3.5 Stars
Rounded up to 4 because i did enjoy the book. I liked it I just didn't love it. it had a great story line but the ending just kind of fell flat for me. I think I would of loved a cliff hanger or a little more drama. The story was so interesting though and not what I was expecting at all! Overall it is worth the read and I would recommend it for a quick and easy read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will start by saying, please take my review with a pinch of salt as I tend to not enjoy vampire books (I have realized). With that said, let's start with the positive. I love the academic rival element of this book mixed with the sexual tension between them.

However, I felt like the vampire aspect of this book was just meh and it might as well have been left out of the book. I was a bit weirded out sometimes with the student x teacher relationship in this book and God was it repetetive sometimes. How many times can you mention a character's name on a page??

Literature is Laura's life and she is going to study under the famous Professor De Lafontaine at Saint Perpetua's College, but what awaits Laura at the prestigious school is lust, blood, and secrets. A spellbinding tale reminiscent of the gothic novel Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, an Education in Malice deftly balances gothic horror, mystery, and romance. It is dark and moody, with a bit of absurdity and plenty of dark academia. Gibson weaves a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and Stephanie Cannon voices the characters perfectly- I loved the different voices and accents given to Laura and Carmilla. For fans of movies like Saltburn and books like a Study in Drowning.

"If I was going to be a monster, I was going to be an elegant one."

Have I mentioned how much I love this author? Her gorgeously gothic and vivid writing style, the addictively flawed and captivating character depth and the dark beauty in which she crafts each setting is masterful.

An Education in Malice is just as lush and provactive as a Dowry of Blood.

🩸Sapphic
🩸Dark Academia
🩸Gothic
🩸Obsession
🩸Desire
🩸Kink (light but explicit)
🩸Professor/Student Relations

That's just the icing on top of this vampiric tale. I've seen it noted as a retelling of the classic Carmilla. I have not read the classic but I adored the literal hell out of this novel. Told in dual POVs between Carmilla and Laura, it's a wondrously sensual story of young chaotic love, seasoned infatuation and so much more.

I took the time to read and to listen to this book (yes, I'm weird). The audio is releasing from Hachette Audio and is narrated by Stephanie Cannon wonderfully. I loved the switch from Southern gem to classic vampire lilt and Austrian tone. I loved the emotion felt in the narration too. I cannot pick a favorite format, I personally would pick both.

I highly recommend checking out the synopsis for this gem. If you enjoy any of the topics I mentioned, this novel is for you. I cannot thank hachetteaudio for bringing the characters and atmosphere to life. 4.5/5.

If you love dark academia this will not disappoint. S.T. Gibson has done it again. I listened to the audio version and it was perfection.
Laura is a student who has become rivals with the attractive and enticing Carmilla. Each vying for the attention of their professor De LaFontaine. Laura is beyond excited when she is invited to her professors house. What this relationship takes on is nothing you are expecting.
It will leave you wanting more.

S.T. Gibson’s writing is so lyrical and gorgeous. I loved the dark academia setting and themes of toxic relationships. While the set up was there I feel the ending lost its initial intrigue. I was sold at sapphic vampires and that didn’t disappoint. Overall I still did really love this book. Stephanie Cannon’s narration was wonderful and I enjoyed the accents and each character having their own voice.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.
This book is honestly not my cup of tea whatssoever. It truly had an intriguing introduction, but once everything was set into play I no longer wanted to be a part of it.

S.T. Gibson's writing is spectacular, her prose is quite a rarity, but I do not think her work is best for me.

What a captivating and sumptuous dark academia tale!! Skillfully narrated by Stephanie Cannon. The performance brings to life the intricate dynamics between Carmilla, Laura, and Professor De LaFontaine, immersing me in a world of blood, secrets, and insatiable hungers.

The mystery surrounding the professor and students is both engaging and thrilling, keeping me on the edge of my seats. The revelations had me audibly reacting – a testament to the compelling storytelling.

The interactions between Carmilla and Laura are a highlight, filled with palpable emotions that Stephanie Cannon skillfully conveys. The narrator's performance enhances the overall experience, making it an audiobook that's hard to put down.

This is a must-listen for those who appreciate dark academia tales woven with mystery and nuanced character relationships. S.T. Gibson's storytelling, coupled with Stephanie Cannon's narration, creates an addictive and unforgettable audiobook experience. Please be sure to look over the authors CWs.

