Content Warnings Provided by Author: 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 and Drug Use, Smoking. Reference Instances of Racist Political Policies, Homophobia, Religious Discrimination Against Women.

Sapphic Carmilla Retelling!!!!

It's Gay and IT SLAPS!
and Stephanie Cannon's narration was captivating,
And this book gets spicy towards the end.

Watching the relationship develop between Laura and Camilla is really interesting. But also watching Camilla slowly realize that the relationship she's been in with De Lafontaine is Toxic.

This story at it's core is about "What would you be willing to do for love?"

An Education in Malice is a sapphic dark academia book that is a loose retelling of Carmilla. The tension and yearning were so on point. I really enjoyed the rivals to lovers romance and the dual POV. The uncomfortable student teacher dynamic was interesting and handled well by Gibson. I did find some sections moved a little slowly and Laura was not as interesting of a character.

I really enjoyed Stephanie Cannon's narration. She kept me engaged though some of the slower sections of the book that might have been a little bit more difficult to get through if I were reading the print book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

An Education in Malice emerges as a compelling dark academia narrative that intricately weaves elements of gothic horror, vampiric allure, and modern romance within the eerie confines of Saint Perpetua's College. S.T. Gibson revitalizes the classic tale of Carmilla with a fresh perspective, offering readers a tantalizing story of rivalry, forbidden desires, and the pursuit of knowledge at a sinister cost. This novel is a must-read for fans who love sapphic romances, blending a rich, atmospheric setting with complex characters and a plot that holds you captive until the very end.

A 1960s version of Carmilla. Laura Sheridan finds herself thrust into an academic rivalry at St. Perpetua's College with the charming and beautiful Carmilla Carnstein. They are both drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, Evelyn De LaFontaine. However, things between Laura and Carmilla take a turn toward romance and they must decide how much they're willing to give to the pursuit of knowledge and the keeping of secrets.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Lustful sapphics, power imbalances, and poetic vampires.
I wish I could say I loved this, but it just wasn't for me.
The audiobook was lovely. I enjoyed the narrators (Stephanie Cannon) accents for the characters and she had a soothing voice.
I however, unfortunately could not get behind the teacher-student dynamic that was present throughout the whole story. The power imbalance was prominent and disturbing to me. In the beginning, I did like seeing how these girls were so driven for praise and academic greatness that they hated each other's competition. I enjoyed their gradual love story and their obsession toward each other.
I did find the ending to be rather anticlimactic. I found the villain was only ever a relevant problem a few times in the book. The climax was here and gone in a flash.
Even though I was not the biggest fan of this story, I still implore you to give it a shot. The writing was beautiful and poetic. I enjoyed every flower metaphor.

This was my top read in December last year and the audio is just as good!!!

I love S.T. Gibson. Dowery of Blood was one of my top five reads of 2023. There's just something about the way this author writes, the way the words flow on the pages that made this story come alive!
The gambit of emotions you feel with these characters is almost visceral. My heart ached for them. The build up to the relationship was fantastic with all the tension and confusion! I loved how this took place in the 60s and showed the inner struggles Laura experienced between religion and her sexuality.
Everything just blended so well together!
Now, I will say the ending is messing with my OCD. I'm the type of reader that needs closure, I need finality! I hope, though, this means we could possibly get a sequel of some sort! Regardless, I will be purchasing this book on it's debut!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC!!

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson is not for the faint of heart. The book takes place in the 60’s at an all girls college. In Massachusetts. Laura a freshman at Saint Perpetual College meets upperclassman Carmilla. They both are in Professor De Lafontaine poetry class. Carmilla is De Lafontaine’s “pet” and gets jealous when Laura is invited inside their private sector. Soon Laura is finding out who the real De Lafontaine is . This is a great vampire story and a must to read if you like A Dowery In Blood. Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for an advance copy of this book.

