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courtsport3000's review
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: Death, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
themagicalworldofnian's review against another edition
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, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
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: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Blood
_thebookishluna'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: Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing and Gaslighting
shellbell_04's review against another edition
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, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
bergha1998's review against another edition
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: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
hedonsgaybookshelf's review against another edition
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, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Blood
fseely's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
blacksphinx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dark Academia started its life as collages of stolen photos posted on Pinterest and tumblr. Gothic churches, colleges in autumn, people in flowing blouses. When I started reading for pleasure again in 2022, I was shocked to discover this was now a literary genre. How do you take collections of pretty photos and turn them into themes and plots?
Well... this book includes an interview with the author. In it, she says her stories start as a music video in her mind with vibes-based images and that's exactly how this novel turned out. It's vibes. It is a collection of scenes that if it was a movie or a music video, would be turned into gifs and reblogged on tumblr until the end of days. There's a massive college party where all four floors of the dorms are transformed into a representation of The Divine Comedy. During the opening ceremony, senior girls in pure white dresses put laurel crowns on the incoming freshmen around a bonfire. Does this have anything to do with the themes of the story? Nope! But they are cool to think about!
Things only happen to push us from one pretty set piece to another. And there's very, very few things that happen in this novel. It honestly bothers me that both protagonists are poets and spend all of their time off-screen writing poetry, but we only get two poems from them in the entire book. The author is a poet... where are the poems? This novel also doesn't need two PoVs, and I sometimes got them confused because they were so similar. (I feel bad that the author admits she struggled to make their voices sound different; I don't think she succeeded.) I also think it's weird that the protagonist being plus size is a selling point but no one mentions this until like 45% through the book?
But the thing is like, I was one of those girls reblogging collections of stolen photos a decade ago. The vibes are immaculate! I would reblog the gifs of the movie of this novel! But it's like, eating a giant puff of black cotton candy from a cone with bookshelves printed on it. There is no substance here. The words are beautiful, but so little happens. I am completely torn on what number to give to this book. It was pretty. It bored me. I'd read her other novels. I'm glad I checked this out of the library instead of preordering it.
Well... this book includes an interview with the author. In it, she says her stories start as a music video in her mind with vibes-based images and that's exactly how this novel turned out. It's vibes. It is a collection of scenes that if it was a movie or a music video, would be turned into gifs and reblogged on tumblr until the end of days. There's a massive college party where all four floors of the dorms are transformed into a representation of The Divine Comedy. During the opening ceremony, senior girls in pure white dresses put laurel crowns on the incoming freshmen around a bonfire. Does this have anything to do with the themes of the story? Nope! But they are cool to think about!
Things only happen to push us from one pretty set piece to another. And there's very, very few things that happen in this novel. It honestly bothers me that both protagonists are poets and spend all of their time off-screen writing poetry, but we only get two poems from them in the entire book. The author is a poet... where are the poems? This novel also doesn't need two PoVs, and I sometimes got them confused because they were so similar. (I feel bad that the author admits she struggled to make their voices sound different; I don't think she succeeded.) I also think it's weird that the protagonist being plus size is a selling point but no one mentions this until like 45% through the book?
But the thing is like, I was one of those girls reblogging collections of stolen photos a decade ago. The vibes are immaculate! I would reblog the gifs of the movie of this novel! But it's like, eating a giant puff of black cotton candy from a cone with bookshelves printed on it. There is no substance here. The words are beautiful, but so little happens. I am completely torn on what number to give to this book. It was pretty. It bored me. I'd read her other novels. I'm glad I checked this out of the library instead of preordering it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
I enjoyed this SO MUCH. I’m not usually an enemies to lovers fan, but it was so well-executed here that I ate it up. Good book scramble brain so let me break my likes and (few) dislikes down in bullets:
Likes:
-the writing is so… crisp but sexy. it’s nearly as poetic as both characters, and I felt along with them. A treat for the eyes/brain
-laura is interesting and strange, but not in a Not Like Other Girls Protagonist way. she likes reading bdsm poetry and also wants to be a priest, she likes bad bitches but also wants to dominate them (!!!!), and she’s frank about what she wants and feels when she reaches the limits of her “southern manners”. She felt real. Not exaggeratedly shy or brash for plot, just a girl doing her best and feeling with her whole heart
-Elenore - books can often go in a tokeny black best friend direction, but this one managed to represent Elenore as a true, dedicated friend that supported Laura realistically without leaning into babysitting or mammying her. Elenore was my favorite char after laura tbh, she’s just that magnetic and kind.
