (or at least in the love triangles) that seems odd to have been allowed to occur. The sexual elements feel messy and out of place, lacking genuine emotion built on the previous hundreds of pages of plot. Instead, it leaves all the characters as vapid and boring.

Overall: 2 stars (It was just fine)

I'll tell my students about: LGBTQIA+, language, alcohol, drugs, violence/gore/death, sex, supernatural, power imbalance/relationships

**Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Audio, Redhook for the free ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**