S.T. Gibson paints a portrait of young infatuation blended with academic rivalry in An Education in Malice. Set at St. Perpetua's, an all women's university outside of Boston in the late 60s, Laura Sheridan finds herself far from her roots in Mississippi for the first time, being tempted from her Episcopalian roots and dreams of being a female religious leader. Accepted into a poetry seminar traditionally reserved for upperclasswomen, she finds herself immersed in - and infatuated by - the relationship between Austrian senior Carmella and their professor Miss Dellafontaine. Has Miss D just taken Carmella under her tutelage, or is there more to their dynamic? Is Laura jealous that Miss D gives Carmella so much attention, or is it actually Carmella's attention that Laura craves?

A sapphic rivals-to-lovers dark academia story with a vampiric flair, the twisted bonds between students and teacher make for a fascinating case study in power dynamics and what defines a relationship.

The narrator did an excellent job of clearly differentiating characters and presenting the story in an engaging way.

4.5 stars, rounded.

Thank you to NG and Hatchette Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t a favorite of mine, but I think it was more a fault of my own. I wasn’t super interested in the story, but I enjoyed the writing style. I felt like it was very atmospheric, it was just a slower book for me. Overall a 3.5 ⭐️ book for me, but I would recommend it the right audience. There was diverse representation, which I can appreciate. I preferred The Dowry of Blood by the same author.

An Education in Malice is a sumptuous and addictive dark academia tale filled with blood, secrets, and insatiable hungers. Set in the secluded hills of Massachusetts, Saint Perpetua’s College stands ancient and isolated, a place not meant for timid souls. Here, secrets hold value, ambition flows like lifeblood, and peculiar ceremonies welcome students into a mysterious fold.

Laura Sheridan's first day at the college thrusts her into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. As their rivalry deepens, they become entangled in the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who harbors her dark obsession with Carmilla. The story unfolds as their rivalry transforms into something more delicious, forcing Laura to confront her peculiar hungers. In a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors, and magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide the extent of their willingness to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.

It is an enthralling journey into the world of dark academia, where secrets, ambition, and forbidden desires converge. The author masterfully crafts an atmospheric narrative set in the ancient and isolated Saint Perpetua’s College, bringing forth a tale rich in suspense and magic. As the story unfolds, the lines between academia, politics, and supernatural elements blur, creating a captivating narrative that explores the complexities of desire and sacrifice.

S. T. Gibson's writing is immersive, painting a vivid picture of the eerie college and its intriguing characters. The dark obsessions and strange hungers that permeate the story add layers of complexity, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The narration by Stephanie Cannon enhances the overall experience, bringing the characters to life and intensifying the suspense.

"An Education in Malice" is a spellbinding dark academia tale that combines elements of horror and fantasy with a riveting exploration of ruthless ambition and forbidden knowledge. This audiobook is a must-listen for those who enjoy atmospheric storytelling, intricate character dynamics, and a touch of the supernatural. Prepare to be drawn into the mysteries of Saint Perpetua’s College and the insatiable hungers that lurk within its hallowed halls.

I gave this a 2.5 stars but rounded up to 3.

This sapphic, dark academia vampire romance has an excellent premise and first half. The slow burn, rivals to lovers dynamic between Laura, a southern Catholic young woman, and the aloof and arrogant Austrian student, Carmilla, began so well. I loved their interactions with each other and the steady build of their rivalry in class and their romantic fixation on each other, alongside the mystery of their professor's true motives. But once the story took an abrupt turn, it all fell apart for me. The slow burn flipped like a switch and became insta-love while their professor's secret and the fallout of it was lackluster. It was difficult for me to continue to slog through to the ending, which didn't feel earned.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I had read Carmilla because this was clearly a retelling of it and I wish I could have caught on to more of the references.
Despite that, I loved that classic gothic atmosphere that this story calls back to. I was also really intrigued with the dynamic of Laura and Carmilla with their professor and how that would play out. And I was actually pleasantly surprised when it turned into a vampire story.
The book kind of read like a coming of age/sexual awakening story. However, it could have used deeper emotional development and a stronger plot to make more of an impact. It felt like the characters connections to each other were surface level, so I wasn’t very invested in the relationships. I also had a hard time fully understanding some of the characters’ actions and motivations.

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.