An Education in Malice is a loose retelling of Carmilla in a dark academia setting. The story primarily revolves around university students, Laura and Carmilla, and their poetry professor, De Lafontaine, with whom they share a dark secret. If you enjoyed the themes surrounding vampires, sapphic love, and relationships with unequal power dynamics introduced in A Dowry of Blood, you'll see these echoed here but with less exposition. The dark academic atmosphere is shallowly developed and most other characters are left flat. The majority of the plot revolves around the romance between Laura and Carmilla with a mystery subplot. Both plotlines resolve too quickly without much satisfaction. If you enjoyed A Dowry of Blood, you'll probably enjoy this book as well, just a little less.

This review may contain spoilers.

If you’re interested in sapphic adult romance, dark academia aesthetics, intense relationships, and vampires, I think this book is worth the time. My usual strongest vs weakest aspect evaluation is a little different this time: they both deal primary with character dynamics. The strongest aspect of this is the core relationship between Carmilla and Laura, from rivalry to infatuation; the weakest, to me, is the failure to really bring the subplot about Carmilla and De Lafontaine’s relationship to a meaningful conclusion. I would have really liked for the book to get more into dark academic themes and historical (1960s) elements; they work fine as set dressing for the novel, but I feel it would go from a good book to a very compelling one if those elements were more developed. I’m very interested in checking out the author’s other work.

The narrative at hand is coherent overall, but it did leave me wanting. It feels a little undercooked. I enjoyed the overarching development of Laura and Carmilla throughout the narrative as individuals and as a pair, growing from rivals to friends to lovers. The dynamic shift after Carmilla’s transformation in particular is very interesting. Character voice was compelling, particularly in conjunction with the stellar narration of the audiobook. The extended cast wasn’t really memorable, though for the purposes of this book, I think that’s just fine.

The secondary plotlines, I think, could have been bolstered some to really make this book feel complete. It sometimes feels like the Isis subplot was only put in to justify Carmilla’s transformation, and was otherwise rushed over. I feel like the dynamic between De Lafontaine and Carmilla is realistic to one where someone is being preyed on by a person in a position of power, and as a result, I find the conclusion to that relationship very unsatisfactory. It does feel like the author is trying to portray it that way, but I feel like the amicable ending to it just doesn’t track, especially with how emotionally abusive De Lafontaine was towards Carmilla for a majority of the book. I think the dark academia aspect would be heightened beyond its aesthetics if the story actually delved into the weeds of how much power professors have over their students.

The writing style is very well-developed and characteristic, being one of the better parts of this book. The use of visual and sensory description is, for the most part, poetic and pleasant, but I’d have enjoyed more being present. Some of the themes were strong and well-incorporated, particularly that of power and control; others were a bit murky and vague. The pacing is adequate, and paired with the straightforward flow of the book, makes a pretty quick read. Exposition was relatively effective, not bogging the story down much or detracting from the linear quality of the story. I think the narrator did a stellar performance here, and enhanced the reading experience.

4.25 stars rounded. This is a dark academia, vampire story and it was such a refreshing take. It has lots of good tropes, but this doesn't read as repetitive: rivals to lovers, slow burn, teacher-student, immortality, and immorality, sin and desire. The world is very believable and I appreciated the relationships that were explored between the characters. I found myself enthralled by the story. The vibes are dark and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. The tension build up was good without being over the top.

The book explores many interesting topics like unequal power in relationships, the bond between creator/mother and child and the bonds between lovers, obsession vs love. There was a lot of foreshadowing of the climax in the poetry and the referenced art (hello, sacrifice of Isaac). Overall I thought the writing was beautifully done. Weaving the poetry, especially in the first half, through the story was great (coming from someone who does not usually enjoy poetry).

The story is dual POV from the two main female characters. The narrator does a great job in general, and with distinguishing between the characters. This is a really good audiobook!

Thank you to NetGallley and Hachette Audio, Redhook for providing an eARC of this book.

Thank you Hachette/Orbit and NetGalley for an ALC of An Education in Malice in exchange of my honest opinion.

S.T. Gibson strikes again with another amazing vampire retelling. I loved a Dowry of Blood and I was super curious when I heard a sapphic, dark academia, rivals to lovers novel was coming out from the same author.