-BIG one: Realistic depiction of how an older person can sway and stunt the growth of younger people in a relationship, regardless of them being “of age” or free to make their own decisions. Carmilla, and even Laura to an extent are frozen in time by De Lafontaine’s smothering; even Laura who is more able to see De Lafontaines manipulations for what they are is still swayed by her authority, her majesty, her power over them as someone with more life experience. The trajectory of her life is changed due to De Lafontaines need to collect girls; her grades slip, her friends miss her, and she feels disconnected from the world around her. Carmilla has few friends, and misses out on so many foundational college experiences because of how consumed she is by her professor. This book was a very true to life depiction of why “they’re both adults” means very little when dealing with power imbalances in a relationship. De Lafountaine was literally and figuratively sucking the youth out of these girls to sooth her own stolen years, by blood/vampirism and by time missed being 20-somethings discovering themselves in college. The only thing that put a stop to the toxic codependence was De Lafontaine herself; even with full understanding of how poorly she treated them, the girls could not fully extricate themselves from wanting to be loved by her. sad, complicated, twisted, but so well-rendered. Carmilla isn’t magically un-hooked, and even Laura isn’t immune to De Lafontaine by the end; they both will need time to heal and process the ways De Lafontaine warped how they see love and interacting with other people. I don’t think this is a permanent hurt, but it is one that Laura and Carmilla will probably have to reckon with in her wake both together and separately. the author treated this topic with all the seriousness yet hopefulness it deserves; these aren’t broken girls forever damaged, they are hurt girls that were taken advantage of by someone who experienced that same hurt and allowed herself to perpetuate it. The author is frank about how toxic it is, but optimistic about Carmilla and Laura on the other side of it, as well as De Lafontaines own reckoning with her toxic past.
- on that note, De Lafontaines breakthrough was really interesting. I’d been mildly afraid of some snape-esque redemption murder-suicide with her day one, but I was pleasantly surprised that DLF actually went the distance of realizing that she was continuing the cycle of abuse and manipulation, actively trying to change, doing away with her abuser, and freeing Carmilla as much as she was able. The damage is still done, and she’s permanently changed Carmilla’s life, but at least taking herself out of the equation was a huge step from where she began the book (jealous, domineering, secretive, etc.) I am really intrigued by the author showing us this, and think it’s a much gritter, realer way of doing away with a villain - there’s no magic “I want to be good now” moment or victorious defeat; she just wakes the fuck up and tries to not traumatize any more 20-somethings. She can’t undo her wrongs, but she can choose to stop making them, which requires self-awareness and will power I didn’t expect from her. I started the book wanting her staked along with her freak ex, and ended the book wishing her somewhat well on her journey of growth as long as it was far away from young women. Go figure!
-academic rivals done RIGHT. I hate when rivals/enemies to lovers is either half-assed snipes then they randomly kiss or just straight up bullying and hate crimes from one half of the relationship and we’re supposed to think it’s sexy & root for them. I don’t think emotional and physical abuse before you even start dating is cute AT ALL. So this book was a REVELATION compared to ETL like that. These girls are at each others throats academically, but look out for each other, at first bc of girl code/politeness, but increasingly out of fondness. They do a tasty two steps forward one step back with vulnerability and admitting their feelings, and their jockeying for DLF’s approval (toxic older woman aside) was incredible. When they finally touch it’s actually “sizzling” (I usually hate that word in book reviews, but it really fits!) because they really built up the dislike and indifference act, all to be fantasizing about the other on their knees in private. if more ETL is like this, I’ll read it! Their dynamic was lovely, and I love how even amidst the competition, they truly grew to love and protect the other, even from their shared object of admiration. all around great!
-dark academia done right! when I think dark academia, I think The Woods. a lot of this subgenre is just “people are morally grey in a school setting, there might be violence” but this. this is truly dark. immoral professors, bodies dropping, cutesy all girls school facade with a literal creature in the floors, blood sharing, secrets. Ugh. gimme more
Dislikes:
Honestly I don’t remember what I was gonna put here. maybe just that I wish I’d been able to see Carmilla inflict more rage on DLF for turning her. that rage/sadness felt a bit untapped; I would’ve liked a little more time spent on how Carmilla felt staring down eternity because her goofy ass older vampire obsession brought her too close to her crazy ex. She was killed, and it felt like she didn’t really process it. Having said that, I understand that Carmilla wasn’t one to follow her feelings to their logical conclusions, mostly due to DLFs hold on her. Multiple times in the book she comes to the brink of truly being angry, saddened, even done with DLF, just for DLF to love bomb or shame her into letting it go. She treats her like rightful frustration and pain are childish, and Carmilla internalizes that to her detriment. kinda talked myself out of my only dislike there, bc honestly it fits more than I thought. I think I just wanted to see De Lafontaine get mollywopped.
That was sooo long, but I actually loved the fuck out of this book and am skipping the long line of next books I have to read A Dowry of Blood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol