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torismazarine's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Racism, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
krispi_kebob's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
An Education in Malice is quite the story. I found myself invested in the characters right from the beginning. I appreciated the content warnings at the start of the book a lot to understand what I was getting myself into - the story is complicated, morally grey. I appreciated that sex and sensuality were not the total purpose of the book, but rather fit into the plot like a key in a lock.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Infidelity
emilie_anine's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Kind of one of those books that was a brain-off read for me, which is partly what made it so enjoyable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Death, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
courtsport3000's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Super solid 4.5, leaning oh so close to a five. This book had me on a leash the entire time I was reading it. I was hooked from the first chapter and tore through the pages as quickly as I could. I always wanted to be reading, always had these characters on my mind.
There's so much in this book that Gibson does well that I hardly know where to start. The dark academia vibes are perfection. The character work is some of the best I've read in a long time. The way the relationships are portrayed in this book... somehow Gibson manages to capture all these subtle, delicate little details that really make everything feel realistic and relatable, even when it's not. There's this careful balance between the comfortable and the uncomfortable and it's handled in a way that's almost playful. It works so well in a book that centers yearning that becomes obsession and idolatry that borders on unhinged. Add in all the trademark moments of college girl life - discovering an independent self, exploring sexuality, deciding where you fit (or don't fit) within the norms and expectations you carry... I could ramble forever about all the ways I found this book relatable in all the best and worst ways.
As for the more horror-ish elements, those were more in the forefront than I expected them to be, but not in a bad way. I do wish certain aspects of that plotline were better fleshed out (not a pun...?) but I found them rewarding regardless. I also have complicated feelings about the ending, but I'll leave it at that to avoid spoilers. Eager to see what other readers think about it.
I'm basically going to scream about this book for a really long time. So grateful to Redhook for an ARC in exchange for review.
There's so much in this book that Gibson does well that I hardly know where to start. The dark academia vibes are perfection. The character work is some of the best I've read in a long time. The way the relationships are portrayed in this book... somehow Gibson manages to capture all these subtle, delicate little details that really make everything feel realistic and relatable, even when it's not. There's this careful balance between the comfortable and the uncomfortable and it's handled in a way that's almost playful. It works so well in a book that centers yearning that becomes obsession and idolatry that borders on unhinged. Add in all the trademark moments of college girl life - discovering an independent self, exploring sexuality, deciding where you fit (or don't fit) within the norms and expectations you carry... I could ramble forever about all the ways I found this book relatable in all the best and worst ways.
As for the more horror-ish elements, those were more in the forefront than I expected them to be, but not in a bad way. I do wish certain aspects of that plotline were better fleshed out (not a pun...?) but I found them rewarding regardless. I also have complicated feelings about the ending, but I'll leave it at that to avoid spoilers. Eager to see what other readers think about it.
I'm basically going to scream about this book for a really long time. So grateful to Redhook for an ARC in exchange for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
themagicalworldofnian's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An Education in Malice by ST Gibson - review
5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Wow S.T. Gibson did it again. If you have read A Dowry of Blood this gives the same vibes ✨
An Education in Malice is a sapphic Carmilla retelling, do I even have to say anymore 🤯
It follows both Carmilla and Laura, two academic rivals who are infatuated with poetry and getting the approval of their demanding professor De Lafontaine.
While Laura is timid and very insecure about herself and her sexuality, is Carmilla the complete opposite, she is very confident and a bit of a mean girl. They both want the approval of the professor. But there is a thin line between desire, obsession and academic approval.
Again S.T. Gibson her prose is just so captivating an poetic, which I just love💕. She just has a way with words that I can’t describe in any other way than just read her books and stories. The use of literary devices such as metaphors, imagery, symbolism and repetition is done just perfectly. It just adds this extra layer to the writing.
I also just loved the inclusion of a couple of poems written by Laura and Carmilla, tho I would have liked seeing even more of them.
The story is also again very character focused and driven just as her other books. The relationships are written soo good. The relationship between Laura and Carmilla, but also between Carmilla and De Lafontaine. The jealousy, the desire, the obsession, the lust, but also the love and friendship.
I also loved how you could really see the imbalance in power between everyone, but also how it is challenged in certain situations.
I love dark academia and I love S.T Gibson and her poetic writing, so for me this was the absolute perfect combo.
So overall, I would definitely recommend this if you love a dark academia that is mainly character driven with sapphic relationships, vampires and obsession and desire packaged in poetic writing.
5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Wow S.T. Gibson did it again. If you have read A Dowry of Blood this gives the same vibes ✨
An Education in Malice is a sapphic Carmilla retelling, do I even have to say anymore 🤯
It follows both Carmilla and Laura, two academic rivals who are infatuated with poetry and getting the approval of their demanding professor De Lafontaine.