The whole story pulls you in and even though I was telling myself “ohh this is bad” over and over it felt like I could not look away of the events that were unfolding. Laura and Carmilla are two poetry students in this private catholic college for girls and initially keep competing for the attention of their mentor, De Lafontaine. Carmilla was her protege that has a natural gift for poetry but show certain insecurities and jealousy when the newcomer Laura appears with fresh ideas and also a natural talent for the topic. Laura, however will soon realize that her topic of study in this college will not restrict only to poetry.

The book explores so many themes in such seamless way! We have the obvious grooming and improper relationships between mentor and mentee with obvious difference in power dynamics. Additionally, the author brought the traditional tropes that comes with a vampire novel such a as exploration and awaken of sexuality and the discussion of immortality that was very interestingly contrasted with the religious environment they were studying in a very modern and fresh way.

Additionally, the narrative develops really well with no pacing issues. I really enjoyed that the book is told in first person in both Carmilla and Laura’s perspective and the audiobook narrator did such a good job interpreting them with their light accents that one could easily identify, just by the way they spoke whose narrative we were hearing about.

Finally, I really enjoyed the conclusion that maybe might not appeal to everyone but it did satisfy, in my opinion, the characters’s consistent behavior throughout the story.

I also wanted to add that S.T. Gibson prose is just SO BEAUTIFUL that I honestly could keep reading this book for 200 more pages and I totally recommend it to everyone that is interested in a lush gothic academia book with vampires.

3.5 ⭐️ “An Education in Malice” provides a unique spin on dark academia. The best way to describe this book is probably as a sapphic vampiric academic rivals story depicting a toxic professor-student relationship. It’s filled with poetry, lust, spice, vampires (obviously), and gore. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one, but I ended up really enjoying it! It was well-written and different from anything I’ve read before. It’s one of the stories where the imagery is so well done that you immediately feel like you are at Saint Perpetua’s College along with the characters. This would’ve been a four star read for me if not for the ending feeling so abrupt and rushed.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and appreciated the narrator’s use of different accents for the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and S.T. Gibson for the free audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sapphic vampires on a late 60’s college campus. Full of dark academia nods and obsessive romance. I enjoyed this book very much. The love between characters didn’t feel far fetched and I found myself rooting for all the various relationships. If anything, I wanted more vampire brutality. Maybe that’s overdone, but I needed more thrill in the second half of the book. Regardless, I enjoyed diving into the darkness!

The audiobook narrator has a talent to giving each character their own voice, both in accent and cadence. I appreciated the ability to hear them as individuals.

Thank you to Redhook, NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and author S.T. Gibson for the physical copy and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

4.75 stars to be more accurate.

This book was my introduction into dark academia and also S.T. Gibson and it did not disappoint.

‘An Education in Malice’ is a dark academia, sapphic retelling of the vampire story ‘Carmilla’. Set in 1968, the story is told in the dual POV of Laura Sheridan, a polite Mississippi church-going college freshmen, and Carmilla, a ferociously determined and competitive Austrian senior.

While trying to navigate her new college, Laura is forced into being instant rivals with the alluring Carmilla by the ever-demanding Professor De Lafontaine. As Laura and Carmilla’s complicated relationship evolves, they find themselves drowning in the dark secrets and betrayals of their beloved professor, until it’s too late to escape.

Gibson writes such individual and layered characters and it really shines through. Although the main cast of characters is quite small, they are realistic and complex, each with their own struggles and journeys that, at times, align with each other, and at others, conflict. This creates extremely complex relationships between them.

Although told in dual POV, this book is narrated only by Stephanie Cannon who did an incredible job. Cannon didn’t just read, she put on a performance. Distinguishing the characters with different accents not only helped to know whose POV I was in but also added to the depth of the characters and the overall immersion of the story. At first I didn’t even realize that there was only one narrator.

Some of the themes in the book include, exploration of sexuality and desire, discovering who one is as a person, complex relationships and power dynamics, the dangers and consequences of getting what you want, and losing yourself in obsession. These were such powerful themes that each character explored in their own way.

