Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson, which is available now wherever you get your books. I’m always down for some dark academia, and I’ve heard nothing but great things about this author. So, I’ve been excited to check it out!

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.

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.

***Thank you to Redhook Books for providing a copy of An Education in Malice. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

An Education in Malice gave me exactly what I wanted from it, for the most part. I was hoping for a decadent story with enigmatic characters and a deliciously dark academic backdrop. It delivered all those things while also working as a fascinating metaphor for the toxic aspects of training in academia. Also, there were vampires. What’s not to love?

There wasn’t much of a plot in An Education in Malice. It was largely a character-focused story that moved along on vibes and changes in relationship dynamics. The plot that did exist felt like somewhat of an afterthought. It was enjoyable, though, and the events did add some character development to the mysterious professor while also providing some ratcheting background tension outside of the central relationships. The resolution of everything, the plot and relationships both, though, seemed abrupt and a little unsatisfying after all of the buildup.

The characters and their dynamics were the real draw of An Education in Malice. Carmilla, Laura, and Professor De Lafontaine were all pretty toxic people, and it led to lots of juicy interpersonal drama, including a fierce academic rivalry and a mentorship relationship full of co-dependency and some serious boundary crossing. The relationships between them all were obsessive to the extreme, and the addition of the vampire lifestyle to the mix amplified the sensuality and the rabid lust to a whole other level. I was swept away by all the dysfunction and how brilliantly the author brought it all to life.

I do wish there had been a bit more world-building and attention paid to the setting in An Education in Malice. I loved the academic setting, but there wasn’t enough of it. I’d have really enjoyed seeing more of the classroom dynamics instead of spending so much time with the personal lessons. I was also surprised that the vampire elements came into the story so late. I really loved seeing a glimpse into that world, and it left me wanting even more.

I also appreciated how well the vampire metaphor in An Education in Malice worked to provide commentary on the more toxic aspects of academic training. Doctoral training, especially, often relies on a model of intense mentorship and high specialization, which can definitely border on obsessiveness. The training can be all-encompassing and take over one’s life to the point that it becomes a soul-sucking endeavor if one isn’t careful about balance. I really enjoyed how this story managed to provide a critique of these toxic attributes while also delivering an entertaining story that illustrated how easy it is to fall into that trap of thirst for approval, success, and elusive knowledge.

All in all, An Education in Malice was a compelling, character-focused story with beautiful writing and a web of delightfully deviant relationships. The dark academia vibes were off the chart, and I tore through the story quickly. I just wish the end had been a bit more impactful and the academic setting had been utilized more. Therefore, I give An Education in Malice a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Have you read An Education in Malice? What did you think? Let me know down in the comments!