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crankyvampire's review against another edition
dark
fast-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? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed reading the book, though I found the characterization of some of the characters inconsistent and the pacing a bit iffy. Overall a fun lesbian vampire romp with some questionable relationships thrown in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
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
I can't put my finger on why I love this book but it just works. It's a sapphic vampire carmilla retelling why wouldn't I love it ? It's also written by the same women who created "a dowry of blood" so I already knew it would shoot my expectations out of the park
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
cottagecoregrandma's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I absolutely devoured this book and completed it one sitting I just could put it down!
I didn’t like it as much as I liked Dowry of Blood but it was still a fun ride.
However, I cant remember an exact example, but there were a couple times i felt vampirism in this book contradicts the vampirism in Dowry in certain parts and I’m pretty sure this is the same universe (?).
That, and I felt personally their rivalry (in a rivals to lovers plot) ended a lot quicker than I would’ve liked, and I’m not the biggest fan of spice in general is the only reason its not a 5 star read for me.
I didn’t like it as much as I liked Dowry of Blood but it was still a fun ride.
However, I cant remember an exact example, but there were a couple times i felt vampirism in this book contradicts the vampirism in Dowry in certain parts and I’m pretty sure this is the same universe (?).
That, and I felt personally their rivalry (in a rivals to lovers plot) ended a lot quicker than I would’ve liked, and I’m not the biggest fan of spice in general is the only reason its not a 5 star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood
sophberg's review against another edition
Saw the trigger warnings, thought I understood the assignment, & I did not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
kelnicash's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
This book was SO WORTH THE 12 WEEK LIBRARY WAIT. Oh my god. The sapphic Carmilla retelling we all deserved! ST Gibson doesn’t ever let us down with her beautiful storytelling and characters. I loved the dual perspectives, and enemies to lovers is always a winning trope for me.
I would have given this five stars, however, the ending felt very rushed. Things were still happening up until the last ten pages and the suddenly it was just…over. And not in a cliffhanger, fun kind of way. It felt like “I need to end this right now”. I genuinely enjoyed every second other than that, and highly recommend it. It was a fantastic book.
I would have given this five stars, however, the ending felt very rushed. Things were still happening up until the last ten pages and the suddenly it was just…over. And not in a cliffhanger, fun kind of way. It felt like “I need to end this right now”. I genuinely enjoyed every second other than that, and highly recommend it. It was a fantastic book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Blood
okgm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I purchased this book at a pride book fair event because I recognized the cover from my storygraph recommendations—God, I chewed this book up & GULPED. I read a few pages at the laundromat & decided that my next day off would be spent entirely by reading in my window. Finished in a single (despite have to get up and walk about to cool down from the especially spicy scenes) sitting and it was well worth it. I think if I had read this author’s first project, I would have expected the plot better (given I read the excerpt at the end of the book) however, it was an exciting read both in storyline and smut! I was worried in the beginning that I might find it hard to engage (the language started off a bit bold in my opinion) but today I was SAT. This met so many of my interests: obsession over poetry, rivalry/enemies to friends to lovers (god i have loved every girl who bullied me in childhood—I’ll write that down for my therapist), religious imagery, creatures of the night, the romanticization of academia, my WORD. Walking cliché much? I shut this book loudly & proudly at 1 in the morning and now I will be retiring for the evening. God bless lesbianism, amen <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Religious bigotry
exhumedprince's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Sapphic poetry? Kinky vampire parties?? Excellent, stellar, perfect. I love Carmilla, and this is a very interesting and creative retelling. Some parts of the climax and resolution, I didn't like. Also, I know she's not a main character in the story, but I loved Elenore and wished there was more of her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
krispi_kebob's review against another edition
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: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity and Forced institutionalization
abigalelouise12's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder