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torismazarine's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Blood, Abandonment, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexism, Alcohol, Bullying, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
grace_emc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Minor: Racism
mhmrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The setting of Saint Perpetua as the dark academia's gothic castle was perfect for Gibson's story as a place full mysteries and places to hide from the light.
The character development of Laura and Carmilla was amazing, their romance was a beautiful enemies-to-lovers story with some beautiful moments for a story that has a very sultry subtext. Poetry Professor, De Lafontaine, was such an enigmatic character that was both sultry and dangerous, beautiful and creepy that had me more infuriated with each scene she appears in.
An Education in Malice was, overall, a beautiful retelling of Europe's first lesbian vampire story brought into the 21st century. This is a must-read for any vampire fans, dark academic lovers and anyone who loves a story that breaks the mould.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Racism, and Homophobia
bookameme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dark, Gripping, & Stimulating
Quote:📖
In the end, I stayed. I had the awful, yawning feeling inside myself that for her, I would always stay.
Thoughts: 💡
The first chapter had a slightly slow and meandering feel to it, but as soon as the story dove into the rivals to lovers vibes I was hooked. There is this moment of intense attraction that quickly burns into rivals that grabbed all of my attention in a sharp flash and from that point on the story had a fast and dark vibe, and I adored every minute of it. The imagery and poetry that permeated everything was spectacular. It was very LGBT positive but still recognized the struggle of marginalized people in the time period. I can’t sing enough praises for this story.
Writing Mechanics: ✍️
The plot is inspired and the language used and structure of it all is brilliant. All the characters were beautifully developed with rich backstories and deep motivations. There were points of the story that were so eloquently written that I had to reread and ruminate on the context and beauty of it. And the poetry! Gah! I can’t sing the praises of it enough! Everything in this book was spectacular!
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Sapphic Vampires
⚜️ Academic Rivals
⚜️ Needing to Please The Teacher
⚜️ Beautiful Poetry
⚜️ Sizzling Romance
⚜️ Plus Size Heroine
Important Note:✨
Standalone companion novel to A Dowery of Blood.
Full Content Warning:⚠️
Uneven Power Dynamics, Inappropriate Relationships Between Professor & Students, Toxic Academic Environments, Blood, Gore, and Murder, Alcohol and Drug Use, Smoking, Racist Political Policies, Homophobia, Religious Discrimination Against Women
Stats:📊
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: 💙💙💙💙💙
Dark Historical Fantasy: Dark Academia, Sapphic Romance, Academic Rivals to Lovers, Vampires, Mystery Vibes
First Person, Present Tense, Dual POV
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Lesbophobia, Sexism, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Gore, Outing, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Violence, Abandonment, Misogyny, Homophobia, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
phoricho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Sexism, Racism, and Religious bigotry
sproutedpages's review against another edition
- 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
An Education in Malice is a sapphic, vampiric dark academia novel that is dripping with decadent prose, and it is a reminder of why I so deeply adore queer vampire novels: they are deliciously indulgent and passionate. And although the narrative voices are younger and very slightly less luxuriant than that of A Dowry of Blood, it feels appropriate given the more modern setting, and the ages of the viewpoint characters.
It is beyond evident that S.T. Gibson loves the characters that she creates (and the relationships that these characters cultivate), and those in An Education in Malice are no exception. The lust-tinged academic rivalry that Laura and Carmilla share is absolutely divine, and the manner in which their relationship continues to develop is very enjoyable. However, I would have prefered more time spent detailing the shift in the dynamic between Carmilla and Professor De Lafontaine, which begins (or becomes perceptible) around the halfway point of the novel. This is not necessarily a fault of An Education in Malice, but rather a reflection of my love of S.T. Gibson’s character writing, and my willingness (and desire) to read even the minutiae of the development of these characters.
I truly cherished A Dowry of Blood, and An Education in Malice has reaffirmed to me that S.T. Gibson is among my favorite contemporary gothic authors. I cannot wait to read what she publishes in the future!
Moderate: Gore, Drug use, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
CWs, as provided by the 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, as well as brief references to: racist political policies, homophobia, and religious discrimination against women.raes_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A sapphic dark academic's wet dream, a story dripping with gothic prose, pretentious poetry, and gay vampire s*x. This was my first foray in to S.T. Gibson's work, and I was hesitant at first. That feeling was quickly dashed away as the characters pulled me in to their dark, pretentious world. The language is almost too heavy with metaphor and flourish but it lends itself to sinking you right in to the setting. Also!!!! one of the main characters is FAT!!!!!! and is still an object of affection and literally no one talks about her weight except herself and even then the mentions aren't full on self-loathing. like i was already really sold on the gay vampire sex but that detail pushed it over the edge for me. all in all this is a dark, dirty little romp of a book that pulls you in, deep. thank you to orbit books for the ARC of this seductive, sanguine story!
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Racism