Overall, I loved this book. Even days later I still find myself thinking about it. It’s the perfect book if you love dark academia, complex characters & themes, and a dark, twisted and thought-provoking story.

CW/TW: Uneven power dynamics, inappropriate relations between professor and students, toxic academic environments, blood, gore, murder, consensual sexual content, public sex, kink (negotiated and spontaneous), alcohol and drug use and smoking. Brief references to racist political policies, homophobia, and religious discrimination against women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for sending me this audio book for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Thank You Net Galley and Redhook publishers for the audio ARC copy of An Education in Malice! The review below is my honest opinion.

Release Date: 2/13/24
Rating: 4.2

This book was so fun! I didn't see the plot until half way through but I was along for the ride.

An Education in Malice is a sapphic love triangle between a teacher and two of her students. It involves an uneven power dynamic, abuse of power, exhibition, vampires, and "dark academia". It was easy to fall into the story it started as enemies to lovers but I didn't feel the strongest connection between the two students. To be a 5 star I needed it to be more intense between the love dynamic or the plot towards the end. Overall I really enjoyed the easy writing style and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a vampire sapphic romance.

#netgalley
#2024Release
#S.T.Gibson
#Vampires

First of all, I listened to this on audiobook and really did enjoy the narrator.. She used slightly different accents for each character and it was actually really well done. The book itself kept me interested enough throughout and I liked the ending as well. Overall this read was a solid 4/5 and I would read more from this author.

"An Education in Malice" by S.T. Gibson, ARC audiobook. Provided by @HachetteAudio through NetGalley

The immersive and atmospheric writing style effortlessly complements the intricate layers of the dark academia setting, drawing readers into a world of mystery and intrigue. As the story unfolds, the complex relationship between Carmilla and Laura is masterfully portrayed, showcasing a delicate balance of rivalry, affection, and conflicting emotions. Through their interactions with poetry professor, De Lafontaine, the narrative delves deeper into the dynamics of power and control within relationships, highlighting the profound impact of such imbalances on individuals.

Around a little over a third into the story, the plot started to slacken and felt somewhat forced. The main villain of the story was disappointing and felt like a background story without much at stake. However, despite these minor setbacks, the overall narrative remained engaging, and I was compelled to see how events would unfold.

Additionally, the narrator's skillful delivery enhances the overall listening experience, with her pleasant voice and subtle accents adding depth to the characters and their surroundings. While I found myself engrossed in the story, I opted to listen at a slightly increased speed to maintain momentum, as the pacing felt a tad slow at standard speed.

Without giving too much away, I found the ending poetic and intriguing, leaving me with much to ponder after the final chapter. Overall, "An Education in Malice" captivates with its richly woven narrative and compelling characters, making it a must-read for fans of dark academia and atmospheric storytelling.

S.T Gibson writes the most stunningly atmospheric stories. This was truly a vampiric, sapphic delight that was intoxicating from the very first page. I am not typically a dark academia girlie, but this reallyyyyy hit the spot.

The audio experience was perfect, the narrator really gave life to the characters so I highly recommend picking up the audiobook when it releases!

"An Education in Malice" weaves a captivating tale of dark academia, sapphic romance, and vampires, set against the atmospheric backdrop of New England. The author's vivid descriptions immerse readers in the fall setting, and the audiobook enhances the experience with a narrator skillfully employing different accents for dual POVs, distinguishing Laura and Carmilla. The story delves into themes of obsession and lust, unfolding an intriguing enemies-to-lovers narrative. However, the swift transition between enmity and romance might leave some readers wishing for a more gradual development. While the overall experience is enjoyable, the ending falls slightly short for me, leaving room for a deeper exploration of the story's potential.

I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley and HachetteAudio all opinions are my own.

An enjoyable and quick listen. I love a good historical dark academia setting and this story and characters leant themselves well to it. Though there are strong differences between them, I think anyone who enjoyed "If We Were Villains" would enjoy this as well. I wish the plot and character development was more dragged out than what was given and but ultimately I really enjoyed this "Carmilla" retelling.