An Education in Malice was a solid vampire novel, but it left me wanting more.
Synopsis
Laura Sheridan begins her first year of study at Saint Perpetua’s College. There, she meets the beautiful and mercurial Carmilla, who soon becomes her academic rival. Both girls vie for the approval of their exacting professor, De Lefontaine. Things devolve and get bloody as Laura and Carmilla enter De Lefontaine’s private world.
Review of An Education in Malice
Like A Dowry of Blood, this is a seductive vampire novel. However, this one is loosely inspired by the classic vampire novel Carmilla, which predates Stoker’s Dracula. It is a sapphic romance with dual POVs.
I loved Dowry, so I thought this book would be just as gripping, but unfortunately, I just kept waiting for something to happen. I mean things were happening but not with the razor sharp tension or depth of the previous book.
I was just left wanting more – more character depth and a deeper look at the themes, i.e., unequal power dynamics and obsession. Still, this is a quick and solid read if you want a story of vampires mixed with dark academia. It has a moody and beguiling feel to it from the first page.
The author conveniently provides a list of content warnings.
I’m a sucker for a good vampire story, so I’ll definitely pick up the author’s next book if it has them.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️.5
Expected Publication: 13 February 2024
Thank you to Orbit for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
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