Hello Readers,
Thank you, NetGalley for giving access to an eBook copy of An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson for free in exchange for an honest review. The eBook I received from NetGalley doesn't do the cover justice, so I am using a cover image I have found through google (Fair use under the copyright act sections 29 and 30 under use for a review).
Happy Belated Publication Day
Title: An Education in Malice
Author: S.T. Gibson
Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Gothic fiction, Dark fantasy
Pages: 368
Cover Image:
Synopsis:
'Love is sacrifice. One of us was always going to bleed
for the other.'
Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint
Perpetua's College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls.
Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies
welcome students into the fold. On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is
thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic
Carmilla.
Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla. But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.
Sumptuous and addictive, An Education in Malice is a dark academia tale of blood, secrets and insatiable hungers from Sunday Times bestselling author S.T. Gibson, author of the cult hit A Dowry of Blood.
Miniature Review
Two of my favourite worlds from last year have collided into one book and it was everything I wanted. Last year I finally read (well listened) to Carmilla and I buddy read A Dowry of Blood with the other Lauren. Lauren and I and were both so excited when we learnt S.T. Gibson had another book coming out. This is one of my anticipated reads of the year even though I technically read it last year. I can’t wait to get my hands on my physical copy and reread it.
An Education in Malice is a delightfully Gothic Carmilla retelling that takes place in the backdrop of an all-girls college in the 1960's. Saint Perpetua's College in Massachusetts is the perfect dark academia setting for this story as it is a desolate and ancient estate. Laura Sheridan has been sent to study poetry and Carmilla is forming an unhealthy bond with her poetry professor. It’s not long till Laura and Carmilla are thrown into a passionate academic rivalry.
Having read Dowry I kind of knew what I was getting into with this retelling but S.T. Gibson is one of the few authors who can write about dangerous love and about the seduction of death and make want to be part of its world. But not only that S.T. Gibson has you giggling one second and then sitting at the edge of your seat the next.
I’m not ashamed to say I still love vampire books and S.T. Gibson's vampires are high up on my list of my favourite fictional vampire’s. One thing I will mention that just like a Dowry, S.T. Gibson has used vampirism as a tool to discuss abusive aspects of relationships. Just like Dowry we can see how cruel obsession and how cruel a power imbalance can be. The story also shows how cycles of abuse can continue in relationships.
S.T. Gibson has
once again created, a lush and atmospheric, haunted, and tragically romantic
page turner that lives up to its dark academia label. I was completely hooked
on the story and couldn’t read the book quick enough. The world building and
setting were the perfect level of cosy and frightening and I know as soon as I
get my hands on the book, I will reread it, but I really can’t wait to back to
back read dowery and this in autumn. Can it be spooky season yet?
L x
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