While Laura is timid and very insecure about herself and her sexuality, is Carmilla the complete opposite, she is very confident and a bit of a mean girl. They both want the approval of the professor. But there is a thin line between desire, obsession and academic approval.
Again S.T. Gibson her prose is just so captivating an poetic, which I just love💕. She just has a way with words that I can’t describe in any other way than just read her books and stories. The use of literary devices such as metaphors, imagery, symbolism and repetition is done just perfectly. It just adds this extra layer to the writing.
I also just loved the inclusion of a couple of poems written by Laura and Carmilla, tho I would have liked seeing even more of them.
The story is also again very character focused and driven just as her other books. The relationships are written soo good. The relationship between Laura and Carmilla, but also between Carmilla and De Lafontaine. The jealousy, the desire, the obsession, the lust, but also the love and friendship.
I also loved how you could really see the imbalance in power between everyone, but also how it is challenged in certain situations.
I love dark academia and I love S.T Gibson and her poetic writing, so for me this was the absolute perfect combo.
So overall, I would definitely recommend this if you love a dark academia that is mainly character driven with sapphic relationships, vampires and obsession and desire packaged in poetic writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
hannahelaine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Dark academia isn’t really my thing and I think this book just hammers that home for me. It had some interesting parts and nice lines, but was very slow to get the plot moving, and once it finally was, raced. Pacing inconsistent.
All that said, I would have given this a higher rating if not for the fact that it’s literally just a retelling of Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu— that the author never acknowledges. Apart of the character names are directly lifted from the novella, the general plot and vibe, I couldn’t find any instance of the author or publisher mentioning this in the book itself. Not the plot summary, the authors note or acknowledgements, nor the Q&A. I can’t fathom why she isn’t mentioning it— Carmilla had a big resurgence after a web series was made in the style of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries back in the early 20-teens. Regardless, it feels bad, wrong, and icky to not do so. While Carmilla is in the public domain and came out in the 1800s, so the author is long dead, it feels wrong to not credit the inspiration for the novel.
All that said, I would have given this a higher rating if not for the fact that it’s literally just a retelling of Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu— that the author never acknowledges. Apart of the character names are directly lifted from the novella, the general plot and vibe, I couldn’t find any instance of the author or publisher mentioning this in the book itself. Not the plot summary, the authors note or acknowledgements, nor the Q&A. I can’t fathom why she isn’t mentioning it— Carmilla had a big resurgence after a web series was made in the style of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries back in the early 20-teens. Regardless, it feels bad, wrong, and icky to not do so. While Carmilla is in the public domain and came out in the 1800s, so the author is long dead, it feels wrong to not credit the inspiration for the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
zakiya_luna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I really enjoyed this book. S.T Gibson never upsets me with her writing and I can't wait for her next books to come out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gore, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Gaslighting and Cursing
shellbell_04's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Overall the plot was good but I found myself getting mad at certain characters- but I think that just means they were developed enough to frustrate me on a emotional level. I also wish that the book wasn’t as fast in parts and there was slightly more world building
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Alcohol
bergha1998's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautifully written and the setting was gorgeous. As with Dowry of Blood there is so much psychological and interpersonal conflict. It can be difficult and a bit triggering to be honest. However, I really liked Laura and Carmilla.
Fantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Emotional, 2 1/2 🔥
“Life doesn’t seem worthwhile without synthesizing my experiences into art, the catharsis of putting it all out onto the page. It’s the only way I’ve ever been able to get other people to understand how I’m feeling.”
Fantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Emotional, 2 1/2 🔥
“Life doesn’t seem worthwhile without synthesizing my experiences into art, the catharsis of putting it all out onto the page. It’s the only way I’ve ever been able to get other people to understand how I’m feeling.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Toxic friendship, Blood, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Death
hedonsgaybookshelf's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.
Dark academia, obsessive sapphic romance, vampires, kink, and gore? Yes please!
Dark academia, obsessive sapphic romance, vampires, kink, and gore? Yes please!
As in ‘Dowry of Blood,’ Gibson swiftly establishes a lush and immersive atmosphere of dark tension and intrigue. The characters’ relationships are consuming and dangerously intertwined, characterized by both sick fascination and a craving for violence. We see this cruelty become sweeter and more intimate over time, mirrored in the sexual power play between the two young women MCs. Several plot turns are refreshingly unpredictable, moving faster in the second half and racing toward an imperfect but hopeful ending.
I enjoy the exploration of attachment beyond the romantic, the different relational forms that love and lust can take. The professor-student power dynamics are notably not sensationalized, thoughtfully balancing themes of predation/exploitation with the classic queer experience of infatuation with a mentor. I appreciate Gibson’s consideration with handling toxic academic power dynamics, as well as the race, class, and body size representation in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia